-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: As Expected
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the mafia members plunged into utter chaos upon confirming the death of their boss, Nickel.
After a period of turmoil, they soon began seriously discussing "who" had killed their boss.
During this process, a gang member emerged, claiming to be a witness.
The witness's name was Baldron Mekalana.
Baldron had been smoking by an open second-story window at the time and had seen a woman jump from the third floor, where the boss's room was located.
At first, Baldron thought he might have been mistaken, but after hearing that the boss was dead inside his room, he became convinced that the woman was the assassin.
Baldron relayed this fact to the gang members, and the enraged members united with the resolve to find the woman and avenge their boss.
And now.
Baldron, observing the fifth-floor window of the restaurant through his foldable binoculars, furrowed his brow.
'Brown hair, wearing a pristine white knit sweater. A dark brown coat rests on her lap, and a modest shoulder bag is placed beside her chair. She's wearing black flat shoes. And for a woman, she's quite tall…'
Aside from wearing sunglasses, her appearance perfectly matched that of the woman who killed their boss.
After searching the nearby streets, they had finally succeeded in locating the woman who assassinated their boss.
'That damned bitch…'
Baldron lowered his binoculars and ground his teeth.
To dare to kill their boss and then enjoy a luxurious meal at a restaurant was simply unforgivable.
It was as if she were mocking their entire organization.
Baldron, forcefully calming his seething rage, folded the binoculars, slipped them into his pocket, and took out his radio.
Staring at the woman cutting her steak on the fifth floor of the restaurant, Baldron pressed the transmit button.
"We've found the woman who killed the boss. Location is Das Abenteuerlicht Restaurant, Raven Street 22. She'll likely be finishing her meal soon, so all members are to converge here."
***
After finishing their meal and stepping out of the restaurant, Katman bowed deeply.
"I have committed a great offense against you, young lady. No words can express my regret. I humbly apologize once more."
As Lucy remained silent, Daniel answered on her behalf.
"There's no need for repeated apologies. Miss Myrin fully understands. Don't you agree, Miss Myrin?"
As Daniel gave her a meaningful look, Lucy reluctantly nodded.
Seeing this, Daniel smiled with his eyes and began to speak.
"Then, we shall take our leave."
"Ah, yes. Of course. It was an honor to speak with you, Captain."
"It was also a great gain in my life to converse with an Inspector who constantly dedicates himself to the Empire. Farewell then."
Daniel, bowing his head, turned and walked away with Lucy.
After walking a short distance, Daniel glanced back to see Katman stroking his chin a few times before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
Thinking a burden had been lifted, Daniel let out a sigh of relief.
"You can speak now."
Having regained her freedom of speech, Lucy paused for a moment before speaking.
"...You treated me like a fool."
"Not like a fool, but like an aphasic patient. And I told you, didn't I? I merely stepped in to save you from the Security Bureau police."
He wasn't wrong.
Without Daniel's help, Lucy would have directly faced Katman's suspicion.
Lucy's pride was wounded by receiving help from an enemy, but she had to admit the truth.
"I will repay this debt someday."
At Lucy's quiet whisper, Daniel involuntarily broke out in a cold sweat.
He couldn't tell if "repaying the debt" meant "I'll help you" or "I'll kill you."
Since he couldn't possibly read Lucy's mind, Daniel gave an awkward nod.
"...I appreciate the thought, but there's no need to repay me. How about we go our separate ways now?"
Any further delay, and the dessert shop would close.
Daniel wanted to heal himself with dessert right now, but Lucy shook her head.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
What did she mean, suddenly? Daniel, feeling subtly uneasy, blinked slowly as Lucy glanced sideways at their surroundings and spoke.
"Listen while we walk. We're being followed. There are people watching us not only behind us but also across the boulevard and a block ahead."
Followed? Daniel immediately narrowed his eyes and scanned the pedestrians walking down the street.
Just as Lucy said, some individuals in suits were exhibiting suspicious movements.
Several had their hands in their pockets, looking ready to draw a gun at any moment.
Their movements were too clumsy for intelligence agents.
But they were clearly organized. This meant a private organization.
If members of a private organization were carrying guns, there was only one answer.
'Mafia members.'
It was clear at a glance that they were after Lucy, and Daniel felt a headache coming on as he furrowed his brow.
"...Miss? What exactly have you been doing to have mafia members tailing you?"
But Lucy didn't answer.
With her characteristic sharp gaze, she quickly assessed the situation and simply gripped Daniel's hand tightly.
Her grip was cold, yet soft.
"Captain. I'm going to dash into the alleyway twenty paces ahead. You're with me, so you'll be their target too. If you want to live, you'll have to follow me."
