Security Bureau, Police, and Spies
Security Bureau, Police, and Spies
I swallowed dryly and straightened my uniform necktie.
'For now....'
It would be best to act as naturally as possible.
I let out a dry cough and walked toward Lucy.
"I didn't expect to meet anyone in a place like this, so I was a little surprised. More importantly, there's blood on your coat. Did something happen here, by any chance?"
Lucy paused briefly, then answered as if nothing were wrong.
"There was a disturbance, you see."
"...A disturbance, you say?"
"Yes. To explain the circumstances, I am an emergency medicine specialist and surgeon currently working at Central Hospital. After work, while walking down the street, I came across a citizen bleeding from a robbery. While I was administering emergency first aid, blood got on my coat."
Her tone was astonishingly calm and matter-of-fact.
Moreover, our eyes had only met not thirty seconds earlier, and she had already rattled off a plausible excuse at remarkable speed—nothing short of impressive.
'As expected of an intelligence agent, I suppose.'
As I approached with inward admiration, Lucy threw a question back at me this time.
"May I ask why an officer such as yourself is here?"
Unlike Lucy, I had no need to lie.
"It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I heard there was a new dessert shop in the outskirts of the capital, and I got lost while taking a shortcut."
"...A dessert shop, did you say?"
When Lucy echoed the words as if she couldn't believe it, a strange shame crept over me.
Judging by her reaction, going to a dessert shop alone as a man was not considered ordinary in this era.
But I couldn't give up what I liked just because I cared about other people's eyes.
"Is there a problem?"
Lucy hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"No. I was merely a little surprised. It's simply that Captain Daniel Steiner, who is famous for being utterly ruthless and cold-hearted, eats junk food that only children would like."
That stung a little.
"Please watch your words. Desserts are not junk food."
"...My apologies. More than that, if you are lost, I can guide you."
A guide, huh. It made me uneasy, but it would be fine as long as we were together only until we left the alley.
"Refusing the goodwill of a citizen would not be a virtue befitting an officer, would it. I will gladly accept your help. As you may already know, I am Captain Daniel Steiner, attached to General Headquarters."
"I am Mairin Seabrith, a surgeon attached to Central Hospital."
Lucy and I exchanged a brief handshake, then walked down the alleyway.
I followed about half a step behind and studied Lucy.
Perhaps thinking that throwing away her coat in front of me would invite suspicion, Lucy had turned the coat inside out so the blood was no longer visible and was holding it draped over her arm.
A shoulder bag was slung over her shoulder, and no matter how I looked at it, it seemed like she was carrying a pistol and other assassination tools in there.
'...I absolutely must not let her open that shoulder bag.'
The moment that thing opened, there was no telling what kind of catastrophe might unfold.
Because Lucy Emilia's martial prowess far exceeded what anyone would expect of a mere intelligence agent.
She herself might not have realized it yet, but if she mobilized all her abilities, she could sweep away a small battalion all by herself.
That was why I had wanted to avoid running into her as much as possible, but on top of her becoming my adjutant, now she was pretending to be a doctor right in front of me—a truly headache-inducing state of affairs.
One fortunate point was that Lucy would also be uncomfortable being with me, so we could part cleanly once we left the alley.
"Here we are."
The moment we emerged from the alley, the main avenue opened before us, a streetcar clattering past.
Evening had fully settled in before we knew it, and the streetlights along the road were all lit up.
The chatter of passersby blended softly with the pleasantly cool breeze.
I had been enjoying the street scenery in a good mood and was about to open my mouth to part ways with Lucy when I stopped short.
"Oh! Captain Daniel? Are you by any chance Captain Daniel?"
A passerby in a police uniform walking along the sidewalk had recognized me.
The passerby scrutinized me as he approached, then let out an exclamation.
"Ah! You are indeed Captain Daniel! Good heavens! To think I would see a hero of the Empire on the street!"
I had expected someone would recognize me, but running into a policeman while I was with the disguised Lucy did not feel good.
'And on top of that....'
That navy-blue police uniform, as far as I knew, could only be worn by members of the Security Bureau.
If he was with the Security Bureau, then he was one of those commonly called 'secret police' or 'thought police.'
That meant he was an agent cultivated solely for counterintelligence.
Lucy seemed to know that as well, because she tensed slightly.
Of course, the passerby, who could not have known our circumstances, smiled and extended his hand to me.
"This is a pleasure. Captain Daniel. I am Chief Inspector Kartman Schulz of the Security Bureau."
In a situation where he was even offering a handshake, I could not ignore it, so I smiled and took his hand.
"I am Captain Daniel Steiner, attached to General Headquarters. Meeting someone from the Security Bureau on the street is a rare occurrence."
"Ahaha. This area is not my jurisdiction, but I had made a reservation at a nearby restaurant. As it happens, my commute ended right around this time, so I ended up coming in my uniform."
After the handshake ended, Kartman snapped his fingers as if a good idea had struck him.
"Since we've met like this, fate must be at play. How about we have a meal together? Of course, I will pay. If it's alright with you, I will also invite your friend next to you, Captain."
