Can't I Just Raise Myself?

"Fuck!"

Ryan kicked a thug away and barked orders: "Get this trash under control now. Anyone who resists gets a bullet!"

The Augustus Empire wasn't as 'civilized' as his past life—whoever had a gun was boss. Imperial law gave Security Officers plenty of leeway, so they still carried considerable weight over ordinary folks.

Otherwise, why carry a gun at all?

Just for show?

You cause trouble, and I'll make you eat lead.

"The rest of you, follow me!"

Leaving a few men to handle the Snake Mouth Gang, Ryan led the others toward the overturned train. The dust cloud quickly cleared, and they advanced with guns raised, only to be stopped by an invisible force.

There was nothing there, but it felt like a wall blocking Ryan and his team.

"Captain Ryan, this..."

The Security Officers exchanged uneasy glances.

"Don't panic. It's fine. Just hold position."

Ryan didn't explain—in truth, he couldn't. He figured it was some kind of barrier from a Supernatural Being, sealing off the real world from the Inner World.

There were definitely Supernatural Beings fighting inside. Even with guns, they'd likely die if they went in.

A barrier like this was a whole different league from 228 Black Ding Street. Ryan wisely chose to keep his men outside.

At the same time, he signaled for 'Lin Qi' to prepare for battle, though the chances of getting involved in this situation were slim...

Not long after, the barrier suddenly vanished.

Several figures burst out of the train cars.

Ryan fired two shots but missed. The group fled toward the station exit without looking back.

They moved so fast no one on scene could react. Soon after, Jonathan stumbled out of the same car, one hand rubbing his ass, the other flicking his cigarette to the ground and cursing loudly.

"Fucking bastards!"

"Director!" Ryan glanced between the train and the fleeing group. "What's going on?"

"Forget it. The Princess isn't here."

"Not here?"

This train was exclusive to Caslathdi, with only four cars. Aside from the engine, the rear three had landed intact.

But no one had come out of them. Jonathan waved his hand, signaling Ryan to pull back and head to the station first.

A diversion? Or a stealth move?

Ryan was more than happy to leave. But before going, he had the Snake Mouth Gang thugs all tied up. With things blowing up this big, they'd need an explanation for the public, right? Yeah, just pin it on gang violence.

An hour later.

Ryan and Jonathan returned to the Bureau of Governance substation.

The latter took a call—from the mayor's office.

"Her Highness the Princess changed the date." Jonathan hung up and shook his head. "Postponed to the day after tomorrow for Berman City."

"She played everyone for fools." Ryan spread his hands. "But at least it cleared the path ahead."

"No kidding. Her Highness's move was ruthless. Too bad the Hand of Darkness pulled out fast—we didn't catch them."

"Are they that strong? Even you couldn't handle them, Director?"

"Strength is one thing; restrictions are another." Jonathan said, "You'll understand later. Cults are called heresies not just because they worship Outer Gods, but because of how they operate. Saving people is always harder than killing them. Without certainty, starting a fight causes too much fallout."

This mission's priority was ensuring Caslathdi's safety. Once he confirmed she wasn't in the train, Jonathan had no intention of fighting the Hand of Darkness to the death.

After all, they were at a train station. If they went all out, casualties would be unpredictable.

Ryan sighed. "Good people always end up with guns pointed at them."

Jonathan paused, then laughed. "That's actually got some truth to it. But being good feels better than being bad—at least, that's what I think."

"The Director sees the big picture."

"Save the flattery. Go interrogate those Snake Mouth Gang guys."

Jonathan didn't expect a bunch of thugs to give him any leads, but procedure had to be followed.

And sure enough, the Snake Mouth Gang boss knew nothing—a perfect idiot pawn.

Still, Ryan figured this was Adler's doing again. But trying to drag him down now would put Ryan in danger too, so it was better to leave things as they were.

That evening, as Ryan was about to clock out, Jonathan suddenly came back.

"Come to my office."

Colleagues packing up for the day shot Ryan sympathetic looks.

The Bureau had been working overtime nonstop lately. Finally getting to leave on time today, they were all relieved.

"Vice Captain, we're heading out first~"

"The Vice Captain is swamped with work, the Director's right hand and left arm."

Watching his grinning subordinates ready to leave, Ryan's lips curled into a Dragon King Smirk. "Jason, Katenna, you two go investigate the Mafia's recent movements. The day after tomorrow is when Her Highness the Princess arrives in Berman City—we can't have another incident like today's."

"Whoa! Vice Captain, no!"

"This kind of thing can wait until tomorrow!"

"Go on, I'll count it as overtime."

"You're an absolute demon!"

Amid a chorus of groans, Ryan walked into the Director's Office, thoroughly satisfied.

Jonathan was holding a report in his hand—the interrogation results from the Burning Covenant on Sam.

"There's something I need you to investigate."

Blood Cult members in Berman City were nothing suspicious; those bastards were like cockroaches in the gutter, everywhere.

But right now, everything was sensitive because of Caslathdi's arrival. According to Sam's interrogation, there were a few suspected Blood Cult strongholds, and Jonathan wanted Ryan to scout them out.

"Remember to go at noon. Morning or evening, it's easy to run into trouble," Jonathan reminded him.

Fewer people in the morning and evening, dangerous. During the day, bring two subordinates with guns, and it'd be basically fine.

"Alright."

Ryan glanced at the locations to investigate and quickly got a feel for it. In the game, the Hand of Darkness was the surface enemy; the Blood Cult was Berman City's main storyline, because behind them stood Mayor Bill.

What was that saying—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

The wisdom of the ancestors played out perfectly in this other world.

But at this point in time, Bill wouldn't make a move, so the Blood Cult posed no threat.

And these places were actually just hiding a bunch of small fry.

Tomorrow, bring some people over, be careful, and it'd be fine.

"Tonight's the fifth day." Back at his place, Ryan couldn't wait to open the game. Lin Qi's Job Change Mission was on its final stage today, and he was dying to know what hidden class he'd end up with.