swire

—I was only twelve! Did he really expect me to hide my feelings about everything?!

You're beginning to put yourself in his shoes.

Yes, you're right. I had a terrible time after that. Every so often, someone would bring it up.

A year or two later, though, I suddenly realized something.

By then, my grandfather was already pretty quiet on his sickbed... He wasn't even awake much, actually. Nevertheless, I still lived in his shadow.

Actually, even before that, I rarely saw him actually giving orders.

So how did he cast that shadow anyway? Did it come from my grandfather? From my father, my relatives? Or was it actually cast... by my own heart?

He barely said a word the year after he was bedridden. How come nobody dared to stand up against him? He didn't actually hold much power, but no one resisted him. Why?

Forgive me, Officer Swire... but you don't seem like the type to ponder these matters at age thirteen or so.

Alright, alright! I'm just organizing all the doubts I had at the time! I'm looking back with the wisdom of age, okay?!

To tell you the truth, I was only muddling along back then. I didn't think, much less notice what was really on my mind.

If it wasn't for the cop who saved me, my guess is I would probably be just another loafing, good-for-nothing rich kid.

I still have the badge he dropped during the kidnapping case. If I ever find him, I'd really like to give him a proper thank you...

If you ask me, becoming a superintendent is the best way to show your appreciation.

I suppose so.

Anyway, I went to Victoria for school, basically because I was trying to get away from Lungmen.

I thought that, by going to Victoria, I could finally escape my grandfather's shadow. Boy, was I wrong.

I should've known... The Schwires have far more assets in Victoria than Lungmen.

Those businesses in Victoria had long tried to shake off Adams's control, even before then.

Right, that's why, by going to Victoria, I actually managed to suss out my grandfather's position a little. It was like I finally found some of the answers to all the doubts that had been lingering in my mind.

I guess... there are a lot of ways to grasp power, but there is only one way to maintain that power, and that's to be right.

My grandfather could buy dignity with his power, but when he lost the ability to use that power, no one dared to turn on him, and there's only one reason why that is: He's always right.

Officer Swire, I thought you were here to swear your allegiance, until you said that.

And that's exactly why I am here! Are him being right and me opposing him somehow mutually exclusive?!

Oh? So you'll betray your family?

Master Wei! Please, enough teasing already!

—I am absolutely not teasing.

My grandfather has done a lot right, there's no arguing that. But sometimes, there's more than one 'right' in this world.

What's right for the Schwires isn't necessarily what's right for Lungmen, what was right before isn't necessarily the right way forward, and what used to be right for my grandfather definitely isn't going to be right for me.

The thought of betraying my family has never crossed my mind. And the idea of betraying Lungmen is even crazier, because I won't ever betray my badge.

That's my answer, Master Wei. I'll leave it there for now.

Heh... You can keep going.

Where was I...?

Oh, I learned a little about my family's past during secondary school, and that was when I realized how my grandfather had planned everything so carefully when he moved the family business out of Victoria.

He predicted Victoria's troubles and fissures over forty years ago. He knew Victoria's fall was coming even at the height of its prosperity.

And then, even though nobody understood his decision, he stubbornly pressed forward until history finally proved him right.

And also... fine, I'll stop singing his praises. I'm sure you know more about his exploits than I do anyway.

Anyway, I'd be lying if I said I never wavered during this whole process. Though I came to understand that all this... didn't actually make me fear him any more.

In fact, the more I learned about his achievements... the weaker my fear became.

All because I couldn't figure out the source of my fear.

Back when I didn't understand anything, my grandfather cast a dark shadow, shrouding even the sky itself. The depth of his terror was limited only by my imagination.

But when I finally understood the source of his power, he was only as terrifying as the bounds of reality. I know why there is no standing up to him, and that's how...

That's how I figured out how to stand up to him.

And that's that... but I didn't actually mean to backstab anyone, you know?!

They call me 'unseemly' day in and day out, like everything I do is some kind of dig at them. What's that about?!

That hotheadedness runs in your family. Surely you know that?

Of course I do, and that just makes me all the more pissed! Why do I have to take over the family business and have them prickling at me day after day? What's wrong with the L.G.D.?!

I've long heard rumors of the L.G.D. Officer Swire with her booming voice that echoes loud and clear. It seems the rumors are true.

Ahem. Anyway, I figured at the time... running away won't solve anything.