This was not good. Should I just say she's not an acquaintance?
No. If I did that, he would question why I, a commissioned officer, had come out of an alley with someone who wasn't an acquaintance.
Suspicion toward everything was an occupational disease of the Security Bureau police.
So, to prevent the situation from becoming complicated, the best course was to pretend she was an acquaintance for now but to decline the meal invitation.
Searching for a way to refuse naturally, I opened my mouth.
"I am truly grateful for the meal invitation, but I got quite lost on the way here and I am extremely tired."
"Ah. If that's the case, you needn't worry. The restaurant I'm heading to happens to be right in front of us. Do you see it over there?"
Looking at the spot Kartman raised his hand to point at, the restaurant really was, literally, one block away.
Thinking I could no longer refuse, I nodded.
"If you insist to that degree, I shall decline no further. Let's go."
At my words, I saw the tense Lucy secretly swallow, but there was nothing to be done.
This was force majeure.
*
The restaurant we entered with Kartman was a high-end establishment used by the upper class.
The tableware, the décor, and the waitstaff's attire were all so elegant that they were a feast for the eyes.
We sat at a window seat overlooking the city following the waiter's courteous guidance, and after placing simple orders, Kartman looked at me with a gentle eye-smile.
"No matter how many times I see it, I find it fascinating. It's almost overwhelming to actually meet the hero I've only ever seen in newspapers and on television face to face."
"Calling me a hero is preposterous."
"There is no need for you to be so modest. And with good reason. Within our Security Bureau as well, there are quite a few fans of you, Captain. I am the same. Haha. I shall boast about our meeting today for generations to come."
As the conversation continued warmly, Kartman cast a glance toward Lucy, who was sitting next to me.
It was a look of slight puzzlement.
"......By the way, Captain, your friend is not taking off her sunglasses. There should be no need to keep sunglasses on indoors, should there?"
He was not wrong. But the moment Lucy took off her sunglasses, her red eyes would be revealed.
Then, there was no telling what Lucy, judging she could no longer hide her identity, might do.
"And she hasn't said a single word since earlier, either. She likely knows that continuing to do so at a gathering like this is a breach of etiquette. If your hand is impaired, I could take off your sunglasses myself......."
Kartman reached his hand toward Lucy's face.
Lucy seemed to have realized she couldn't fool both the Security Bureau officer and me simultaneously, because I caught a glimpse of her hand moving under the table to open her shoulder bag.
A hair-trigger situation. Sweating nervously, I quickly grabbed Kartman's wrist.
"......Hm? Captain?"
I gave Kartman, who had turned his head toward me, an awkward smile.
"Ah, I completely forgot to introduce her. The woman here beside me served as a military doctor on the Eastern Front. At the time, regrettably, she sustained an injury to her eye from an enemy soldier...... You understand what I mean, yes?"
Hearing my words, Kartman let out an 'ah' and a sympathetic groan.
"Good heavens. I had no idea such a terrible thing had happened. I'm sorry. She was wearing sunglasses to cover a wound, and I nearly committed a grave discourtesy. But as for her being so taciturn......."
As expected from Security Bureau police, I suppose.
He did not give up his suspicion easily.
After a brief mental calculation, I spoke with a sorrowful look.
"She developed aphasia from the shock at the time. She wants to speak, but she is simply unable to."
Kartman, having withdrawn his hand, fidgeted with his fingers, looking apologetic.
"......Hearing that, I have committed a tremendous rudeness. I am truly sorry. It's in my professional nature to doubt others. Hmm. I will go to the restroom for a moment to collect myself."
Pushing his chair back and getting up from his seat, Kartman bowed his head courteously toward Lucy.
Afterwards, seeing Kartman walk toward the restroom, Lucy turned her head toward me.
She seemed quite bewildered.
I cleared my throat once and whispered at a volume only Lucy could hear.
"I know. That you are innocent, Doctor. But the other party is Security Bureau police. You have heard of Special Arrest Authority, I presume? It means they can arrest you on mere suspicion."
For the moment, it was critical to dispel the suspicion Lucy was probably harboring: 'Does Daniel know my true identity?'
"Given that he's risen to Chief Inspector, who knows how many innocent people he has hauled in. Why else would there be a proverb that 'If you are dragged to the Security Bureau, even an innocent person comes out a spy'?"
I shrugged my shoulders once.
"I was merely trying to help you, Doctor, avoid an undeserved mishap. So, Mairin Seabr... What was your name again, you said?"
At my question, Lucy only remained silent.
She seemed somewhat angry.
Seeing that, I snapped my fingers as if satisfied.
"That's right. That's it. You have aphasia, Doctor. A very good attitude. For now, until we get away from the Security Bureau police, you must maintain the act. Do you understand?"
Lucy still did not answer. Frustrated inwardly, I spoke again.
"Answer with action. With action."
Perhaps her pride had been wounded, but Lucy merely turned her head away from me and bit her lower lip firmly.
This was troublesome. Wanting a definite answer, I tapped the table and said,
"Answer."
Only then did Lucy let out a low sigh and give a small nod.
She had judged that, for now, following my method was the safest course.