Chapter 5: Voluntary Retirement
Lily raised her head. “Yes, Senior.”
“You know this already, but the Imperial Security Bureau runs on a class system. Whatever your background outside, it all gets wiped clean here. No need to hide it, of course, but you shouldn't lord it over anyone—or let anyone lord it over you because of it. Take me and Bom: second and third sons of a count's house, but we don't look down on agents from baronet families, and we don't bend for duke's sons either. You graduate the academy, pass the entrance exam, and your class is set by entry order.”
“Yes. That's how I got in too.”
No exceptions, even for the daughter of the White Blood Knight Order's leader. Any imperial citizen could enter the academy, take the fair exams, and become a civil servant based on grades and results. Nobles couldn't just gobble up the Bureau like that. With aristocrats from every corner thrown together, forming any real factions was damn near impossible. That was the foundation letting the Bureau hold its independence, even with all the dukes breathing down its neck. Hell, even Chief Verneis came from some no-name baronet line.
“But you can't totally ignore where someone's from. Don't get me wrong! The Empire's huge—ways of life vary wildly. Makes it tough to get each other sometimes.”
“Really tough.”
Boehm and Bom nodded along. Lily gripped her beer mug a little tighter and nodded cautiously too. Cain's gut twisted with unease.
What the fuck are these assholes scheming?
“Exactly! So what I'm really asking is this: to someone from the White Blood Knight Order—the Empire's, hell, the world's best swordsmen—what do you make of Section Chief Cain's skills, purely from a swordsmanship angle?”
“I don't know.”
Even Cain shot Lily a look. Her cheeks were rosy from the booze, but her face was dead serious.
“Don't know? What kinda answer is that?”
Boehm pressed.
“Didn't you see him nab Goetz?”
“I did, but the chief used a staff, not a sword. Sure, there are sword styles adapted for staffs, but the application and improvisation are worlds apart. I haven't seen the chief's actual swordplay, so I can't say.”
Boehm and Bom's jaws dropped.
“You nabbed him with a staff? For real? How?”
Lily's eyes lit up.
“You cussed him out. Like this.”
In total innocence, Lily flipped the middle finger at Boehm and Bom. Cain played dumb and folded it back down.
“Don't flash that anywhere. You even know what it means?”
“Not really.”
“Yeah. Figured.”
No shock there. The White Blood Knight Order had clearly raised their girl sheltered as hell.
Boehm and Bom looked bummed, but they seemed to buy it too.
“Alright, so... why the cussing, you think?”
“To read his muscle twitches, I'd guess.”
The three guys exchanged glances.
“Oh, you got the reason?”
“Yeah.”
Lily nodded firmly.
“You deliberately riled Goetz up, got him tense and excited into an attack stance. He shifted his weight back a bit, gripped his sword loose in his right hand, twisted his waist slightly left.”
Cain gave a subtle nod. No such thing as a tiger birthing a mutt. She'd spotted exactly what he'd baited out.
“So? What'd that tell you? What was it mean?”
“Goetz swung his right sword wide on purpose—to grab attention. The real hit was the left straight punch coming right after. Weight back, waist twisted: all to load his body weight into the fist.”
“Spot on.”
Cain confirmed it. Lily's lips twitched; her smile kept growing. Cain shifted uncomfortably.
“Fine. Can't judge the swordplay, then. What about my staff work? Your knight order teach staves at all?”
“Theory and counters, nothing deep. But I can handle one.”
“Staff arts are Eastern Republic stuff— you guys learn that too? Elite's elite. So, your take?”
Agent Lily beamed with pride.
“It was beautiful. Orgasmic.”
Boehm bit his tongue. Bom snorted beer. Cain clenched his jaw, fighting a reflexive yelp.
“H-hey, kid... you, you know what that word even... means when you say it...?”
“Of course.”
Lily showed zero shame, reciting like an encyclopedia entry.
“When coupling with a lover reaches its peak...”
“Lil sis! Meat! Eat your meat! Meat! Girl knows no limits! Bread—bread!”
Bom jammed a long loaf into Lily's mouth by force.
“Mmph?!”
Like a startled chipmunk, Lily chomped the bread crammed in her cheeks. The weird vibe killed the buzz dead.
“Where the hell'd you pick up talk like that?”
Cain rubbed his temple. Lily gulped down the bread and answered all innocent-like.
“Father's library. He forbade it, so spite made me sneak in. Place was huge.”
“...Ah. Gotcha.”
Lily faltered.
“D-did I... mess up somehow...?”
“Nah. Nah, you're good.”
Cain started to pat her head, then pulled back awkwardly. He was leaving anyway.
“Eh, whatever. Not everyday talk, but stick around the Bureau and it'll feel normal. Pick it up from Boehm and Bom. Yeah?”
“Naturally.”
Boehm thumped his chest.
“She's our baby sis—who else looks out if not us? Right, bro?”
Bom grinned wide. Cain bit his lip just a touch.
“Take good care of her. For real.”
The odd tension made Boehm and Bom lock eyes. Awkward chuckles followed.
“Aw, bro's gettin' all mushy outta nowhere. Course—if you lead, we follow. Want us to blaze the trail? Your promo path ahead...”
“I'm quitting.”
Lily clapped a hand over her mouth.
“What?!”
Boehm and Bom stared at her. What?! Lily's shock didn't quit.
“Why, why?”
Now down to casual ‘yo’ even. From the girl who'd stuck to polite ‘da/-ka’ forever.
Bom cleared his throat.
“Where to this time? Over a year? Three? Not the north, right?”
