02x04 - The Pastry of Knowledge/The Informant's Great Romance Plan II

[bunniefuu]

The Pastry of Knowledge.

It's one of Eden Academy's seven wonders,
which is whispered among the students.

A mysterious pastry chef randomly
appears in the cafeteria out of nowhere

and serves exquisite desserts

on a whim.

Many of those who ate it,

later became Imperial Scholars.

Therefore a rumor spread

that eating his desserts will
make one smarter in an instant.

A group of students at Eden are still
vying for a chance to order his dessert.

ORIGINAL WORK BY TATSUYA ENDO
SERIALIZED ON SHUEISHA'S SHONEN JUMP PLUS

MISSION:29
PART A: THE PASTRY OF KNOWLEDGE

Are you, by any chance,

the prince I met the other day?

No, I'm just your clone.

No, I know what I'm seeing.
Your eyes, and hair...

Yes, you're my prince! I love you!

No, I'm just another female sheep
just like you.

Oh come on! This story is going nowhere!

- The story's a mess!
- But they look identical.

Just ignore that part
for the sake of the story.

It's my turn next.

It'll be a battle between
twins separated at birth.

No way! A battle will end up
damaging them!

By the way, have you heard?

At the end of the term, we'll be divided
into classes by academic ability.

What do you mean?

Basically, someone like me
who has decent grades

and someone like you
who's not doing so well,

will end up in separate classes
for certain subjects.

LABORIOUS CLASS - OTHER

I'll be all alone!

That's right. So you have to
make sure you study harder.

In addition to the midterms and finals,

I hear that tomorrow's quiz
will also be taken into consideration.

The test on classical language
will be one of them!

This is not good!

It's all over for me now.

- Did you hear? It appeared!
- What?

That rumored dessert
is available at Dining Hall Two!

- What are you talking about?
- You idiot! You don't know?

It's the dessert made by
the legendary former royal pastry chef!

The Pastry of Knowledge!

It's the phantom dessert that makes
anyone who eats it an Imperial Scholar!

This year, it's macarons.

The supply is limited, so let's hurry
before they're all gone!

If I eat that, I can be a genius too!

It sounds too good to be true,

but it doesn't hurt to rely
a little on luck! Not only that...

macarons made by a former royal chef!

- I want a taste! They'll be delicious!
- What's a macaron?

There it is! We have to hurry,
or they'll run out!

- Second son!
- Shorty!

- Why are you so desperate?!
- Shut up! You're just as desperate!

There's only one left of
Pierre Pommier's newest dessert.

It's first come first serve.

I won't let you guys have it!

This is a battle with a Stella Star
on the line!

- I'll take one please.
- Sure thing.

We're all sold out today.

Wow, I'm in luck!

I wonder if I can get a Stella Star now!
I'm so excited!

- George.
- What?

You little jerk, that's mine!

Give that to me!
I was planning to eat that!

This is robbery!

I bought this with what little money
I have! I'm not giving it away!

Hey! I never got my pencil case
back from you!

And I ended up having to sing for you!
It was embarrassing.

I gave you a leaf.

Fine then. There's five macarons

so you guys can take four of them,
and let's call it even, okay?

You're not so bad after all.

There are four left.

And thus,

it was the beginning of a fierce battle
to become the next Imperial Scholar.

One game of Old Maid.

The player in last-place
won't get the macaron.

Sure. Bring it on.

I've never played cards before.
I don't know the rules.

- Is she serious?
- It's simple.

Pair up the cards with the same number,
while avoiding the joker card.

Got it.

Let's begin.

Pass the joker.

- Make her take it, so that she'll lose!
- Roger!

The Pastry of Knowledge would be wasted
on someone who can't play the Old Maid.

Hey, it's your turn to draw a card.

Right now, I have a six, four, ten, and...

You don't have to reveal your cards, Anya.

What an idiot.

I'll make the joker stand out,
and hide the six a little.

Go on and pick a card.

Six!

Impressive, Anya!

That was a coincidence.

Four! Ten! A! Old man!

I did it!
I don't have any more cards left!

Hold on! Why are you so good at this?

That's right! You cheated!
You must have marked the cards!

Hey, stop accusing her like that.

If she didn't cheat, the only explanation
left is that she can read minds!

Oh crap! I got a little carried away!

