Secret Investigation Bureau

"Are you really ready?"

"Uncle Yuan, thank you very much for your concern," Wei En said with utmost seriousness. "But please believe that I am capable of handling this job."

How could he possibly refuse? This job paid five shillings a week.

And compared to other places, the Secret Investigation Bureau had an exceptionally high safety rating, easily ranking among the top five in the entire Kaster City-State.

"I'll believe you for now." Seeing his expression, Yuan beckoned. "Come with me. I've already prepared a letter of recommendation for you."

"Thank you so much."

Wei En followed him into Morris Clinic.

In the original owner's memories, he had greatly envied the clinic's decor. A skeleton model, a spider doll, and all sorts of bizarre specimens... it looked more like a Ghost than the room arranged by the Specter School.

But the moment Wei En entered the clinic, he overturned all of the original owner's memories!

To the left of the entrance, the skeleton model the original owner had assumed was decorative was actually a Skeleton Warrior.

The faint black gleam flickering in its eye sockets, the chilling aura radiating from its entire body, and the rusty two-handed greatsword beside it all proved its identity as an Undead Creature.

The enormous spider "doll" on the ceiling had remained perfectly still ever since it saw him enter.

But its six barbed legs, three pairs of wide-open eyes on its head, and the spider silk swaying through the air... even a blind man would know it was alive!

And what were all those jars and bottles displayed in the cabinets?

Eyeballs from unknown creatures, internal organs from unknown creatures, prosthetic limbs from unknown creatures...

Hmm??

Did that look like a human leg?

Wei En's mouth twitched as he looked over the room's bizarre furnishings.

Was this really a clinic?

Heaven knew whether people came here to be treated or buried...

Yuan took out a roll of Parchment from a drawer beneath the desk. Noticing Wei En's curious gaze, he smiled. "So? My clinic is great, isn't it?"

"It's great! Uncle Yuan, one look tells me you're an exceptionally skilled doctor!"

At a time like this, who cared whether the lie was well-intentioned? Staying alive was what mattered.

"Don't let its size fool you. This is definitely one of the best clinics in Kaster City-State."

With a proud look on his face, Yuan said, "Wei En, since we're neighbors, I'll give you a twenty percent discount whenever you come see me in the future."

Are you serious? Actually... there was really no need for that!

"Thank you..."

"No need to be polite, Wei En. When I see you, I think of myself when I was young. Just as handsome and dashing, just as adventurous."

As he spoke, Yuan handed him the scroll. "If it weren't for Kali, perhaps I'd still be a ship's doctor, sailing the four seas aboard the White Rose. I..."

"Uncle Yuan, my interview is almost due. I'll be going now."

Without waiting for him to finish, Wei En stepped forward, took the scroll, and turned to leave. "When I get back, I'll definitely listen carefully to your glorious deeds."

Having senses that were too sharp was not necessarily a good thing.

The spider silk above his head kept drifting about, while the sound of a greatsword scraping against the floor occasionally came from behind him. It made him want to escape this place.

"Huh? Wei En, then I wish you good luck."

Watching his departing figure wave farewell without turning around, Yuan smiled faintly. "What a polite young man. Shame he's male."

"Hisss..."

"Hey, how does that make me a daughter-doting father? Kali is beautiful, graceful, gentle, and Kindness... she deserves the most outstanding young man in Kaster!"

"Hiss?"

Yuan looked up at the Spider and explained, "She's my daughter. Of course I have to choose her husband carefully."

At that moment, the Skeleton Warrior that had been posing as a model by the door for so long slowly turned around. "Clack, clack." (Morris, he noticed me.)

Yuan froze for a moment, then glanced thoughtfully toward next door. "Come to think of it, it is indeed about time for him to become a Wizard Apprentice."

"But compared to the previous Intelligence Officers, he really is... low-key."

He truly had not expected someone so timid to agree to his suggestion and choose to join the Secret Investigation Bureau.

Oh, right!

It seemed he had forgotten to explain the work responsibilities of the Secret Investigation Bureau's Logistics Department.

Forget it. Given the turnover rate of Ghost Intelligence Officers, a little "accident" like this would not make much difference.

Yuan muttered a few words under his breath, then turned around, opened a suitcase, and busied himself with several newly collected mutated organs.

After walking for nearly half an hour, Wei En finally found 102 Dumitru District, where the Secret Investigation Bureau was located, using the address Yuan had provided.

Dumitru District was more prosperous than Golden Street near the slums.

The roads were wider and smoother, while the buildings on both sides were tall and exquisite. Their heavy Gothic style filled the entire district with a mysterious, tranquil atmosphere.

Shop after shop lined both sides of the street, and elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies arriving in carriages entered them with graceful steps.

From time to time, squads of Garrison Guard in standardized silver-white armor patrolled through the district, carrying Rune Guns.

The rumbling steam cars stood out sharply among the carriages, always making passersby stop and stare with envious expressions.

The streetlights placed every ten steps apart further highlighted Dumitru District's special status.

The concentration of Dawn Radiance gave those living here a greater sense of security.

Clearly, this was the core district of Kaster City-State.

Wei En did not linger to look around. Having to detour around Crimson Cathedral made his already limited time even tighter.

He walked straight through the doors of the Secret Investigation Bureau. After explaining his purpose to the guard, he was taken to the Logistics Department on the third floor.

Ding-ling.

"Minister Yegor, the person you were waiting for has arrived." The guard knocked on the door and saluted the man inside with one fist pressed to his chest.

"Mm. Let him in."

The guard stepped back, gave Wei En a friendly smile, then turned and left.

Wei En followed him inside and looked at Minister Yegor—

His short gray-and-white hair stood upright in sharp tufts. His skin was pale but rough, and he had thick brows, large eyes, and full lips. A vicious Scar ran from the side of his nose to his temple. Rather than damaging his appearance, it added a touch of authority.

He was exceptionally tall and powerfully built, a typical trait of the Alders of the Eastern Continent.

At that moment, he wore a common Kaster sailor's undershirt and lounged lazily in a high-backed chair, his feet propped on the desk as he puffed smoke from a cigar.

Wei En had not expected his interviewer to be the Minister of the Logistics Department. Slightly stiff, he said, "Minister Yegor, I'm Wei En Loft. I am..."

Yegor interrupted him. "I know. Yuan introduced you. I have to say, he finally did something right this time."

As he spoke, he gave Wei En a casual glance and asked, "Tell me, where are you from? Drake, Eaton, or Okanbe?"

"You rarely see Salute People in Kaster—or even in the entire Shetland Kingdom."

Wei En pursed his lips and answered, "Prieto City-State in the Drake Republic, Minister Yegor."

It seemed this Minister of the Logistics Department was not easy to get along with.

"So you're from Drake. That makes sense. Only that gentle climate in the entire Eastern Continent could raise such a pretty young man."

Yegor's tone was somewhat flippant, as though he found it unremarkable that a foreigner from thousands of miles away had appeared in Kaster City-State.

Pr-pretty?

Was that really a word for describing a man?

Before he could object, Yegor continued, "When can you start work?"

Was the topic supposed to jump around this much?

Wei En was stunned for a moment before replying, "Tomorrow!"

"Oh, in the afternoon, right?"

Hmm??

Had he used the wrong word, or was there something wrong with the other man's Ears?

Yegor finally changed his posture, lowering his feet. From beneath the messy pile of books, newspapers, official letters, and other documents on the desk, he found a sheet of Parchment and pushed it over. "Sign it."

"...I passed the interview?"