早晨清涼的氣息還未完全從空氣中退去，兩人緩步走在地檢署內的走廊，自一旁窗戶灑進的陽光比昨日更加明媚和煦。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30dt39vVzm
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDlaGU13NA
羅特推開辦公室的磨砂玻璃門，與恰好拉開大門的男子險些迎面撞上。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gMTbj6P3X
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCG3Nsylrg
「哇喔……是米勒先生啊？有什麼我可以幫忙的嗎？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLic4clE1fn
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr9WK2zG06
對方手裡握著一個沾上淡淡咖啡漬的馬克杯，禮貌性地退了一步。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAFOuWlsG3
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrrjznWqp
他認得這個人——查理·芬科特，夏伊勒檢察官的助手，也是傳說中唯一在她麾下撐過一年的男人。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhDkHKuVFW
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXnzLpatj9
「你沒事吧？你的狀況看起來不太好。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHsZNEMtnv
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kBCmBv0ig
羅特語氣中除了擔憂，更多的是對於「生存狀態」的不可思議。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOL9TQOG9H8
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdu2Be8HMc
「沒事沒事，我狀態很好的，哈哈……」查理笑著說，努力地睜大了眼。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTHKgfKoGt
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5SFLH0blO
他的黑眼圈深邃得像直接在眼周抹了炭粉，那雙眼睛更看起來像靈魂已經先去投胎，只剩一對濃重的黑洞留守人間。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqv4Oni2x4
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5TrYK0ADk
難以想像距離上次見到他的這兩天期間，究竟發生了什麼。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVScc1CzWe
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0CAnhCRWF
羅特探頭，目光越過查理肩頭飄向不遠處的辦公區。一頭亂糟糟長髮的女人此刻正趴在辦公桌上，一動也不動。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCxyhgG5pG
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvpEGltzMQ
死了？124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht6TRWIvVC
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE337LA5bqf
「克萊爾小姐有先告知我了，有什麼問題的話我都可以提供協助。」他向前一步，擠出的笑容生硬到看上去隨時會就地長眠。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgVoauLUmU
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kxsExaU2c
「要不你先去裝杯咖啡吧？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKPX3Ea3yU
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORt7mqesl4
「啊……好的，那請稍等一下，不好意思。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltNR50RyV3
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEekOzuEn3
查理笑了兩聲，提著他的馬克杯逃也似地竄出辦公室，蹣跚的步伐分不清是在享受陽光久違的滋養，還是在與飄零的意識抗拒。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh7u1qqqLI
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2U4YvulAZ
「羅特先生，那個人也有死亡的味道。」荷布希望著遠去的背影輕聲說道。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCPlbzgHSW
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg7PTEs8rv
「別亂說話。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkaymrd9o6
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz5K9tD2hN
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT1UhnJlCw
討論室中空氣寧靜，潔淨的玻璃門將不絕於耳的辦公聲隔離在外。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcSEbQkgj5
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1obt0Jfpmk
「這麼多？」羅特手持一疊文件，上頭是寫得密密麻麻的資訊。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEURzhknbqI
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UIZ3unXwN
「是的，除了達烏街的房子以外，還有位於市中心的戶籍住處、出租用的大樓，一家股份佔比超過五成的公司和一處停擺的工業區。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnQ0WCz6cj
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzEQV4UMfC
查理坐在長桌對側，面前放著與羅特相同的資料。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAe7y9dorb
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1j1Zz8jox
「那達烏街的房子究竟是做什麼用的？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRwRon0Jwh
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz9NWmt0j5
「這個嘛……似乎就只是閒置而已，我們還在調查。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1roTXDGI4
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcORE6wbare
不只是購入的時間和地址，連這些年不動產的使用狀況、交易往來和購入設備都一清二楚，可謂是一份查得滴水不漏的報告書。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvgdrITqMv
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsJ3VFpw1o
荷布希坐在一旁聽著兩人的對話，靜默地盯著桌上的文件，像具擺放的人偶一般。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLBZcdk3dd
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnWTnR11eH
「還有這是資金流動的狀況……」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtz95bci9w
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRYfa4UDDq
這些文件的內容，羅特大部分都已透過調查局的資料略知一二，然而還是有其中幾項引起了他的注意。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn40xPiTIHJ
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6zKXVrYCu
「停擺的工業區？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj9JjdbmXx
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVax7SmwgXn
「位在西區普朗頓的工業區，由文森特議員一人持有，不過在兩年前因為一些政策原因停擺了……」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg87qhJQzb
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZGjjg2AhJ
查理瞄了眼羅特，壓低了一點聲音：「後來因為疑似有野蟲族出沒，整個區域封鎖後就荒廢了，到現在都還沒轉售出去。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQqXq5v1UC
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaE96HCZoI
羅特抬起了一點頭，皺著眉說：「那麼這應該是調查的重點才對，不是嗎？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9I2l30RG4
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu46qNNFnG
「話是這麼說……但根據刑警使用無人機回傳的報告來看，就只是幾座荒廢的工廠而已。」他雙手摩挲著，似乎有些苦惱。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uHEvXz174
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLHxjmkAWw
羅特不發一語地看著那張詳細的現金流量表。很難想像幾天前那位冷若冰霜的檢察官，是會如此積極共享情報的人。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f1x9p89Y8
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozLoUpCq32
也許在這樁凶殺案底下，有什麼也在悄悄改變也說不定。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPpohsojsj
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LHks1lZ5h
