Swire felt quite helpless when she thought about Ch'en's uncompromising methods toward high-risk enterprises. However, she also understood one thing: people like Ch'en had to exist.
Her purpose was to act as a deterrent to the lowlifes who wanted to stir up trouble. Without someone like her, Swire believed these people would dare to bring all their bad habits from Columbia straight into Lungmen. Still, her way of doing things was a bit too good at offending people. Sometimes, as Swire watched those CEOs cracking forced smiles at them, she felt they were secretly praying for Ch'en to meet with some "unfortunate accident."
"Then you'd better bring more people this time. It's best if I'm there to command the scene, and we should also station some personnel near that company..." Swire, seeing that Ch'en's mind was made up, began meticulously planning the operation in the shadows.
"If things are truly as Jeanne says, you need to be careful. They might jump the wall in desperation the moment you find something and attack the police directly."
While Swire felt Jeanne's "intuition" was a bit unreliable, since Ch'en had decided to act, she had no choice but to support this Pink Sausage Dragon's operation. She knew exactly how low these people's moral standards were—roughly the distance from Lungmen's top floor to the ground. Considering they were bold enough to send people to hunt Jeanne down in the middle of the city, attacking an LGD Senior Superintendent didn't seem out of the question for them.
At that moment, Swire recalled a rumor she'd heard while chatting with friends. Rhine Gold was essentially a "black glove" for Rhine Lab—a place used to house researchers who had committed acts so egregious they caused terrible social backlash.
For example, there was once a case where an experiment caused a massive explosion in a Columbian slum. Numerous Infected suddenly self-destructed, and the fallout affected hundreds of innocent bystanders. After the incident, Rhine Lab paid a massive sum in compensation, fired the researcher responsible, and issued a statement saying they would never hire them again. Yet, that same researcher turned around and joined a department at Rhine Gold. Reportedly, they continued their previous research there as if nothing had happened.
Thinking of this, Swire felt this matter was far from simple. They had to approach this company as they would a terrorist cell; there could be no room for error.
Jeanne said nothing to this. She simply flipped through the files of the company named Rhine Gold, hoping it was just a name and that they wouldn't follow in the tragic footsteps of the original Rheingold.
"It's settled then. I'll go to Wei Yenwu shortly to apply for an inspection warrant. Once he approves it, we move!"
Having said her piece, Ch'en—the steadfast Lung—set to work writing her search report. Jeanne sat to the side, still reading the files intently, trying to spot any clues. Unfortunately, even after scouring the dry documents, she found nothing that could be called suspicious.
The company was simply too normal—normal to a point that felt wrong. According to the records, the company hadn't made a profit in years; in fact, it was constantly losing money. And these weren't small losses of a few hundred thousand; instead, the company survived entirely on "blood transfusions" from its parent corporation. That fact alone was strange enough.
Jeanne originally thought there would be a quick response to the report, but she waited at the LGD until the afternoon with no word. Even Lemuen had finished with the car, and still, she had not received any news from Wei Yenwu.
Oh, right. She had also managed to snag a free meal at the LGD. Perhaps Ch'en had been shocked by her appetite the day before, because she had actually ordered a five-person lunch for Jeanne!
When Swire watched Jeanne polish off five boxed meals without her lower abdomen showing even the slightest bulge, she was completely stunned. How is that possible? LGD officers usually had large appetites due to high physical exertion, so their boxed meals were roughly equivalent to two normal servings. Even Hoshiguma, at her hungriest, could only manage two and a half—usually just one and a half, the equivalent of three people's portions.
As for Swire, she usually just took a half-portion from Hoshiguma. It could be said that Swire had the smallest appetite in the LGD and had for years. Yet the person in front of her had an appetite equal to ten of herself! And... and she ate that much while maintaining such a perfect figure! Was this the legendary "Eat all you want without gaining weight" ability?
Swire, who periodically had to diet and exercise to stay in shape, was so jealous she felt her cells might undergo plasmolysis. Why didn't she have this talent for eating like a monster without gaining an ounce?
"Well then, I'll head back first. Contact me if anything happens."
Seeing that there would be no response from Chief Wei today, Jeanne decided to head back with Lemuen, who had come to pick her up. If she kept waiting, they'd probably hit closing time without an answer. Better to go back than to wait in vain.
"Stay safe on the road! I'm worried those people won't stay quiet. You might run into more attackers on the way."
Ch'en walked her out, giving her a concerned warning. Had Jeanne not refused her offer to personally escort them back, Ch'en would have done so in a heartbeat. Although the path from the LGD to Penguin Logistics consisted of major streets, no one knew how insane the enemy could be or if they would involve innocent civilians.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine with Lemuen. Besides, they wouldn't attack the same person two days in a row. Relax."
Since her Revelation hadn't warned her of any impending danger, Jeanne felt the short trip was unlikely to be perilous. As for Lemuen... Jeanne could sense that she was slightly more alert to her surroundings than usual, even if it wasn't obvious on the surface.
Ch'en could only watch as Jeanne and Lemuen drove away. Internally, she hoped she wouldn't hear reports of a gang launching a mass assault on innocent pedestrians anytime soon.
"This car was fixed this fast? In less than a day, a car that was shot to pieces is good as new?"
Jeanne was surprised as she looked at the car Lemuen had "fixed." This speed would put any auto repair shop to shame! One could only say that the maintenance department of Raythean Industries was truly formidable.
"Our car isn't fixed yet; this is a loaner they gave us for emergencies. But I heard Laterano ordered a new car from their company—it'll be sent to Lungmen as soon as it's assembled."
Lemuen explained. It made sense; if a car that had been nearly totaled was fixed in a day, Lemuen might not even dare to drive it, let alone Jeanne. In fact, their riddled car was better off being scrapped and rebuilt than repaired.
"Why get another one? Was the damage that bad?" Jeanne asked.
"I heard the Pope received word of your attack yesterday. Apparently, he was quite furious back in Chernobog! To ensure your safety, he specifically had Raythean Industries customize a vehicle."
To be honest, the moment Lemuen received the call from the Pope today, she had fully expected a severe scolding. But the Pope hadn't criticized her; she had fulfilled her duty of protecting Jeanne, even if Jeanne ended up being the one to fight. Nevertheless, they had ordered an even sturdier Originium vehicle to ensure Jeanne wouldn't be endangered by her transport failing her.
"That's really..."
Jeanne didn't know what to say. She could only take the gesture to heart and look for a chance to repay them later.
"So, did you find anything at the LGD today? Didn't they say the survivors who chased us were arrested? Did that leader confess anything today?"