The morning sun barely poked through the blinds of the Three River Duck News office, casting long, dusty shadows over a desk cluttered with coffee cups and half-written drafts. Scoop Quillman leaned back in his chair, tapping a pencil against his chin—just another normal, quiet day in Duckburg.

Then, the heavy office door burst open.

Mayor Ford didn't just walk in—he scrambled. He moved with a frantic, uncharacteristic panic, his usual polished composure shattered. He darted between the desks, his eyes wide and searching, before skidding to a halt right in front of Scoop.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" the Mayor stammered, his voice thin with desperation as he grabbed the edge of the desk. "Scoop, Scoop, I need your help! I need your help! I need your help!"

Scoop dropped his pencil, his feet hitting the floor as he stood up, instantly sensing that the quiet day had just ended. He looked at the Mayor, completely bewildered—why was the most powerful man in Duckburg having a total breakdown on such a beautiful, sunny day?

"Mayor? Take a breath," Scoop said, trying to steady the room. "What in the world is going on?"

The Mayor leaned in, his eyes darting toward the door as if he were being watched. "I can’t find anybody, Scoop! The Commissioner is gone. The lead detective is gone. Where in Duckburg is everybody?"

Scoop held up a hand, his reporter's instinct kicking in. "All right, Mr. Mayor. Settle down. Start from the beginning. Tell me what's going on—why exactly can't you find anybody?"

The Mayor took a shaky breath and nodded. "Okay, Scoop, I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you from the beginning. I woke up this morning like I always do, just a typical day. I was reading over the Three River Duck News to see what the citizens think of their mayor, and I checked my emails to see if there was anything important from my secretary. Then, I went to the kitchen and had my duck cappuccino—my wife makes a very tasty one.

"After that, I grabbed my briefcase, hit the limo, and went to my office. But it was weird, Scoop. The Commissioner and his lead detective are supposed to be waiting there to give me the daily crime reports. I got there, but the office was empty. I asked my secretary where they were, and she just said she didn't know. That’s when I thought, Oh boy, oh dear. I ran out of the office, didn't even take the limo, and came straight here to Three River Duck News.

"Scoop, can you please help me find everybody? Where is June Jones Duckett? Where is Junior Jones Duckett? He’s the Editor-in-Chief of this place, after all—maybe he can help us!"

Before Scoop could respond, the office doors swung open with a bang. A menacing henchman in the employ of the Fishy Man strode in, surveying the office with a sneer. He let out a harsh, mocking laugh as his eyes locked onto the two men.

"I’m looking for a guy named 'Scoop the Poop' and 'Mayor the Bark,'" the henchman drawled, his voice dripping with arrogance. "The boss has a little something for you."

He tossed a sealed, dark-red envelope onto the desk, sneered one last time, and turned to leave. Scoop stared at the letter, his reporter’s instinct replaced by a cold, hard focus. Then Scoop and the Mayor looking at the Red envelope dropped right on the desk.