Sure enough, I got screwed

"The entire Secret Investigation Bureau, from top to bottom, is divided into five departments besides the High-Level Committee."

"Our Logistics Department is one of them. There's also the Property Management Department, responsible for allocating supplies and developing equipment; the Secret Intelligence Department, responsible for gathering intelligence; and the 'Death Announcers,' who speak to the public."

"The Death Announcers?" Wei En asked in confusion. "What kind of department is that?"

Lacy said flatly, "It's another name for the External Publicity Department. They're called Death Announcers because most of the time they need to speak publicly, it's about bad news."

"More precisely, they're the department that announces casualty figures and the results of case resolutions."

"I see. Then what's the last department?"

"The Combat Department, the core department of the entire Secret Investigation Bureau. They..."

Lacy paused slightly. "Well, you'll understand when you see them. In short, everyone who can join the Combat Department is crazy."

As they walked, she introduced not only the Secret Investigation Bureau's situation, but also several things he needed to be mindful of, doing her best to give him a thorough understanding.

This left Wei En with a very favorable impression of Lacy.

Still, he was not idle while listening. He looked around from side to side, and everything here felt fresh to him.

Of course, he mainly "looked" through his sensory abilities.

What left the deepest impression on him was a place called the Detention Zone.

When they passed by it, he sensed an extremely strange fluctuation, similar to the feeling from when he activated the Runic Array that morning.

But it was stronger and more bizarre, as though it wanted to swallow him whole.

According to Lacy, the most dangerous things in the entire Kaster City-State were imprisoned there. She had not specifically referred to living creatures, so there were likely quite a few bizarre Forbidden Objects inside as well.

"Our Secret Investigation Bureau doesn't have many rules, but there's one you must remember."

Lacy stopped walking and looked at Wei En solemnly. "Never discuss anything related to faith in front of the Director!"

Things related to faith?

Wei En looked at her in confusion.

Although he had not been in this world for long, he knew that churches held an absolute advantage in many places.

Especially churches with numerous believers, like the Church of Dawn. Even in a coastal city-state like Kaster, it could stand on equal footing with the Storm Church.

"Captain Lacy, do you mean churches like the Church of Dawn?"

"All of them."

Lacy continued walking. "Dawn's Light, the Storm Sea God, Earth's Abundance, and the Red Moon Hanging High—anything related to those four churches is forbidden."

"Just remember that. Under normal circumstances, the Director is quite easy to talk to."

Wei En nodded. He did not think it was a big deal. The man was simply a superior with a few odd quirks.

"We're here. This is the Property Management Department."

Lacy stopped outside an iron gate and grumbled, "I really don't know why the Director assigned this place to those worthless parasites!"

Wei En glanced around and praised, "This place is beautiful."

All around them were flowers and plants in all kinds of colors, arranged in layered tiers. Some of the flowers looked expensive at a glance; they were far too vivid.

There was a fountain by the entrance. Its water was crystal clear, obviously maintained regularly.

What surprised him most was the building before him. Just from its exterior, he could feel how utterly out of place it was compared to the other buildings.

The main doors were made of heavy Ironwood, carved with exquisite patterns.

The supporting pillars on either side were even more extravagant, made from White-veined Stone. Even the original Wei En, who had known little of the world, knew that this stone cost as much as Gold Pounds.

The ground was paved with flooring made from the same stone, polished brightly enough to serve as a mirror.

Uh...

Purple!

Wei En took one glance at the ground, then hurriedly covered his nose and looked elsewhere.

He had no idea which genius had decided to lay "mirrors" across the floor. It was far too unfriendly to women dressed lightly...

"The best location in the entire Secret Investigation Bureau, the most luxurious building... It's said that when this place was built, it used up three years' worth of departmental funding."

Lacy curled her lip. "I thought the previous Director had built it for the higher-ups. Who would have thought he was raising a bunch of trash that just ate and waited to die?"

"You seem to really..."

"Despise them!"

Lacy glanced at the floor and realized she was exposed as well. She awkwardly pressed her legs together. "Most people in the Property Management Department are descendants of personnel who died in the line of duty."

"Originally, the Bureau hoped they would inherit their predecessors' will, use the Property Management Department's resources to improve themselves, but... I never expected... never expected them to be so disappointing!"

