Ke-style law enforcement officers

Chapter 78 Then I’ll be relieved
"Bleeding gums, it's a minor problem."

Milo flicked his mask and casually wiped the blood off his face.

"Then I won't approve your sick leave," Rebecca said calmly.

"...Why don't you just approve it?"

“It won’t be approved. We’ll go see Nero in a bit,” Rebecca said.

"Nero appears again."

Milo could already picture the scenery of the suburban cemetery in his mind.

It's a cemetery then; this time, Milo won't dare to casually peek into the perspective of the undead.

……

Rebecca led the way, but strangely, this time their meeting place was neither in the suburban cemetery nor in the law enforcement headquarters in the city center, but in a restaurant in a relatively remote location.

If the historic Rose Restaurant deserves a 90 out of 100 for its ambiance, this restaurant would probably be around a 30. Judging by its price range, it caters to the working class and below the middle class.

However, restaurants like this are actually quite rare in Nanwei City. Entertaining guests is a social activity, and to achieve a certain social purpose, the chosen dining venue cannot be low-class. High-class individuals would choose more upscale hotel restaurants or their own estates for entertaining guests. For the lower classes, even lighting a fire in the fireplace is a luxury; who would be willing to waste money at a restaurant?

Therefore, restaurants that are positioned in a middle ground are actually the hardest to survive. Those that can maintain normal operations are those that cater to a specific customer group.

For example, law enforcement officers.

"This restaurant was originally the initial building of a monastery, but the plans were abandoned and it was left to fall into disrepair for many years before it was finally rebuilt into what it is today."

Milo met Nero at a window table on the second floor, where Nero was speaking at length.

"The owner here, we all call her Mrs. Ap, is the wife of a late chief of staff. She must be almost seventy years old this year. I remember the first time I ate here was about twenty years ago. At that time, there were only two dishes on the menu. Now you see, there isn't even enough space on the back wall to write the names of the dishes."

……

Milo took off his hat and placed it on the corner of the table. He sat down opposite Nero and looked up at the peculiar decor of the restaurant's second floor.

As Nero said, the original architectural structure here was designed in the style of a monastery from the last century. It was a secondary renovation after the main structure was completed, but the style and direction of the renovation were in line with the cruel aesthetics of the law enforcement system.

In other words, the space originally reserved for the exquisite reliefs and interior decorations on the original structural framework was left blank. Apart from the original carvings on the heavy stone pillars, the decorations in other areas did not continue this style. The intricate curves and rigid straight lines coexist, so the overall effect is very contradictory and fragmented.

If those academic architects saw this kind of interior design, they would inevitably criticize it.

But this is the cold aesthetic consistent with the law enforcement system, which has abruptly distorted the original intention of the building's curved beauty.

For example, the menu for today, written scribbled directly on the black wall.

For example, there is a designated area on the terrace for cleaning firearms and weapons.

Of course, what best highlights its style is the "wanted posters" pasted on the exquisite relief stone pillars around it.

This is outrageous enough, isn't it?

Have you ever seen a restaurant where customers can dine surrounded by a bunch of pictures of murderers?

……

In short, this is quite a magical place.

A monastery filled with thugs in suits, cold and hot weapons, and the aroma of food...

“Mrs. Ap is an overseas immigrant, and she can grill some of the less-than-ideal local meats until they melt in your mouth. Your first meal here must be grilled meat. Although the taste has declined since Mrs. Ap retired, it's still unmatched by any other restaurant in Nanwei City… In addition, the seafood here is also exceptional, if you're not allergic to it.” Nero hung his napkin on his collar and enthusiastically recounted the story of the place.

Nine out of ten people coming in and out of this restaurant are wearing black trench coats.

It's said that not only local law enforcement officers, but also some law enforcement personnel from other cities who come to perform official duties choose this place as their first choice for stopping and eating. This has become a cultural phenomenon in the Nanwei City law enforcement system.

……

Rebecca walked straight to the black wall-mounted food counter, ordered what they wanted to eat, and then casually picked up a chair and sat down on either side of Milo and Nero.

Her position was directly facing the window, with her back to everyone in the hall behind her.

From this angle, after Rebecca removed her hat and mask, only Nero and Milo could see her face.

Milo glanced at her, his gaze not lingering on the scar on her cheek, but turning to Nero:
"At least we won't meet in the cemetery."

“If you really like that place, we can go there.” Nero took a puff of his cigar.

"That's unnecessary." Milo now has a certain aversion to tombstones.

