"Penguin Logistics? Seriously?"
"He looks so normal though…"
"What a waste of a fine young man."
The three Guard Department officers recording nearby whispered among themselves.
"???"
Shirou was full of question marks. He had no idea why they were reacting like this.
Could it be… the people from Penguin Logistics were actually quite familiar with the Guard Department?
But then why did their tone sound so… off?
"You are from Penguin Logistics?"
Swire looked at the Penguin Logistics work ID Shirou handed her, clearly puzzled.
Then she looked at Shirou's clear, unjaded eyes—eyes that had not yet been worn down by society and felt a sense of regret.
It probably would not be long before he became just as unhinged as the rest of Penguin Logistics.
"Sigh…"
Thinking that, Swire let out a sigh.
What a good kid. A bit impulsive, sure but that sense of justice… if only he were part of the Guard Department.
Why did he have to be from Penguin Logistics?
"Um… is something wrong?"
Seeing her sigh after asking about Penguin Logistics, even Shirou could tell that their reputation within the Guard Department was not exactly great.
But he barely even understood what Penguin Logistics actually did, how could he possibly know about their complicated relationship with the authorities?
"Penguin Logistics… Penguin Logistics… You will understand eventually. Honestly, it would be better if you left while you still can."
Swire muttered the name a few times, then patted Shirou on the shoulder and spoke seriously.
Shirou could practically see her grinding her teeth when she said those words.
"That… probably will not work."
Shirou could only awkwardly refuse. Penguin Logistics had helped him too much and he could not just leave like that. It was not how he did things.
"Seems like you have made up your mind. But listen, whatever you do, do not turn into them. Got it?"
Swire did not push further. After all, they had just met. She had only said so much because she admired what he had done.
Shirou tilted his head slightly in confusion.
Just what kind of existence was Penguin Logistics in the eyes of the Guard Department?
He mentally noted the question—he was curious now.
"We will contact your boss and have someone come pick you up. And remember do not go playing hero like that again. Understood?"
Swire waved it off. She had already said what needed to be said.
"Understood."
Shirou nodded even though he did not quite believe himself.
"And that weird cloth, deal with it properly."
"I will."
"Alright, you can go now. You two, take him downstairs and have him wait on the first floor."
Swire rubbed her temples. That conversation had genuinely irritated her.
Putting others before yourself, acting like it's only natural… people like that—
…she did not actually dislike them.
After all, the Guard Department existed to protect others.
As Shirou was about to leave with the officers, Swire suddenly called out—
"Wait!"
"Huh?"
Shirou turned back, confused.
"Look… what you did was reckless. But in the end, you did help that mother and child avoid being taken hostage."
Swire organized her thoughts and said what she wanted to say.
"…?"
Shirou did not understand why she suddenly brought that up.
"I just thought you should know that. So you do not think you were just interfering with the Guard Department. I hope you will not forget that desire to help people. That's all. You can go."
Swire turned her head away, crossing her arms.
Saying something like that… was way too embarrassing.
If she had a mirror right now, she was sure her whole face would be red.
Shirou froze for a moment then smiled, a relieved kind of smile.
"Do not worry. That's the one thing I'll never forget. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
With that, he left the interrogation room.
He recalled the clash of ideals between his past self and Archer.
Yeah… that was the one thing he would never forget.
Because it was the most fundamental part of what made Emiya Shirou who he was.
"W-What the heck! How is he saying something that embarrassing?!"
Watching his back disappear, Swire buried her face into the desk.
She felt like the real clown just now was herself.
She had braced herself to be ignored or awkwardly brushed off and instead, he said something even more embarrassing and just left?!
"Boss tried to look cool… and got countered instead."
"Yeah, totally."
Two officers at the door whispered.
"Hey, you two, are your reports done yet?"
Swire suddenly lifted her head and glared at them.
"Working on it!"
"We will hand it in before the end of the shift!"
The moment they met her gaze, they immediately followed their instincts, grabbed their documents and fled.
"Hmph."
Swire snorted, picked up her tablet, and continued reviewing the footage.
She had a feeling this suspect was not acting alone. There were too many oddities during the pursuit.
The screen showed the moment Shirou blocked the fireball.
She was about to skip ahead but something made her pause.
"This guy… seriously does not value his life."
Now she understood why he did not dodge.
Behind him, a couple and their child had been running away.
Based on the trajectory, that fireball would have definitely hit them.
"…What a pity he's from Penguin Logistics. And does not look easy to recruit either."
Swire felt a bit tempted.
A young man who could judge situations and act selflessly—
If he were under her command, she could definitely crush that sausage dragon and restore the glory of the Lungmen Guard Department.
While Swire was lost in her fantasy of triumph.
Downstairs, Shirou was feeling… a bit uneasy.
The reason?
The people who came to pick him up were the four members of Penguin Logistics.
He had just escaped one smiling tiger…
and now he was about to fall straight into the Penguin pit.
Shirou: This feels dangerous.