"Of course!"
Yegor's black eyes stared at him as he exhaled a long plume of smoke. "Caster City State is a city that reveres freedom, and the Secret Investigation Department even more so."
'Is this really a matter of freedom?'
Wei'en suppressed the urge to retort and asked a very practical question, "What about the salary?"
"Oh, right. We haven't discussed your salary yet."
Yegor muttered something about it being a hassle, then cleared his throat. "As you know, employees of our Secret Investigation Department often deal with mysterious and bizarre incidents. The salary is twenty percent higher than in other departments."
"During your probationary period, your salary will be 4 shillings a week. Once you become a qualified Investigator, your weekly salary will increase to 6 shillings. How about it? Satisfied?"
'4 shillings and 6 shillings?'
'That's a bit more than what Yuan told me. Not bad...'
'Wait!'
'Investigator?'
'Is that the standard title for all employees who join the Secret Investigation Department?'
'What an impressive title!'
Wei'en nodded. "Minister Yegor, I am very satisfied. This salary will improve my life."
"That's what they all think," Yegor said with a noncommittal nod, pointing at the parchment. "Can you sign the employment contract now?"
"No problem at all!"
Wei'en picked up the parchment, gave it a quick glance, paid special attention to confirming the salary, and then signed his name.
"Very good."
Yegor took the application form, casually stuffed it into a pile of documents, then stood up and extended his hand. "Welcome aboard. I'm Yegor Paine, Minister of the Logistics Department of the Caster City-State Secret Investigation Department."
Wei'en shook his hand. "The honor is mine."
"Turn right when you go out and find Lisi in Investigation Department One. She'll take you to get your equipment."
Yegor's puffed-out chest deflated as he leaned back in his chair again, saying lazily, "I'm looking forward to your performance, Wei'en."
'Your tone doesn't sound very expectant at all.'
"Goodbye, Minister Yegor."
With that, Wei'en turned and left the office.
'If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I'll tear up the contract I just signed.'
'Can a Logistics Department run by a minister like him really be reliable?'
After he left, Yegor propped his feet up on the desk again, casually picked up a newspaper, and started reading, muttering to himself:
"I smell the stench of a Wizard who toys with life and death, like a phantom... But who cares? As long as he has an Extraordinary profession, the doors of the Logistics and Investigation Department are always open to him!"
After leaving the office, Wei'en walked to another office at the end of the hallway. Through the worn-out nameplate on the door, he could faintly make out the words "Investigation Department One."
DING-DONG.
He pressed the doorbell.
'Who knows why a place like the Secret Investigation Department would have a household item like a doorbell?'
"The door's unlocked. Come in."
Hearing the voice, Wei'en raised an eyebrow. 'A woman?'
'But why does her tone of voice sound just like Yegor's?'
'Just as lazy!'
With that thought, he pushed the door open and went inside. His heightened senses immediately put him on alert.
'A sense of danger? There's killing intent!'
"Hey, Roger! Put away that killing intent. You're scaring our new colleague."
A tall woman—well, a woman with very well-developed pectoral muscles—stood up and cursed at someone further inside.
How to describe her appearance... Hmm, when Wei'en saw her figure, the word "cow" immediately flashed through his mind. A heavy burden to bear.
Her looks were just as fiery. She had a head of curly brown hair and very fair skin, a rare sight in a seaside region like Caster City State.
Her face was delicate, with large, brown eyes, a high-bridged nose, and sensual lips.
She was indeed a very beautiful woman. And, well, a very formidable one too.
"Sorry, Lisi. I just got back from the harbor..."
In the far corner of the room, a neatly dressed young man with a gloomy face was toying with a long-barreled firearm. He wore an expression like someone owed him tens of millions and wasn't paying up.
The "lady" named Lisi was still cursing. "Next time, I'll crush your damn balls! But you too..."
She paused, not finishing her sentence.
Instead, she turned her head to look at Wei'en by the door. After looking him up and down a few times, she whistled in admiration. "Yegor did a good job this time. He tricked a gentleman into joining."
'Tricked?!'
Wei'en's mouth fell open. He suddenly felt that following Yuan's advice and joining the Secret Investigation Department had been a terrible mistake.
He found it hard to believe this was what the Secret Investigation Department was really like.
'An unreliable Oldes Minister, a fierce woman with the face of a lady, and a gloomy youth who looks terrifying...'
'Is this really the legendary Secret Investigation Department responsible for protecting the city-state's safety?'
"...Lady Lisi?"
"Let me guess. That bastard Yegor told you to find me to get your equipment?"
Wei'en nodded. He was surprised to find he had no problem with the word "bastard" being applied to Yegor.
"I knew it!" A smile spread across Lisi's face. "I knew he recognized my leadership skills! What's your name?"
"Wei'en Loft!"
"Wei'en, doesn't sound very fierce..."
Lisi muttered, then extended a hand with a broad smile. "Anyway, welcome aboard. I'm Lisi Jeannece Montoya, an Investigator with Investigation Department One."
Wei'en hesitated for a moment before gently taking her hand.
He had a feeling this formidable "lady" would grab his hand and fling him across the room.
"The one inside is Roger Guy... There are two other Investigators, they're out catching rats in the slums. You'll meet them by tomorrow at the latest."
Lisi spoke extremely fast, like a machine gun.
Before Wei'en could say anything, she grabbed a uniform from the desk and put it on, covering her magnificent chest and six-pack abs, then said:
"Let's go. While those scumbags from the Property Management Department are still at work, let's go pick up your gear."
"Okay, thank you."
Wei'en followed her out of the office and only then realized that Lisi was a bit taller than him.
"Don't mention it. Once you get used to working here, you'll realize we don't need such fancy language between us."
'Does that mean I'll also become this... "unique"?'
Wei'en thought to himself, though this only made him feel that joining the Secret Investigation Department was an even more ill-considered decision...
"Wei'en, what do you think of the Secret Investigation Department so far?"
"You want the truth?"
"Of course," Lisi said, smiling at him. "It seems you've discovered that our Logistics Department is a very interesting place."
"I haven't discovered that," Wei'en said honestly. "I'm just suddenly regretting coming in for the interview."
"Ah, that..."
Lisi was speechless. Seeing his serious expression, she realized she had to do something to win back the colleague they'd had such a hard time luring in.
"Wei'en,"
Lisi, using her advantage in height and long legs, wrapped an arm around his head and pressed it to her chest. "Trust me, once you get used to this place, you're going to love it here!"
'This...'
Wei'en wasn't sure if he'd like it here in the future.
But he knew that if he didn't do something soon, he was going to suffocate!