We're Taking Over Here

Pisco got out of the car first.

He gently closed the door, then turned and shouted, "Rebellion? I'd say it's your Security Bureau that's trying to rebel! We're the Secret Intelligence Bureau, directly under the Imperial Family. What do you mean, drawing your swords on us?

"One by one... Have you all gone and lost your minds?"

As Pisco spoke, he slammed his fists together, making a metallic clanging sound.

When the security officers saw Pisco, they knew Black Mamba must have come too.

Faced with a woman who was used to making her point with gunfire, the officers' confidence immediately faltered.

One of the security captains said, "We're all serving the Empire. If there's been a misunderstanding, we can talk it out. How about we all put our weapons away first?"

Pisco folded his arms across his chest and said bluntly, "We can talk. You put your weapons away first."

The security captain didn't want to make a bigger mess of things, so he waved for his subordinates to put away their weapons.

Pisco also told the agents to put their weapons away.

Shelley said to Luke, "Detective Chief, it's safe outside."

"Mm."

Pisco opened the car door for him.

As soon as Luke stepped out of the car, he became the center of attention.

Pisco was a hothead, and the person he respected most was Black Mamba.

Yet this man had Pisco opening the car door for him and acting so deferentially.

Could he be...?

When they saw the Detective Chief's badge on his chest, everyone immediately realized who he was.

The Secret Intelligence Bureau's new Detective Chief for Cape District.

After getting out, Luke leaned on his cane and surveyed the area. Under everyone's gaze, he slowly strode toward the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters' gate with the measured steps of an official.

Shelley and Pisco followed behind him.

As he passed the security captain, Luke didn't even look at him. He simply studied the towering castle walls and gate before them.

"Captain Bazel, where's your chief?"

"Detective Chief, good to see you." Recognizing that he'd been addressed by name, Bazel immediately bowed respectfully to Luke. "Our chief is attending a meeting at the Central City Security Headquarters. As for here..."

"The Secret Intelligence Bureau is taking over here. You can head back."

A whole group of people behind the Security Bureau were waiting to carve up their share of the Mad Axe Gang. They weren't about to give up such a good chance to take the gang down.

"Detective Chief... The Mad Axe Gang is an illegal gang that's engaged in all kinds of criminal activity in Cape District. They've even colluded with pirates, harming the interests of the Empire's legitimate merchants.

"Our Cape District Security Bureau has been keeping an eye on them for a long time and has gathered a large amount of evidence of their crimes.

"We're here to arrest the people involved.

"Please don't interfere with the performance of our duties."

Luke hadn't expected the Security Bureau to use this kind of excuse to go after the Mad Axe Gang.

If he handled this poorly, the Security Bureau could accuse him of sheltering an illegal gang engaged in criminal activity and colluding with pirates.

He'd only just taken office. Getting tied up in a case like this would absolutely hurt his chances of promotion.

But promotion... What the hell did I care about that? I'm a fake Detective Chief!

Captain Bazel looked as if he were enjoying the show.

He had probably assumed that the new Detective Chief had only just arrived and wouldn't stick his neck out for a gang he had no connection to, only to get himself into trouble.

Luke finally turned his gaze to Bazel.

He said scornfully, "Captain Bazel... Nothing takes precedence over the Empire's security. I don't care how much evidence your Security Bureau has against the Mad Axe Gang. We need their cooperation with an investigation right now.

"Withdraw. We're taking over here.

"Do you have any objections?"

Bazel hadn't expected the new Detective Chief of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau to be so hard-nosed.

The Mad Axe Gang's money for the Secret Intelligence Bureau wasn't going into your pocket. Why go out of your way to invite this kind of trouble?

"Detective Chief, you need to think this through. The Mad Axe Gang's crimes are extremely serious, especially their collusion with pirates... It's a crime the Empire is determined to crack down on.

"You've only just arrived in Cape District and don't know how things work here. Don't let false information mislead you."

Shelley put her hand on her gun and snapped, "Bazel, what are you trying to say?"

Luke raised a hand to stop Shelley from losing her temper, then said to Bazel, "Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

Bazel immediately replied, "No, no, no. I'm only offering you some advice."

Luke smiled. "Thanks for the advice. But... look at how many people I've brought with me. Do you really think I'll turn around and take them all back because of your advice?

"Only one of us is going inside.

"You, or me?"

Under Luke's gaze, the pressure made sweat bead on Bazel's forehead.

This was no longer about interests or right and wrong. It had become a matter of pride.

"Detective Chief, I think..."

"Bazel! I'm going through that gate, no matter what. If you don't want to leave, wait outside. If you dare force your way in... Pisco!"

Pisco stood at attention.

"Awaiting your orders, Detective Chief!"

"Until I come back out, anyone who tries to get inside... kill them! I'll take responsibility!"

"Yes, Detective Chief!"

After speaking, Luke headed for the gate with Shelley. The Mad Axe Gang members guarding the entrance immediately welcomed the two of them inside with great respect.

At Pisco's order, he stripped off his shirt and ripped away the scraps of fabric, tossing them aside. His mechanical arms and muscles, as thick as tires, were exposed.

He stared challengingly at the security officers.

It was as if he were saying, "Take one step forward. Go on, try it."

The tough feared the reckless, and the reckless feared those with nothing to lose.

Pisco was tough, reckless, and had nothing to lose.

The Cape District security officers, on the other hand, were just doing a job for money. None of them intended to risk their lives here.

Seeing that Pisco had received the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau chief's order to kill, the security officers not only refrained from stepping forward, but all took a step back.

Bazel watched the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's Detective Chief walk inside and said nothing more. This situation was beyond someone at his level to decide, so he could only accept the outcome.

Luke walked through the gate of the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters. The familiar castle stood before him.

Returning to a place he knew so well stirred his emotions.

Just then, the remaining core members of the Mad Axe Gang came over to greet him, their expressions as if they'd seen their own parents.

If the Secret Intelligence Bureau hadn't sent people over last night, members of the other gangs would probably have already stormed in. Now, in broad daylight, the Secret Intelligence Bureau had firmly kept the Security Bureau outside.

They'd all just heard the new Detective Chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau issue a kill order against the Security Bureau just to protect them.

Who in this world would risk so much for them, apart from their own parents?

The Mad Axe Gang members' gratitude toward Luke was plain to see, and all their earlier fears of being abandoned vanished.

After Jumu and several other core members died, Lambert, who had met Clear Sky the day before, had been temporarily chosen as the Mad Axe Gang's spokesman.

Lambert walked up to Luke and bowed. "The Mad Axe Gang thanks you for coming to our rescue, Detective Chief."

Just then, a Mad Axe Gang member came over carrying a wooden box.

Shelley opened the box.

The gems, gold, and banknotes inside gleamed dazzlingly.

Luke smiled and told Shelley to put it away, then said to the Mad Axe Gang members, "It looks like the people outside aren't willing to just leave. Let's go inside and talk about how to deal with the crisis."