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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Security Bureau Police and Spy
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I swallowed hard, adjusting the knot of my uniform tie.
'For now…'
It would be best to act as naturally as possible.
I cleared my throat once and walked towards Lucy.
"I was a little surprised to meet someone in a place like this. More importantly, there's blood on your coat. Did something happen here?"
Lucy paused for a moment, then spoke as if nothing was amiss.
"There was a commotion."
"...A commotion?"
"Yes. To explain what happened, I am an emergency medicine specialist and a surgeon working at Central Hospital. After leaving work, I was walking down the street when I encountered a citizen bleeding from a robbery. The blood got on my coat while I was performing emergency first aid to stop the bleeding."
Her tone was remarkably calm and matter-of-fact.
Furthermore, less than thirty seconds had passed since our eyes met and I asked my question, yet she rattled off a plausible excuse at such a rapid-fire pace that it was astonishing.
'This must be what an intelligence operative is like.'
As I approached, marveling inwardly, Lucy, in turn, posed a question.
"May I ask why an officer like yourself is here?"
Unlike Lucy, I had no need to lie.
"It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I got lost while taking a shortcut to a new dessert shop that opened on the outskirts of the capital."
"...A dessert shop, you say?"
Her incredulous counter-question filled me with a strange sense of shame.
Judging by her reaction, it seemed that in this era, it wasn't considered normal for a man to go to a dessert shop alone.
However, I couldn't give up what I liked just to care about other people's opinions.
"Is there a problem?"
Lucy hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"No. I was just a little surprised. That Captain Daniel Steiner, who is famous for being utterly cold-blooded, would eat junk food that only a child would like."
That stings a bit.
"Please choose your words carefully. Desserts are not junk food."
"...My apologies. More importantly, if you're lost, I can guide you."
Guidance, huh. It was unsettling, but if it was just until we left the alley, it didn't matter.
"Refusing a citizen's kindness would not be a virtue for an officer. I will gladly accept your help. As you seem to already know, I am Captain Daniel Steiner, of the General Staff."
"I am Maylin Seavrite, a surgeon from Central Hospital."
Lucy and I exchanged a light handshake, then walked down the alley.
I walked half a step behind, observing Lucy.
Perhaps thinking that discarding her coat in front of me would arouse suspicion, Lucy had flipped it inside out to hide the bloodstains and was carrying it draped over her arm.
She had a shoulder bag slung over her shoulder, and it looked very much like she carried a pistol and other assassination tools in there.
'...I must absolutely prevent her from opening that shoulder bag.'
There was no telling what kind of tragedy would unfold the moment she opened it.
Lucy Emilia's combat prowess was beyond imagination for a mere intelligence operative.
Though she might not be aware of it herself yet, if she were to use all her abilities, she could single-handedly wipe out a small battalion.
That's why I wanted to avoid her as much as possible, but not only did she become my subordinate, now she was impersonating a doctor in front of me, which was a headache.
One fortunate thing was that Lucy would also be uncomfortable being with me, so we could part cleanly once we left the alley.
"Here we are."
As Lucy and I emerged from the alley, a main street with a streetcar passing by unfolded before us.
It seemed to have truly become evening, as all the streetlights were lit.
The gentle breeze carried the soft murmur of pedestrians.
Enjoying the pleasant streetscape, I was about to open my mouth to part ways with Lucy when I paused.
"Oh! Captain Daniel? Is that really Captain Daniel?"
A pedestrian in a police uniform walking on the sidewalk of the main street recognized me and called out.
The pedestrian, observing me carefully as he approached, soon exclaimed in admiration.
"Ah! It is Captain Daniel! My goodness! To think I'd see the Empire's hero on the street!"
I had expected someone to recognize me, but running into a police officer while I was with Lucy, who was in disguise, didn't feel good.
'Besides…'
That navy blue police uniform, as far as I knew, could only be worn by those belonging to the Security Bureau.
Those from the Security Bureau were commonly known as 'secret police' or 'thought police.'
It meant they were individuals trained solely for counter-intelligence.
Lucy seemed to know this as well, as she adopted a slightly tense demeanor.
Of course, the pedestrian, unaware of our predicament, chuckled and extended a hand to me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Daniel. I am Chief Inspector Katman Schultz of the Security Bureau."
Since he was offering a handshake, I couldn't ignore it, so I smiled and shook his hand.
"Captain Daniel Steiner of the General Staff. It's unusual to meet someone from the Security Bureau on the street."
"Ahaha. This area isn't my jurisdiction, but I have a reservation at a nearby restaurant. Coincidentally, it lined up with my off-duty hours, so I came in uniform."
Katman, having finished the handshake, snapped his fingers as if a good idea had struck him.
"Since we've met like this, how about we have a meal together? Of course, it'll be on me. If it's alright, I'd like to invite your friend next to you as well."
This was not good. Should I just say she's not an acquaintance?
