Shelley led Lucas into the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Bureau in the Seawall District.
On their way to meet the "new inspector," Shelley briefly introduced Lucas to the layout of the building.
The first floor of the Bureau was the office area for regular Imperial agents.
Below that was the training area, and further down was the dungeon.
The second floor housed the offices of clerical staff and management.
The third floor contained special function departments like the confidential archives room and the tactical mission conference room.
Besides the headquarters building, there were many safe houses, interrogation rooms, and secret prisons scattered throughout the city.
"Inspector, there are 128 public Imperial agents working here, and 289 covert Imperial agents. Once you officially become our inspector, you can access their files and formally carry out the duties assigned to you by the Empire."
Lucas walked alongside Shelley.
If not for knowing this was the Secret Intelligence Bureau, it would have looked like a commercial company.
And a commercial company with no business.
Most of the agents here appeared to be idle—drinking tea, reading newspapers, and gathering to boast.
Even seeing Shelley didn't change their behavior, suggesting she usually did the same.
The Seawall District was a forgotten place where the Empire's administrative abilities were at their lowest. It operated with its own unspoken system.
Even a powerful department like the Secret Intelligence Bureau couldn't escape sinking into complacency here.
Lucas said, "Let's verify my identity now and get the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau running properly as soon as possible."
"Yes, Inspector."
Shelley led Lucas to the second floor.
The second floor was a large open-plan office hall where all the clerical staff of the Bureau worked together, making it easy for the inspector to issue tasks and request information.
Inside the hall were several private offices, used by the inspector and the Bureau's management.
As Lucas and Shelley entered the hall, they heard someone shouting from an office at the far end.
"Is this your work attitude? Why hasn't Black Mamba shown up yet? Can't anyone verify my identity without her? Send someone to find her immediately! I need to see her within half an hour!"
Someone hurriedly exited the inspector's office. It was Zane.
He looked upset, clearly having been scolded by the "new inspector" for a long time.
Seeing Shelley, Zane finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Big sister, you finally arrived. And... sir..." Zane greeted Lucas, then whispered to Shelley, "The 'new inspector' has been here since morning, waiting all this time."
"Well, I'm here now. Let's go help our 'new inspector' complete his final task."
At this moment, Shelley had no doubts about Lucas's identity.
Throughout the journey, he had been seriously preparing for his new role; his confidence couldn't be faked.
He even took on his first task as the new inspector. Finding old lady Hilm's son, the hot dog vendor!
Lucas followed Shelley and Zane into the inspector's office. A few people were standing inside.
Behind the desk sat a smug middle-aged man. He was dressed in a suit similar in style to Lucas's, wearing a gentleman's hat of a similar type, with a pocket watch chain of the same color, holding a cane, tapping it on the desk.
Shelley couldn't help but glance at Lucas.
She was certain Lucas had not met this "new inspector" before today. Was this coincidence in attire, or did he know the "new inspector" would dress this way?
### Chapter 17: The True and False Inspector
The movements of this "new inspector" have always been under the control of our "true inspector."
The new inspector, seeing two new faces entering, asked irritably, "Who are you?"
He had been waiting here all morning, and his impression of the new work environment was very, very bad.
Shelley walked up to the desk, saluted the new inspector, and said, "Hello, sir. I am Black Mamba."
"You are Black Mamba?"
The new inspector, unfamiliar with the situation at the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau, was surprised that the captain of the Seawall District's special operations team, code-named after a venomous snake, turned out to be such a beautiful woman.
The new inspector's anger dissipated considerably, thinking that perhaps he could start a good life in the Seawall District.
"I asked them to verify the secret code on my appointment letter, but they all said to wait for you. It seems your prestige and ability are highly recognized by them. I believe we will have a very pleasant collaboration.
Here is my appointment letter."
The new inspector used the cane in his hand to push a document on the desk forward, his eyes brazenly appraising Shelley's seductive figure.
"Yes, I will verify the appointment letter immediately and also look forward to working with you."
Shelley picked up the appointment letter from the desk.
Serial number: OEOFT3694457, correct!
New inspector's code name: Meteor, correct!
These were all the obvious details; the last step was to verify the secret code.
In the upper right corner of the appointment letter was a section of text covered by a special alchemical coating. Removing the coating would reveal a set of secret codes.
Using the secret code information to decode the document would confirm its authenticity.
Shelley carefully observed the alchemical coating; it hadn't been tampered with.
Next, she used a spell to remove the alchemical coating.
Sure enough...
"fox, turtle, codfish, yellow flag, tinfoil, square table"
All the secret codes were correct.
These were personally written by Her Highness, the Grand Princess.
If there was a second person who knew the secret code in advance, it must have been Her Highness who told them.
Perhaps the Grand Princess had written this appointment letter while in his arms.
Shelley mischievously thought, then followed the procedure to decode the appointment letter using the secret code.
All the anti-counterfeiting information was accurate.
"Sir," Shelley respectfully placed the appointment letter back on the desk, "I have completed the verification of the appointment letter. It is handwritten by Her Highness Princess Agatha, appointing Meteor as the inspector of the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau, fully overseeing the secret intelligence work in the Seawall District."
With the confirmation, the new inspector finally exhaled the breath he'd been holding.
"Since my appointment has been verified, I am officially your inspector from this moment.
Now..."
Bang!
A gunshot rang out.
The new inspector's head had a hole in it, and he fell back onto the office chair.
His eyes were open, staring blankly at the subordinates in the room.
At this moment, everyone in the room was looking at Shelley, who was holding a gun steadily, aiming at the new inspector's body.
Smoke was still coming out of the gun barrel.
Someone exclaimed, "Agent Black Mamba, do you know what you are doing? Are you trying to rebel?"
"Black Mamba, this is the inspector sent to us by Her Highness the Grand Princess!"
Facing her terrified colleagues, Shelley spun the gun before holstering it.
"There's no need to be nervous, everyone. I was just following Her Highness's order to dispose of a 'placeholder.' The true inspector Meteor of the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau... is right here beside me."