chapter_0028

27 – Just in Case, But As Expected

27 – Just in Case, But As Expected

Meanwhile, the mafia members fell into a state of utter chaos upon confirming that their boss, Nickel, was dead.

After a brief commotion, they soon began to seriously discuss “who” had killed their boss.

During this process, a member of the organization emerged, claiming to be a witness.

The witness’s name was Baldron Mechalan.

Baldron had seen a woman jump from the third floor while he was smoking a cigarette by the open window on the second floor.

At first, Baldron thought he might have seen it wrong, but after hearing that the boss was dead in the room, he became convinced that the woman was the assassin.

Baldron shared this information with the other members, and the enraged members united with the thought of finding the woman to avenge their boss.

And now.

Baldron frowned as he peered through a foldable telescope at the fifth-floor window of the restaurant.

“She has brown hair and is wearing a pure white knit. She has a brown coat draped over her knees and a modest shoulder bag beside her chair. She’s wearing black flat shoes and is quite tall for a woman…”

Except for the fact that she was wearing sunglasses, her appearance matched perfectly with the woman who killed the boss.

After searching the nearby streets, Baldron had finally succeeded in locating the woman who assassinated the boss.

“Damn that bitch…”

Baldron lowered the telescope and ground his teeth.

How dare she kill the boss and enjoy a lavish meal at a restaurant? It was unacceptable.

It felt as if she was mocking his entire organization.

Struggling to calm his boiling anger, Baldron folded the telescope and put it away, then took out his radio.

While glaring at the woman cutting steak on the fifth floor of the restaurant, Baldron pressed the transmit button.

“I found the woman who killed the boss. Her location is Das Aventrich Restaurant on Raven Street 22. It seems she will finish her meal soon, so I hope all members will join me here.”

–

As they finished their meal and stepped outside the restaurant, Cartman bowed his head slightly.

“I have greatly offended you, Miss. I have no words to express my regret. I will apologize once again sincerely.”

While Lucy remained silent, Daniel answered in her stead.

“There’s no need to keep apologizing. Teacher Maylin understands perfectly well. Isn’t that right, Teacher Maylin?”

At Daniel’s prompting, Lucy reluctantly nodded.

Seeing this, Daniel smiled and opened his mouth.

“Then we shall take our leave.”

“Ah, indeed. It was an honor to speak with you, Captain.”

“I too found it a great gain in my life to converse with you, Inspector, who always dedicates yourself to the Empire. Farewell.”

Bowing his head, Daniel turned to leave with Lucy.

After walking a short distance, Daniel glanced back, and Cartman, who had been stroking his chin, turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Thinking he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, Daniel let out a breath of relief.

“You can speak now.”

Having regained her freedom of speech, Lucy hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“…You treated me like a fool.”

“It wasn’t treating you like a fool; it was treating you like a mute. And I believe I mentioned it. I only came out to rescue you from the Security Agency police.”

There was no denying it.

Without Daniel’s help, Lucy would have faced Cartman’s suspicions head-on.

Though her pride was hurt for having received help from an enemy, she had to acknowledge it.

“I will repay this debt someday.”

At Lucy’s softly whispered words, Daniel broke out in a cold sweat without realizing it.

It was unclear whether her promise to repay the debt meant “I will help you” or “I will kill you.”

Unable to read Lucy’s mind, Daniel nodded awkwardly.

“…I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s no need to repay it. Rather, how about we go our separate ways now?”

If they delayed any longer, the dessert shop would close.

Though Daniel wanted to indulge in dessert right now, Lucy shook her head.

“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible.”

What was that supposed to mean? Feeling strangely anxious, Daniel blinked silently as Lucy glanced around with her eyes.

“Listen while we walk. We are being followed. There are people watching us not only behind us but also across the street and a block ahead.”

Being followed? Immediately narrowing his eyes, Daniel scanned the pedestrians on the street.

As Lucy had said, he spotted some individuals in suits exhibiting suspicious movements.

Some of them had their hands in their pockets, seemingly ready to pull out guns at any moment.

Their movements were clumsy for spies.

However, they were clearly organized. It was a private organization.

If members of a private organization were carrying guns, there could only be one answer.

“They’re mafia members.”

Seeing that they seemed to be targeting Lucy, Daniel felt a headache coming on and frowned.

“…Teacher? What on earth have you done to attract the attention of mafia members?”

But Lucy did not answer.

With her characteristic sharp gaze, she quickly assessed the situation and tightly grasped Daniel’s hand.

It was a cold yet gentle grip.

“Captain, I am going to dart into the alley twenty steps ahead from now. You will also become a target for them, so if you want to live, you must follow me.”

It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to save Daniel.