As they chatted idly, the last rays of the setting sun outside the window were replaced by twilight.

But Rebecca, who was facing the window, didn't even glance at the scenery outside. She hung her trench coat on the back of the chair, unbuttoned her shirt cuffs, rolled up her sleeves, and propped her elbows on the table. Judging from her posture, it was hard to tell whether she was there to eat or to fight.

Fun fact: In the past, when there were many rules and regulations, women, especially those of high status, had clear guidelines for all their behavior. These included seating etiquette, posture, order of eating, and use of utensils. Even details like not being able to suck on drinks or soup, but having to use a spoon or cup to gently bring the liquid to their mouths, were strictly regulated.

In short, in that conservative era, women were required to maintain their dignity and elegance at all times. Eating was a very easy way to get themselves dirty, so much so that at some high-class banquets, women could only sit and smile awkwardly, and then go to the kitchen to eat after the banquet was over.

Even today, some aristocratic families continue this tradition. But thankfully, it seems that the dregs of history haven't left a single trace on Rebecca.

The best she could do to avoid making a scene at the table was to roll up both of her sleeves.

Completely unconcerned about the opinions of others.

……

At this point, three round plates, each at least thirty centimeters in diameter, were brought to the table by the waiter.

The plate contains pre-cut smoked and grilled meats, including beef short ribs, ribeye, sausage, potatoes, and bell peppers.

It is quite heavy, and its design is rugged and bold, with a strong exotic style.

After the plates are set out, the waiter brings out a metal pitcher containing the sauce.

Rebecca took the sauce pitcher, poured some of it onto the roast meat in front of Milo and Nero, then poured the rest into her own plate, adding casually:
"You are welcome."

She went straight for it, picked up a rib, easily bit off the tender bacon from the bone, and placed the bone on the table.

“This is Mrs. Ap’s way of eating roasted meat,” Nero was thinking of explaining to Milo.

But Milo clearly didn't think there was anything wrong with Rebecca's way of eating, because he also started to imitate Rebecca by rolling up his sleeves in a very professional manner.

After all, unless you specifically request it, the waiter won't provide cutlery when you're eating barbecue.

Then we have no choice but to take action.

……

The various cuts of roasted meat on the plate, and even the side dishes such as potatoes and bell peppers, were all grilled to perfection.

Since the meal began, Rebecca has remained silent, or rather, she has stopped talking altogether. However, the sounds of chewing and swallowing are still present and have never stopped.

Milo couldn't imagine how troublesome it would be for her to eat barbecue with her long hair.

It's not that she ate in a particularly rude way.

She oscillates between cute and rude, much like the scar on her face, which seems to add a certain fierce quality, yet doesn't actually exude any obvious evil. It's not so much a contrast as it is a combination of her personality and the restaurant's architecture and decor, a clash of contrasting styles.

However, just as Rebecca finished most of the food on her plate, she noticed that the other two people at the table seemed to be barely moving.

Nero sat on the left smoking a cigar, while Milo sat on the right drinking juice, both seemingly indifferent to the food on their respective plates.

"What do you mean?" Rebecca asked, her mouth agape, her words muffled.

Milo glanced at Rebecca and said bluntly:
"I don't like this sauce."

“Me too!” Nero immediately chimed in.

Rebecca glanced at the two of them suspiciously, then licked her fingers: "It's just ordinary mushroom sauce, is there a problem?"

"I don't eat mushrooms."

This time, Milo and Nero answered in unison.

Rebecca rolled her eyes, shoveled everything from their plates onto her own, and pointed with her greasy finger at the food counter behind her:
"You two can order whatever you like. Why are you being so picky about the conditions?"

……

Milo and Nero exchanged a calm glance.

Actually, there's nothing wrong with the grilled meat, and there's nothing wrong with the sauce either; the problem lies with the two of them.

Only the two of them knew exactly what it was.

Of course, the current situation is that Milo is eager to find out exactly how much Nero knows, while Nero is equally eager to understand the depth of Milo's understanding of the matter.

The two people, who had lost their appetite due to the mushrooms, looked at each other in dismay. No matter how much Rebecca ate in front of them, they had no desire to eat anymore.

Even though Milo has been fasting since yesterday.

……

"How pretentious."

Unaware of what was going on, Rebecca continued to show off.

Milo asked Nero, "Will she also listen to what we're going to talk about later?"

“Yes, I will.” Nero nodded.

"Then I'm relieved." Milo's lips twitched.

(End of this chapter)