chapter_0134

133 – I Would Like to Express My Gratitude

133 – I Would Like to Express My Gratitude

As night deepened, three police cars screeched into the textile factory grounds.

Police officers on patrol in the city center had received a report of gunfire and were responding to the emergency.

No sooner had the vehicles stopped than the police officers piled out, hesitating as they stared at the entrance of the textile factory.

Sergeant Coparo, the last to get out, shouted loudly as if for everyone to hear.

“This is it! Everyone, take out your pistols! If those bastards are still inside, we might have to subdue them!”

Hearing Coparo’s words, the police officers tensed up, but all drew their pistols.

Their mouths felt parched, probably from the tension.

One of the rookies glanced at Coparo and said,

“Sergeant, are we really going in by ourselves? Shouldn’t we request support from the riot squad…?”

Annoyed by the rookie’s question, Coparo turned around irritably.

“You stupid bastard. If we request support from the riot squad, do you think only they’ll come? The reporters who love to spread rumors will swarm in, thinking they’ve got a scoop. Can you handle that? If those bastards report a shootout in the city center far and wide, we’ll have to take responsibility for it all, won’t we?”

If an incident occurred right after the coronation, the Imperial Family would certainly not be pleased.

Moreover, a shootout in the city center? It was highly likely to cause problems with public safety.

At that moment, the entire police station would be turned upside down, so Coparo was trying to resolve the incident with patrol officers alone as much as possible.

“If you want to keep working as a cop for a long time, shut your mouth and do as you’re told. Got it?”

The rookie hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Satisfied with the rookie’s attitude, Coparo signaled to advance.

Those with relatively little experience on patrol stuck to the outer wall of the factory, guarding the surroundings, while veterans, including Coparo, lowered their bodies and moved into the textile factory.

The police officers, making crunching footsteps with their pistols drawn, held their breath in tension.

Because a sour smell of blood was wafting from the far end of the factory.

Coparo, hiding between the looms as he approached, soon spotted a corpse lying on the floor.

A pool of blood was collecting under the corpse, which had been shot once in the head.

Thinking the murderer might be nearby, he carefully looked around, but no one was in sight.

Only then did Coparo realize that the murderer had fled, and he stood up.

‘Was it a random crime? For what? Looking for money?’

Coparo walked towards the corpse and saw that the nearby floor was scorched by fire.

Burnt pieces of banknotes decorated the spot.

‘He burned money? Does that mean the motive wasn’t money?’

As he scratched his head at the incomprehensible crime scene, the police officers followed one by one.

“Sergeant, it seems the culprit has already escaped.”

Coparo nodded.

“Looks like it. Secure the scene and be careful to preserve the evidence. I’ll talk to the Inspector… What’s that?”

A textile dyeing machine that had been pushed aside caught Coparo’s eye.

Curious, he approached and saw a staircase leading down below.

Swallowing hard, Coparo met the eyes of a nearby police officer and then looked down again.

“…This is messed up. Why the hell is something like this in a textile factory?”

“I know, right? It’s not like they made a secret space to play cards.”

“Haa. I knew something unlucky would happen today. Hey! I’m going in, everyone follow me!”

Coparo shouted loudly and went down the stairs with his pistol raised.

As it began to get dark, a police officer behind Coparo took out a flashlight and pressed the power button.

Click—

The fan-shaped light revealed an iron door in front.

In a strange tension, Coparo reached out, grabbed the handle, and gently pushed it.

‘It opens.’

Realizing it wasn’t locked, Coparo took a deep breath and kicked the door open.

Bang! As soon as the door opened, Coparo raised his pistol and aimed.

“Police! If you don’t want to die, everyone…”

He shouted spiritedly, but the rest of his words trailed off.

Because in the huge bunker-like basement, numerous people were already lying motionless.

Most seemed to have fainted, but some were bleeding, as if they had been shot.

Coparo stared at them blankly and slowly raised his head.

“What is this…”

What he saw in front of him was a huge map of the Imperial City.

On both sides of it, radar screens and surveillance equipment were lined up.

Electronic devices he had never seen before were also densely packed.

Sweating, Coparo opened his mouth after a brief silence.

“Riot squad, no. Contact the Security Agency. It seems we’ve found the hideout of enemy spies…”

“Sir? Is that okay?”

Coparo replied to his subordinate’s question with a mixture of frustration and anger.

“Then do you think this is something we can handle on our own, you idiot?”

Judging by the scale alone, this was definitely not something a single police station could handle.

*

Two days later, at the General Staff Headquarters.

In Daniel Steiner’s private office.

“Today’s Imperial Daily.”

As soon as he sat down, Lucy approached and handed him the newspaper.

Daniel responded with a smile as he received the newspaper.

“Thank you.”

Lucy bowed her head and returned to her original seat.

After confirming that Lucy had returned to her seat, Daniel unfolded the newspaper.

