Chapter 3: I Am Your Superior

Chapter 3: I Am Your Superior

"Sir...," Shelley couldn't bring herself to sit down in front of Lucas and respectfully asked, "Your relationship with the Grand Princess…"

Lucas replied with utmost seriousness, "That's right, it's exactly as you think. However, my relationship with Agatha is very private. I wasn't planning on letting you know.

But...

It seems that if I don't explain, you might kill me.

I've heard that the Seawall District branch in Storm City has a unique way of handling things, and today, I've truly experienced it… It's quite different from hearing about it."

Shelley quickly instructed Zane to remove the corpses.

Then, she respectfully apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. I apologize for our offense against you. Actually, you just needed to show your appointment letter, and we would have known you are our detective. There was no need to show us such private magical images."

Lucas knew Shelley still wanted to see the appointment letter.

But he didn't have one to show.

Relying on his memory, Lucas recalled a segment from the "Epoch" game's quest flow.

The official Seawall District Intelligence Bureau detective was set to arrive tomorrow.

"Since you know about my relationship with the Grand Princess, you should understand that my presence here is due to a secret mission entrusted to me by Her Highness. For safety reasons, my appointment letter and I arrived separately. Moreover, the person carrying the appointment letter is unaware of my existence. He has been told that he has been appointed as the detective for the Seawall District Intelligence Bureau."

"Why?" Shelley asked, confused.

Lucas found a photo of an appointment letter in his phone's files and said to Shelley with a commanding tone,

"This arrangement is a special precaution by the Grand Princess for my safety! Additionally, it serves to make someone with a sensitive identity disappear.

The specifics are beyond your rank to inquire about. The appointment letter's number is: OEOFT3694457; the encrypted message includes: fox, turtle, codfish, yellow flag, tinfoil, square table; my code name is: Meteor.

After confirming the information, kill the person who arrives and bring all his belongings to me. Understood?"

"Kill him!?" Shelley's face showed concern.

Lucas sternly addressed her, "Do you have doubts? Are you questioning me or questioning the Grand Princess?"

"I wouldn't dare… I wouldn't dare…," Shelley responded hastily.

By now, Shelley was almost completely convinced of Lucas's identity. After all, someone capable of creating such magical images must have an extremely intimate relationship with the Grand Princess.

Someone with such a close relationship with the Grand Princess being sent to the Seawall District must be on a critical mission.

Arriving separately from the appointment letter was indeed a safe strategy.

After all… the royal power struggle had been intensifying.

Anyway, when the "Inspector" arrives, comparing the information in the appointment letter would reveal everything.

Lucas stood up, stretching his limbs, which were numb from being tied up.

"I'm tired. Arrange a place for me to stay."

Shelley said, "Inspector… it's already late at night, and the Seawall District is very unsafe. If you don't mind, you can stay at my place tonight. Tomorrow we'll go to the bureau together; your subordinates are looking forward to your arrival."

Lucas considered it.

He was currently weak and defenseless. Staying alone in a hotel in the Seawall District might mean he wouldn't live to see the next day.

Staying at Shelley's place seemed better. He'd have a free bodyguard and could sleep soundly.

Lucas also needed time to investigate what changes had occurred in his phone that charged through his consciousness.

As for why Shelley invited him to her home, whether out of genuine concern for his safety or for other reasons...

There was no need to overthink it.

After all, Grand Princess Agatha was now his shield. Shelley couldn't possibly travel to the capital to confirm with Agatha.

Matters of the royal family were not something a convict like her could question.

Would he be exposed later?

Grand Princess Agatha had a tight grip on the Intelligence Bureau, ensuring no one else could infiltrate. All officers above the branch level were personally selected and appointed by her.

Moreover, they never used their real names, only code names.

This meant that as long as he didn't confront Agatha face-to-face, no one could prove he was an impostor.

The priority was to stay alive first, then decide whether to escape or stay based on the situation.

Lucas replied, "I'll stay at your place."

Shelley instructed Zane to continue cleaning up the interrogation room, then led Lucas outside.

It was already late at night.

The smooth cobblestone streets reflected the dim light of the street lamps. On either side stood houses with steep, European-style rooftops.

The walls were covered in moss from lack of maintenance, with mushrooms growing in some places.

The air was thick with the smell of the sewers and the salty scent of the sea carried by the wind.

A few startled crows flew off the nearby telephone poles, cawing loudly.

In the distance, there seemed to be screams coming from another part of the district.

A drunkard wobbled down the road, clutching a bottle. Shelley wheeled out a steam-powered motorcycle.

She mounted it and said to Lucas, "Inspector, it's too late to find a car. Ride with me."

Lucas's eyes lit up at the sight of the steam motorcycle.

He circled the rugged machine, admiring it. "Thunder BUM007, manufactured by Imperial Geobell Steam Heavy Industries, winner of fifteen steam engineering design awards.

Unfortunately, after the Thunder BUM007, Geobell Steam Heavy Industries shifted its focus to military machinery.

The Thunder BUM007 became a swan song, and due to the scarcity of replacement parts, there are fewer and fewer of them.

You've kept yours in excellent condition. Truly remarkable."

Lucas genuinely admired the motorcycle before him.

In the game "Epoch," steam and alchemical machinery created countless masterpieces that left players in awe.

The Thunder BUM007 was one such masterpiece.

Its uniqueness made the dwindling number of Thunder BUM007s highly collectible.

Shelley's Thunder BUM007 was so coveted that players offered exorbitant sums to buy it from her, all of which she refused.

Even maxing out her favorability in the game wouldn't get the bike from her.

This showed Shelley's deep affection for the Thunder BUM007.

Shelley sat astride the motorcycle. The bike's large frame forced her to lean forward significantly to grip the handlebars, creating a graceful arch in her back that accentuated her shapely, uplifted posterior.

With such a figure and skin, it was hard to believe she was over forty.

But as a human with Medusa blood, she was in her prime at this age.

Flattered by Lucas's praise of her beloved bike, Shelley smiled and said, "Inspector, you have a keen eye. Hop on. The sooner we get back, the sooner we can rest."

"Alright!"

Lucas climbed onto the seat behind Shelley.

She started the steam engine, and the powerful thrust propelled the motorcycle forward in an instant.

Unsteady, Lucas instinctively wrapped his arms around Shelley's waist.

The Thunder BUM007 lived up to its name—fast and exhilarating!