The Detective's Lecture

Luke hadn't expected that the Mad Axe Gang he'd cut through yesterday was one of the main financial backers of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau.

It was like the Dragon King's temple being flooded by his own forces, with one family not recognizing another.

Huh?

I'm not even family with the Secret Intelligence Bureau, so how could I be family with the Mad Axe Gang?

But, a monk has to chant sutras for as long as he's a monk. Since I plan to hold onto the detective's position for a while, I need to consider the wallets of my subordinates.

Luke stood up, "Since the Mad Axe Gang is our own people, when they encounter something like this, of course we should help them out as much as we can.

Black Mamba, Pisco!"

Shelley and Pisco immediately stood at attention.

"Please, Detective, give us your orders!"

"Deploy the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force, and accompany me to the Mad Axe Gang headquarters to handle this case!"

"Yes, Detective!"

The Special Task Force's full name was the Special Mission Action Team, the grassroots enforcement arm of the Secret Intelligence Bureau.

Shelley and Pisco were the captain and vice-captain of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force.

With the detective's orders, Shelley and Pisco left the office to gather the men.

Luke took this time to examine his new work environment.

There was a Secret Intelligence Bureau detective badge in the drawer.

He put it on.

The "former" detective's cane was still there, its style, material, and craftsmanship better than the one he'd bought.

He switched it out.

Beside the desk was the "former" detective's suitcase.

The lock on the suitcase had already been opened, presumably when the "former" detective had picked up his appointment letter.

Inside were some clothes and personal items.

A stack of cash, he pocketed it.

And a gun!

This was a rare item.

Because the Era World possessed all sorts of extraordinary powers, coupled with subpar gunpowder quality, firearms for individual use had not been widely adopted.

Guns were very high-end alchemical machinery products, and bullets also required special manufacturing. Whether for purchase, maintenance, or use, they incurred significant expenses, making them a weapon with poor cost-effectiveness.

In the game Era, the firearm build had many devoted players.

It was just that the strength of the firearm build was only in the early game; its performance in the mid-game was average, but as various stats began to inflate in the late game, the ceiling of firearms was exposed.

And for Luke at this moment, having a gun was truly a godsend.

In the game Era, Luke had also played with firearms during his early game exploration, and he recognized the model of this gun at a glance.

Wolf Dagger No. 4: (General Purpose)

Designed and manufactured by the Imperial Alchemy Machinery Bureau, exclusively for the Imperial Secret Intelligence Bureau.

Unlike Shelley's military-grade firearm, the Wolf Dagger No. 4 was designed with the operational environment of Imperial secret agents in mind, making its body much smaller.

It was easy to carry discreetly, more suitable for assassinations and dealing with sudden situations.

The gun's structure was similar to a revolver, with a cylinder that could hold six bullets.

Inside the "former" detective's suitcase were a shoulder strap, a holster, and a box of bullets. Luke took off his coat, put on the shoulder strap, attached the holster, and then loaded the gun and placed it in the holster.

He adjusted it to a comfortable position and practiced drawing and firing a few times.

Just then, Shelley pushed open the door and said, "Detective, the men are ready."

Luke put away his gun, put on his coat, polished his detective badge, put on his gentleman's hat, and picked up his cane, walking out.

"Clear the way!"

"Yes, Detective."

A convoy was parked on the road outside the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau building.

Three sidecar motorcycles led the way.

In the middle were three very period-appropriate black cars, with two flags flying on either side of the front: one was the Imperial Golden Shield Flag, and the other was the Secret Intelligence Bureau's One Leaf Obscures the Eye Flag.

Behind them were two trucks, their cargo beds loaded with four Reaper Combat Machines.

The Imperial secret agents standing around the vehicles were uniformly dressed in leather jackets, wearing bowler hats, and carrying Secret Intelligence Bureau standard long sabers at their waists.

Moreover, they all bore more or less extraordinary modifications.

Their imposing demeanor was enough to clear the entire street without any need for forceful eviction.

Seeing this, Luke, who had just walked out, exclaimed that the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force had brought out their trump cards for the Mad Axe Gang.

This was a show of force to all the factions in the Cape District, meant to reassure the wealthy patrons behind the Secret Intelligence Bureau.

"The Inspector is here!"

Pisco, standing at the doorway, shouted loudly as soon as he saw Luke emerge.

All the Special Task Force agents deployed this time drew their swords and stood before him.

"Inspector, please address us!"

Luke stopped on the steps of the Secret Intelligence Bureau entrance, leaning on his cane with both hands.

He said to his subordinates, "I! Codename: Meteor. From today onwards, I am the Inspector of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau in Raging Wave City, Empire. I will be fully in charge of the work of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau.

We received word this time that the Mad Axe Gang headquarters was invaded last night, resulting in heavy casualties. I judge... that there is likely a hidden plot behind this matter that threatens the security of the Empire. Therefore, I order...

The Special Task Force of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau to immediately proceed to the Mad Axe Gang headquarters, take full control of the crime scene, and prevent the situation from escalating.

Get in the cars, let's go!"

"Yes, Inspector!"

All the Special Task Force agents sheathed their swords and boarded the vehicles in an orderly fashion.

Pisco quickly ran to the side of the lead sedan and opened the door for Luke.

Luke sat in the back seat, and Shelley immediately climbed in after him.

Pisco took the co-pilot's seat.

Once everyone was in, the convoy started.

The first three sidecar motorcycles sped ahead with sirens blaring, their riders waving swords and shouting to clear the way, causing chaos.

It had the imposing air of an imperial procession.

Without encountering any obstacles, the convoy arrived at the Mad Axe Gang headquarters.

Outside the towering castle walls, various people had gathered, each with their own agenda. There were individuals with clear gang affiliations, merchants dressed as gentry, and laborers from the docks.

Most conspicuous were the security officers in dark uniforms and peaked caps.

They were gathered at the entrance to the castle gate, facing the Imperial agents and Mad Axe Gang members who were blocking their entry. Some security officers had already drawn their standard-issue sabers.

Identical Reaper Combat Machines, under the control of their pilots, drew swords over two meters long, poised to force their way in.

The few Imperial agents present were struggling to control the situation.

It was at this moment that the Special Task Force of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau arrived.

All the vehicles honked their horns, and without swerving, they drove directly towards the people blocking the road, startling them into hastily making way.

The Secret Intelligence Bureau convoy charged to the castle gate.

The Special Task Force agents leaped from the vehicles, drawing their swords in unison. Their posture suggested an immediate readiness for battle, causing the security officers to also draw their weapons.

Two official armed forces of the Cape District formed a standoff outside the castle gate.

The Reaper Combat Machines carried on the trucks behind them were activated.

They resembled mechs, standing three meters tall, with open cockpits for their heads.

The Imperial agents piloting the combat machines jumped down from the trucks, drew their long swords from sheaths on their backs, and advanced with heavy steps.

Their swords dragged on the ground, sending sparks flying.

One security officer shouted, "What does your Secret Intelligence Bureau think you're doing? Are you trying to rebel?!"