The Emperor’s Angel of Death

For a moment, Gabriel even wanted to pull the trigger of his laser pistol, piercing the other man's mouth to stop the damnable lies.

But he couldn't. The man hadn't been convicted.

"Shut up!"

He growled, landing a punch on the side of Koke's cheek. The man lurched sideways, the metal legs of the stool scraping against the floor with a screech.

After a moment, the man straightened up, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

"Officer, anger won't help you find the real criminals."

"Don't think I won't!"

Gabriel grabbed the front of the man's shirt, forcing him forward into an uncomfortable position, their faces only a fist's width apart.

"The Department of Justice has over a hundred ways to make you talk! I don't like torture, but that doesn't mean I won't use it! You'd better learn to behave and tell me about your superiors and your business partners."

The man simply shrugged.

"Officer, if you were going to use those methods, you would have done so already. You've never been one to go easy on 'criminals,' or your conviction rate wouldn't be so high."

"Oh, so you understand."

Gabriel released him, and Koke slumped back onto the chair.

"You've bribed a lot of corrupt officials in the Department of Justice. They give you information, cover for you, and even warned me not to harm 'influential people' when I caught you red-handed. That's your method, isn't it? Well, let me tell you, I don't care about those people, and I'm not afraid of their so-called pressure. You're shipping this stuff down here, and all the paperwork and documents are legal. What does that tell me? It means you have protectors in the upper hive spires. I'm not only going to root you out, but I'm also going to expose those vermin who hide their filth in the Emperor's name! I'm going to bring them to justice! Your seemingly clean hands are already stained with blood. Every weapon you sell will ultimately take someone's life! That is your crime, and that is the price you will pay!"

However, his righteous indignation was met only with a look of pity and a blank expression, making Gabriel pace back and forth in front of the table like an enraged lion.

He didn't know where this damned bastard's confidence came from. From the moment he was caught, he hadn't shown even a hint of panic, completely unlike the criminals he had arrested in the past. They were either scared to death or driven to madness.

Uncertainty slowly grew in the young lawman's mind.

Suddenly, Koke spoke, a smile on his face.

"Well, Officer, you can enjoy this moment while it lasts."

"What?"

"You can continue your declaration of justice, call me a damned criminal, the embodiment of evil, and what else? Oh, yes, responsible for the hive's chaotic order, for those terrible massacres. Say whatever you want, or you can punch me a couple more times if you like, because our time alone together will soon be over."

Gabriel stared at him in disbelief.

"Are you out of your mind? Or delusional? You're a criminal in the Department of Justice right now! I have enough evidence to have you tried in a month, and to end up with a death sentence or worse! And before you die, I have plenty of time to extract everything I need!"

He stormed to the table, sat down, and slammed his fists on the surface.

"You'd better realize the seriousness of the situation. No one can save you! This is the Special Cases Division. Unless the Lord Marshal of Justice comes in person, no one can interfere. I don't believe your superiors are really so powerful, so capable of manipulating everything!"

Koke stared at him, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Officer, believe me, I know how serious the situation is. I swear to the Emperor, I won't spend a single second in the courtroom you expect."

The lawman's breathing became more rapid. He gripped his pistol, leaned back, and glanced sideways at his opponent.

"That's a nice bit of self-consolation."

"Frankly, I used to have a good friend whose personality was very similar to yours. He was very righteous, but eventually got caught in an internal affairs vortex and was crushed, turned into a servitor. And his wife, who is now my wife, was almost sold to a brothel. So, whenever I see you, I miss him very much. Well, I'm getting off track. Let me tell you what's going to happen soon, so you can be prepared."

The lawman laughed, but it was a forced laugh, then he waved his pistol.

"Okay, tell me."

The man placed his shackled hands on the table, glanced at the cell door, and said very seriously:

"Soon, someone will knock on the door, you'll be called outside, and in a secluded corner, there will be someone with a much higher rank than you waiting. First, he'll congratulate you on everything you've done, successfully cracking a weapons smuggling case. You've made the hive a more peaceful place, and he'll even promise you future medals and promotions."

Gabriel's face gradually froze. He began to shake his leg, his facial muscles twitching involuntarily, while the other man's expression became more relaxed.

"Then he'll tell you that after investigation, I've been proven to have nothing to do with this and need to be released immediately. You'll definitely object, perhaps vehemently, even demanding to appeal to the Lord Marshal of Justice. And the other person will produce a warrant from the Lord Marshal, so in the end, I'll be released."

As he spoke, the man sighed.

"The underlying reason isn't complicated. Releasing me is basically the same reason you arrested me. The underhive and the bottom hive have no order, but they need order. The rulers of the hive know they can't afford the cost of managing the entire hive, so the best way is indirect management. Letting this gang rise and letting that gang fall are all means of indirect management. Weapons are just 'tools' for their management. Violence is the most basic law of the Imperium, and the same goes for illegal drugs. Of course, the managers don't want to get their hands dirty, so some things have to operate outside the rules. So, do you think the real weapons buyers are the gangs in the underhive?"

Gabriel was speechless. He could only stare at the man in despair, as if he were a soul-crushing demon.

Suddenly, a gentle knock sounded, like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, making him jolt.

The next moment, he stood up like a madman, pressing the muzzle of his gun hard against the other man's forehead.

"I can kill you right now! For the sake of law and justice, I'm willing to do anything!"

Koke just looked at him gently and shook his head.

"Officer Gabriel, you won't. I know you, because you are a guardian of the law. You won't break the law yourself."

After a three-second standoff, Gabriel, his face ashen, put away his laser pistol and walked towards the door without looking back, leaving only one sentence behind.

"May the Emperor curse you!"