"What do you mean by that?"
Ethan's breathing became rapid, and speaking also became difficult.
Ave replied, "I mean it literally. If I send a letter, transferring you to work in the intelligence department of the Reception Bureau shouldn't be a problem. As far as I know, it's not a difficult place to get into."
That day, Ethan witnessed the darkness of the imperial capital firsthand.
In his plan, he still needed three years to save enough money to rent a place in Gear City. By then, he would have accumulated five years of work experience, and if he was lucky enough, the guild master's recommendation letter could have some influence. After becoming a formal employee of the Reception Bureau, he'd have to start from the grassroots level. Usually, newcomers would be assigned to border towns, and if they performed well and earned appreciation from their superiors, there'd be a chance for a transfer back to headquarters.
Another five or six years or so.
And all of this hinged on being lucky enough. In reality, the work of low-level intelligence personnel wasn't that safe either. They frequently needed to handle cursed objects, and if a major case occurred in the town during their tenure, they'd have to be on the frontline at the scene of the anomaly.
Ten years of hard work, coupled with ancestral luck, was nothing more than the weight of a letter for Ave.
Too dark!
It's even darker than the Evil God's Followers!
Ethan often felt that he wasn't dark enough to fit in with this world, and it's no wonder he often heard people in his former life chanting slogans like "I don't want to work hard anymore."
He gazed deeply at Ave. Clearly, she inherited the fine lineage of a noble, young, and beautiful, possibly the most beautiful woman in Ximu Town, with a great figure, and most importantly, a kind heart.
"Lady Ave, we've worked together for some time now."
To show his resolve, he picked up the bowl and drank the broth in one go.
Actually, he always believed he had the potential to become a Dark Great Mage, just lacking an opportunity. "Look, I didn't run away with your gun, which shows I'm brave, and I'm a bit smarter than the others in town."
These were Ave's original words.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you rubbing your hands together?"
Ave frowned. After Ethan put the bowl down, he looked like he was up to no good. Moreover, he was shirtless, making it quite unsightly. "Do you want me to write a recommendation letter for you?"
"I've always felt that I'm not worse than those people, just lacking a platform."
"What's in it for me?"
"If I make a name for myself at the Reception Bureau, everyone will know you have the insight to discover talents from an unnoticed border city."
Ethan believed this might be what people called a life-changing opportunity, but he was pessimistic about the outcome for a simple reason: as Ave just pointed out, he couldn't provide value to her or the Margaret Clan at the moment. He could only resort to painting a big picture, "Think of it as an investment for the future?"
He believed he could make an impact in the reception bureau's intelligence department, not out of blind confidence, but because there were too many people not doing their jobs in that department. Even someone showing up on time could be seen as a dedicated employee.
"Then prove it to me."
"How to prove it?"
"While you were asleep, the bureau's agents already took away the cursed objects. They learned about the destruction of Riverside Town and mentioned that the frequency of recent anomalous incidents is increasing. The headquarters has plans to establish an intelligence station in border towns — since you don't want to be my assistant, then be my colleague."
Ave said, "Starting today, I'm the station chief, and you're the investigator."
"Is this station of yours legit?"
Ethan expressed doubt, finding Ave's words too easy-going and a bit suspicious.
After all, this wasn't about slipping people into the logistics department but actually establishing a frontline station. Even if the headquarters had such plans, they wouldn't leave it to a connected yet idle noble descendant.
"It's definitely legit."
"Is there an official position? It won't be an intern or a dispatched worker, right? Does the headquarters recognize it?"
"Yes."
Ave's face remained unchanged.
Although there isn't one now, there's nothing that can't be solved with a letter, "An official investigator ID card, a complete performance evaluation system, and you can participate in quarterly evaluations. I'll be staying in Ximu Town for a while, and as long as you perform adequately during this time, I'll write a recommendation letter to get you transferred to headquarters."
Ethan thought about it.
Ave had previously given him the gun, and despite knowing he had a risk of fleeing, she chose to trust him.
If they worked together, she would probably be a good leader.
"Deal, oops, I mean, I'll work hard."
Good leaders are hard to find these days, let alone one connected to the current director of the Reception Bureau.
Not being able to achieve immediate success isn't dark enough, but at least it could save Ethan a few years of effort and eliminate the luck factor. He'd never been particularly lucky; after all, how many lucky ones end up in such a crisis-ridden world.
After all, there's no comparison without feeling the pinch; his previous life wasn't exactly satisfying but not to the point where he worried about kidnappings or assassinations every time he went out.
Provided Ave wasn't deceiving him.
Ethan wondered if a noble lady of such stature would deceive a poor fellow like him?
Margaret.
He silently recited Ave's surname, feeling a bit familiar. When he reached the sixth repetition, he suddenly jolted, giving his thigh a hard slap, which startled the fluff on top of Ave's head, silently cursing at him.
He thought of a name.
Queen Diana-Margaret.
"May I ask, is Queen Diana..."
Ave didn't answer, replying coldly, "In the future, don't mention my surname outside."
"Got it, boss."
That's what Ethan said with his lips, but inside, he wondered if this noble lady had secretly run away from home?
"And don't call me boss. During work, you must use code names. I haven't received mine yet."
Ethan understood.
He had done his homework beforehand. Every full-time staff member in the Reception Bureau was assigned a code name to protect their confidentiality due to the special nature of their work, ensuring their families wouldn't be targeted. However, in recent years, with more employees, the code names have become increasingly peculiar.
"No problem, 'My Issue' lady!"
The code name was too long; Ethan thought shortening it by three characters would make it more catchy.
"Hiss!"
Ave took a sharp breath. Her previously expressionless face showed some ripples, and Ethan saw her lifting her right hand several times, approximating the Nine Yin White Bone Claw gesture. Noble etiquette prevented her from clawing this vicious move onto his forehead.
Ethan heard Ave's voice, as if she would clench her teeth to pieces, for the first time, "I meant our ID cards haven't been sent over yet; we don't have code names now!"
Her chest heaved violently, taking a full minute to suppress the urge to slap Ethan to death.
Ave felt like her teeth were about to be crushed. "I see your illness has almost healed. You can start working this afternoon."
The new station setup inevitably required acquiring basic facilities, "Change into your clothes; we'll head to Fireplace Bay soon."
(Please support with a follow-up read; next week, we'll be testing the waters with a limited release, and the follow-up data is crucial. Thanks, everyone~)