Житие Мое / Life of Mine: Глава 4

Chapter 4

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:33

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Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:33

The window of Conrad Ber's office faced west, which meant that when the sun went down, it looked directly into it. In summer, an old tree protected the room from the harsh light, but now its leafless branches only added to the chaos, leaving bizarre reticulated shadows on the wall. However, the master of the office did not close the curtains - it was to his advantage to add a certain uneasiness to the atmosphere. When a policeman nicknamed "Steamtrain" manages to rise to the rank of captain, he willy-nilly develops little tricks.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:42

A Senior Regional Coordinator arrived in Redstone from the capital. A different one, not Larkes, to whom Steamtrain had managed to grow accustomed. Larkes, it was explained, had been given another position, and it was unclear whether this was a promotion or whether the former leader had been sent to King's Island to chase Rustler. Rumor had it that the new coordinator was skilled in black magic, young, and pathologically active. Arriving in town by the five o'clock express, he demanded an emergency meeting by six o'clock. None of his mages to the meeting captain did invite (too much trouble), but the suit of higher protection was put on (just in case), and the secretary replaced the quick guy from the guard (no need to delay at work, mother of three children). The senior analyst, the head of the investigation team, and the patrol officer on duty were summoned to the office.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:48

It remains to be seen what the bosses have got into their heads.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:48

The young, perhaps even too young, Senior Coordinator did not come to the meeting alone: with him but carefully keeping her distance, came a young woman of inconspicuous appearance, dressed much like a filing clerk but with a stunningly penetrating look of green eyes. Steamtrain made a simpler face. His appearance allows this. It was not the first time he had met an empath, and something told him that this girl with epaulets in ability resembled a walking X-ray.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:50

Well, the coordinator made that move for nothing: Conrad Ber is not the son of a glazier. But here's the question: what made the black mage work in tandem with the white one? Strange winds must be blowing on the peaks...

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:51

"Senior Coordinator Satal, Miss Keweenahari," the Captain introduced the entrants, "Mr. Vosker, Inspector Stoss, Lieutenant Hamirson. What can we do for you?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:51

The coordinator looked around the office with obvious displeasure: having had plenty of experience with the black mages who made up a quarter of his subordinates, Captain Ber had arranged the furniture in advance so that the capital guest could not infiltrate the place of the master of the office. And he doesn't care how strange it looks! If the black one's instinctive advances were not suppressed at the outset, he would have to fight him all the way to find out who was the boss.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:53

The guest hesitated for a few seconds but did not venture through the pile of chairs. His companion smiled faintly and sat down in the chair assigned to her.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:54

"The reason for our visit was the disturbing reports coming from around Redstone..."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:54

"...and the management has decided to grant our request for staffing?" Ber continued for him.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:55

Mr. Sattal twitched his shoulder irritably:

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:57

"It's about the lawlessness going on in Redstone County!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:58

The coordinator said the magic word 'county', and the captain relaxed a little. Officially his authority ended at the outskirts of the town, and the county office had not sent any inquiries lately.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 10:59

"Something specific?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:00

It was not a simple matter. Steamtrain could name a dozen incidents that could be characterized as malfeasance in office. But he did not want to drown the NZAMIPS District Chief - the old man deserved his honorable retirement.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:10

"Illegal practices. At least five episodes!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:10

The captain instantly knew what he was talking about. No, he had no agents of his own in the district, but most of the Ber family lived in the countryside, so regular visits from cousins and aunts were enough to keep him up to date on all the gossip. There was no point in denying a well-known fact, and the captain allowed himself to correct the coordinator cautiously:

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:11

"More like two dozen or so."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:12

Mr. Satal's mind went up:

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:13

"So, do you know what is going on?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:14

"Just a rumor, sir. The county is out of my jurisdiction."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:14

The coordinator pondered for some time, and Steamtrain waited patiently for the continuation. He was surprised at the speed with which the news reached the capital - usually, it took a year and a half to take the most immediate action. He had the impression that the messengers had met in the middle. In the sense that a surveillance agent was already at work somewhere in the area, and the information had gone directly to his superiors.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:16

