"Huh!? Sir Reinhard was involved in this case as well!?" Jos exclaimed so loudly it startled everyone in the room. Malvin nearly tipped over in his chair, catching himself just in time. He glared at Jos, who immediately shrank under the scrutiny, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry," Jos mumbled, averting his gaze.
Malvin shook his head, deciding it wasn't worth a response. Meanwhile, Aeron rubbed his chin thoughtfully—using his normal hand for once instead of the mechanical one. "Hmm, Sir Reinhard," he mused. "It makes sense now."
Tores leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "I've met Sir Reinhard before—he still visits the station sometimes—but just how strong is he? I've only ever heard stories."
Aeron paused, considering the question. "Well…" He let the word hang in the air for a moment before finally stating, "He's weaker than me but stronger than most of the people I know."
Clare let out an awkward chuckle. "I'm pretty sure everything in Aetheria is weaker than you, Aeron. So that doesn't narrow it down at all."
Aeron simply shrugged again, offering no argument.
Malvin, ignoring their exchange, leaned forward in his chair. "You'll see soon enough just how strong he is. Now, stay quiet—what happened next was..."
---
Malvin and Silas stood in a shadowy alleyway, both of them more than a little uneasy as they waited for their reinforcements to arrive.
"Five of us? That's it?" Silas muttered, leaning against the brick wall, his forehead resting against his arm. "How are we supposed to do anything with just five people?"
"It's better than nothing," Malvin replied, arms crossed as he kept his eyes on the street ahead. "At least the Deputy Chief is doing something. The Captain didn't even try."
Silas turned his head to look at him, frowning. "Yeah, but still—five of us? In the slums? The same slums where everyone hates the Ironguard? You don't think that's a bit… insane?"
Malvin let out a sigh. "We're not investigating the entire slums," he explained. "If that brat's information about the drugs is right, all we need to do is find the dealer."
Silas groaned, running a hand down his face. "You make it sound so simple. What's next? You expect the dealer to be standing on a street corner, waving us down like he's selling sweets to kids?"
Before Malvin could respond, a booming voice cut through the air. "Of course not! But if we find someone using the drug, they can lead us right to the dealer!"
Both men snapped their heads toward the source of the voice, their hands instinctively twitching toward their weapons as they turned to see who had spoken.
A man, likely in his late thirties, stepped into view, his blond hair just visible beneath the brim of his Ironguard hat. His full beard added ruggedness to his slightly taller-than-average frame, standing just above Malvin's height. His uniform, though clearly Ironguard standard, bore subtle modifications that hinted at personal preference or rank. He raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender, laughing lightly. "Ha, ha, sorry for scaring you two," he said, his voice warm and friendly, his green eyes gleaming with good humor.
Flanking him were two other officers. On his right stood a man who appeared to be in his fifties, his short black hair streaked with gray. His posture carried a quiet authority, and his warm brown eyes radiated patience. On the other side was a woman, perhaps in her early forties, her chestnut-colored hair strikingly similar to Silas's. Her sapphire-blue eyes studied both Malvin and Silas with a sharp, assessing gaze.
"Good reflexes," the woman remarked, her tone approving. "You'll need that in the slums."
The older man chuckled softly. "Hope we didn't keep you waiting too long. Takes me a bit longer to get moving these days," he admitted with a self-deprecating smile that seemed to put Malvin and Silas at ease.
"Are you three the ones we'll be working with?" Silas asked, his eyes shifting between them.
The older man nodded, placing a hand over his chest. "Sergeant Daysze Lumen," he introduced himself formally.
The woman followed suit, her hand also over her chest. "Corporal Jae Rebus," she said, her tone sharp but respectful.
Finally, the blond-haired man grinned broadly, placing his hand to his chest. "Specialist Reinhard Leo Topaz. Nice to meet you!"
Malvin and Silas both froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.
"Y-you're the Reinhard?" Malvin stammered, uncharacteristically star-struck.
Reinhard nodded, his grin widening at the recognition.
Silas, now beaming, exclaimed, "Okay, forget every doubt I had earlier. We've got this in the bag!"
"Hmph," Daysze muttered, patting Reinhard on the shoulder. "You've got a knack for inspiring confidence, don't you?"
Reinhard shrugged, his grin turning sheepish. "I try," he said modestly.
The moment of levity passed as Daysze's expression grew serious. His voice dropped into a commanding tone as he addressed Malvin and Silas. "Listen up. I know the two of you have been to the slums before, so you understand how dangerous it can be."
Jae stepped forward, her gaze hard. "And just because Reinhard's here," she said, tapping a finger against his chest, "doesn't mean the danger's gone. It's still there—just more manageable. Don't get careless."
Reinhard's grin faded, his expression mirroring their seriousness. "She's right. You can't let your guard down—not for a second. If what your blue-haired friend said is true, and there really is a drug problem, then the slums are more dangerous than ever. Do you understand?"
Malvin and Silas exchanged a look, silently steeling themselves before nodding in unison. "Yes, sir!"
Reinhard's grin returned, lighting up his face once more. "Good! Then let's head into the slums and get to work," he said with an air of finality. Without further hesitation, the group of five stepped into the darkness, each of them prepared—or at least hoping—to put an end to Philip Crude.