Zhu Yuan and Qingyi handcuffed the eight arms dealers one by one, putting them completely under control.
Sol noticed Zhu Yuan's condition at that moment; although she still looked heroic in her uniform, there was an undeniable fatigue hiding beneath the sharpness in her eyes—clearly Zhu Yuan had been on edge these past few days waiting for their news.
He gave Zhu Yuan an approving thought in his head: she was a very responsible sheriff, a very good friend.
"You've got an amazing boss."
Sol nudged Jane and said softly.
"I think so too—a lovely boss."
Jane Doe whispered back into Sol's ear with perfect tacit understanding.
At this point, Zhu Yuan, who had subdued the eight arms bosses, finally relaxed a little.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her hand and looked at the three of them apologetically: "This time we owe it to you—we were able to arrest eight mid-level arms-trafficking crime lords at once. I'm really sorry we couldn't provide more help for your operation."
"Don't say that, Zhu Yuan. You did very well. Without your cooperation, Chekkat wouldn't have trusted us so readily. If it weren't for the Public Security's preliminary work, we wouldn't even have known where Chekkat was hiding."
Sol smiled slightly and didn't take all the credit for himself.
"That may be true, but you caught eight arms dealers—we only tied up the loose ends," Zhu Yuan said bashfully. "After the Vision Corporation incident last time I still haven't treated you to a meal, and now I don't know how to properly thank you."
She had intended to rush in, secure the scene quickly, and control it, but ended up only handling some small fry—the real culprits were already subdued by Sol and his companions, and she accidentally walked away with the big credit.
And about the Vision Corporation matter last time—they had promised to treat Sol to a meal, but kept getting busy, and Sol never got it after he helped them the second time.
"If you didn't treat him last time, make it up soon—and put this one on the tab if you want. We're all friends; no need for formality," Sol patted Zhu Yuan's shoulder jokingly. "Besides, you and Qingyi's job isn't finished; although these eight are in custody, the forces behind them remain. You two will still need to make arrests. Anby and I will be lazy and stay out of it."
"Okay—once this is wrapped up, I will definitely treat you to a proper meal!"
Zhu Yuan was moved and declared resolutely.
"That line sounds familiar."
Sol said with a smile, standing beside Zhu Yuan.
"It was in Canvas Street; you heard it there."
Anby reminded Sol with a straight face.
"Right, back then she was a very pretty sheriff too."
Sol rubbed his forehead and pretended to suddenly remember.
Zhu Yuan flushed crimson and, excited, said, "I swear on my command! I'll definitely make good on it within a week!"
"Just kidding—whenever we have time, we'll all get together. Well then, goodbye, Anby and I are going back to the Black Panther organization's base to pick up a few things." Sol extended his right hand calmly and smiled, "It was a pleasure working with you this time."
"Pleasure working with you."
Jane was first to shake Sol's hand, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
Working undercover inside the enemy was also a rare experience for her.
She felt that if she teamed up with Sol, they could make an unbeatable undercover duo, invincible in tactic and execution!
Not to mention—she'd slept very well that night.
"Thank you for your help this time."
Zhu Yuan shook Sol's hand earnestly and gave it two sincere shakes.
"Here, try my good tea—as promised last time."
Qingyi placed a tea bag into Sol's palm and smiled.
"Many thanks, Senior Qingyi."
Sol rubbed Qingyi's head with a smile, then turned and walked away with Anby.
Watching Sol and the others bid the sheriffs a cordial farewell, Chekkat and his seven friends felt indescribably miserable.
No way—these guys really went undercover and got together? Could they maybe consider the poor souls who were conned out of everything and now faces prison?
"Speak up—where are your respective bases! Don't try to stubbornly resist; many of your subordinates can corroborate you!"
Zhu Yuan drew her gaze back and looked at the eight arms dealers with a gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Faunus Quarter, Fourteenth Street..."
"Minerva Quarter, Seventeenth Street..."
As addresses were named one by one, the ready elite sheriffs set off to wipe out the illegal trades in one sweep!
With Jane's assistance, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi began the real mop-up work.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side, at the Black Panther organization's base.
The Black Panther members who had been stationed here were now under the sheriffs' control.
Weapons of all sizes had been sealed and secured, and the armed sheriffs watched with hawk-sharp eyes.
One by one the Black Panther members were marched onto vehicles; they were either listless or furious, but their minds shared a common bewilderment. None of them could fathom how, two hours earlier, everything had seemed fine, and then without any warning they were arrested.
"Sheriffs, you came just in time! Thank you for saving us—you are the glorious guardians of New Eridu!" Caesar slapped her chest and said heartily, "If you ever come to the Outer Ring, the Sons of Calydon will make sure you are treated well!"
The thought of no longer being forced to bear children, no longer becoming a captive boar, thrilled her.
She could still be the boss of the Sons of Calydon and shout across the Outer Ring: I came, I saw, I knocked them over!
"..."
The armed sheriffs stayed silent, evidently at a loss for how to handle this eccentric hostage.
"Sheriffs, thank you for rescuing us—we will never forget such a great kindness!" Lucy was so moved she had tears in her eyes and almost slipped up: "As everyone knows, the Montefio family always repays debts!"
She was so excited she nearly imagined herself becoming that detestable man's concubine, even forced into compromising positions with her fellow friends!
Waaah, who could understand the joy of surviving such an ordeal?
"Feels pretty safe now, but thanks again. Leave your contact number—when you're off duty we'll treat you to a Burnice specialty!"
Burnice beamed and enthusiastically addressed the sheriffs.
"..."
The sheriffs looked up at the sky and suddenly felt that the earlier eccentric hostage was actually fairly normal.
"This is good, this is good!"
Piper stood aside, squinting in the sunlight and enjoying it.
She was immensely grateful to have been rescued by the sheriffs; otherwise she would have faced a crushing sixteen-hour unpaid adult labor regimen. She might have had a child and become a slave to life.
While having children is an experience for adults, being single is still freer, if possible!
At that moment, Lucy turned to a Thiren sheriffs officer and said, "Commander, I have an important lead! There's a heinous villain who must be captured—he's immensely powerful and lecherous; even the boss of this Black Panther organization bows to him!"
"Oh!?"
Seth immediately perked up from his earlier awkwardness and declared righteously, "Tell us who he is—I won't let him run free!"
Lucy gnawed her teeth with fury as she spoke: "I don't know his name, only that his codename is 'Pantalone.' He's terrifying, shameless..."