Chapter 87: A Hundred Years of Cultivation, a Decade of Companionship
Chapter 87: A Hundred Years of Cultivation, a Decade of Companionship
【Bronze Rank Hidden Badge "Nepotism" Activated. You have received a resource support from within the organization. Fulfill the conditions set by the provider to claim the resource.】
???
Lyon, standing at a crossroads in the municipal district with a broom and shopping bags, waiting for a ride to visit the Lane family, was startled by a sudden notification in his ear.
Wow, no wonder it's a hidden badge. How long has it been since I obtained it? And now, it has already secured me some resource support.
Although he still needed to fulfill certain conditions to obtain the resource, given that it was a resource from the Cleanup Bureau, it was most likely related to anomaly materials, or even a direct anomaly item.
According to Senior Emma, the Bureau usually had to undertake three missions and spend three to four months to acquire a single anomaly item, and even then, there was no guarantee it would be useful.
In comparison, if the acquired resource was indeed an anomaly item, and the conditions weren't too harsh, this exchange would be an incredibly good deal!
...
"Toot!!! Toot!!! Toot!!!"
Just as Lyon was hesitating about whether to go back and inquire about the so-called resource support, he heard a slightly harsh steam whistle. Four robust high-headed horses pulled a massive carriage, slowly approaching the platform.
Forget it, the carriage has arrived... Plus, who knows how long it would take to complete that condition. The investigation of the Lane family has already been delayed for too long. I'll deal with the resource matter after the investigation is done.
Lyon, having made up his mind, stepped forward. As the steam carriage's door stabilized at the boarding area, he bent down and entered the carriage, which had around twenty seats, and found a spot at the back.
Compared to the front seats near the carriage door, the back was closer to the boiler at the rear, making it noisier, which would be torture during the summer.
However, with winter just a few days away, and Lyon's coat being old and not very warm, this was undoubtedly the most comfortable spot for him.
Just as Lyon was leaning back in his chair, enjoying the soothing warmth, he heard hurried footsteps and a familiar, anxious voice from outside the carriage.
"Wait! We're getting on too!"
Oh, come on, am I really this unlucky? Recognizing the owner of that voice, Lyon, not wanting to face her, scowled and instinctively shrunk back, hesitating about getting off the carriage.
But in that brief moment, the owner of the voice had already reached the carriage door. With a powerful stride, she leaped into the carriage. It was none other than the female police officer from the Secret Investigation Bureau.
"What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
At that moment, the carriage had already started moving away from the platform, but it was still close enough for her to jump back. However, it was still a bit dangerous, and the ticket lady, seeing the female officer's reckless action, scolded furiously:
"If you don't value your life, go find another carriage! Don't bring trouble to my family!"
"Ah! Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was in a hurry because we have an urgent matter. This carriage only comes once every hour, and I was afraid you'd leave without us. I'll make it up to you... Could you back the carriage up a bit? There are others waiting... Please..."
"Hmph, these young people, so clumsy... Back it up!"
The ticket lady muttered a few more complaints, seeing the apologetic female officer. She then ordered the carriage to back up, allowing two more people to board.
However, as the two women and one man entered the carriage, they were stopped by the ticket lady, who was not pleased.
"Only two seats left. One of you has to get off!"
What?
Hearing her words, the three of them couldn't help but be taken aback. The female police officer hesitated for a moment before speaking up:
"Then let them sit, and I can stand in the aisle..."
"Are you causing trouble?"
Interrupting her, the ticket lady slapped the sign nailed to the carriage wall forcefully and glared:
"This is a four-horse long compartment express train! No standing allowed!"
"But..."
"But what? Such a pretty girl, why are you talking nonsense?"
The ticket lady, looking increasingly impatient, continued to shoo them:
"Let me repeat, this is an express train, and there are no handrails for standing passengers! If we have to brake suddenly on the way, you'll fly from the back of the carriage to the front! You'll scrape your face off! So hurry up! One of you three needs to get off! This train is already running late, and if we don't leave soon, I'll miss my schedule!"
It seems there's no other way... What should we do?
Hearing the ticket lady's words, the man among the other two gave the female police officer a questioning look.
Should we wait for the next train? Or wait for one of the department's vehicles to return?
The female police officer understood her colleague's meaning at a glance and shook her head firmly.
The next train would take over an hour, and this area is the City Hall district, where scattered horse-drawn carriages rarely come. If we miss the agreed-upon visit time, it will be difficult to arrange another meeting with the Lane Family.
"You go down."
After giving her colleague a meaningful look, the female police officer placed her hand on the third person's shoulder and said seriously:
"It's fine. Although it's against regulations to have one person fewer, I'm here."
"Well... that works."
Recalling her "glorious history," the male police officer felt that she should be able to handle a single weak female prisoner on her own and nodded after a brief hesitation.
Handing something to her, the male police officer got off the train, while the female police officer "kindly" draped her arm around the woman who looked unwell, half-pushing her toward the rear of the carriage.
...
However, as the ticket lady had said, the four-horse long compartment train was already full. The only empty seats were in the last row, which was noisy due to its proximity to the boiler.
In the last row, on the right side, sat a couple whispering to each other, and on the left side, a young man dozing with his head covered by an old coat, leaning against the carriage wall.
Should we... ask someone to switch seats?
Looking at the female prisoner she was holding, the female police officer hesitated. She wasn't worried about the noise in the last row, but she was concerned that the restrained prisoner might become dangerous. She wanted to move the prisoner to a seat against the wall.
Although the prisoner had been cooperative since being caught, with one fewer police officer, what if she had second thoughts? While she was confident she could subdue her immediately, any injury would be troublesome.
"Excuse me..."
"Hey, you two in the back, what are you doing?"
After waiting for a long time without seeing them sit down, the ticket lady got impatient and shouted:
"If you're sitting, sit down quickly! If not, get off right now! What nonsense are you causing on my train?"
The female police officer, stung by the scolding, quickly pulled the prisoner to sit down before the ticket lady could take action.
"Beep!"
With the shrill screeching of the steam engine and the neigh of the train, the female police officer tapped the shoulder of the person wrapped in the coat and politely asked:
"Excuse me, sir, could you please help me by switching seats with my colleague?"
(End of Chapter)
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