All-around teacher at the magic academy

“Your Grace.” Max gently pushed open the heavy door, his gaze falling on the figure sitting at the back of the room, and he spoke respectfully.

"Max, you've been working in the law enforcement organization for quite a while now, haven't you?" Duke Chloe looked up, his gaze piercing through the dimness of the room to land on Max, his tone carrying a hint of casual inquiry.

“Yes, Your Grace, it’s been about 10 years, I don’t remember the exact time,” Max replied, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness.

He genuinely couldn't remember how many days and nights he had spent as a law enforcement officer; he just felt that every day was a repetition, filled with exhaustion, especially after becoming a captain, the heavy burden of responsibility almost suffocated him.

"I am also very sorry about what happened to Duke Adams." Duke Chloe's voice was tinged with sorrow, and his expression was somewhat heavy.

“Please accept my condolences,” Max replied, though he was unsure whether the Duke of Chloe’s sentiments were genuine or merely a social formality. Regardless, he knew he needed to show appropriate respect and sympathy.

"Well, what were the results of the investigation?" Duke Chloe changed the subject, his gaze fixed on Max.

“We haven’t figured it out yet, we’re completely clueless,” Max answered truthfully, his brow furrowed, revealing his dissatisfaction and anxiety about the case’s progress.

"Well, I'll leave this to you, Max. Please take good care of it." Duke Chloe's words carried a hint of command, but he didn't intend to delve any further into the topic.

“I will take full responsibility for all the damage to the street, as well as the hard work of the law enforcement officers during this period. Everyone has worked hard, so let’s double the bonus. Go back and compile the statistics, and give me a specific figure.”

“You’re too generous,” Max said, bowing his head with deep respect. He hadn’t expected the Duke of Chloe to be so kind.

"It's only right, after all, we'll all be in the same boat from now on. We'll need your help in the future," Duke Chloe said with a smile.

“Your Grace, you flatter us. This is simply our duty,” Max replied, maintaining his humble demeanor.

“Yes, yes, I’ve always had high hopes for you, Max. The attack must be thoroughly investigated, but at the same time, the safety of the streets cannot be ignored, as it directly relates to the reputation of Barton City and the safety of its citizens.”

“I understand, Your Grace.”

"I heard you're quite familiar with that teacher Leon?"

The Duke of Chloe's sudden change of topic startled Max. He was unsure of the Duke's intentions and did not understand why he would suddenly bring up Leon.

Max frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and finally decided to answer truthfully: "It's alright, we know each other."

"He also has the identity of a law enforcer?" Duke Chloe continued to ask, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"It's more like a part-time job. Professor Leon usually participates in paid tasks, since his main job is as a teacher."

Max explained, trying to keep his tone calm, despite being puzzled by the Duke's question.

“Indeed,” Duke Chloe replied, his voice low, as if he were deep in thought. He tapped the table lightly, his eyes growing serious, as if recalling or assessing something.

Max stood aside, quietly observing the Duke's reaction. He didn't know why the Duke was interested in Leon, nor did he know if there was some unknown secret behind it, so he could only remain silent.

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat somber, and Max tried his best not to show any unnecessary emotion. He knew that in front of a high-ranking person like Duke Chloe, any unnecessary speculation could bring unnecessary trouble.

The Duke suddenly broke the silence, his question once again taking everyone by surprise: "How old is Kate now?"

Max was somewhat unaccustomed to the Duke's leaps in thought, and this question caught him off guard. A bad feeling welled up inside him, as if the Duke's question concealed some kind of decision.

“She’s 52,” Max replied, though he tried to keep his tone calm, he couldn’t help but worry about Kate.

"Oh, I see. You are indeed quite old," Duke Chloe remarked, his tone seemingly revealing a hint of the ruthlessness of time.

The Duke paused, seemingly considering his next words. Then he continued, "Well then, I think Kate has indeed worked very hard over the years; it's time for him to retire. Let him enjoy his remaining years. I'll introduce you to a capable person to take his place later."

The Duke's gaze fell on Max, as if assessing his reaction.

“Yes.” Max’s reply was swift and firm, showing no hesitation. He roughly understood the Duke’s intentions, and although he felt somewhat helpless, he knew his position. This seemed like a discussion, but in reality, he knew he had no room to refuse.

Max gave a bitter laugh to himself, thinking that perhaps in the near future he would face the same fate, being arranged to retire or replaced by someone younger and more energetic.

“Yes, yes, if Kate doesn’t have anything to do later, we can arrange some easy tasks for her,” Duke Chloe said with a smile, his tone and expression like that of a considerate and understanding boss.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now,” Max said politely, maintaining his professional respect throughout.

"Go ahead, there's nothing else for now." The Duke waved his hand, indicating that Max could leave.

"Yes."

...

Duke Chloe sat alone in his large leather chair, his eyes somewhat unfocused, and he couldn't help but reminisce about the old butler who had been with him for many years.

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, a faint weariness rising in his heart. Usually, the butler would take care of these things perfectly, allowing him to focus on more important matters.

It seems it's time to find another one.

...

Max sat in the law enforcement office, a cigarette emitting wisps of smoke. He took a deep drag, trying to let the taste of nicotine dispel his worries, but the thoughts that troubled him remained unsettled.

Knock, knock, knock—the sound of knocking broke the silence inside.

"Please come in." Max's voice was slightly hoarse. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, trying to keep his expression calm.

The door slowly opened, and a figure stood in the doorway. Although Max was not familiar with the face, he could roughly guess the other person's purpose.

"Captain, I'm here to hand over my position to Mr. Kate."