Luke hadn't expected the Mad Axe Gang he'd cut his way through yesterday to be one of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's backers.
Talk about the floodwaters washing into the Dragon King's temple—family members failing to recognize one another.
Hmm?
The Secret Intelligence Bureau and I aren't family. What does that make the Mad Axe Gang?
Still, you did the job in front of you. Since he planned to hold the detective chief's position for a while, he had to consider his subordinates' livelihoods.
Luke stood up. "Since the Mad Axe Gang are our own people, of course we should lend them a hand when they run into trouble.
"Black Mamba, Pisco!"
Shelley and Pisco immediately snapped to attention.
"Please give us your orders, Detective Chief!"
"Deploy the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force. Come with me to the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters to investigate!"
"Yes, Detective Chief!"
The Special Mission Action Team, or Special Task Force, was the Secret Intelligence Bureau's ground-level enforcement unit.
Shelley and Pisco were the captain and deputy captain of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force.
With the detective chief's orders in hand, Shelley and Pisco left the office to assemble the team.
Luke took the opportunity to inspect his new workspace.
There was a Secret Intelligence Bureau detective chief's badge in the drawer.
He put it on.
The "former" detective chief's cane was still there. Its design, materials, and craftsmanship were all better than the one he'd bought.
He took it.
There was also a suitcase beside the desk, left by the "former" detective chief.
The mechanism on the suitcase had already been unlocked. The "former" detective chief must have opened it when he took out the appointment letter.
Inside were some clothes and daily necessities.
A stack of banknotes. He pocketed it.
And a gun!
Now that was a rare find.
Since the Era World had all kinds of supernatural powers, and the quality of its gunpowder was unreliable, firearms designed for individual use had never become widespread.
Guns were high-end alchemical machinery, and their ammunition had to be specially made. Buying, maintaining, and using one all cost a great deal, making them poor value for money.
In the Era Game, the firearms build had plenty of devoted players.
It was only strong in the early game. Its performance was average in the midgame, but by the late game, when all kinds of stats started to balloon, firearms hit their limits.
For Luke, though, having a gun right now was like a lifeline arriving in a blizzard.
He'd played a firearms build while exploring the Era Game, so he recognized the model 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-issue firearm, the Wolf Dagger No. 4 was made for the working conditions of Imperial Secret Agents, so it was much smaller.
It could be carried discreetly and was better suited to assassinations and emergencies.
Its design was similar to a revolver, with a cylinder that held six rounds.
The "former" detective chief's suitcase contained a shoulder strap, a holster, and a box of ammunition. Luke took off his coat, put on the shoulder strap and holster, loaded the gun, and slid it into the holster.
He adjusted it until it sat comfortably, then practiced drawing and firing a few times.
Just then, Shelley opened the door. "Detective Chief, the men are ready."
Luke put the gun away, slipped on his coat, wiped off his detective chief's badge, donned his gentleman's hat, and picked up his cane.
"Let's move!"
"Yes, Detective Chief."
A convoy was parked on the road outside the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau building.
Three motorcycles with sidecars led the way.
Behind them were three old-fashioned black cars, each bearing two flags on the front: the Imperial Golden Shield Flag and the Secret Intelligence Bureau's One Leaf Obscures the Eye Flag.
Two trucks followed, carrying four Reaper Combat Machines.
The Imperial Secret Agents standing around the vehicles all wore leather jackets and bowler hats, with standard-issue Secret Intelligence Bureau long knives at their waists.
Most of them had undergone some kind of extraordinary transformation, too.
They looked so menacing that they cleared the entire street without having to chase anyone off.
Luke had barely stepped outside when he saw the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force bringing out everything they had for the Mad Axe Gang.
They were flexing their muscles in front of the Cape District's various powers, reassuring the Bureau's wealthy backers.
"The detective chief has arrived!"
Pisco spotted Luke coming out and immediately bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Every Special Task Force agent set to deploy drew their knives and held them upright before themselves.
"Please give us your orders, Detective Chief!"
Luke stopped on the steps outside the Secret Intelligence Bureau, both hands resting on his cane.
He addressed his subordinates. "I am Meteor, codename: Meteor. Starting today, I am the detective chief of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau in Raging Wave City, and I will oversee all its operations.
"We've received word that the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters was invaded last night, resulting in heavy casualties. I believe... there may well be hidden circumstances behind this incident that threaten the Empire's security. Therefore, I order...
"The Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force to proceed to the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters immediately, take full control of the crime scene, and prevent the situation from escalating.
"Get in. Move out!"
"Yes, Detective Chief!"
All the Special Task Force agents sheathed their knives and boarded the vehicles in orderly fashion.
Pisco hurried over to one of the middle cars and opened the door for Luke.
Luke sat in the back seat, and Shelley climbed in right after him.
Pisco took the front passenger seat.
Once everyone was aboard, the convoy got moving.
The three motorcycles with sidecars sounded their sirens and led the way. The agents on them waved their knives and shouted at people to clear the road, causing chaos wherever they went.
They had quite the imperial army on the march.
The convoy met no resistance and soon reached the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters.
A crowd with all sorts of motives had gathered outside the towering castle walls. Some were clearly gang members, others were merchants dressed like country gentry, and still others were laborers from the docks.
Most noticeable were the constables in dark uniforms and peaked caps.
They had gathered at the castle gate. Facing the Imperial Secret Agents and Mad Axe Gang members blocking their way, some of the constables had already drawn their regulation swords.
The Reaper Combat Machines were the same as before. Under their pilots' control, they drew blades over two meters long and looked ready to force their way in.
The small number of Imperial Secret Agents on site were struggling to keep the situation under control.
The Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force arrived just then.
All the vehicles honked. They drove straight at the people blocking the road without slowing or swerving, frightening them into scrambling out of the way.
The Secret Intelligence Bureau convoy charged up to the castle gate.
The Special Task Force agents jumped out together and drew their knives in perfect unison. They looked ready to start a fight on the spot, prompting the constables to draw their weapons as well.
The two official armed forces of the Cape District faced off outside the castle gate.
The Reaper Combat Machines on the trucks powered up.
They resembled mechs and stood three meters tall, with open cockpits for heads.
The Imperial Secret Agents piloting them drove the Reapers off the trucks, drew their long knives from the slots on their backs, and strode forward with heavy steps.
Their blades dragged along the ground, throwing off a stream of sparks.
One constable shouted, "What do you Secret Intelligence Bureau think you're doing? Are you trying to rebel?!"
Before you continue