No. If I did that, they would ask why we came out of the alley together if we weren't acquaintances.
Suspicion of everything was an occupational hazard for Security Bureau police officers.
So, to prevent the situation from becoming complicated, the best option was to pretend she was an acquaintance but refuse the dinner invitation.
Searching for a natural way to decline, I began to speak.
"I am truly grateful for the dinner invitation, but I got quite lost on the way here, so I'm extremely tired."
"Ah. If that's the case, you don't need to worry. The restaurant I'm going to is right around the corner. Do you see it over there?"
Katman pointed with his hand, and indeed, the restaurant was literally just one block away.
Realizing I could no longer refuse, I nodded.
"If you put it that way, I can't refuse any further. Let's go."
At my words, I saw a tense Lucy secretly swallow hard, but there was nothing I could do.
This was beyond my control.
*
The restaurant we entered with Katman was a high-end establishment used by the upper class.
The tableware, interior, and even the waiters' uniforms were all so luxurious that it was a feast for the eyes.
We sat at a window table overlooking the city, guided politely by a waiter. After placing a simple order, Katman looked at me with a gentle smile in his eyes.
"It's amazing no matter how many times I see it. It's almost moving to see a hero I've only read about in newspapers and seen on TV, right before my eyes."
"Hero? That's far too much."
"No need to be modest, Captain. After all, there are quite a few fans of yours even within our Security Bureau. I'm one of them too, haha. I'll boast about meeting you today for generations to come."
Katman, who had been continuing our pleasant conversation, cast his gaze towards Lucy, who was sitting next to me.
His gaze was curious, as if something puzzled him.
"...But your friend isn't taking off her sunglasses? There's no need to keep wearing sunglasses indoors, is there?"
He wasn't wrong. But the moment Lucy took off her sunglasses, her red eyes would be revealed.
Then, I couldn't tell what Lucy might do, judging that she could no longer hide her identity.
"And she hasn't said a word since we arrived. She must know it's impolite to continue like this in such a setting. If your hand is uncomfortable, I can take your sunglasses…"
Katman reached out his hand towards Lucy's face.
Lucy, seemingly deciding that she couldn't deceive both the Security Bureau police and me simultaneously, was moving her hand under the table, trying to open her shoulder bag.
It was an explosive situation. Sweating coldly, I quickly grabbed Katman's wrist.
"...Huh? Captain?"
I offered an awkward smile to Katman, who turned to look at me.
"My apologies. I completely forgot to introduce her. This lady next to me served as a military doctor on the Eastern Front. Unfortunately, she suffered an eye injury from an enemy soldier back then… You understand what I mean, don't you?"
Hearing my words, Katman let out a sympathetic "Ah."
"My goodness. I had no idea such a terrible thing happened. I apologize. She's wearing sunglasses to cover her injury, and I almost committed a blunder. But her quietness…"
So this is what a Security Bureau police officer is like.
He wasn't quick to dismiss his suspicions.
My mind raced for a moment, then I spoke with a sorrowful expression.
"She suffered from aphasia due to the trauma. She's in a state where she can't speak even if she wants to."
Katman withdrew his hand, wringing his fingers with a guilt-ridden expression.
"...Now that you mention it, I've been incredibly rude. I'm truly sorry. It's just that my job involves suspecting others. Hmm. I'll go to the restroom for a moment to clear my head."
Katman pushed his chair back and stood up, then bowed politely towards Lucy.
After seeing Katman walk towards the restroom, Lucy turned her head to me.
She seemed quite confused.
I cleared my throat once and whispered, just loud enough for Lucy to hear.
"I know. That you, Doctor, are innocent. But the person across from us is Security Bureau police. You've heard of special arrest authority, haven't you? It means they can arrest you based on mere suspicion."
It was important to extinguish the suspicion Lucy was likely harboring towards me right now: 'Does Daniel know my true identity?'
"Given that he's risen to the rank of Chief Inspector, he's probably arrested many innocent people, whether he knows it or not. Why else would there be a proverb that says, 'If you're dragged into the Security Bureau, even a normal person comes out a spy'?"
I shrugged once.
"I was just trying to help you, Doctor, from an unnecessary mishap. So, Maylin Seavri… What was your name again?"
Lucy remained silent at my question.
She seemed somewhat angry.
Seeing that, I snapped my fingers as if I had done well.
"Exactly. That's it. You have aphasia. That's a very good attitude. For now, you must maintain that concept until we are away from the Security Bureau police. Understand?"
Lucy still didn't answer. Feeling somewhat frustrated, I tapped the table and said,
"Answer with action. With action."
Perhaps her pride was hurt, but Lucy turned her head away from me and simply bit her lower lip.
This was problematic. Wanting a clear answer, I tapped the table and said,
"Answer."
Only then did Lucy let out a low sigh and give a small nod.
She had decided that following my method was the safest option for now.