However, if Daniel died, the Empire would seek to uncover the truth, and then Lucy, who had been with Daniel on the day he died, would be caught in the Empire’s investigation.

She wanted to prevent that, so Lucy did not let go of Daniel’s hand.

“Wait a moment, Teacher. If you have a plan, we should discuss it together…!”

When they reached the twenty steps, Lucy suddenly turned and dashed into the ground.

Daniel had no choice but to run along, pulled by Lucy’s hand.

“Shit! They’re running away!”

“That damn bitch noticed! After her!”

“Kill her!”

Shouts erupted from behind, followed by gunfire.

A stray bullet whizzed past Daniel’s ear with a whoosh.

Instinctively ducking his head, Daniel quickened his pace and glared at Lucy.

‘…What kind of grudge does she have? Did she kill a mafia boss or something?’

Though he was bewildered, now was not the time to ponder such questions.

“Left!”

Following Lucy’s command, Daniel turned the corner of the alley.

After running about halfway down the alley, Lucy suddenly hid behind an industrial trash bin.

Daniel, caught off guard, had no choice but to hide with her and catch his breath.

“…Why are we hiding all of a sudden? Are you planning to take on all the members here?”

Nodding, Lucy pulled out a detonator with a red button from her shoulder bag.

She had previously planted bombs on the inner walls of the alley in case they were pursued by the members, and now she was about to use them.

‘Huh. She’s quite thorough in her preparations…’

Understanding roughly what Lucy was about to do, Daniel held his breath and waited.

“They’ve entered a dead end! After them!”

“Fire as soon as you see them! Kill that bastard next to her too!”

The shouting members rushed into the alley.

However, Lucy and Daniel were not visible to the members.

Unaware that Lucy and Daniel were hiding behind the trash bin, the members moved deeper into the alley, puzzled.

“What is this? I clearly saw them go in.”

“Did they jump over the wall? No way they could have cleared that height?”

“Damn it. Did anyone check behind the trash bin?”

Just as the members’ voices drew closer.

Without hesitation, Lucy pressed the button on the detonator.

Right after that.

KABOOM─!

With a tremendous explosion, the wall burst apart, sending flames shooting out.

The strong shock was so intense that Daniel instinctively shut his eyes tight.

“Ugh. Damn…”

A ringing filled his ears.

After taking a few deep breaths, Daniel slowly opened his eyes.

Finally regaining his senses, Daniel clenched his teeth and stood up.

As he looked back at the spot where the explosion had occurred, he saw mafia members lying among the fallen bricks.

Nearly thirty members were sprawled out, bleeding and groaning.

“Ha…”

As he stared blankly at the absurd scene, new footsteps echoed from beyond the alley.

Thinking it might be the remaining members, Daniel reached for his gun, but the footsteps were light and lively.

“Explosion! Did you hear the explosion!?”

“What happened? Did a pipe burst or something?”

“I don’t know, but let’s go check it out! It might be a scoop!”

Clearly, they were reporters rushing to any scene of an incident.

With the tension easing, Daniel withdrew his hand from his gun holster and spoke.

“Do you know what you just did over there…?”

As he spoke, he looked for Lucy, but she was nowhere to be found.

Had she jumped over the wall and escaped at the moment of the explosion? That high wall?

As Daniel let out a sigh of despair, the reporters rushed in.

At the same time, the reporters froze.

With nearly thirty people lying in the alley, bleeding, and a military officer standing there unscathed, the intimidation was palpable.

Wondering what on earth was happening, one reporter looked down and then widened his eyes.

“Wait… Aren’t these Nickel’s subordinates?”

Each of the fallen had a hyena tattoo etched on their necks.

This indicated that they were members of Nickel, one of the mafia bosses.

Other reporters soon confirmed this fact and looked up.

Only then did the reporters recognize the officer’s identity, and smiles crept onto their faces.

They had caught a whiff of a scoop.

“It’s Captain Daniel Steiner!”

“…What? Oh my god! It’s really Captain Daniel!”

As the reporters made a fuss, citizens who had heard the explosion began to gather one by one.

The citizens arriving in the alley wore expressions similar to the reporters, glancing around and murmuring.

Feeling an ominous premonition, Daniel raised both hands and said, “Everyone, there’s been a misunderstanding. I didn’t do this—”

“Everyone, gather here! Captain Daniel Steiner has once again dedicated himself to the Empire! He has wiped out the mafia organization!”

The reporter’s voice drowned out Daniel’s words.

Believing the reporter, the citizens soon erupted in cheers, chanting Daniel’s name.

As applause began to pour in, Daniel half-gave up and closed his eyes.

‘This is insane…’

It was no longer surprising.