"Eleanor Bennett?"
"Present!"
Eleanor straightened up a little nervously.
Ever since being assigned to the Night Watch Bureau headquarters in the Imperial Capital, she had been tucked away in a post so idle it could have grown mushrooms.
The pay was generous and the work was easy. To many people, it was a cushy job.
But Eleanor had only recently graduated. The passion and drive of a trainee detective still ran in her blood, and she was at the most restless age of her life. After much hesitation, she had finally worked up the courage to submit an application-a transfer to the front lines!
"Come with me." The staff member holding her file wore a peculiar expression, as though he had spotted some rare animal.
People volunteering for the front lines were certainly a rarity at headquarters.
Hopefully, she would not regret it.
"Your application has been approved. As a full detective, you'll be assigned an area of responsibility-don't worry, our assignments here are absolutely fair. The underground [The Thinker] Difference Engine handles all the calculations and allocations."
He glanced at the document in his hand.
"See, you've been assigned to the Hearthfire District. The Sterling Family has properties there. It's one of the districts with the best public safety."
"But since you're just taking over, you'll only be doing support work for now-come with me."
Eleanor followed him to a somewhat familiar-looking room. This place, too, was piled high with cardboard boxes.
"I've read your file. You handled Difference Engine reports at the New Scandinavia branch too, didn't you?"
"Yes, sir!"
"You'll manage the reports here as well-you can familiarize yourself with them first. Once the handover is more or less complete, you can officially start going on assignments."
"Yes!"
Eleanor broke into a delighted smile. She had been