"Sir... Sir," Shelley hesitated, not daring to take a seat in front of Luke. She respectfully asked, "What is your relationship with Her Highness, the Crown Princess?"
Luke replied with utmost seriousness, "Indeed, it's just as you imagine. However, my relationship with Agatha is highly confidential, and I had no intentions of letting you all know."
"But... it seems if I don't speak, you might kill me."
"I have heard about the unique working style of the Sea Cape District Bureau. Today, I have personally witnessed it... Seeing is believing!"
Shelley quickly instructed Pisco to remove the bodies.
Then, with great respect, she apologized, "I apologize, sir, for the offense we caused by doubting your identity. If you had shown us your appointment letter, we would have known you were our chief detective. There was no need... to show us such a private magical recording."
Luke knew that Shelley still wanted to see the appointment letter.
And he couldn't produce it himself.
Luke searched his consciousness, seeking a segment of the "Era" mission flow.
Tomorrow, the official chief detective from the Sea Cape District Secret Affairs Bureau would arrive.
"Now that you know about my relationship with the Crown Princess, you should also know that, in coming here with my status, I am actually on a secret mission entrusted by Her Highness, the Crown Princess. For security reasons, my appointment letter and I will arrive separately. Moreover, the person carrying the appointment letter is unaware of my existence. They have been informed that they have been appointed as the chief detective of the Sea Cape District Secret Affairs Bureau."
"Why?" Shelley listened, feeling bewildered.
Luke found the photo of the appointment letter in his mobile data and commanded Shelley in an authoritative tone, "This was specially arranged by the Crown Princess for my safety! It also serves to make someone with a sensitive identity disappear. The specific details are beyond your level of clearance. The appointment letter number is OEOFT3694457; the secret pattern information is: fox, turtle, pine fish, yellow flag, foil stone, square table; my codename is Meteor. Once you confirm the information, eliminate the person who arrives and retrieve everything they are carrying for me. Do you understand?"
"Eliminate them!?" Luke looked at Shelley, who displayed a concerned expression, and said, "Do you have any doubts? Are you questioning me or questioning Her Highness, the Crown Princess?"
"No, I wouldn't dare... I mean, my subordinate wouldn't dare."
At this point, Shelley essentially believed in Luke's identity. After all, someone capable of producing such magical recordings must be exceptionally close to the Crown Princess.
And a person with such an "intimate" relationship with the Crown Princess being assigned to the Sea Cape District of Furious Waves City meant they were entrusted with an immensely important mission.
Separating a person from the appointment letter was indeed a secure method.
After all... the power struggles within the royal family were escalating.
In any case, once the "chief detective" arrived, everything would become clear upon comparing the information in the appointment letter.
Luke stood up and stretched his limbs, which had grown numb from being bound.
"I'm tired. Please arrange a place for me to stay."
Shelley said, "Chief... It's already late at night outside, and the Sea Cape District is unsafe during the night. If you don't mind, you can stay at my house for one night. Tomorrow, we can go to the bureau together. Your subordinates are eagerly anticipating your assumption of duty."
Luke considered his options.
He was currently defenseless, and staying alone in a hotel in the Sea Cape District meant that whether he would see the sunrise the next day was uncertain.
Staying at Shelley's house would be better. He would have free bodyguards, ensuring a sound sleep.
Additionally, he would have the opportunity to study the changes in his phone, which had been charging in his consciousness.
As for why Shelley invited him to her house, whether it was genuine concern for his safety or due to other reasons...
There was no need to exert mental effort to ponder that.
After all, Princess Agatha was his safeguard now. Shelley couldn't possibly run to the imperial capital to confirm it with Agatha.
Was it appropriate for a criminal still serving her sentence to meddle in royal affairs?
As for whether he would be exposed in the future...
Princess Agatha tightly controlled the Secret Affairs Bureau. To prevent others from interfering with the bureau's operations, she personally selected and appointed all officials above the district level.
Furthermore, they didn't use their real names; they all employed code names.
In other words, as long as no one confronted Agatha face-to-face, no one could provide evidence that he was a fake chief detective.
In any case, he needed to safeguard his life first and decide whether to stay or flee opportunistically.
Luke responded, "I'll stay at your house."
Shelley instructed Pisco to continue dealing with the bodies and bloodstains in the interrogation room, then she led Luke out.
It was already late at night outside.
The smooth stone road reflected the dim light from the street lamps, with small buildings featuring pointed roofs on either side of the road, exuding a European ambiance.
The walls, overgrown with moss due to a lack of maintenance, had even sprouted mushrooms in some places.
The air was thick with the smell of the sewer and the sea breeze carrying a hint of brine.
Several crows flew away, startled, from the electric poles nearby.
In the distance, the city district seemed to echo with cries of distress.
On the other side of the road, a drunkard unsteadily walked with a bottle in hand.
Shelley rolled out a steam-powered motorcycle.
She mounted the front seat and said to Luke, "Chief, it's late, and finding a car at this hour won't be easy. If you don't mind, you can ride with me."
Upon seeing this steam motorcycle, Luke's eyes instantly lit up.
He circled around the robust motorcycle and exclaimed, "Thunder BU953, produced by the Imperial Gobel Steam Heavy Industries, winner of fifteen steam engineering design awards. Unfortunately, after Thunder BU953, Gobel Steam Heavy Industries shifted their focus to designing and manufacturing military machinery. Thunder BU953 became their swan song, and due to the scarcity of spare parts, it became increasingly rare. The fact that you've maintained this vehicle so well is truly remarkable. Truly remarkable!"
Luke's admiration for the motorcycle before him was sincere.
In the game "Era," steam alchemical machinery produced countless astonishing artifacts.
Thunder BU953 was one of them.
And due to the uniqueness of the item, the diminishing supply of Thunder BU953 made it highly coveted by collectors.
There were players who offered astronomical prices to purchase this Thunder BU953 from Shelley, but she turned them all down.
Even if they maxed out their favorability with her, they still couldn't take the motorcycle from her.
It was evident how much Shelley cherished this Thunder BU953.
Currently, Shelley was astride the motorcycle. Because of its large size, she had to lean forward significantly to grip the handlebars with both hands. This resulted in a graceful arc in her back, curving even more at her hips.
Her figure, her skin—it was hard to fathom that this woman was in her forties.
But as a human with extraordinary beauty stemming from
her Medusa lineage, this age could be considered prime.
Smiling at Luke's praise for her motorcycle, Shelley said, "Chief, you really have good taste. Get on quickly. Let's go back early so you can rest."
"Alright!"
Luke straddled the seat behind Shelley.
Shelley started the steam engine of the motorcycle, and its powerful and surging force propelled the motorcycle forward in an instant.
Unsteady in his seat, Luke quickly hugged Shelley's waist.
Truly, this was the Thunder BU953—its speed was too fast! Too exhilarating!