“East, bet.”
Boehm jumped in.
“Those merchant fucks actin' off lately. Talk of buyin' up armies with cash. Rumors they're plottin' to break the truce...”
Lily looked ready to bawl. Luckily, Boehm explained nice and gentle.
“Bro's bein' a dick today, huh? Freaked ya? Standard Bureau drill. Long dispatches overseas—over a year—you file resignation. Covers your ass if the agent roster leaks. We've done it twice. Bro has before. You'll do it someday too.”
“Pretty sweet deal.”
Bom chimed in.
“Mid-settlement retirement payout ain't bad. Paper trail says you're out, but you're still Bureau body—pay grade, experience all carry over. Don't tell squad where. Just chief and you know...”
Lily's face lit up bit by bit. So Cain let out a quiet sigh, regretting spilling it here of all places.
“Going home. Family farm in my hometown.”
Bom went quiet. Cain cracked a faint smile.
Boehm ventured carefully.
“Nah... bro?”
“What bro? Step outside, I'm just a freehold farmer civilian. Orchard farm's eldest son. Folks in Maxiburg see me? Call me young master. Our lil sis... shit, couldn't even look at her.”
“Bro! Joke's too far, ain't it? Hurts our feelings! Why you doin' this? Where you headin' that deep? East interior? Suicidal gig?”
Cain said nothing, just stared them down silent. Lily let out a choked hic, clapped her mouth, and bolted.
“Aish, for real! Hey—lil sis!”
Boehm chased after.
“Watch the kid, Bom.”
“Bro... this ain't right. Home? For real?”
“Yeah. I'm out.”
“No way in hell. Section Chief Cain of the Imperial Security Bureau snippin' persimmon branches? You ain't farmer stock! Even my thick skull knows it—you gotta know!”
“Our farm don't grow persimmons.”
“Then what?”
“Apples. Sweet as hell. No specialty crop, but gets by.”
“Bro.”
Bom fiddled with his mug.
“Bro—man to man. Be straight. Commit some big crime? Fine by me. I'll help. Private cash if needed! Bureau life—we seen every low humans hit. No better spot for it.”
“Damn straight.”
“Humans fuck up 'cause we're human—we're the pros on that shit.”
“True that.”
“Anyone can snap. Ain't our age or tenure to get heartbroken over it. Seen it all, time to be numb, right?”
“Know it. Seen how shit breaks folks.”
“So spill the cursed story. What went down? Wanna help for real. Dirty, shitty—we're family. Tighter than blood! Your words, bro!”
Cain couldn't get a word out. Bom's voice started cracking wet.
“Fuckin' hell! Gonna hang your head like that, bro? Makin' me sad—don't!”
“Made up my mind.”
“Goddammit...”
Bom slammed his mug down rough, snuck a wipe at his eyes, and stormed out.
Cain stared down at the cold, congealed food. Sliced off a chunk of meat, chewed. Cold killed the taste. Still, he chomped away noisily. Refilled his mug solo, drank. Hunger, thirst—neither budged.
Retirement processed step by step. Interview. Counseling. Final check. Procedure rundown. Remaining payout settlement. Prep retiree orientation.
Boehm and Bom were speechless. Lily looked fine on the surface, but her eyes stayed perpetually bloodshot.
Leftovers were all dry busywork. Cain handed off section chief duties and reports to Boehm and Bom. Both flat-out refused temp chief, but handing it to the rookie? No dice. Office got surreal. Boehm and Bom went outta their way ignoring Cain; Cain ignored the ignoring. Through it all, Lily scribbled down every damn word he said.
“You're aging me. Fast.”
Chief Verneis wasn't even mad anymore. Cain took the ribbing mute.
“Handover done?”
“Taught all there was. New chief incoming when?”
“Set in stone?”
“Yes.”
Verneis stood, wandered to the window, blew out a heavy sigh.
“Goetz still locked up.”
“Justice Minister not flipping tables?”
“I blocked it. Remember that public meeting? The one they paraded you for to chew alive.”
Didn't ring a bell. In one ear, out the other. Cain shook his head.
“Your excessive force left Goetz's survival iffy. Bureau disciplines related parties, official record. He'll get 'treatment under Bureau responsibility' till he's 'healthy.' Sent it like that. Bastard's chained in the underground cell. No out till that lump deflates.”
“And when it does?”
“Give him another.”
Verneis didn't sound like he was kidding a bit.
“What'd you send back?”
“Surprised me. Thought you'd gone toothless.”
“No teeth? Gums bite too.”
Verneis fished a bottle from under his desk, blew a long chug.
“Fuck if I get why that prick's got the Justice Minister shielding him. Got dirt or what...”
Bugged Cain too. Didn't add up. Goetz's damage aside, pissant knight with under a hundred grunts. Why's the minister yapping release him?
Whatever. Quitting ends it.
Cain shook his head.
“Retirement—where at?”
“...Secret clearance permit due tomorrow.”
“File that, agent's done. You know.”
Verneis took another pull.
“Kid—young blood runs hot. Sometimes you just wanna bail. File leave instead. Leave. Can void retirement pre-permit. You know.”
“I do.”
Didn't tell Lily, but secret permit filing split fake quits from real ones.
“No more statements?”
“No.”
“Clock out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cain rose. Hand on the chief's office doorknob, a glum voice hit from behind.
“Brat... wanted one retirement gift from ya.”
Cain shut the door wordless and left.
Next day, Cain skipped internal affairs and permit filing alike. All 'cause of the parapapapabam fanfare blaring for some imperial bigwig's visit.