The Underground Investigation Department bustled with its usual energy, a blend of organized chaos and quiet scheming. Officers and informants moved through the dimly lit corridors, exchanging glances and whispers that spoke volumes about their clandestine dealings. The air was thick with the smell of ink, parchment, and the faint but unmistakable scent of opportunism.
In a back room, away from the prying eyes of the public and the few honest members of the department, a group of officers huddled around a large wooden table. Papers and coins were scattered across its surface, evidence of their latest underhanded transactions. At the head of the table sat the portly man who had greeted Sophie so insincerely just days before. His name was Captain Reynolds, and his reputation for corruption was as well known as his greasy smile.
