«What the f.u.c.king h.e.l.l is going on here?!» - The investigator of the 4th rank barked.
Previously empty cells were now overcrowded. There were lots of people outside the cells, too. Everyone yelled at each other. Some swore they were innocent, while others blamed them for every crime.
«We were ordered to take these people to prison! The guy in the mask gave the order! We"ve been working hard all day to deliver them here!» - The investigator who had been executing Kyon"s commands reported with excitement in his voice.
Just then, Kyon"s second and third subordinates came up holding piles of files in their hands.
«Sir! Here are the reports on the crimes of those who are behind bars now.»
«Wait a moment. You"re saying that the same person did all this.» - The boss muttered, barely restraining his anger.
«Yeah… Yes, he did… We did what he told us to do, but…»
«And what if they are no criminals at all?..» - The second added, hesitantly.
The investigator of the 4th rank did not know what to think. He took a look at the report and found it impeccable. It proved one of the prisoner"s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There was also the victim present who wanted to testify.
«I don"t know where the h.e.l.l I am.» - The chief investigator muttered and called his boss to find out who was the one who had organized a party of two hundred people here.
But his boss did not have the slightest idea. He had to contact his hierarchical superior, and that one his... Five minutes later, Vladimir received a message and frowned.
{The guy in the black mask? Isn"t it Kyon?} – Vladimir thought for a while and left his post. He headed to the ground floor that he had not visited in more than six months.
When he saw a horde of prisoners, he was speechless.
«Let me go. Now! Do you even know who I am?! I am Gotabeau, the great judge! I have a lot of pull around Boston! I"ll crush your bones into dust if you don"t let me go right away!» - The gorilllike mustached woman a roared in a low deep voice.
«She is a rapist! Do not listen to her! She must face the full force of the law!» … «She is a monster, not a human being! Execute her! Never let this monster back into the world!» - Several thin men yelled, their faces pale with fear.
«This woman is a demon incarnate, Sir! If you throw her in jail, we will be grateful to you for the rest of our lives!» - The two poor guys were fellow victims. One day, they went out for a drink. The friends entered an empty tavern and were ready to order when they pa.s.sed out before they knew it. The poor men woke up tied to a bed, their manhood fully erect as the effect of medication. What happened next, they preferred to leave out.
Complaints like this were heard from all sides.
Vladimir"s face was tense, his jaw fixed when the investigators approached him with all honors. He ignored them, still digesting what he had seen and heard. Then he took a couple of reports from his subordinate and looked through them. There was no name of the investigator who had closed the case, which means that it was Kyon who had done the paperwork.{It"s impossible. He couldn"t…} – Vladimir a.s.sessed the situation once again and shook his head as if trying to wake up from a dream. Then he asked where the masked man was, but he didn"t get a clear answer.
«I see. I order you to send me a report on what is going on by six in the morning. Find out who these people are and whether they are really guilty.» - He left the floor with a grim look as soon as he finished the last sentence.
The investigators were dismayed. They would have to engage a several dozen investigators and spend the whole night cleaning up the mess after the crazy masked psycho! Who was he, anyway? They would find it out first thing when they see him tomorrow.
…
Late at night, Kyon returned to his chambers, tired. People often told him: "Haste makes waste!" But he kept stubbornly breaking this stupid stereotype, trying to achieve his goal in the shortest time possible. Vladimir gave him a month? Then tomorrow, he would take his words back! Kyon wasn"t to be underestimated.
Later, Patriarch Bai came to visit him. He entered his grandson"s room with a warm smile. His eyes were full of good humor and care. Bai shared his feelings when he was reading Kyon"s letter when he asked to lend him 20,000 spheres.
«You don"t owe me anything, grandson. We are a family. Spend it all on yourself as you please!» - Bai said generously, not suspecting that his money would be in the hands of the robber chieftain by noon tomorrow.
Kyon could feel the old man"s disposition. The boy despised him for the poor upbringing the grandad had given his granddaughter, but, at the same time, Kyon respected Bai for his worldly wisdom, his accepting responsibility for his actions. As for his care... There was something slightly unnatural in it. Bai"s motives to tie Kyon more firmly to the Stones were quite obvious. And yet, he did it in a gentle, discreet way. If the boy wasn"t Laurel, he would surely love the Stone family as his own.
Grandson and grandfather talked a little more and then said goodbye. Soon afterwards, Juno, the little beauty in a short gray skirt, came inside. She was curious to know about his success in his new duties as the investigator. Of course, she was eager to see signs of disappointment and resentment on his face. Instead, Kyon drove her away, giving her a nice kick in the a.s.s.
«Get out of here, dirty little s.a.d.i.s.t, before I made you lick my feet.»
«I just wanted to know how your day has been, a.s.shole!» - Juno screamed. The indignant expression on her face looked quite natural, but her real feelings that Kyon could feel with his soul said something else.
«I bet you did. When I see again snooping around, you leave with a salty taste in your mouth.» - Kyon answered rudely. He was still outraged after what he"d seen in her soul. She was one h.e.l.l of a b.i.t.c.h who wanted his blood and suffering, waiting for any sign of his weakness like manna from heaven. Screw her!