If you're going to be so adamant,
let's do another round.

What? You're too soft.

Let's play with a brand-new deck!
We'll switch up the order too!

- Don't you dare cheat anymore!
- I wasn't.

That was close.

I have to make mistakes on purpose

so that they don't find out
that I'm a telepath.

The joker came to me.

Your turn.

- The joker is in the middle. Pick that!
- I have to make a mistake on purpose.

Oh no. I made a mistake
and picked the joker.

- You're so lame!
- How stupid! So dumb!

This is time to use my...

Anya, you can't punch them.

I wasn't lucky this time.

That was close. If I get expelled
the mission will fail.

I need to be a cool liar, like Father.

It's no big deal. I'll be all right
as long as I make him pick

the joker.

Pick a card.

She's so easy to read.

All right. I got a pair.

Wait, don't tell me...
Can he read minds too?

- I'm out!
- Me too!

Oh crap! I still have the joker!

I'm out too!

- Damian, you're not good at this, huh?
- Shut up!

You can do it, Anya!

I can do this!

This will decide the game.

I can win as long as I look
at the expression on her face!

I have to deceive him
and make him pick the joker!

If I lose, I can't eat that dessert,
and I'll be as dumb as ever.

Then I'll fail the test, and I won't be
in the same class as Becky!

I'll be all alone!

All right! This one is not the joker!

Here's four macarons.

Hooray! They look delicious!

How exciting!

Why in the world did you
pick the joker at the very end, Damian?

Shut up!

That was a dirty move, dammit!

Hey,

wanna split this?

I don't want it, you idiot!

I can become an Imperial Scholar
without eating something like that!

An idiot should eat that! idiot!

- Unbelievable.
- He's so rude!

Let's eat, Anya!

Let's enjoy it!

- It's delicious!
- Now I can get a Stella Star too!

Begin your quiz.

That's it. I'm going to be all alone.

My future here at school is looking bleak.

That's not true! Let's work hard
on the finals!

Yeah. You're better off than me
who's already all alone.

Wow, these school tests
are pretty hard, huh?

I'm going to sulk for a bit.

Her academic skills
have improved a little,

but there's a long road ahead of us.

This classical language test...

Points were docked for misspellings,

but she would've scored high
if it wasn't for that.

She hasn't studied much
classical language yet.

Did she learn it in the environment
of her upbringing?

But there are no countries
that still use that language.

No, there's no point in
delving into her past.

Hey Anya, I made Salisbury steak
for dinner.

Salisbury steak!

I tried my hand at making dessert!

This is the fake ID for
Department Two of Doust Industries.

And this is the engine test results
for a new fighter jet.

MISSION:29 - PART B:
THE INFORMANT'S GREAT ROMANCE PLAN II

Thanks for your help.

Well, it's not for free.

What about the pictures of the members
of the association I asked for?

Oh that. Give me some more time.

One informant who specialized in that
was recently eliminated.

- State Security Service?
- No.

I don't know for sure, but rumor says
that he was eliminated by The Garden.

Garden? The group of assassins that's been
operating in this country since long ago?

They're an urban legend, aren't they?

No, they definitely exist.

They've been purging traitors
under the orders of the shadow government.

Well, it's no surprise that there's
an unofficial paramilitary organization.

They're nothing that soft, you idiot!

They're so strong that one soldier
can wipe out an entire m*llitary troop!

Stop being ridiculous
and fulfill my request.

Wait. In exchange for all the extra work,
help me with my job.

A job?

LOST

- This cat.
- A lost cat?

This is Kopi who belongs to a server named
Kacey, who works at my favorite café.

He's been lost since last week,

and Kacey is devastated.

Twilight, in order to make
Kacey smile once again,

and to increase my chances with her,

help me find this cat!

Hey! Stop right there!

I won't give you intel,
if you won't help me!

Hey!

I'll even add in the newly invented
toothbrush-shaped p*stol.

Dammit! He's so cold-hearted!

Fine then. I'll find that cat
all on my own!

Don't underestimate an informant!

Hey, Jeffrey.

That's right. It's a job.
I'm looking for a cat.

A male Nortblue with a bell
around his neck.

Let me know if you find him. Thanks.

It's been a while, Hound Joe!

I need to rely on your skills for a job.