「還有件事……關於工業區蟲族運用的情形，需要你們協助。」查理開口說道。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZjdLcz3MS
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqTDM6Ldb2
「普朗頓工業區在停工前曾申請了使……」說到這他瞟了眼端坐一旁的荷布希，頓了一下後說：「『雇用』蟲族，並獲得了批准，但詳細的資料很難從當地政府的檔案找到。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzsPUbigw1
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdOuznYPLR
「私用蟲族的情況？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQn8OC37Ea
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEzr422ATK
「是的，恐怕有這個可能。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRPivebB9C
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QnzSHcTUd
羅特點了點頭，淡淡說道：「沒問題，晚點我會請調查局把資料查出來。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah49MptEfN
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHXfMFuJLJ
翻開文件底頁，他若有所思地看著損益表上那不起眼的一行。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEETOL0G0v
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kouZfsY5n
蟲種族使用申請與運用費——124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NK0wXltKl
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xcZBDQxMG
有些東西，或許要親眼見證才行。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6KnUZjSz3
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXzAUMGkiW
「那麼，替我向夏伊勒小姐問好。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu559hHJrZy
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbG2uSj1Ql
他拿著文件撐桌站起，幾乎沒有停頓地就轉身走去。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfDmIXX8Tp
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIRHq2rJUX
「等等！最後有件事情。」查理喊住了他。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbYjxOe9ug
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW9T3cqyue
「看起來克萊爾小姐已經打算跟你合作……有些事情我想要讓你知道。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLf5DDGJ9m
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE0B0uQmOn
「嗯？是什麼？」羅特止步門前。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUwCs8mRCz
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkvJ0LTP4Y
查理微微低著頭，沉默了好一陣子後才娓娓道來：「克萊爾小姐是個對理念異常執著的人，一直以來都不顧外界的眼光和壓力，只為實踐自己心中的正義，有些時候甚至執著得有些過頭，甚至還因此跟主任吵過一架……」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXo8xBMoNr
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0nlAUfVRU
「到目前已經偵破了幾十起兇殺和貪污，定罪率都是一百，也就是說，只要被她起訴的人全都進去關了。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYXyarOqLF
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIZBWnmK1g
「喔？真是厲害呢。」羅特感嘆道。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJKORejfmz
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOZdI3dBbk
「是啊……同時也是很多人的眼中釘。」查理淡淡說道，交握的十指因用力而發白。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IPDCRRqIH
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbX11DxLzX7
羅特愣了一瞬，他看向玻璃門外，夏伊勒此刻正趴在一疊文件中沉沉睡著，彷彿一座令人嘆息的裝置藝術。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoX6lsVuzn
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFamL05YmC
「我會注意的。」他眉頭深鎖地說道。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMp6Ot7Fp0
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sGUHshKBD
緩步走在地檢署內的走廊，窗外的陽光被遮掩一半，比稍早的時候更加晦暗。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ydh8k2VMC
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBnKHrRg0M
早晨清涼的氣息已然淡去，在厚厚雲層的籠罩下顯得更加沉悶。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqcmY6mm4P
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBeY3qkhGq
「羅特先生。」荷布希率先開口說道：「什麼是『申請使用蟲族』？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX6iMFzjfO
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjiUDNCTbZ
「就是向主管機關——異種族管理署申請合法持有蟲族，因為程序很麻煩，通常很少有人會這麼做。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBsf2kPgIP
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuBBBs1JmU
羅特反覆檢閱著查理提供的資料，心不在焉地說：「文森特議員生前應該就是在推動簡化申請程序的法案吧？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx6aWtOmYA
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZwFv0eE3Q
荷布希微微低頭，片刻後輕聲說道：「那些被申請使用的蟲族會怎麼樣？也跟我一樣是工具嗎？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBBoLVKqRs
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL09keONsxU
羅特停下腳步，轉頭望向她，而她同樣停下腳步，就像個鏡像的縮影般。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOJixHq7gJ
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNeTjkNExl
「不一定，要看具體申請了什麼……但她們跟妳不一樣。」他面不改色地說著，繼續朝前走去。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3blIXWKqD4
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZyJxtSomK
「大部分下放到可供申請的蟲族，都是缺乏一定智商或武力的歸化蟲族，和調查局的蟲族有天壤之別。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZvbvwtFtd
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gOm4ygdS5
「像阿蜜特那樣？」她歪著頭問。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEIukty7NF
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SIeAEWUBU
「差不多，如果它沒有爆發失調症的話。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RNksIzi5c
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SFYfqaFUB
「我懂了。」她說：「所以我們的『價值』和『等級』就是取決於能利用的程度，對嗎？」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwwMLeFtEU
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTmlXVphJ9
羅特動作一僵，瞟了眼身旁的荷布希。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAK6VIlQMu
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRfi60Zu9D
此刻她正眨著微微睜大的雙眼，彷彿一個正分享著解出習作難題的孩子。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMvvdB0OtT
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7DEHdrP7f
他思考片刻後沉下聲音說道：「沒錯……就是這樣——以目前來說。」124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuBc6ZW4Nh
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7tPcVVjID
推開地檢署的大門，一股濕濡的空氣吹來，陰沉沉的烏雲滿佈天空，就好像方才溫暖的晨光只是個掩人耳目的假象而已。124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLY1iiR2xG
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqjOIj9rwU
他頭也不回地向前，引著少女一同走入遠方更加暗沉的街道。
and then Add to home screen.