Lucas and Karina left the Secret Intelligence Bureau through the back door and hired a carriage on the road.
Due to the high cost of steam-powered vehicles and the need for specialized maintenance, animal power remained the primary means of transportation.
Many nobles, officials, and merchants preferred luxurious carriages over the pungent smell of engine oil to showcase their prestigious status.
The poor condition of the roads made the ride quite bumpy.
Karina, on her first field mission, appeared very nervous. She sat with her hands on her lap, ready to draw her magic wand at any moment.
Sitting across from her, Lucas smiled and said, "Relax, I'm really afraid you'll blow up this carriage with your magic."
Karina smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Inspector. Every time Captain Black Mamba goes on a mission, I have to write reports for her. They always seem to encounter some vicious murderers.
Although some people are innocent, I know the Seawall District is truly dangerous. I need to ensure your safety."
Lucas didn't expect Karina to be so nervous because she was thinking about protecting him.
"Oh? You're protecting me… is it because you want to protect me? Or is it because your 'loyalty' compels you to protect me?"
Karina thought for a moment. "I, I don't know. The device's stimulation of my brain makes it hard to tell if it's my own intention or a command from 'loyalty'."
"No, it can be distinguished, as long as you know how. The brain, as the most complex organ in the human body, can't be completely controlled by a single device. I'll teach you a method that combines breathing and meditation. Once you master it, you'll be able to tell which thoughts are truly yours and which are imposed on you.
Although this won't free you from the device's control, it will help you understand your true self."
"Really?" Karina was excited but then worriedly asked, "Will this cause trouble for you?"
"If you don't tell, who will know?"
"Thank you, Inspector, I promise I won't say a word."
Lucas taught Karina the breathing and meditation technique, and focusing on it helped her relax quickly.
The carriage arrived at their destination and stopped.
It was a very narrow alley, without an official name, known in the trade as Illegal Potion Alley.
In the Golden Shield Empire, potions were state-controlled, and only those approved by the Imperial Alchemist Association could produce and sell them.
But the high prices of official potions had given rise to an illegal potion industry.
Privately produced potions were not only unreliable in quality but could also have side effects. However, their lower prices gave them a competitive edge.
Moreover, some illegal potions had effects that official potions didn't.
The unique environment of the Seawall District had fostered a large-scale illegal potion industry.
Illegal Potion Alley existed in a semi-public manner.
Lucas and Karina's arrival immediately attracted the attention of those in the alley.
Seeing their attire, it was clear they were people of status. Especially Karina, whose former noblewoman's demeanor was hard to mimic and conceal.
Some people approached, intending to stop them from entering Illegal Potion Alley.
Lucas handed a 100-mark imperial note to the leader.
"I'm a potion buyer, here to see Ralph."
The man took the money, looked at Lucas and Karina, then waved for the others to disperse.
"Ralph? His family's stimulants killed a nobleman last week. Many merchants are afraid to sell their potions now.
Sir… if you're looking for stimulants, I can recommend a place. The Imperial Alchemist Association's formula, guaranteed safe and effective, to satisfy your lady friend.
Ralph's family, they like adding all sorts of weird things to their potions."
Karina understood what the stimulant was and blushed, lowering her head.
Lucas pulled out another 100-mark imperial note.
"Ralph is a friend of mine. Please take me to him."
The man quickly took the money.
"No problem! Actually, that old man who died was already eighty years old. Ralph's potions are a bit strong, but you'll definitely be as vigorous as a horse. Follow me."
Lucas and Karina followed the man further into the alley.
The entire alley was filled with the smell of potions. Some potion ingredients and vessels were carelessly thrown on the muddy ground, with some reacting and bubbling with colorful fumes.
The lack of regulation and poor sanitation conditions were quite concerning!
The man led Lucas to a workshop's door.
"This is Ralph's potion workshop. You can go in. Just a friendly reminder: with Ralph's potions... it's best to drink only half a bottle."
"Thank you."
Lucas and Karina entered the workshop, where the pungent smell of potions was even stronger.
The entrance led to a small courtyard.
A well was connected to a trough, with several female workers scrubbing potion bottles on either side of the trough.
At the other end of the courtyard was a small door leading underground, guarded by a burly man.
Lucas didn't stop and continued walking inside.
The man blocked the entrance to the underground. "Who are you? If you want to do business, wait here."
Lucas grabbed the man's arm, twisted him to the ground, and stepped over him to go down to the basement.
Karina carefully jumped over the man and didn't forget to say, "Sorry!"
The man's scream alerted the people in the underground workshop.
Seeing Lucas coming down, they grabbed whatever weapons they could find and charged at him.
Lucas kept walking forward.
"Karina!"
"Yes, Inspector…"
Karina pulled out the magic wand hidden in her sleeve. The wand's tip emitted a bright light, and a man approaching Lucas was blasted away by the magic beam.
Then, a series of magic beams shot out, sending everyone charging at them flying.
Karina quickly caught up with Lucas, lifting her skirt as she moved and using magic to move a blocking crate to the side of the wall.
She continuously apologized to the stunned people, "Sorry... sorry... Inspector, wait for me…"
Lucas kept moving forward, noticing that those hit by Karina's magic could still get up.
If Shelley had been brought along, it would have been a different scene entirely.
They passed through the sorting room, the milling room, and the dissolving room...
Karina stayed close to Lucas, holding her magic wand forward. The light from the wand's tip intimidated most people into staying put.
Those brave enough to attack were swiftly sent flying by magic.
Lucas walked almost unimpeded through room after room until four people blocked his way.
Their appearances differed from the ordinary people they had encountered earlier.
Leading them was a short old man with white hair and beard and a forehead bulging like an old star god.
The old man angrily demanded, "Who are you?"
Lucas slowly pulled out his inspector badge and pinned it to his chest. "The new Inspector Meteor of the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau."