Shelley led Luke into the Cape Area Secret Affairs Bureau building.
On their way to meet the "new detective," Shelley briefly explained the layout of the entire building.
The ground floor housed the offices of regular imperial secret agents.
The basement had a training area, and further below was the dungeon.
The second floor was dedicated to administrative staff and management.
The third floor housed special departments such as the confidential information room and the tactical mission conference room.
In addition to the main bureau building in the Cape Area, there were several safe houses, interrogation rooms, and hidden prisons scattered throughout the city.
"There are 128 publicly known imperial secret agents and 289 undercover agents operating in the Cape Area," Shelley said to Luke. "Once you officially become our detective, you'll have access to their files and can carry out your duties as bestowed by the empire."
Luke followed Shelley.
If one didn't know this was the Secret Affairs Bureau, it would resemble an ordinary commercial company.
But a company without any business.
Most of the secret agents here were idle. They drank tea, read newspapers, and gathered together to brag.
Even when Shelley arrived, there was no sign of them being on their guard. It seemed that Shelley engaged in similar activities during her usual routine.
The Cape Area was a forgotten place where the administrative capabilities of the empire were at their lowest. It had its own unique, unofficial operating system.
Even a powerful department like the Secret Affairs Bureau couldn't escape the decline in the Cape Area.
Luke said, "Let's verify my identity here and get the Cape Area Secret Affairs Bureau back to normal as soon as possible."
"Yes, Detective."
Shelley led Luke to the second floor.
The second floor was a large open office space where all the administrative staff of the Secret Affairs Bureau worked, making it convenient for the detective to assign tasks and request information.
Within the office space were several separate offices, including the office of the detective and the management team.
Just as Luke and Shelley entered the office space, they heard a voice of rage coming from one of the offices.
"Is this the kind of work ethic you all have? Why hasn't the Black Mamba shown up for work yet? Is there no one else here capable of verifying my identity? Send someone to find her immediately, and I want to see her within half an hour!"
A man rushed out of the detective's office.
It was Pisco.
His expression was grim, clearly having endured a scolding from the "new detective" for quite some time.
Upon seeing Shelley, Pisco finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Big Sister, you finally came. And... sir..." Pisco saluted Luke and whispered to Shelley, "The 'new detective' arrived early in the morning and has been waiting until now."
"I'm here now, aren't I? Let's go and help our 'new detective' complete his final task," Shelley replied.
At this point, Shelley had no doubts about Luke's identity.
He had been diligently preparing for his appointment all the way, and that confidence couldn't be faked.
He had even taken on his first task since assuming the role.
Finding Hilmer's son, the hot dog vendor!
Luke followed Shelley and Pisco into the detective's office.
Several people were standing inside the office.
Behind the desk sat an arrogant middle-aged man dressed in a suit similar to Luke's, wearing a similar gentleman's hat and a pocket watch with a chain of the same color. He was tapping the desk with a civilized cane.
Shelley couldn't help but glance at Luke.
She was certain that Luke hadn't seen this "new detective" today. Was it a coincidence that they dressed similarly, or did Luke know that the "new detective" would assume this attire?
The whereabouts of this "new detective" had been under the control of our "real detective" all along.
The new detective, upon seeing the arrival of two new faces, asked irritably, "Who are you?"
He had been waiting here all morning, and his impression of the new work environment was extremely unfavorable.
Shelley walked up to the desk, saluted the new detective, and said, "Sir, I am the Black Mamba."
"So, you're the Black Mamba?"
The new detective, unfamiliar with the situation at the Cape Area Secret Affairs Bureau, didn't expect the leader of the Cape Area Venomous Snake Squad, known as the Black Mamba, to be such an attractive woman.
The new detective's temper subsided a bit, thinking that he might have a good cooperation in the Cape Area.
"I asked them to verify my appointment letter's seal, but they all said to wait for you. It seems your prestige and abilities have gained their recognition. I believe we will have a very pleasant collaboration. Here's my appointment letter."
The new detective used his civilized cane to push a document forward on the desk, his eyes blatantly wandering over Shelley's alluring figure.
"Yes, I will immediately verify the appointment letter and look forward to working with you," Shelley responded.
Shelley picked up the appointment letter from the desk.
Number: OEOFT3694457, correct!
Code name for the new detective: Falling Star, correct!
All this information was written in plain sight. The only thing left was to verify the seal.
In the upper right corner of the appointment letter, there was a section of text covered by a special alchemical coating. Removing the coating would reveal a set of seals.
By deciphering the seals, the document's authenticity could be confirmed.
Shelley carefully observed the alchemical coating, which hadn't been tampered with.
Then it was time to remove the alchemical coating using her techniques.
As expected...
"Fox, Turtle, Pine Fish, Yellow Flag, Goldstone, Square Table."
All the seals were correct.
These were the seals personally written by Princess Agatha herself.
Apart from Princess Agatha, if there was a second person who knew the seal information in advance, it would be because Princess Agatha had told them.
Perhaps Princess Agatha had written this appointment letter in his embrace.
Evil thoughts crossed Shelley's mind as she reread the appointment letter based on the seal information.
All the anti-counterfeiting information was accurate.
"Sir," Shelley respectfully placed the appointment letter on the desk, "I have completed the verification of the appointment letter. It was handwritten by Princess Agatha herself, appointing Falling Star as the detective in charge of the Cape Area Secret Affairs Bureau, responsible for all secret affairs in the Cape Area."
With confirmation, the new detective finally let out a breath he had been holding.
"Now that my appointment has been verified, I am officially your detective from this moment forward."
"Now..."
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
A hole was blown through the head of the new detective, and he slumped backward in his office chair.
His eyes remained open, staring blankly at the subordinates in the room.
Everyone in the room turned their gaze to Shelley, who held the smoking gun steadily aimed at the new detective's body.
Smoke continued to rise from the barrel.
Someone exclaimed, "Black Mamba, do you have any idea what you're doing? Are you trying to rebel?"
"Black Mamba, this is the detective appointed by Princess Agatha herself!"
Facing her terrified colleagues, Shelley twirled the gun before holstering it.
"Don't be nervous, everyone. I was simply following Princess Agatha's orders and taking care of an 'envelope
.' The real Falling Star, the detective in charge of the Cape Area Secret Affairs Bureau, is right here beside me."