Hello, Terrence!

Yes, it's an emergency.

Hey, Nancy!

You know a lot about cats, huh?

Connect me to Harrison
at Branch Office 22.

Hello, Mr. Jasper!

Hey, Pat!

Spotted a cat matching that description
on Ritter Street near the city hall.

Nice work, Joe!

It should be around here somewhere.

- Oh, Franky, is that you?
- Huh?

- Yor?
- Hello!

Hello.

Oh yeah, you work at the city hall, huh?

Yes. I'm about to take my lunch break.

Do you work around here too, Franky?

No, the thing is...

A lost cat? How sad!

I'll help you.

What? But you're about to go
on your lunch break.

No worries. After all, you're...

my husband's... friend who is in need
of help!

She's still playing the role
of a wife pretty seriously, huh?

Of course, I'll only do it
if you don't mind...

- Then, I appreciate your help.
- Of course!

Which way did Kopi go?

I just know that he's somewhere near here.

I planted C-20,

the Feline-form Listening Device
in areas where cats gather together.

It's installed with sensors that'll react
to the sound of the bell on Kopi's collar.

Franky, you're so amazing!

Leave it up to me!

The C-20 at Point A is being att*cked!

Oh no!

No way! It was destroyed!

What about the other ones?

They were eliminated
because they were seen as intruders.

This strategy has failed.

It's tough out there
in the world of cats, huh?

Then I will maneuver things
to lure the cats to us!

CAT-NIP, the Cat Nearness
Inducement Prototype Decoy System!

This releases the scent of catnip
to lure the cats to us.

Wow, Franky, you're so talented!

Are you a craftsman?

I'm just a boy who always dreamed
of making the world a better place

with my inventions and perhaps
getting rich from patents.

How lovely!

I can't tell her what I really do.

Whoa!

Oh my.

Oh no! There's too many of them!

Which one of them is Kopi?

- There it is! The gray one!
- What? Which one?

I'll get him no matter what!

Hyper Long Hand! Catch him!

I can't do a pinpoint att*ck!
I need a broader approach!

Hey, don't get inside!
Camera-shaped Net Launcher!

I hear he's really cautious.

I'm going to pretend
I'm only taking a picture.

I have to be careful here.

But since it's disguised as a camera,
this launcher doesn't have a good range.

I have to get within two meters
to catch him!

- Stop right there!
- That must be Kopi!

Kopi, you made me mad!

There's nothing you can do
to fix that now!

This is the ultimate w*apon
that took me ten years to develop!

It's my exoskeleton power suit that
will give me

phenomenal physical abilities!
Or at least it should...

Just you wait! After I turn on the power,
it takes 15 minutes

for the battery to warm up the motor.
Sit tight!

What? You idiot! That's a big street
up ahead! It's dangerous!

Stop! Sorry, I promise
I won't chase you anymore!

Franky, I'm going to borrow
this for a little bit.

I caught him!

I caught him, Franky!

Oh, yeah. Th... thanks.

Ten years... ten years of my work.

You're in luck, Kopi.
You can finally go home!

But,

this will be all worth it, if it will
get Kacey to pay attention to me!

I'm coming for you, honey!

Thank you so much, Franky!

Kopi, you really had me worried!

I'm happy for you, Kacey.

It's all your fault, Mar,
for leaving the front door open!

I'm sorry.

To make amends, I'll buy you
the matching rings you've been wanting.

I'm happy for you... yeah...

Well... bye...

Thank you so much, Franky!

I wish you both happiness.

The man decided to live only for his work.

It sure feels good to help someone out!

It seems like you're in a good mood.

Ooh, what could it be?
Did your husband buy you something?

No, nothing like that.

Must be nice to have such a happy life.

Yeah, how annoying.

Basically, she just became
a normal person. That's all.

- Normal? Am I normal?
- Huh?

I'm so glad.

I guess my cover is safe. What a relief.

Hey Sharon, don't let her get
carried away.

I was trying to be sarcastic.

Hey, Briar.

Oh, you're not Briar anymore.

- Forger. You have a call.
- Yes! Forger. That's me!

It's from your special customer.

Hello. It's me.

Hello.

You have a new client, Thorn Princess.

LUXURY CRUISE

MISSION:30
PLAN TO CROSS THE BORDER