He needed to pay attention to public opinion within the Empire, so he wanted to check what articles had been published.

‘Let’s see. Today…’

Daniel, having checked the front page of the newspaper, was filled with interest.

【Security Agency Succeeds! Enemy Spy Hideout Swept Away!】

Below the article was a photo of Security Agency police officers investigating what appeared to be a textile factory.

‘The Security Agency did something…’

From Daniel’s perspective, who had previously argued with the Security Agency police, this was not a welcome article.

‘Besides…’

He felt strangely uncomfortable thinking that Lucy would have seen this article as well.

Because Lucy would have been involved with them too.

He wanted to read her mind to see what she was thinking now, but judging from her calm expression, she would never reveal her true feelings.

So, as he was glancing at Lucy, a knock suddenly sounded.

“Come in.”

As Daniel permitted, the door opened and Ernst appeared.

He thought he was just going to ask to have a cup of coffee in the lounge, but Ernst seemed somewhat flustered.

Ernst, choosing his words, opened his mouth somewhat cautiously.

“I’m just asking in case, but have you been up to something again lately?”

“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”

“Someone from the Security Agency came. None other than the Director of the Security Agency himself. He said he wanted to see you, but I have no idea why.”

Why the Director of the Security Agency? Daniel was flustered, but he quickly got up from his seat.

“Where is the Director of the Security Agency now?”

“He’s waiting for you in the reception room.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Thinking he shouldn’t delay, Daniel immediately went out into the hallway.

Daniel thought seriously as he walked.

The Director of the Security Agency was virtually at the top of the Imperial City’s power structure.

Using the authority he possessed, making a person a cripple was nothing to him.

Of course, that range would not extend to Daniel Steiner, but it was still threatening.

‘Why would such a person want to see me? Did he find out that Lucy is a spy?’

If not, he might have been caught trying to escape the Empire all this time.

The probability was very low, but if the Security Agency had conducted a persistent investigation, the possibility was not entirely absent.

‘Considering that the Security Agency police suspected Lucy before, maybe he came to test me…’

Thinking so, a groan naturally flowed out.

Assuming the worst-case scenario and continuing to walk, Daniel was able to reach the reception room located on the first floor.

Opening the door and entering, he saw the Director of the Security Agency sitting alone, having dismissed his subordinates.

It was Otto Whitmore, the head of the National Security Agency and in charge of counterintelligence operations during wartime.

‘I heard he comes from a prominent noble family…’

If the Director of the Security Agency was included in the noble alliance that was at odds with the Emperor, and he had come here to help the alliance, it would be a very troublesome matter for Daniel.

There was nothing to be gained from turning the Director of the Security Agency into an enemy.

“Oh.”

While Daniel was racking his brain, Director Otto lightly raised his hand.

“You’ve arrived! I was wondering when you’d come.”

A sense of burden was felt from his relaxed smile for some reason.

“I came as soon as I received the call, so I apologize if I was delayed.”

As Daniel approached, Otto let out a hearty laugh and shook his head.

“I think my words have put unnecessary pressure on you. I was just expressing my desire to see Colonel Daniel Steiner as soon as possible.”

Otto pointed to the sofa on the opposite side of the table.

“More importantly, shouldn’t we sit down and talk?”

“That would be good.”

Daniel smiled and sat down on the sofa, and Otto smiled.

He was middle-aged, but his unique sharp lines concealed the fact that he was old.

“There are many things I want to ask, but first, I would like to express my gratitude. On behalf of the Security Agency.”

Gratitude? Gratitude for what? From Daniel’s perspective, who had hindered the investigation but never helped, it was a somewhat absurd statement.

So, without answering, he stared silently, and Otto said in a serious tone.

“I’m talking about wiping out the armed enemy spies at the textile factory. I heard that you subdued the enemies in a very clean and sure way, to the point that no evidence was left at all. Others may not know, but I know. Because I have received several reports related to it.”

Otto looked around once, raised his hand to his mouth, and whispered quietly.

“That this was done by Colonel Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel fell into even deeper confusion at the words of the Director of the Security Agency.

‘……Me?’

Because it was the first time he had ever heard of it.

Author’s Words (Author’s Note)

Thank you for the 10 coin donation, GomGomGomBearYuna! I am the one who is grateful that you come to see it every time! Thank you for the donation! I will work hard in the future!

Thank you for the 24 coin donation, machining! I am so happy that you are enjoying it! Consecutive chapters… Heuk! I will try my best! Thank you so much for the donation!

Thank you for the 2,000 coin donation, RKYLE…? Teacher? I am very embarrassed if you suddenly give me so much money…! Of course, I am happy…! Isn’t the message you left too cool!? Anyway, thank you so much! I will buy a lot of coffee with the money you gave me and use it as much as I ate! Please keep watching in the future! Thank you so much!

Thank you always to all the readers who read it!

The seasonal flu is rampant these days, so I hope everyone is careful!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow!