"But if you keep hiding, won't they think Flandre is afraid of them?" Fumizuki asked from the side.
Flandre Scarlet also nodded; she didn't want to cause trouble, but she also didn't want others to think she was afraid of them. Otherwise, if her sister came and found out about this, she would get a spanking.
"Hmm... then find some time to visit the Major Crimes Unit. I remember there's quite a bit of trouble over there. little Flandre, you can help solve them. We'll arrange some TV interviews and reports then, which will also improve your reputation in Lungmen."
Wei Yenwu indicated that this matter was also easy to resolve. Since Flandre Scarlet was already registered with the Major Crimes Unit of the Lungmen Guard Department anyway, she could just go "to work" there directly. It just so happened that the Guard Department was filled with their own people, who could help look after Flandre Scarlet while also letting her boost her reputation.
After all, she had been away for over half a year, and many people in Lungmen had begun to forget about her. At this time, a few more positive reports were necessary to remind everyone that there was still such a person in Lungmen. Hearing his arrangement, Fumizuki also felt there was nothing much wrong with it. For now, not knowing if the people sent by the Imperial Court would cause trouble, choosing the most stable plan was the most appropriate.
Then, after Fumizuki told Beatrice some things to watch out for, she had someone drive Beatrice and the already asleep Flandre Scarlet back to the villa.
By the time Flandre Scarlet woke up, it was already the next morning. As she yawned and walked downstairs, her favorite pudding, a cake, and warm milk were already set on the table.
Beatrice poked her head out from the bathroom. "Remember to wash your hands before eating. After breakfast, we'll go to the Guard Department together."
"Oh!" Flandre Scarlet walked over with her short legs.
After breakfast, the two of them took a car to the main gate of the Lungmen Guard Department. Flandre Scarlet stood at the door and greeted the Operators passing by. The Operators were also very surprised to see Flandre Scarlet. Everyone gathered around, talking and laughing with her. Some people also talked about how they had successfully solved cases or avoided danger using the knowledge she had taught them during those days.
Flandre Scarlet was very happy that the things she taught could help everyone. After listening carefully, she also talked about better solutions to the problems everyone had encountered.
In a building not far from the Guard Department, several figures were watching this scene.
"Hmph, just a show. Choosing the main gate of the Guard Department on purpose—who exactly is this for? It's so hard to guess!" someone said sarcastically.
"But it's undeniable that this Blood Demon girl indeed has extremely high talent in Originium Arts. I'm sure everyone has seen those two lectures of hers and the subsequent discussion videos. Leaving everything else aside, her interpretation of that book from the Celestial Masters Mansion is, at the very least, highly recognized by the Celestial Masters Mansion. It's said to have become mandatory reading for the students in the Celestial Masters Mansion. Am I right, Celestial Master Lin(Leizi)?"
The other person didn't have the sarcasm of the first person; he looked at Flandre Scarlet in the crowd with admiration in his eyes. After all, it was truly not easy to have such knowledge at this age. It was just a pity she wasn't from Great Yan; otherwise, she would surely be able to pursue further studies in the Celestial Masters Mansion, and in time, Great Yan would have another top-tier expert in both knowledge and martial power.
"I don't deserve the title of Celestial Master; I am just an ordinary member of the Celestial Masters Mansion." The speaker was a woman sitting furthest inside. She didn't look at Flandre Scarlet outside the window but was sipping a cup of hot tea on her own.
"Miss Lin, there's no need to be so modest. You are the top disciple of the 'Earl of Azure Thunder.' If you don't dare call yourself a Celestial Master, then there are probably few in all of Great Yan who would dare to."
"I heard you took the initiative to apply to come this time," the former asked with a laugh.
"I have just descended from the sect and wish to serve the Imperial Court. Fortunately, I was valued by the true dragon and luckily entered the Dali Temple. But I have not yet achieved any merit, and I am quite uneasy in my heart. Now that this matter has come up and is related to the Celestial Masters Mansion, I specifically informed the true dragon and obtained this assignment."
The woman surnamed Lin spoke with a rhythmic cadence, clearly looking like a "greenhorn" who had just entered the Imperial Court. The person who spoke first glanced at her, then sneered and continued to observe Flandre Scarlet in the distance.
Flandre Scarlet, who was being crowded and walking inside, felt that slightly malicious gaze and looked up over here. She immediately saw the somewhat gloomy man standing by the window. Then she gave a bright smile.
Seeing Flandre Scarlet's smile, the man was so startled that he took two steps back. "What sharp perception. To be able to detect my spying from so far away."
Although the two sides were hundreds of meters apart, the man knew the other party was looking at him.
"Vice Minister Qian, don't forget the information in the reports. That girl is no pushover. At the very least, a pushover wouldn't have the ability to go looking for trouble with the Ursus Army Group and even severely wound them twice." The person in the middle glanced out the window and only spoke after confirming Flandre Scarlet had entered the Guard Department.