She didn't particularly want to save Daniel.
But if Daniel died, the Empire would try to uncover the truth, and then Lucy, who was with him on the day he died, would be caught in the Empire's investigation net.
To prevent that, Lucy didn't release Daniel's hand.
"Wait, Miss. If you have a plan, we should discuss it together—!"
When they reached twenty paces, Lucy abruptly turned and pushed off the ground.
Daniel, too, had no choice but to run along, pulled by Lucy's hand.
"Shit! They're running!"
"That damned bitch figured it out! Chase them!"
"Kill them!"
Shouts erupted from behind, followed by gunshots.
*Whiz!* A stray bullet whistled past his ear.
Daniel instinctively ducked his head, then accelerated his pace and glared at Lucy.
'...What kind of grudge has she incurred? Did she kill a mafia boss or something?'
He was bewildered, but this was no time to idly ponder his curiosity.
"To the left!"
Daniel rounded the corner of the alley, following Lucy's instruction.
After running about halfway down the alley, Lucy suddenly hid behind an industrial dumpster.
Daniel, caught off guard, also hid with her and caught his breath.
"...Why are we suddenly hiding? Are you planning to take on all the gang members here?"
Lucy nodded and pulled out a detonator with a red button from her shoulder bag.
She had installed bombs inside both walls of this secluded alleyway, just in case they were pursued by gang members, and she was about to use them now.
'Hah. Quite the thorough preparation…'
Daniel, roughly understanding what Lucy was about to do, held his breath and waited.
"They went into a dead end! After them!"
"Shoot on sight! Kill that bastard with her too!"
The shouting gang members swarmed into the alley.
However, Lucy and Daniel were not visible to the gang members.
Unaware that Lucy and Daniel were hidden behind the dumpster, the gang members looked puzzled and moved further in.
"What? I clearly saw them go in."
"Did they climb over the wall? No way they got over something that high, did they?"
"Shit. Did anyone check behind the dumpster?"
The moment the gang members' voices drew increasingly closer.
Lucy pressed the detonator button without hesitation.
Immediately after.
*KABOOOOOM—!*
With an enormous explosion, the walls blew apart, erupting in flames.
The impact was so powerful it shook the ground, forcing Daniel to instinctively squeeze his eyes shut.
"Ugh. Damn it…"
A ringing echoed in his ears.
After taking a few deep breaths, Daniel slowly opened his eyes.
Barely regaining his composure, Daniel gritted his teeth and stood up.
He then looked back at the site of the explosion and saw mafia members sprawled amidst the collapsed bricks.
Nearly thirty gang members lay bleeding and groaning.
"Ha…"
Staring blankly at the absurd scene, he heard new footsteps approaching from beyond the alley.
Thinking it might be stragglers, he reached for his holster, but the footsteps were light and brisk.
"Explosion! Did you hear that 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!"
It was clear at a glance that these were reporters, rushing to any scene of an incident or accident.
Daniel, his tension easing, took his hand off his holster and spoke.
"Do you even realize what you've just done—?"
He spoke, looking for Lucy, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Did she jump over the wall and escape the moment the explosion happened? That high wall?
As Daniel let out a despondent sigh, the reporters rushed in.
At the same time, the reporters froze.
Nearly thirty people were lying bleeding in the alley, and a person in a military officer's uniform stood perfectly fine in front of them, creating an overwhelming aura.
A reporter, frozen in confusion about the situation, lowered his gaze and then widened his eyes.
"These… aren't these Nickel's men?"
Every one of the fallen men had a hyena tattoo on their neck.
This signified that they were members of Nickel's organization, one of the mafia bosses.
Other reporters, belatedly confirming this fact, raised their heads.
Only then, upon confirming the officer's identity, did smiles spread across the reporters' faces.
They had caught the scent of a scoop.
"It's Captain Daniel Steiner!"
"...What? My God! It really is Captain Daniel!"
As the reporters made a fuss, citizens who had heard the explosion also began to gather one by one.
The citizens who arrived in the alley wore the same expressions as the reporters, looking at each other and murmuring.
Feeling an ominous premonition, Daniel raised both hands and spoke.
"Everyone, there seems to be a misunderstanding. This wasn't my doing—"
"Everyone gather around! Captain Daniel Steiner has once again dedicated himself to the Empire! He's annihilated a mafia organization!"
Daniel's words were drowned out by the reporter's booming voice.
The citizens, believing the reporter, soon began to cheer and chant Daniel's name.
As applause began to pour in, Daniel half-gave up and closed his eyes.
'This is insane…'
It wasn't even surprising anymore.