So they were the Secret Investigation Bureau's second generation. Wei En understood now.

"Ding-dong."

Lacy pressed the doorbell and said irritably, "Get the supplies and get out of here. This damned floor... If I could afford the compensation, I'd smash every last piece of it."

Before the door opened, a voice came from within. "That won't do, Lacy. Even if you broke just one piece, a year's salary wouldn't be enough to pay for it."

"Somlai, open the door already."

"Coming. What's the rush? We've worked together for so long. You should understand the working style of our Property Management Department by now, right?"

"I don't understand it." Lacy held down her skirt with one hand, trying to minimize her exposure.

Seeing this, Wei En took off his coat and handed it to her. "Captain Lacy, use this."

Lacy quickly tied the coat around her waist, her expression relaxing slightly. "I won't bother thanking you. Tonight, I'll treat you to a taste of Kaster's nightlife."

"No need to be so polite."

Still, nightlife and all... that was definitely necessary!

At that moment, the gates slowly opened inward.

A young man with the Secret Investigation Bureau's dark blue uniform draped over his shoulder walked out. He glanced at the floor and curled his lip. "Lacy, we're old friends. It's not good to be so guarded around me."

"Cut the crap!" Lacy snorted. "Our Logistics Department has a new colleague today. I'm too lazy to beat you up."

"A new colleague?"

Only then did Somlai notice Wei En beside her. A flash of displeasure crossed his face, but he laughed loudly. "Welcome, welcome! Welcome to the Secret Investigation Bureau. I'm Somlay Arias from the Property Management Department."

"Wei En Loft."

For some reason, after this man appeared, Little Ashi's gaze had remained fixed on Somlai. It did not even look at Lacy's magnificent pale assets anymore.

That made Wei En interested in the person before him.

"Then come with me. The equipment is in the warehouse next door."

A faint arrogance lingered on Somlai's face as he turned lightly and led the way.

"You go on. I'll wait outside." Looking at the even brighter floor inside, Lacy frowned.

"Alright."

With that, Wei En followed him, just like Little Ashi, keeping his eyes fixed on Somlai.

"Judging by you, you're not from Kaster, are you?"

"I only arrived recently."

Somlai turned back to glance at him, his gaze scrutinizing. "You dared to join the Secret Investigation Bureau just after arriving, and the Logistics Department—the most dangerous department aside from the Combat Department, at that. Are you a supernatural professional, or an inheritor with supernatural bloodline?"

Wei En froze for a moment, not because of the question, but because of the phrase "the most dangerous Logistics Department."

"The most dangerous... Logistics Department?"

"So you know absolutely nothing about the Secret Investigation Bureau. Heh!"

Somlai revealed an inscrutable smile and looked at him. "Wei En, right? I hope I still see you at the Secret Investigation Bureau in the future."

After saying that, he offered no further explanation and merely quickened his pace, apparently unwilling to waste time on someone unimportant.

Seeing this, Wei En developed a bad feeling. This Logistics Department might not be what he had imagined.

It seemed he would need to ask the captain clearly about the Logistics Department's duties later...

"Stop spacing out. I still need to head to the cathedral later, so hurry up."

Somlai took out a sheet of Parchment, spread it across the table, and called out, "Sign your name here. Also, I need to remind you that the Secret Investigation Bureau's funding is tight."

"After your equipment is damaged, you'll have to pay half the repair costs."

Wei En looked at the suitcase in his hand and asked, "Are the repair costs expensive?"

"Expensive... is that all? Rookie, put away that pitiful imagination of yours."

Somlai sneered. "What's in this case is the finest and most powerful standard-issue equipment in the entire Kaster City-State."

"Other than some privately customized equipment, nothing is more valuable than this. Just selling this set on the black market would make you rich overnight."

"You don't really think we're the worthless trash Lacy says we are, do you?"

Wei En blinked. "You mean it can be sold?"

If it really could make him rich overnight, then this deal was not impossible.

At worst, after selling the equipment, he could leave the Shetland Kingdom and run far away.

As for whether the Property Management Department people were trash... what did that have to do with him?

"..."

Somlai looked as though he had seen a ghost. Even the veins on his forehead twitched. "If you dare sell them privately, just wait for the Combat Department's lunatics to come knocking!"

"I was just joking."