"I know that, of course, but isn't that exactly why we came to investigate? A Sarkaz, and a Blood Demon, the most despicable, shameless, cruel, and cunning of them all. Choosing to join Lungmen after severely wounding Ursus twice. It's hard not to suspect her true purpose—whether she wants to shift the trouble eastward and get Great Yan involved in the flames of war," Vice Minister Qian retorted, refusing to back down.
"All of this is just your subjective speculation. According to the relevant intelligence submitted by the Governor of Lungmen, neither of the two encounters was her active choice. And didn't Old Wei support a force of Infected in Ursus because of this..."
The two began to argue again. Only that Celestial Master Lin picked up a copy of 'Originium and Sorcery' and sat there quietly flipping through it.
"What were you looking at just now?" On the other side, after entering the Guard Department, Beatrice asked. She had just followed Flandre Scarlet's gaze but found nothing.
"Nothing, I just thought of something happy." Flandre Scarlet didn't want Beatrice to worry, so she told a small lie.
"Then go to the Major Crimes Unit yourself. I'm going to work too!" Beatrice said.
"Is Sister Beatrice still an officer at the plaza?" Flandre Scarlet asked.
"Of course... not! I'm a squad leader now. A squad leader, you know! The kind that can patrol in a car and doesn't have to run around the streets every day." Beatrice smiled very happily.
"Then goodbye, Sister!" Flandre Scarlet watched her leave before walking toward the Major Crimes Unit on the third floor.
Upon reaching the floor and just opening the door, she saw a room full of exhausted Operators lying everywhere. At a table not far away, the tall green-haired Oni was sleeping soundly. Seeing Flandre Scarlet enter, those who were awake greeted her one after another and then returned to the work at hand.
Flandre Scarlet walked to Hoshiguma's desk and couldn't help but be startled by the stack of documents that was about to submerge her. "Is Lungmen this messy?"
"Every autumn and winter, because most people stay in the city, the population increases. With more people, conflicts and clashes naturally become more frequent. Our Major Crimes Unit is only responsible for cases involving deaths and some more dangerous cases. This is actually considered relatively relaxed."
Flandre Scarlet looked up and saw that Hoshiguma had woken up. She was smiling and explaining the situation to her. At that moment, the alarm nearby suddenly rang. All of a sudden, the members of the Major Crimes Unit who were still sleeping just now all jumped up. A dozen seconds later, the dispatcher spoke.
"An armed murder and assault case has occurred at an equipment manufacturer in the Tech District. The suspect is still inside the factory building. Backup is required."
"Team Three, everyone to the equipment room for weapons. Assemble in five minutes!" Hoshiguma stood up and shouted. Hearing her words, a dozen or so people in the crowd rushed out the door. Just as Hoshiguma was preparing to set out, Flandre Scarlet tugged on her sleeve.
"Can I go and take a look too?"
Hoshiguma hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Come with me!"
"Alright!" Seeing that she had agreed, Flandre Scarlet's eyes lit up.
After going downstairs, a police transport vehicle soon pulled up. Hoshiguma took Flandre Scarlet and sat in the passenger seat. A moment later, the other team members also rushed out and sat in the rear compartment of the vehicle. Accompanied by the blaring of the siren, the vehicle quickly rushed out of the Guard Department.
In less than twenty minutes, they arrived at the destination. At this time, the area had already been cordoned off and surrounded by officers on duty nearby. After getting out of the car, Hoshiguma called over the captain in charge to ask for the reason.
"I heard that the owner of this factory hasn't paid the workers' wages for half a year. Early this morning, those workers came to the owner again to demand their wages, but the owner had the security guards drive them out. A physical conflict broke out between the two sides. But nobody knows who struck a low blow and cracked a worker's head open. This immediately drove the workers to desperation. The conflict escalated into a brawl all at once. Currently, three security guards and two workers are confirmed dead, and more than a dozen others are seriously injured and have been sent to the hospital. Their current condition is unknown. Right now, that owner is being held hostage inside by the workers."
"What are the workers' demands?" Hoshiguma asked.
"To have all wages settled immediately," the other party continued.
"Now listen, this isn't called a hostage situation; it can only be considered a detention. Got it?" Hoshiguma looked at the man. The man nodded hastily.
"Where's the hostage negotiator?" Hoshiguma asked.
"The expert has already gone in, but the message coming back is still the same: the workers insist on seeing their wages."
When the man said this, it felt somewhat absurd. Five people were already dead, and who knew if anyone among those sent to the hospital wouldn't make it. So many people dead just for a bit of wages—why bother?
"Leave it to me!" Hoshiguma nodded and led the people from the Major Crimes Unit inside. Flandre Scarlet followed them. After walking into the factory building, Flandre Scarlet saw the situation inside clearly. On the outermost layer were the Guard Department Operators standing ready. Then there was that negotiator.