I Become a Secret Police Officer of The Imperial Academy

Chapter 40

The feeling of being watched disappeared after we took several winding paths familiar only to those used to navigating the backstreets.

Whoever it was—some amateur thinking Marco looked like an easy target—had clearly given up.

Lucky for both sides. We avoided getting our hands bloody, and they avoided getting killed. Not that I’d bother explaining that to them.

“Walking around with someone your age at this hour, miss—if the world weren’t in such chaos, a constable would’ve beaten me senseless and hauled me away.”

“True. So, what’s the butler been up to these days?”

“Probably tending to a garden somewhere, just waiting to die of old age.”

We finally exited the slums, and Marco led me into the residential neighborhood where Theo lived.

That was a bit unsettling.

“This place is surprisingly ordinary.”

“That old man—he’s more modest and unassuming than you’d think. Though, when he’s working, even I can’t help but feel a bit intimidated.”

Among the counselors, Marco was likely the best at persuasion, but if you asked who the most dedicated one was, everyone at the mansion would answer, “the butler.”

He was unnaturally passionate about his work.

Of course, working hard doesn’t always mean being good at it. The butler was better at coordinating tasks and managing people than handling things directly.

There had been more than a few instances where his efforts completely destroyed the clients he worked with.

Even though this was a residential area, a group of people loitered in an alley, not sleeping. Thugs, probably.

They spotted us and started approaching, blocking our path. I could hear them muttering to each other about ditching Marco and “passing the girl around.”

So much for safety in the capital. Then again, it’s no surprise given the state of things. It’ll take at least a year for the city to recover.

For now, it suits me just fine. It lets me roam as I please.

“And it’ll stay that way.”

“Hey, Marco, I’d rather not use the gun here.”

“There are four of them. You expect me to handle all of them alone?”

“I’ll take care of one for you.”

“Fair enough.”

We whispered quietly enough that the thugs didn’t hear us.

One of them brandished a pathetic-looking knife, pointing it at us, while another sneered at Marco to get lost and gestured for me to come closer.

Marco feigned fear, playing the role of a drunken coward handing over a prostitute.

One of the thugs laughed and casually slapped Marco across the face.

And that’s when it all started.

I plunged a blade under the chin of the thug who’d been slinging his arm over my shoulders. I didn’t bother pulling it out—no point in getting my white clothes dirty.

I’d just have Marco retrieve it later.

Marco, meanwhile, snapped the neck of the one who had slapped him, then drew a knife from his coat and stabbed the thug in front of him.

The last one hesitated for a moment, then turned and fled, realizing he’d die if he stayed.

No loyalty among thieves, I see.

If you share a woman, you should share the grave too.

“Think you can hit his head?” I asked.

“Hmm. Might be tough, but let’s see.”

Marco grabbed a dagger, held it like a baseball, and threw it with all his might.

The blade sailed through the air and embedded itself in the back of the fleeing thug’s skull.

“We don’t need to bother cleaning up the bodies,” Marco said.

He pulled the knife from the corpse and wiped it clean with a white cloth from his coat.

He was right—there was no need to clean up.

These weren’t well-connected gangsters or respectable locals. Someone would take care of the bodies, whether it was the city guard, rival gangs, or just rain washing the blood away.

“Can you pull the knife out from under his chin? I left it there so it wouldn’t mess up my clothes.”

“You sure ask for a lot, miss.”

Marco cleaned the dagger thoroughly before handing it back to me. Then we resumed walking.

“Is this the place?”

We stopped in front of a house, and Marco nodded.

I approached and knocked on the door.

A moment later, a hole opened in the door—and what greeted me wasn’t the butler, but a bullet.

“Ah…”

All I could do was clutch the wound and collapse. I wasn’t superhuman—pain was pain, and I had to curl up and endure it.

I wasn’t panicking or screaming in my head; it was more like my strength drained away entirely.

“Goddamn punks can’t even leave me alone at night—Oh, miss!?”

Standing there in pajamas, holding a large rifle, was the butler.

“Miss, what in the world are you doing here?”

“Never mind that! Get a potion, you lunatic! You do have one, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes! Right away!”

This wasn’t a fatal wound—not with a potion on hand.

Marco, looking annoyed, pulled a knife from his coat and dug into my wound, removing the bullet.

Moments later, the butler came rushing out with a potion in hand, wobbling as he ran. That wasn’t good for his joints. At his age, he should be more careful.

“Did you get the bullet out?”

After Marco removed the bullet and the potion was poured over the wound, it felt like drinking a cup of coffee spiked with stimulants—my body jolted awake.

I wondered how that librarian sister, who’d gotten addicted to these potions, was doing these days.

Her family was wealthy, so affording the potions wouldn’t be a problem. They didn’t harm her health much, just made her a bit… eccentric.