If I kept running away, then even if I managed to become a cop, I might still shudder in fear every time my thoughts turned to my grandfather.

What's more, he'd see me running. And that would only lend more credence to his idea that I'm an unseemly granddaughter.

No, thank you.

And that is why, starting your third year of university, you began to take on work in the family business—even if it was in direct opposition to your parents' wishes.

Right... Now that you mention it, they grumbled about that for quite a long while. No matter. Who cares what they think?

Hmm...

In 1092, the Schwire Group's Lungmen headquarters issued an order to its real estate officer in northern Victoria to sell off some of their properties there.

The director refused the order and submitted a report describing why the order was not feasible.

Working through a classmate, you got your hands on certain internal data from the dukedom in question and pointed out errors in the report. That was the first time you meddled in your family's business.

However, the officer very quickly submitted a second report and plugged all the holes you found.

In the end, the plan to sell off the properties did not succeed.

In 1094, you came back to Lungmen, and while you were interning at one of your family's companies, you found out a director trying to get the Corporate Union and Lungmen to turn on each other.

And you picked a fight during a meeting.

In the end, the director's plan was foiled, and the individual was relieved of duty. However, you also had to leave the Schwire Group.

1095. That was your first year with the L.G.D. The Lungmen Trade Union held a strike over a wage dispute. The Corporate Union asked the L.G.D. to end the strike.

In private, you arranged for a meeting between the Trade Unionists and the Corporate Union, though it fell apart. You couldn't stop the strike, and you ended up in a huge row with the Commissioner.

Following that, during a Schwire family meeting, your cousin accused you of damaging the Corporate Union's profits, though you fought back, and you did not find yourself more ostracized.

Why are you recounting my life story, Master Wei?! I know I didn't accomplish much during those few years, but growth happens over time!

Look at how much I've done lately!

I'm not trying to make fun of you, Officer Swire.

Do you remember what you said earlier? You asked me what more I expect from you.

You're wrong to question yourself. This is what I expect to see in you. What the L.G.D. looks to uphold is not justice.

You've been working to accomplish everything I want out of the L.G.D. You will experience even more failures than you did those few years, but just as you've never given up before, you won't give up now.

Understood.

Master Wei... I'm just thinking... whether I can accomplish the task at hand isn't actually that important.

What matters is this is the only way I can find courage, and win the right to choose my own path.

I think I have a pretty good idea of what my grandfather thinks of me being a cop—'You don't have what it takes to devour the L.G.D., so why are you even doing this?'

—Maybe something like that? I don't really care anymore, though... Definitely. I don't care. Who cares what he thinks?

You don't care? How did you manage such a flawless impression him, though?

Oh... I mean, I've been fixated on this since I was a kid. I can't completely not care!

I'm sure you can tell. In recounting my childhood to you, I'm pledging my loyalty.

But now I know. You've seen what I've done these past four years... No, maybe you've been keeping an eye on me since even before that.

My actions thus far say much more about my position and how I feel than mere words. And when I say that, I guess it makes this conversation seem kind of meaningless.

Not necessarily... It's true that I used to see Adams in you.

Not that you look anything like him.

Hmm... Actually, even now, I can't say for sure he never influenced me. After all, I know in my heart that I actually do care what he thinks.

That said... Master Wei, are you willing to have a little faith in me?

Hmm...

It's just as you said. Actions speak louder than words.

Well, then... You won't be disappointed.

Hey, I heard the news. Congratulations on your promotion, Missy.

Congrats! Dinner's on you tonight, Missy!

Fine, whatever! What happened to all your cases? What are you all faffing about for? Get back to work!

No way, Missy! Not even officially on the job yet, and you're already terrorizing us with your newfound power?

Enough with the glib tongue! To your cases! Everything's on me tonight!

It's true. I'm not sure whether my grandfather's shadow is still influencing my decisions.

Sometimes, I manage to break free. Other times, I'm pulled back toward him. Resistance is a different, vicious cycle. Standing up to my fears is not an insult to him. It's a means to forget—though I will never forget my grandfather's gaze or his will.

Even so, I'm confident I can find my own way forward.

After all, even if I never shake free of his influence, the warmth this badge brings me has nothing to do with him. My colleagues' laughter has nothing to do with him.

—Lungmen's future has nothing to do with him.