Luke never expected that the Axe Gang, which he had taken down yesterday, would turn out to be one of the backers behind the Secret Affairs Bureau in Cape Corner District.
It's true what they say: "When the water rises, the boat lifts." People you thought were family turn out to be strangers.
Huh?
I'm not family with the Secret Affairs Bureau or the Axe Gang. What does it matter?
But since I'm taking over as the Inspector for a while, I need to consider my subordinates' wallets.
Luke stood up. "Since the Axe Gang is one of us, we should lend them a hand in a situation like this.
Blake, Pisco!"
Shelley and Pisco immediately stood at attention.
"Inspector, at your service!"
"Mobilize the Cape Corner District Secret Affairs Bureau's Special Task Force. We're going to the Axe Gang's headquarters to investigate!"
"Yes, Inspector!"
The full name of the Special Task Force is the Special Mission Action Team, a violent division within the Secret Affairs Bureau.
Shelley and Pisco are the captain and vice-captain of the Cape Corner District Secret Affairs Bureau's Special Task Force, respectively.
With the Inspector's orders, Shelley and Pisco left the office to gather the team.
Meanwhile, Luke took the opportunity to check out his work environment.
In one of the drawers, he found an Inspector badge from the Secret Affairs Bureau.
He put it on.
The "former" Inspector's cane was still there, and it was better in terms of style, material, and craftsmanship than the one he bought himself.
He switched canes.
Next to the desk was the "former" Inspector's suitcase.
The locks on the suitcase were already open, presumably from when the "former" Inspector received his appointment letter.
Inside were some clothes and personal items.
A stack of bills, he pocketed it.
There was also a gun!
Now, that's a rare find.
Due to the various extraordinary powers in the Era World and the subpar quality of gunpowder, firearms for individual use have not been widely popularized.
Guns are high-end alchemical machinery, and even the bullets require special manufacturing. Whether it's buying, maintaining, or using them, they require a significant investment and are not cost-effective weapons.
In the Era game, there are many players who favor firearms.
However, the dominance of firearms is limited to the early stages. They perform decently in the middle stages, but as various stats begin to escalate in the late game, the limitations of firearms become apparent.
But for Luke at this moment, having a gun is truly a godsend.
During his exploration in the Era game, Luke had also played with guns, so he immediately recognized the model of this gun.
Wolf Dagger No. 4: (Universal Type)
Designed and manufactured by the Imperial Alchemical Bureau, exclusively for the Imperial Secret Affairs Bureau.
Unlike Shelley's military-style firearms, the Wolf Dagger No. 4 is designed for the working environment of imperial spies, with a much smaller gun body.
It is easier to carry discreetly, making it more suitable for assassinations and dealing with unforeseen situations.
The gun's structure is similar to a revolver, with a cylinder that holds six bullets.
Inside the "former" Inspector's suitcase, there were shoulder straps, a holster, and a box of bullets. Luke took off his coat, put on the shoulder straps, holstered the gun, and inserted the bullets into the holster.
He adjusted it to a comfortable position and tried the feeling of drawing and shooting a few times.
At that moment, Shelley pushed the door open and said, "Inspector, the team is ready."
Luke put away the gun, put on his coat, wiped the Inspector badge, put on his gentleman's hat, and picked up the cane as he walked out.
"Clear the way!"
"Yes, Inspector!"
Outside the Secret Affairs Bureau building in Cape Corner District, there was a convoy parked on the road.
Three sidecar motorcycles were at the front.
In the middle were three black cars with a nostalgic feel, with flags on both sides of the front, one with the Imperial Shield Flag and the other with the Secret Affairs Bureau's Concealing Leaf Flag.
Behind them were two trucks carrying four Reaper combat mechas.
The imperial spies guarding the vehicles were all wearing leather jackets, round top hats, and had Secret Affairs Bureau standard long knives on their waists.
And they all had some extraordinary changes.
Their imposing appearance alone was enough to clear the entire street without the need for eviction orders.
Luke exclaimed as he had just stepped out—Cape Corner District's Secret Affairs Bureau's Special Task Force had brought out all their hidden cards for the Axe Gang.
This was a show of strength to all the powers in Cape Corner District, letting the behind-the-scenes backers of the Secret Affairs Bureau rest easy.
"Inspector is here!"
Pisco, who was standing at the entrance, saw Luke come out and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.
All the Special Task Force spies who were mobilized drew their knives in unison.
"A word with the Inspector!"
Luke stopped on the steps of the Secret Affairs Bureau, leaning on his cane with both hands.
He addressed his subordinates, "I, codename Meteor, will be the Inspector of the Cape Corner District Secret Affairs Bureau from today onwards, fully in charge of the bureau's operations in Cape Corner District.
We received a message that the Axe Gang's headquarters was attacked last night, resulting in numerous casualties. I suspect... there may be hidden dangers behind this incident that threaten the security of the empire. Therefore, I order...
The Cape Corner District Secret Affairs Bureau's Special Task Force to immediately proceed to the Axe Gang's headquarters, take full control of the crime scene, and prevent the situation from escalating.
Get in the cars, let's go!"
"Yes, Inspector!"
All the Special Task Force spies sheathed their knives and boarded the vehicles in an orderly manner.
Pisco quickly ran to the side of the middle car and opened the door for Luke.
Luke sat in the back seat, and Shelley followed suit.
Pisco sat in the passenger seat.
Once everyone was on board, the convoy started.
The three sidecar motorcycles at the front blared their sirens, while the spies in the vehicles brandished their knives and shouted, driving away the people in front without hesitation.
It had the air of the Imperial Army on the move.
Encountering no obstacles, the convoy arrived at the Axe Gang's headquarters.
Outside the towering castle walls, there were various people gathered with different motives. There were individuals clearly representing factions, businessmen dressed as gentry, and laborers working at the docks.
The most noticeable were the peacekeeping officers wearing dark uniforms and large-brimmed hats.
They gathered at the entrance of the castle walls, facing the Secret Affairs Bureau spies and the Axe Gang members blocking their way. Some peacekeeping officers had already unsheathed their standard-issue swords.
The Reaper combat mechas on the trucks, operated by their drivers, unsheathed blades that were over two meters long, assuming a posture of forcefully breaking in.
The small number of Imperial spies were struggling to control the situation.
It was at this moment that the Cape Corner District Secret Affairs Bureau's Special Task Force arrived.
All the vehicles honked their horns, continuously ramming into the people blocking their path, causing them to scatter in fear.
The Secret Affairs Bureau convoy charged to the front gate of the castle walls.
The
Special Task Force spies jumped out of the vehicles, drew their knives in perfect unison. They displayed an imposing demeanor, startling the peacekeeping officers, who also brandished their weapons.
The two violent armed forces of Cape Corner District faced off outside the castle walls.
Behind them, the combat mechas on the trucks started up.
Their appearance resembled mechas, standing at a height of three meters, with open cockpit cabins as their heads.
The Imperial spies operating the combat mechas hopped down from the trucks, drew their long knives from the back slots, and walked forward with heavy footsteps.
With their knives dragging on the ground, sparks flew.
One peacekeeping officer shouted, "What are you Secret Affairs Bureau people planning? Are you trying to rebel!"