“Don’t fuss, Marco. It stung for a moment, but that’s it.”

The butler, clearly troubled by the fact that he had shot me, fidgeted nervously in a manner unbefitting his age. Still lying down, I spoke.

“Butler, I’m thinking of starting things up again. Will you help me?”

“If the young lady wishes it, this old man will go wherever you need me.”

“I do. But why did you shoot me in the first place?”

“Well, ever since I moved here, word got out that I had money, and some delinquents have been lurking around. Last time, they showed up in the middle of the night, so I assumed it was them and fired without thinking.”

The butler caressed the rifle lovingly, an unsettling sight that made me want to keep my distance.

“That’s hardly something to be proud of. Anyway, do you remember the house on the hill?”

The old man tilted his head, his bearded face creasing in confusion.

“You mean in the slums?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“I remember it well.”

“I’ll give you plenty of money to turn it into a proper place for work again. And gather people who can work with us while you’re at it.”

“And where will you get the money…?”

“I’ll sell some vacation homes.”

“In that case, I’ll contribute as well. The money you gave me last time is so much, I couldn’t spend it all in a lifetime.”

He laughed heartily, trying to act carefree. A lifetime wasn’t very long for someone his age, though. He might as well leave it for his kids.

“After the young master passed, I thought you’d given up entirely. He wanted the family—and everything it represented—to end.”

“Well, I’m not letting it end. Even if I have to strip the family bare and spend every last penny, I’ll see this through.”

“I understand.”

Looking up at the sky, I saw the first hints of dawn. The dark horizon was tinged with faint blue.

“Ah, the sun’s rising. I should get to school.”

Looking down at myself, I noticed the blood-soaked, hole-ridden uniform I was wearing. Guess I’d have to stop by home first.

As I stared at the ruined clothing with a slightly troubled expression, the butler’s old instincts kicked in.

“I can’t fix the holes, but I can get the blood out. Come inside; my wife will assist you.”

“Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.”

The butler’s wife turned out to be a mage. Not a grand one, but the sort who specialized in small, practical magic—like a magical housekeeper.

With a snap of her fingers, the crimson-stained fabric turned white again, and the torn areas were roughly stitched back together.

While she worked, the butler prepared tea in the kitchen. The aroma was rich—he hadn’t skimped on quality.

Sitting across from me on the sofa, he crossed his legs. It didn’t look great for his joints.

“What scale are you aiming for?” he asked.

“Two hundred at a time.”

“That’s simple enough.”

“But don’t dispose of the bodies quietly. Burn most, but leave three or four torn apart and scattered. Back alleys, residential areas, in front of the academy, the main streets—anywhere will do.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“It is. We’ve been working in secret for too long, and we overlooked something crucial. We didn’t make them afraid enough. They need to feel that simply existing is a sin.”

“One day, this will catch up to you.”

“Then it’ll be your job to make sure it doesn’t, butler.”

“You’re as ruthless as ever. The young master made us feel like mere bystanders while he let others die, but you…”

“Who cares? I’ll stop by tonight to pick up some jewels and property deeds. If you don’t like it, feel free to take them and run.”

I thanked them for cleaning my clothes and headed to school.

Classes were as predictable as ever—just numbers and memorization. I spent most of the day napping, tired from the sleepless night.

Even when lunchtime came, the kids who used to torment me didn’t drag me away this time. Getting punched by Theo and flying through the air must’ve left an impression.

The sun was setting when classes finally ended. Ethel approached me, looking hesitant and struggling to find the right words.

“…Ellen, where did you sleep last night?”

“Greet me first when you see me, Ethel.”

“…Sorry.”

Having spent much of the day lying down, my back felt stiff. I turned my neck, letting out a loud crack.

“I wandered around here and there last night. Why?”

“I was just curious. Even if we don’t live together anymore…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m selling off all the family jewels and properties anyway. That alone could buy you several houses like the one you live in.”

“Oh… I see. That’s… good.”

She didn’t seem entirely convinced.

Ethel was terrible at lying—her face gave everything away. That might be an asset to me, but for her, it was a glaring flaw.

“Why are you so interested in me, Ethel? If this is about getting stabbed by your little pet, you don’t have to feel so guilty. I didn’t die, did I? Come on, let’s grab dinner. My treat—I got some pocket money yesterday.”

Marco had handed me a pile of gold coins from his gambling winnings.

I took Ethel to one of the more expensive restaurants near the academy.

Though she didn’t seem particularly cheerful, I found myself rambling, caught up in my own excitement about starting things up again.

As I stood to leave, planning to stop by the mansion for the documents and jewels, Ethel grabbed my sleeve, her eyes glistening with tears.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head.

“…It’s nothing. Goodbye, Ellen.”

“Yeah. Goodbye.”