"Cut the crap!" Lisi snorted. "We have a new colleague in the Logistics Department today, so I can't be bothered to beat you up."
"A new colleague?"
Only then did Somlay notice Wei'en standing to the side. A flicker of displeasure crossed his face, but he laughed heartily. "Welcome, welcome! Welcome to the Secret Investigation Department. I'm Somlay Arias, from the Property Management Department."
"Wei'en Loft."
For some reason, from the moment this man appeared, Xiaoxi's gaze was locked on Somlay, no longer even looking at Lisi's magnificent, fair bosom.
This piqued Wei'en's interest in the man before him.
"Then follow me. The equipment is all in the warehouse next door."
A faint air of arrogance about him, Somlay turned casually and led the way.
"You go on. I'll wait for you out here," Lisi said with a frown, looking at the even more polished floor inside.
"Okay."
With that, Wei'en followed, fixing his gaze on Somlay just like Xiaoxi.
"From the looks of it, you're not from Caster, are you?"
"I just arrived not too long ago."
Somlay glanced back at him, his gaze scrutinizing. "Daring to join the Secret Investigation Department right after arriving, and in the Logistics Department of all places—the most dangerous one besides the Combat Department. Are you an Extraordinary Professional, or an Inheritor with an Extraordinary Bloodline?"
Wei'en was taken aback, not by the question, but by the phrase "the most dangerous Logistics Department."
'The most dangerous… Logistics Department?'
"So you don't know anything about the Secret Investigation Department, huh? Tsk!"
Somlay gave him an enigmatic smile. "Wei'en, is it? I hope I'll still be seeing you around the Secret Investigation Department in the future."
After speaking, he didn't explain further, instead quickening his pace as if he didn't want to waste time on someone unimportant.
Seeing this, Wei'en had a bad feeling. 'Maybe this Logistics Department isn't what I imagined.'
'Looks like I need to find the captain later and ask exactly what the Logistics Department's duties are…'
"Stop dawdling. I have to head over to the Cathedral later. Hurry up."
Somlay took out a sheet of parchment and spread it on the table, beckoning. "Sign your name here. Also, I have to remind you, the Secret Investigation Department is on a tight budget."
"If your equipment gets damaged, you have to cough up half the repair costs."
Wei'en glanced at the suitcase in his hand and asked, "Are the repair costs expensive?"
"Expensive…? Ha. Rookie, you have a pitiful imagination."
Somlay sneered, "What's in this case is the finest, most powerful standard-issue equipment in the entire Caster City State."
"Aside from some privately customized gear, this stuff is the most valuable. Just selling this set on the black market would make you rich overnight."
"You don't actually think we're the worthless scumbags Lisi called us, just freeloading and waiting to die, do you?"
Wei'en blinked. "So you're saying… it can be sold?"
'If it really means getting rich overnight, this deal isn't entirely off the table.'
'Worst case, after selling the equipment, I'll just leave the Shetland Kingdom and run far, far away.'
'As for whether the guys in the Property Management Department are scumbags… what's that got to do with me?'
"…"
Somlay looked like he'd just seen a ghost, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "If you dare sell this stuff privately, you can just wait for the madmen from the Combat Department to come knocking on your door!"
"I was just kidding."
Wei'en signed his name, picked up the case, and asked casually, "Somlay, are you also going to the Cathedral to watch Archbishop Klande lead the hymns?"
"Who cares about that old geezer? I'm going to see my Kali Goddess… Why do you ask?"
"Kali Goddess?"
"What's it to you?"
Seeing the dangerous look in his eyes, Wei'en put on a joyful expression and said, "If you mean the Kali Goddess who studies at Krimms Academy, I think I know her."
'Since Xiaoxi is so interested in him, I might as well leave a hook.'
"You? You know the Kali Goddess?"
"Yeah."
Somlay said dismissively, "Yeah, and I know her dad… Now get out of here, don't make me late getting off work!"
"See you later then, Somlay."
Seeing that he wasn't believed, Wei'en didn't press the issue, just shrugged and turned to leave.
'The hook has been set. There will be plenty of opportunities later.'
When he came out of the Property Management Department, he saw Lisi standing by the fountain, looking impatient. Next to her was a tall, powerfully built man.
"…Santiago, I've already made my stance clear. Please don't appear before me again."
"Lisi, I know you misunderstand me. Time will prove that I alone am the most powerful Inheritor of the Montoya Clan."
"And what does that have to do with me?"
"Captain Lisi, I've got the equipment."
Hearing the voice, the burly man turned, shot a glance at Wei'en, and left after tossing out a "We'll talk next time."
Lisi didn't respond to him, instead handing Wei'en the jacket that was tied around her waist. "Let's go."
Wei'en, however, was stunned for a long moment. He suppressed a shiver, took the jacket, and put it on stiffly. "Who was that just now?"
"Santiago. He's from the Combat Department, and an absolute madman! If you see him in the future, remember to stay far away from him."
Wei'en nodded calmly. "Oh."
'That look… was so fucking scary. I thought I was going to die.'
The instant their eyes met, he felt the world spin. Faintly, he thought he saw the silhouette of a giant, towering into the clouds, roaring at him.
Lisi sized him up, and as if realizing something, her expression turned to fury. "That bastard! He actually used Intimidation on you!"
"The next time I see him, I swear I won't let him get away with it!"
"Intimidation?"
"It's a Spirit Secret Technique. As long as your Spirit level isn't higher than the caster's, you're forced into a daze. In severe cases, it can even turn you into an idiot!"
Lisi gritted her teeth. "I can't believe he dared to use it on you. Isn't he afraid of being punished by the Director?"
"It's fine. I'll know for next time."
On the surface, Wei'en seemed unbothered, but inwardly he committed the name Santiago to memory.
'I'll get him back for this if I get the chance!'
"Let's go. I'll tell you more about the Secret Investigation Department when we get back."
"Mm."
Wei'en followed behind, carrying the suitcase. "By the way, I still don't know what the duties of our Logistics Department are. Could you fill me in?"
"Huh? When you signed your employment contract, didn't Yegor explain it to you?"
"Perhaps Minister Yegor forgot."
"That bastard!" Lisi swore again. "I knew he didn't tell you anything! Isn't he just deliberately screwing you over?"
"…"
'Has she forgotten that when they first met, she was the one who talked about "tricking" him into the job?'
"Our Logistics Department… its full name is actually the Logistics and Investigation Department! In reality, our scope of work has absolutely nothing to do with logistics."
"…And what specifically?"
Although Wei'en was somewhat prepared for this, he still felt like he'd been completely screwed over now that he was actually hearing it!
"The specific duties mainly include two parts."
Lisi said, slightly embarrassed, "First, we're responsible for investigating all mysterious cases within the Caster City District. I know this sounds bad, but… this job is actually very dangerous!"
"So you're saying I'll have to go in and out of all sorts of dangerous places?"
"More than that. It also includes dealing with the followers of Evil Gods, out-of-control Extraordinary Professionals, and…"
"And?!"
Wei'en rolled his eyes. He now understood what the Logistics Department did.
'To put it simply, they're the police of the Extraordinary World!'
"And… you also have to collect as much information as possible on the weaknesses of those strange creatures to assist the Combat Department personnel…"
"So you're saying we have to fight those strange creatures first?"
"Not necessarily," Lisi said sheepishly. "If you can find out through other means, that works too…"
Wei'en took a deep breath, deciding not to dwell on this issue any longer. He asked, "And the other part?"
"The other duty is handling the cleanup work for cases!"
At this, Lisi's expression relaxed, and she broke into a smile. "I guarantee you'll be absolutely satisfied with this duty!"