"You stand behind me. I'm wearing power armor, which is much more bulletproof than what you're wearing."
"Yes, but what if they shoot you in the face?
Those guys who live on the edge won't spare your face just because you're pretty."
"...So what do you suggest we do?"
"Fly slower, say there's traffic congestion. Then activate the machine soul for autopilot. Once we land, immediately find cover, shout at them from a distance, stall for time, and wait for your mentor to arrive with backup."
"What if they don't make a move and wait for my mentor to arrive, then take you to the Adeptus Arbites...?"
"Wouldn't that be perfect?"
Horatio chuckled, "We'll stall for time at the Adeptus Arbites fortress until the blood test report comes out, and then wait for the Imperial Navy to come and claim me."
"Are you that confident?"
"This ring gives me confidence."
Horatio looked at the ring in his hand, turning the blurred 'Legendary' inscription towards his eyes and polishing the characters until they gleamed.
Next, Farida slowed down the shuttle as per Horatio's instructions, handing control over to the built-in machine soul for autopilot.
By the time the shuttle flew from the massive road network to the destination coordinates above the PW-P-15 Megaport Freight Zone, an hour and a half had passed, a much slower pace than its original speed.
During this time, the Security Inspector called multiple times, constantly asking Farida when she would arrive at the scene, but she deflected him each time with various suitable excuses provided by Horatio.
Horatio then had Farida contact the Arbiter, and only after learning that he was about to arrive at the scene did he allow the machine soul to slowly descend.
"It's that strange interference again; I can't contact the outside world," Farida said with a worried expression.
"Since your master just said he's almost here in the communication, we'll just stall for time," Horatio said, picking up his gun and walking to the cabin door to comfort her.
"Mhm."
Through the windshield, the Security Inspector named George Davis stood with his hands behind his back, straddling his legs arrogantly, looking down at the slowly descending shuttle with a haughty expression.
"You've finally arrived, Miss Hood," the man called out indifferently using a miniature sound array.
The shuttle landed sideways, its hatch facing away from the already waiting Security Inspector and his subordinates. Horatio and Farida did not swagger out, but instead hid on either side of the shuttle, disengaging the safety on their firearms.
"Hello, Security Inspector. May I ask where the hostage to be rescued is?" Farida had no patience for pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.
"The hostage is precisely you, Miss Hood," the Security Inspector sneered.
"Me?" Farida frowned, using her tactical augur to scan her surroundings as she responded.
Just as Horatio had said, a two-person sniper team was aiming at her position from above, and her danger sensing system continuously flashed prominent warnings.
"We have received information that a high-profile death row inmate murdered an entire transport of law enforcement personnel and, at the same time, took Imperial Department of Legal Affairs specialist, Miss Farida Hood, hostage."
"He did not take me hostage; I provided him with witness protection."
Farida was prepared and immediately gave her testimony to prevent the Security Inspector from firing during the pause after stating his accusation and before receiving an answer.
"Alright, our enforcement recorder has documented your statement."
The man patted the probe on his left shoulder and continued, "According to our monitoring, today at 18:00 terra time, without prior declaration, you used your position to privately transport an Imperial death row inmate to your residence. Could you please explain this action?"
"I said, this is witness protection, absolutely not sanctuary!
We were attacked by Evil Cultists disguised as Hive City Law Enforcement, and we obtained evidence of accomplices within the Adeptus Arbites. To avoid exposure, I did not immediately report to the Imperial Department of Legal Affairs.
According to the 'Gothic Sector Imperial Legal Enforcement Regulations' approved by the Imperial Terra Adeptus Arbites, I have the right to report to a higher-ranking Adeptus Arbites official within 12 terra time. The reporting deadline has not yet passed."
[What a brilliant mage battle.]
Horatio, keeping watch on the right, listened to the two sides verbally sparring across the shuttle, unable to suppress a chuckle.
At the same time, he wasn't idle, using the analyzer on the Adeptus Arbites helmet to gain insight into the battlefield terrain and personnel deployment, preparing in advance for a potential shootout.
"Then what is the meaning of you hiding behind the shuttle and intending to confront Imperial law enforcement? As a Adeptus Arbites specially authorized vigilante, are you questioning the Imperial Adeptus Arbites?"
"I am questioning you, Esteemed Security Inspector. As a noble, the offspring of a Gothic Fleet general, and serving as a Adeptus Arbites specialist, according to the 'Gothic Sector Judicial Arrest Regulations,' an arrest warrant must be jointly signed by the Sector Legal Marshal and the Chief of the Commissariat Department.
Clearly, you cannot have the authority to arrest me, so where I choose to stand is my freedom, and you have no right to interfere!"
Farida's meaning was very clear:
'My father is the Fleet Commander of the Vanguard Fleet, the Chief Officer of the Imperial Navy Gothic Fleet Military Intelligence Headquarters, a universally lauded Imperial hero, nine ranks higher than you in official position. You want to arrest me? Call the two top officials of the sector-level departments!'
Horatio burst out laughing.
What does it mean to be legitimate, 'Sorry, being born well really lets you do whatever you want,' as certified by the Emperor?
He truly felt sorry for the Security Inspector, who was so thoroughly rebutted by Farida that he couldn't utter a single word.
The Security Inspector was so infuriated by the girl's sharp words that his lips turned purple and his body trembled.
As a Security Inspector of the Adeptus Arbites with the power of life and death, Hive City commoners had to salute him as if he were the God-Emperor himself. Yet now, he was being rebuked to such an awkward state by a young girl, and still had to maintain civility.
The Security Inspector had no choice but to put on a forced, comical smile, trembling as he called out:
"Respected Miss Hood, I have no intention of offending you. Now that the death row inmate is safe, please hand him over to me for handling."
He placed his hand behind his back, giving his subordinates the signal to prepare to fire, awaiting his downward sweep.
"Alright," Farida chuckled.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The Security Inspector tilted his head slightly, resuming his haughty posture as he looked at the shuttle, but internally he gritted his teeth:
[Heh heh, let you be arrogant for a little longer. When I catch you, just you wait...]
Horatio looked at her in astonishment, asking in an excited whisper, "Hey, what are you doing?"
Farida waved her hand downward, signaling Horatio not to worry, then shouted to the Security Inspector, "Just wait until my mentor arrives."
[This little girl actually called for backup?! This is bad!]
The Security Inspector's eyes instantly widened. The hand hidden behind his back was about to drop, while Farida and Horatio also placed their fingers on their triggers.
Just as both sides were at daggers drawn.
The loud roar of vehicle engines echoed through the empty, abandoned dumping ground, as another squad of Adeptus Arbites vehicles drove in, kicking up black dust.
Led by a Adeptus Arbites wheeled armored vehicle, a Adeptus Arbites armored van followed closely behind.
The perilous atmosphere abruptly ceased; both sides stopped their actions.
Click--
Rattle.
As the rear door of the van opened, several fully armed Adeptus Arbites Arbiters, clad in carapace armor, emerged in single file.
These elites from the Loyalist Academy, dressed like Robocops and belonging to the main Adeptus Arbites, were clearly more refined in both equipment and training compared to the Security Inspector's auxiliary police.
From the front armored vehicle, a tall, middle-aged man with a tight-lipped expression, as if he was annoyed by everyone, stepped out of the side door. A distinctive maul-shaped shock baton was clipped to his waist, and he held a highly intimidating silver repeating shotgun in his hands.
"Adeptus Arbites Arbiter has arrived at the scene."