Juno frowned angrily. He had slammed the door right in her face.
«Arrr! What a jerk! I hate you!» - She stamped her foot in a fit of anger and left. Later, in her room, she came to the conclusion that things didn"t go Kyon"s way. That"s why he reacted the way he did! - {Hha! Serves you right, fool! The colleagues must be busting his chops?! Hhha!} – Juno had a good laugh before going to bed. It relaxed her body and soul. How else could Kyon"s co-workers take the one who got the job through connections?
However, at eight in the morning, Kyon ordered her to put on a veil and go with him to the department. She had absolutely no idea why. He was given a month of probation, and there was plenty of time until it ended. Did he intend to have an impact on his colleagues flas.h.i.+ng her pretty face? Or maybe he decided to pay them with her body so that they would stop bothering him?! The last idea scared the h.e.l.l out of Juno.
Finally, they arrived at the Department.
Kyon showed his temporary formation of the investigator and received the expected order to go straight to the head of the department.
They entered the familiar office.
Vladimir was reading a report, holding it in one hand, and scratched his head in confusion with the other. He looked stunned and puzzled. He had seen a lot during the years of service, but it was the first time he"d experienced such a shock.
His piercing eyes were fixed on Kyon:
«What you did is a very serious thing!» – The head of the department said hoa.r.s.ely.
A malicious smile blossomed on Juno"s lips.
«How could you meet a ten-year work quota for a low-ranking investigator in just one day?! HOW THE h.e.l.l DID YOU DO IT?!» - Vladimir yelled.
Juno"s smile disappeared at once, her emerald green eyes looked at Kyon, puzzled. He soul emanated mockery and gloating, clearly addressing them to her.
{А-а-а-аh! It was a TRICK!} – Juno guessed, blus.h.i.+ng against her will. She stepped back, biting her lip, visibly annoyed. It was so stupid of her... She had underestimated him again, silly girl! When was she going to learn? Why couldn"t she just believe that he was omnipotent?! And Juno found the answer to her question. In this case, her second dream would become unattainable... She would never take her revenge on him. Why was he so... perfect? Who was she to look down at him? A stupid loser, albeit of n.o.ble origin?
Kyon generously accepted her two percent of the darkness into his core, never ceasing to glee with all his heart. He gave Vladimir a simple reply:
«I am Bai"s grandson, after all.»
«You spent the whole day in the department, studying the files and the archives. You didn"t even go out! Three of your subordinates received the criminals from some civilians and delivered them to prison! Now tell me HOW?!» - It was the first time in his life that Vladimir had come across something, or rather someone, that could get under his skin.
Juno was no less curious to hear the answer. What other civilians? How did he do it? She took a liking to Vladimir, perfectly understanding his feelings. Poor head of the department. He had met a monster who tore common sense to shreds. At least, he had a chance to find out the truth, something that she, a weak and feeble slave, seemed never to achieve.
«I did stay in, keeping in touch with my people and giving them instructions. I cracked the cases, and my servants caught the criminals and brought them to the department.»
«It"s still IMPOSSIBLE! The investigation is the most difficult part of solving any crime! It takes time to find the motive, the time, the place and many other clues! Not to mention collecting evidence, talking to the witnesses, and conducting interrogations! Even if your people knew where and who to look for, they would not have time to find and take everyone!» – He was almost foaming at the mouth.
«The Stones have always been famous for their zeal! Don"t you dare to underestimate my family!» - Kyon said convincingly and tapped his chest, which made him look das.h.i.+ng.
Vladimir nervously ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes. He was trembling nervously. The boy was wrapping him around his finger, making a complete fool out of him! Vladimir couldn"t believe that Kyon was a brilliant detective. There had to be some secret!
Juno wanted to give Vladimir a comforting pat. Poor thing! He had lost his emotional innocence. The template in his mind had been violently destroyed. She could relate to his feelings! It was so nice to share her suffering with someone else. Juno fully sympathized with Vladimir at the moment. And yet, what other servants did the Stones have? She had to find it out.
«Vladimir, what if I skip the trial period and start working right away? I am ready to become a high-ranking investigator any time! I can repeat the trial period if you like, but then I promise that you will sit like this the next day, pulling your hair out.»
Vladimir broke out into hysterical laughter.
«G.o.ddess, have mercy on my soul…» - He rubbed his nose thoughtfully. – «You win. You can start your career as an investigator of the third rank, and then we"ll see.»
Kyon inhaled shakily when he felt Juno"s shock and bitter envy.
«Juno, I no longer need you. You can go home now, and please don"t let your pretty face to be seen on the way. No one in the department should recognize you.» - Kyon said, gesturing her out.
Juno pursed her full lips and left with an angry snort.
Vladimir watched Lady Stone leave when the realization struck him. –«I get it!» – He slapped himself in the head as the scales had fallen from his eyes. – «I have finally worked out how you could solve eighty cases so quickly!»
Kyon asked him shrewdly with a smile:
«Do you think I creamed the cases that the Stones had solved before?»