"And what do you know?" Ms. Keweenahari spoke up.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:16

The captain shrugged:

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:17

"Rumour has it that you can solve your problems without having to deal with Cleaners. Fast, cheap, and with a guarantee."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:17

And that's not to mention the fact that the unknown black mage was polite in his communication and gave discounts to families with many children.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:18

"The question of certificate and license is simply not asked," sighed the captain.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:18

"Do you consider this normal?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:19

Steamtrain shrugged again.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:19

"Someone must do the case!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:19

Nor did Steamtrain want, or rather take the risk of stabbing the county Clean-up Coordinator. These two would leave, and he would have to live here. He was no stranger to the problem. Townspeople confronted by the boorishness of the county authorities often complained to Captain Ber, and he and old Yudter had to put on a whole show to get the cleaners to move their asses at least a little. Alas, their paramilitary status allowed the Office of Otherworldly Phenomena Removal, as the cleaning service was officially called, to ignore the opinion of the civilian chief of NZAMIPS. Which the cleaners did regularly and happily.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:22

"You have a point," Mr. Satal admitted abruptly. "Everyone who's approached this mage has an explicit or implicit written waiver from the County Office of Otherworldly Phenomena Removal. There's an Internal Affairs team working there now, and I can guarantee heads will roll. They're running an almshouse on the taxpayers' dime, you know!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:24

There was the answer: the capital's superiors were about to instill fear in the cleaners and immediately stumbled upon a suspicious mage. Steamboat remembered Colonel Grokk's ugly face and cheered up - it was high time the head of the cleaning department a scolding!

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:25

Mr. Satal switched back to a business-like tone:

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:25

"I hope I don't need to explain what we have to do?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:39

"Give this guy a medal?" The captain suggested.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:39

"Give, but not a medal!" the coordinator exploded. "The man is insane with greed. He performs exorcism rituals at intervals of five or six days. He has no time for basic regeneration. We must stop him before he destroys himself and those around him!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:40

Steamtrain nodded sadly. Yes, blacks are essential all the same. You loosen the reins a little, and they go berserk. It would have been strange if the crook who'd been sneaking around under the nose of the county NZAMIPS had been of a different kind. Well, get to the point!

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:41

"Do we have any statements?"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:42

And then Mr. Satal's face literally turned black. The captain was even frightened. The only thing he needed was a psychotic boss...

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:42

"We will act pre-emptively," Ms. Keweenahari quickly intervened in the conversation. "There's no need to wait for the situation to end in disaster."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:43

Steamtrain nodded eagerly - preventive is preventive! He was in no mood to find out if the protective suit was reliable.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:43

"We have no statements," said the coordinator, pulling himself together, "no certified witness statements either. It's time to start a conspiracy case!"

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:49

Ber imagined the words of greeting to the NZAMIPS agents by the villagers who had suffered from the cleaners and silently sympathized with the coordinator. It was unpleasant to do one's duty and feel spit on from head to toe. It remained to be seen how they were going to find the mage, with no statement or witness statements.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:50

"And we don't have an imprint of his aura either," Miss Keweenaharie added, very appropriately. "He uses a portable altar, uses only the simplest spells, and always carefully destroys traces of his witchcraft. Even if we get a search warrant, it's unlikely we'll find anything concrete."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:51

"Prudent son of a bitch," Mr Satal sighed.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:51

"And also a good psychologist." The empath seemed amused by the difficulties awaiting her colleagues. "That is a very rare quality for a black one! No one saw him without a black cloak, lacquered shoes and a valise, and then there was the cane as well. These garish attributes of the profession attracted all the attention: witnesses who agreed to talk to us could not describe his facial features and were even confused about the colour of his hair."

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:53

"Could there have been more than one participant?" Steamtrain cautiously suggested.

Camrad_RIP 21.04.23 в 11:53