Wei En signed his name, picked up the case, and casually asked, "Brother Somlai, are you also going to the cathedral to watch Archbishop Kland lead the hymn?"

"Who cares about that old man? I'm going to see my goddess Kali... Why are you asking?"

"Goddess Kali?"

"What does that have to do with you?"

Wei En watched his gaze turn dangerous and pretended to be delighted. "If you mean Goddess Kali from Crims Academy, I think I know her."

Since Little Ashi was so interested in him, it would be good to leave a hook.

"You? You know Goddess Kali?"

"Yeah."

Somlai said disdainfully, "Then I know her father too... Get lost already. Don't delay me getting off work!"

"See you around, Brother Somlai."

Seeing that he did not believe him, Wei En said no more. He shrugged and turned to leave.

The hook had already been set. There would be plenty of chances later.

After leaving the Property Management Department, he saw Lacy standing beside the fountain with an impatient expression. Beside her stood a tall, burly man.

"...Santiago, I've already made my stance clear. Please stop appearing in front of me."

"Lacy, I know you misunderstand me. Time will prove that only I am the Montoya Family's strongest inheritor."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Captain Lacy, I've collected my equipment."

Hearing the voice, the burly man turned and glanced at Wei En. After tossing out a "We'll talk next time," he turned and left.

Lacy did not respond to him. Instead, she handed the coat tied around her waist back to Wei En. "Let's go."

Wei En stood there blankly for a long time before suppressing the trembling in his body. He took the coat and stiffly put it on. "Who was that?"

"Santiago. He's from the Combat Department, a complete lunatic! If you see him in the future, stay far away from him."

Wei En nodded calmly. "Oh."

That look... it was fucking terrifying. He had thought he was about to die.

The instant his eyes met that man's, he felt the world spin. Vaguely, he seemed to see a giant towering into the clouds roaring at him.

Lacy examined him, seeming to realize something. Her expression turned furious. "That bastard! He actually used Intimidation on you!"

"The next time I see him, I won't let him off!"

"Intimidation?"

"A mental secret art. As long as your Mental Level is not higher than the caster's, you'll be forcibly stunned. In severe cases, you could even become an idiot!"

Lacy gritted her teeth. "I didn't expect him to dare attack you. Isn't he afraid of the Director's punishment?"

"It's fine. Now I know for next time."

Wei En appeared unconcerned, but he silently remembered Santiago's name.

He would definitely get even someday!

"Let's go. Once we're back, I'll introduce you to the Secret Investigation Bureau in more detail."

"Mm."

Wei En followed behind her with the suitcase. "By the way, I still don't know the Logistics Department's job responsibilities. Can you explain them to me?"

"Hm? Didn't Yegor explain them when you signed your employment contract?"

"Perhaps Minister Yegor forgot."

"That bastard!" Lacy cursed again. "I knew he hadn't told you anything. Wasn't that deliberately screwing you over?"

"..."

Had she forgotten that when they first met, she had used the word "trick"?

"Our Logistics Department's full name is actually the Logistics and Investigation Department! In truth, our scope of work has absolutely nothing to do with logistics."

"...Then what exactly do we do?"

Although Wei En had mentally prepared himself somewhat, when he truly heard this, he still felt like he had been scammed!

"Our work mainly consists of two parts."

Lacy said somewhat awkwardly, "One is investigating all mysterious cases within Kaster's urban area. I know it's inappropriate to put it this way, but this work is actually very dangerous!"

"So I'll be entering all kinds of dangerous places?"

"Not just that. It also includes dealing with followers of evil gods, supernatural professionals who have lost control, and..."

"And what?!"

Wei En rolled his eyes. He already understood what the Logistics Department did.

To put it more vividly, they were police in the supernatural world!

"We also need to gather as much information as possible about the weaknesses of those bizarre creatures, to help Combat Department personnel in battle..."

"In other words, we have to fight those bizarre creatures first?"

"Not necessarily." Lacy said embarrassedly, "It's fine if you learn about them through other methods..."

Wei En drew a deep breath and decided not to dwell on that question. Instead, he asked, "What about the other part?"

"The other responsibility is handling the aftermath of cases!"

At this point, Lacy's expression eased, and she smiled. "I guarantee you'll be absolutely satisfied with this duty!"