«Exactly! d.a.m.ned schemer, you took me for a ride! I have almost believed in a miracle! Ha ha ha ha! G.o.ds, it was an easy one! Hhhha!» – Vladimir couldn"t stop laughing for a minute. His laughter sounded relieved. There was self-irony, and even delight. The d.a.m.ned investigator had played a hoax on him, the head of the department! What a cunning a.s.shole! It explained it all!
Kyon didn"t want to lose his newly gained 3rd rank. He had to make Vladimir change his mind, and if that didn"t work, he would have to repeat his "feat." – «You say it was an easy one? Vladimir, I hate to disappoint you, but you"re wrong.»
«Bulls.h.i.+t…» – Vladimir shrugged Kyon off, convinced that nothing in the world could change his mind.
Kyon locked his fingers. – «So… Do you think that certain investigators in the Stone family defied the regulations, copied hundreds of cases and sent them to the family so that other unskilled Stones would solve them?»
«Well… Something like that. Or the investigators solved those cases themselves. I don"t know. Stop messing with me.»
«I can prove this theory wrong. I will give you two examples. First, if you take a look at the efficiency of the low-ranking Stone investigators over the past year, you won"t see any changes. It means that they did not take any part in the solution of my eighty cases. Second, all the cases that I"ve solved are relatively new, three months max from the time the crime was committed. According to you, it means that the ten-year work quota for a low-ranking investigator was done by unqualified Stones, who didn"t have access to the archives, the addresses, the names, evidence, who had neither skills nor understanding of what was going on!»
The look in Vladimir"s face hardened. Shock rounded his eyes.
«Now ask yourself why the family that barely makes ends meet, whose collapse in the next tournament of the families was predicted long ago, would arrange this disastrous and financially costly show. For a slim chance to promote me to a high-ranking investigator? Me, who hasn"t had the name Stone for more than a couple of days?»
Vladimir found himself at a loss for words.
«Which do you think is more likely to watch the grand theatre of absurd organized by the Stones or to meet a brilliant detective, a genius of investigation?» – Kyon finished with a smile.
Vladimir"s reaction was funny. He was being dragged back into the h.e.l.l of mental suffering. – «You… Do you want me to believe in pink unicorns?!»
«You can as well believe in the theatre of pink unicorns.» – Kyon chuckled.
No matter how hard Vladimir tried, he kept getting into logical dead ends. Any attempts to justify his version got more and more unbelievable. The odds that the boy was monstrously talented were much better... A few minutes later, he finally gave up, exhausted, as if he had been emotionally raped.
If Juno was there, she would sympathize with him.
Vladimir muttered wearily:
«Alight… I will believe in miracles… There"s nothing left...»
Kyon folded his hands on the table. – «Then let"s get down to business. Tell me what I need to do to get a personal letter of recommendation from you. I intend to get a promotion to a high-ranking imperial investigator?»
«You are quite ambitious, aren"t you? You should get the second rank of a royal investigator first.»
«And that"s it?» – Kyon asked.
Vladimir did not see any hesitation in Kyon, which was a bit surprising. – «I see you are serious... Good. When you become the investigator of the 2nd rank, I will give you a task related with, you know with who, and if you complete it, I will give you the letter.»
{With demons.} – Kyon knew it. – «What do I need to do to become a second-rank investigator?»
Vladimir looked through the window for a minute, deep in his thoughts. – «The kingdom has three big pains in the a.s.s. Solve at least two of them. Charge, your superior of the first rank, will tell you more.»
Charge had the 1st rank and was Vladimir"s right-hand man. Vladimir had the 0th rank. According to the subordination of the department, his orders were higher than those of the queen / king, i.e, they were higher than the orders of the Grand family. The system excluded any chance of rebellion against imperial power. Lanatelle had everything covered.
Kyon felt like he was in a kind of quest. He received a task to get rid of two issues in the kingdom, and then he would get another one, demon-related.
Suddenly, Kyon remembered something. – «Vladimir, I am sorry if I am asking too much, but I"m used to solving problems alone. So, exempt me from reporting to anyone. I won"t make coffee or bring doc.u.ments. I don"t want any minor or insignificant tasks, and so on, and so forth. Besides, you know that anyone who suddenly gets the 3rd rank becomes the object of vicious bullying. I can"t reach my potential under such circ.u.mstances, and I can"t stay incognito either. They will make me take off the mask and tell them who I am and where I come from.»
Vladimir chuckled softly. – «You"re right. You didn"t sign the reports for this reason, did you?»
Kyon nodded.
«Then let"s not waste time. Follow me. I will introduce you to Charge.»
Vladimir left the office, and Kyon followed him. He changed the settings in concealing bracelet, faking his level of development to the middle of the third phase. Now everyone up to the 4th phase couldn"t see his real development. They would have a different att.i.tude on a subconscious level, at least until Kyon used his elemental energy that would reveal the truth.
Vladimir glanced at Kyon and gave him a mental approving nod. Kyon"s development of the first phase would get him in trouble at the position of an investigator of the 3rd rank that he got in just ONE DAY. They would humiliate him by useless, meaningless orders, turning him into an errand boy. Kyon had everything covered.