Taking Office

The next day.

Luke stretched as he walked down the building after a good night's sleep.

Shelley was doing strength training on the pull-up bar in the living room. Wearing only a bandeau, her abdominal muscles were striking.

Seeing Luke come downstairs.

Shelley got off the pull-up bar and picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her body.

"Detective, how did you sleep last night?"

"Not bad. I'm just a bit hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

Luke checked the time on his phone: 10:00 AM.

It wasn't surprising he was hungry after sleeping until now.

Shelley said, "There's breakfast I left for you in the kitchen. Eat first, I'm going to take a shower. I'll take you to the bureau to meet your subordinates later."

"Okay."

Shelley went upstairs to shower, and Luke walked to the kitchen.

There was a plate on the dining table with bread and a fried fish fillet, and a cup of coffee beside it.

Everything was cold.

It seemed Shelley had woken up early and waited for him until now.

Luke, hungry, finished the breakfast in a few bites. Shelley was also quick, finishing her shower and changing clothes shortly after, then coming downstairs.

Shelley spun the car keys on her finger and asked, "Detective, shall we go?"

"Let's go."

At this time, the real Cape District detective should have arrived. He wanted to meet him.

Luke got into Shelley's BU953 as they left.

When they reached the base of the clock tower, Luke asked Shelley to stop the car.

Shelley asked doubtfully, "Detective, is something wrong?"

The car stopped steadily. Luke said, "Before we go to the bureau, I need to buy some clothes. There's some money I left on top of this clock tower. Go up and get it for me."

"Yes, Detective."

Shelley didn't ask any more questions. She jumped off the motorcycle and began climbing the outer wall of the clock tower.

Luke also jumped off the motorcycle. Seeing a hot dog stand across the street, he crossed the road and walked over.

"How much for a hot dog?"

An old woman was inside the shop. She recognized Shelley, who was climbing the wall, and knew the fearsome reputation of the Secret Intelligence Bureau's Black Mamba.

Seeing Luke arrive in the Black Mamba's car, the old woman quickly wrapped a hot dog and handed it over with trembling hands.

"My lord, it's free."

Free?

Was the Cape District this hospitable?

Luke took the hot dog and took a big bite. It was authentic and delicious, much better than the fried fish Shelley made.

"Mmm! It tastes great. The bread is soft, and the sausage is perfectly crispy. Auntie, your cooking is amazing! Prepare two for me every day from now on..."

Ah!

The old woman almost cried when she heard about preparing two hot dogs every day.

"My, my lord, two is a bit much. My shop is small, and my two sons went out to sea and haven't returned. I still have three grandsons to raise..."

"It's not like I'm not paying you."

Just then, Shelley had retrieved the money Clear Sky had placed. She jumped down from the clock tower, crossed the road, and walked to Luke's side.

She handed him a stack of money. "Detec... My lord, you're quite bold to leave so much money there."

Luke took the money and counted it.

There were ten Gold Vouchers, fourteen Silver Vouchers, and 5430 Imperial Marks.

He then asked Shelley, "Did you used to take people's things without paying?"

Shelley glanced at the old woman, who was trembling with fear.

"My lord, our Secret Intelligence Bureau protects their safety. Do we need to pay for a hot dog from her?"

The old woman heard Black Mamba call this stranger "my lord" and quickly said, "Yes, yes, yes... The Secret Intelligence Bureau protects our safety. No need for money, no need for money.

I'll prepare two hot dogs for my lord every day from now on, and they'll be free."

Shelley looked as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Luke, chewing his hot dog, asked Shelley, "Tell me, how do you protect this auntie's safety?"

"?"

"Let's talk about where your two sons are first."

"This?" Shelley couldn't answer, so she asked the old woman, "Where are your sons? Have them come to our Secret Intelligence Bureau."

The old woman knew she had gotten into big trouble.

Was the Secret Intelligence Bureau a place one could just go to?

Besides... she couldn't go there anyway!

"Miss Black Mamba, my sons set sail half a year ago and haven't been heard from since. I don't know if they're dead or alive..."

Shelley said to Luke, "Sir, it's very common for people not to return from sea voyages."

"Why wouldn't they return? Dead, alive, or missing, who went with them? If something happened to people, someone should be responsible and give the families an explanation.

Black Mamba, eating someone's food for free requires work; protection can't just be lip service.

Consider this the first case I'm taking on after my appointment."

The old woman, hearing that Black Mamba was responsible for investigating her sons' disappearance, quickly said, "No, there's no need, we can find them ourselves."

It seemed Black Mamba's "100% success rate" reputation had already spread far and wide.

Luke placed a ten-mark note on the counter.

"I am the newly appointed detective of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau. You can call me Detective Meteor. I promise the residents of the Cape District that with my arrival, peace will be restored.

Don't worry, as the first case I'm handling in the Cape District, I will definitely give you an explanation.

Let's go!"

"Sir, Detective!"

Shelley hadn't expected Luke to take on cases so casually. Was the esteemed Secret Intelligence Bureau, directly under the royal family, meant for investigating missing persons cases like this?

Moreover, you haven't even officially taken office yet.

But her detective had a strong background, which meant he could do whatever he pleased.

"Helm... send all your son's information to the Secret Intelligence Bureau this afternoon. If it's late, you know the consequences!" Shelley said to the hot dog vendor, then immediately went to chase after Luke.

The old woman watched as Black Mamba sped away with the young man who claimed to be the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's detective, then looked at the ten-mark note on the counter.

She wondered what the outcome would be after provoking the Secret Intelligence Bureau this time.

Sigh...

With money in his pocket, Luke had Shelley take him to a tailor shop.

First, he ordered several suits for different occasions, then bought a ready-made Western suit to replace his "odd attire."

He went to a hat shop and bought a gentleman's hat.

Then to a watch shop and bought a pocket watch.

Finally, he bought a sturdy cane that was easy to wield for hitting people.

A person is judged by their clothes, just as a horse is judged by its saddle.

With a new set of clothes, his entire demeanor changed significantly.

A new detective should have some presence upon taking office.

By the time he had bought everything he wanted, it was already noon.

Shelley drove Luke and stopped in front of a three-story building.

Two guards stood at the entrance. Upon seeing Shelley, they immediately saluted.

Shelley parked her motorcycle to the side and asked one of the guards, "Were there any special matters at the bureau this morning?"

"Captain Black Mamba... the new detective sent by headquarters has arrived."

Shelley looked at Luke beside her and continued, "Where is he?"

"In the detective's office on the second floor..." The guard lowered his voice because of the outsider, "Since you weren't here, the new detective hasn't completed the handover procedures yet and has already gotten angry several times.

Be careful when you go up to see him; our new detective seems to have a bad temper."

Shelley said, "I understand... I'll go up and help him cool down now."