Isaac realized what was going on and understood the intention.
At present, the Church of the Golden Bough is proactively relinquishing authority to the Joint Investigation Bureau, reducing its influence in secular affairs, and cooperating with the Grand Duke to promote the establishment of a new order. As the pivotal figure connecting the two sides, Vilka naturally does not want to engage in a public display of power at this critical juncture.
If word got out that the cardinal of the Church of the Golden Bough had ventured alone into the wilderness and unleashed divine punishment to slay the calamity, it would certainly demonstrate Vicania's power, but it would undoubtedly be a counterproductive boost to the Joint Investigation Bureau's authority.
"So she wants this operation to be nominally attributed to the Joint Investigation Bureau," Isaac said.
"That's right. The official statement to be released will be: The Joint Investigation Bureau's Ninth Special Investigation Section successfully carried out a covert operation and killed Calamity Sequence No. 83, ' Shepherd ' Mary. Specific details of the operation are classified and will not be disclosed."
What if an "insider" insists on knowing the details?
" The Section Nine's classified files require the director's authority to access. That bald guy Parker knows what should and shouldn't be approved in these matters, so he'll pass the buck back to me. After going around in circles, most people will give up. And those who don't give up are just the ones I can make things difficult for."
Isaac thought for a moment. Section Nine itself was a semi-independent unit within the Joint Investigation Bureau, with ambiguous authority. It was difficult for outsiders to obtain accurate information, let alone verify the details of the operation.
Those who have access to information must find Carlo, and Carlo has a hundred ways to thwart their inquiries, from ignoring them to changing the subject, and even spouting nonsense to lead them in the wrong direction, all depending on his mood that day.
In the end, only a handful of people actually got access to the truth: the Grand Duke, the Pope, and the Director. And those few people had a tacit understanding; they probably all hoped that this matter would end this way.
The two returned to 122 Red Maple Street, Fenri looked up.
"Take the dog with you when you go out tomorrow; who knows, it might kill a few sheep." Carlo nodded at Fenri.
Isaac looked over. " Fenri, can you handle those sheep from the night before last?"
Fenri let out a snort, tinged with disdain, and turned its head to the side, as if it didn't think the question was worth answering seriously. It flicked its tail as if in agreement.
Isaac read the meaning in its reaction: That's it?
It seems that Fenri might have trouble dealing with the " Shepherd " himself, but dealing with the sheep shouldn't be a problem, since he started by saying "I am".
Although he was defeated by Carlo's punch, his fundamental abilities were still there, so he couldn't possibly be unable to handle even a few sheep.
At noon, Isaac followed Carlo to the Joint Investigation Bureau again for lunch.
Carlo was used to this atmosphere and walked straight down the corridor. Isaac followed behind him, and after walking for a while, they realized that this was not the way to the cafeteria, but the way to the logistics department.
The door to the logistics department was ajar. The bespectacled clerk from yesterday was flipping through a booklet. When he saw Carlo, his expression stiffened for a moment. Then, seeing Isaac following behind him, he realized that Carlo wasn't there to cause trouble and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mr. Schuster, Mr. Lessing, are you here to collect your equipment? Your application has been approved."
He moved among the shelves, picked up a few items and placed them on the table. On top was a black trench coat, a white shirt, and black trousers, the same style as the uniforms of other Joint Investigation Bureau agents. The trench coat had no epaulets or numbers, indicating that Isaac was an unofficial member.
"The uniform was provided according to your registered size; it should fit well." The clerk pushed the uniform aside, took out a small wooden box, opened it, and inside were 12 Holy Silver bullets.
" Holy Silver bullets are standard issue; you can request more once you run out. However, non-official personnel receive fewer bullets than regular agents, and any excess must be purchased at their own expense—15 shillings per bullet."
"So expensive, although the Holy Silver Bullet is indeed worth the price..." Isaac picked up a bullet and examined it. The craftsmanship was also from the Church of the Golden Bough, but it was much newer than the bullet in his own revolver that came from his adoptive father, Edward.
The clerk opened another drawer. "We have three styles of holsters: underarm, waist, and leg. Which one would you like?"
Isaac usually travels in plainclothes and doesn't go around as a Joint Investigation Bureau agent, so it's better to hide his weapon discreetly... Isaac pondered for a moment and said, "This, an underarm holster."
The clerk pushed the holster in front of Isaac, Isaac picked up the uniform, bullets, and holster together and went to Carlo's office first, intending to leave the things there temporarily, while Carlo went to the cafeteria first.
Upon entering Carlo's office, there was an extra table and chair in the corner, which should be the place Carlo mentioned for Isaac. It seems that the Joint Investigation Bureau had already set it up by the end of the morning.
Isaac spread his things out on the table, tried on his holster, then holstered his revolver. He stretched his arms, shook out his black trench coat and put it on, then walked to the window and looked at his reflection in the glass.
The holsters under his arms fit well, not hindering large movements, and were invisible once his jacket was on. The Joint Investigation Bureau uniform looked much more smart than his work jacket, but it was too formal, as if he were going to some formal official occasion.
He took off his trench coat, folded it neatly, placed it on the table, and walked out of the office.
At this time of day, most people were either in the cafeteria or out handling cases. He was heading towards the cafeteria when he turned around and saw something squatting not far away.
It was a long-haired cat with fluffy silver-white fur and its tail wrapped around its body. It was sitting upright in the middle of the corridor, its amber eyes looking at him and sizing up this new face who had appeared at the Joint Investigation Bureau.
Isaac recalled the Joint Investigation Bureau's old cat, Carlo: "... Patch?"
The cat's ears twitched slightly, as if in response to the address.
Isaac crouched down and reached out tentatively. Patch's eyes followed his hand, and just before he touched its head, it turned its head away, avoiding his touch, and casually licked its front paw.
Isaac withdrew his hand. It seemed this cat was quite aloof, or perhaps, as a newcomer, he wasn't yet qualified to touch it?
Just then, footsteps came from the direction of the stairs. Patch jumped up and turned in that direction.
Hmm? What's wrong?
Isaac looked up and saw Carlo walking towards him from the other end of the corridor, holding a half-eaten pie in his hand, complaining as he went, " The Joint Investigation Bureau is hopeless, even their pies are filled with mashed potatoes..."
As Carlo approached, Patch arched its back, its tail snapped open, and made a loud—
"Ha--"