A belated pang followed a bright flash, and another right after, and two more, three, until the Glock had emptied its magazine, and a sharp click to purge the barrel of any remaining casings. The one behind the Glock stood with bemusement, shrugging his coat in disapproval.

"Excellent aim my lord," a well-dressed penguin responded. 

"Aim?" the coated penguin replied with soft depression in his brown eyes, glaring back at the black cutout target with only five of the seven bullets actually embedded into the head. 

"Aim, five out of seven, you hit your mark roughly seventy percent of the time," the suited servant proudly announced. 

"Seventy? Seven-... Seventy percent...? I-.. This isn't-" the former ripped his black cloak off and stood tall, or at least as tall as he could given a stout frame.  

He had a stunning brown jacket studded with all kinds of honors, and three badges to boot, his holster wrapped around his pudgy belly near the waist, and he had a short sapphire blue robe following. He took a deep breath. 

"I represent the embodiment of our country's power, I am Richard, Emperor of the Union, a union has no strength if its commander cannot dictate its powers, its glory, its triumph above injustice. A perfect nation such as this one needs me to have no margin for error, nor lapse in judgment, seventy percent leaves a thirty percent window of opportunity for an assassin, my daughter still has not come of age, if I were lost to another's corruption, my daughter's hold on the throne falls to some darling of the court, and as I love my dear child, I cannot leave such a magnanimous task to her at this age," Richard stated boldly, his words ringing of patriotism and paternal instinct. 

"While true sir, you shouldn't need to shame yourself for having that thirty percent gap, mistakes and imperfections happen, and always making mistakes is forgivable, so long as each mistake is different from the last, that way, you're on a constant path to improvement," the servant said. 

Richard cringed slightly, squinting his eyes to breathe calm. 

"These are troubling times, Antony, a killer is on the loose, and this Kid's out for blood, not profit. My child cannot grow in an environment where she must watch her back every day, and now even the benevolent Dr. Damion has sprung himself free. If I can't protect myself and my country, who will..." Richard sneered. 

"I do recall your affection to your daughter, and I understand, but once again, this is why I don this suit, to service you at all times, and smite the wicked that may come to you, this is why I picked up the badge and am honored to be the associate protector of Emperor Richard The Great," Antony bowed his head and got on one knee.  

Richard bowed in respect, to which Antony stood up slowly. 

"Thank you, and it is only in a valiant heart, and striking skills as yours that bring you such high reward," Richard complimented. 

"What does my lord wish to have done for his protection?" asked Antony. 

Richard scratched his forehead with the barrel of the Glock and pondered. 

"I want you to find The Kid, and bring him to court so that he may stand a trial, and may he be sentenced to a fate worse than death~" Richard purred obsessively. 

"How does one find a migrant serial killer like him, sir?" asked Antony. 

Richard then reloaded his Glock, shooting at his target once again, bullet after bullet screaming out the barrel and punching through the head of the target and ricocheting off the wall. 

"You smoke him out with a honeypot trap, give him someone he'd like to kill most, then trap him before he can strike," Richard inquired. 

"That's not the right thing to do..." Antony replied softly. 

"Then search your ass off... Your reward will be lordship over the Outer Rim islands and a wage increase of twenty dollars," Richard demanded.

"Understood, what are my resources to capture him?" Antony asked. 

Richard then reached into his pocket and handed Antony an ornamental lighter and a small tube.  

"How do I capture our criminal with these?" Antony tilted his head in thought. 

"You won't, no form of torture will work on that bastard, if he finds sexual pleasure in blood, surely he's a sadomasochist, the lighter is for you to find your way out of any dark areas you encounter, the tube, it contains Cyanide, if you are unsuccessful in capturing him, and he has got you trapped, swallow it. I'd rather be poisoned with Cyanide than let that monstrosity chop me up alive," Richard explained calmly. 

"You've got it sir, as a guard's oath to their emperor, you have my full guarantee that I won't disappoint you," Antony kneeled, then fell prostrate at Richard's feet. 

"Best wishes," Richard saluted, watching his guard begin to exit the target shooting area. 

Antony had barely opened the exit door before Richard shouted after him. 

"Hold up," Richard called. 

"Yes sir?" asked Antony. 

"How does one interrupt another's investigation legally so that I may conduct my own?" asked Richard. 

"You suspend their evidence and halt their activities, why?" asked Antony. 

"Ah... A certain New York-based agent of reason, and her... Questionable boyfriend~" Richard scratched his chin.