This Is War

Lambert immediately led Luke and Shelley into the castle.

The first-floor lobby.

Jumu's corpse had already been collected, but the rubble and broken bed that had fallen to the floor remained piled there, the gaping hole above a shocking sight.

Shelley couldn't help but take another look; she knew that Jumu's room was right up there.

Once they entered a quiet conference room, she couldn't help but ask Lambert, "What happened last night? How did Jumu die?"

Lambert invited Luke to take the head seat, while he and the core members of the Mad Axe Gang took their seats in turn.

He then sighed and said, "Last night, a female elf who called herself Clear Sky invaded this place. She jumped down from the east tower and entered the castle through a window on the third floor.

Then...

It was a slaughter.

She killed with such speed that we couldn't react at all. From the third floor to the second, we lost over a hundred men. The entire third-floor corridor and the second-floor lobby were covered in body parts and blood. Chad, Bernie, Jabur, and Brenda all died at her hands.

In the end, the elf broke into the boss's bedroom, killed him, and took his head."

"Took his head?" Shelley frowned, then said to Luke, "Detective, the elf taking Jumu's head was likely to turn it in for a bounty. There is an Assassin Tavern in the Cape District; perhaps we can find some clues there."

Just then, a maid poured a cup of tea for Luke.

"Thank you..." Luke thanked the maid like a gentleman, then said to Shelley, "We didn't come here to investigate a case, unless you have the ability to defeat her."

Shelley said with self-awareness, "No, I am no match for her. I fear there are few people in all of Raging Wave City who could deal with this elf.

Being able to kill Jumu here proves she is very strong!"

"Then let's not talk about the elf." Luke said to Lambert, "Please understand... we have already stirred up enough trouble just by coming here, and we will not be investigating this intrusion for you."

Lambert said sincerely, "We will investigate this intrusion ourselves. We only hope the Detective can deal with the people outside for us, especially the Public Security Bureau... We need some time for our scattered members to return.

As long as our reinforcements arrive, we will have the strength to take back the territory we lost, and only then can we continue to pay dividends to the Secret Intelligence Bureau."

Luke sipped his tea and said indifferently, "Your reinforcements? Are they pirates?"

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly.

Pirates had always been a primary target for the Empire, and Raging Wave City, as a coastal port city, had zero tolerance for pirates who disrupted normal maritime trade.

Once caught, pirates were immediately hanged for public display.

The relationship between the Mad Axe Gang and pirates was not an isolated case in the Cape District, but everyone had a tacit understanding to keep it under the table.

Now, the new Detective of the Secret Intelligence Bureau had bluntly and publicly stated that the Mad Axe Gang was colluding with pirates, leaving the gang leaders confused about the new Detective's intentions.

After a moment of deep thought, Lambert replied cautiously, "Detective, the reinforcements coming are our friends from the outer seas, and they have no direct connection to pirates."

Luke smiled and said, "It wouldn't matter if they did. When your friends arrive in the Cape District, remember to notify me. I will make the arrangements; we can all meet, have some tea, and discuss how to make money together."

Lambert was even more confused by the Detective's intentions.

Is this the kind of thing that can be said in this setting?

Are you the head of the Imperial secret agents? Or a gang boss?

"Detective, that wouldn't be appropriate."

"Why not? If I say it's appropriate, then it's appropriate. I have long heard of Madam Tasia of Fishbone Island; if she comes, I must meet her in person."

Lambert did not expect that this new Detective, having just arrived in the Cape District, could name Madam Tasia of Fishbone Island and know that the Mad Axe Gang had a deep partnership with her.

The Mad Axe Gang seemed to have no secrets in front of him.

What else did he know?

Lambert thought of a recent theft organized by the Mad Axe Gang, which was to steal the "Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon" from the Raging Wave City Alchemy Association for Madam Tasia.

If that matter were exposed, even the Secret Intelligence Bureau could not protect the Mad Axe Gang.

How should he answer?

"Detective, if I see Madam Tasia, I will certainly convey your goodwill and invitation to her.

But we do not have a very deep relationship with Fishbone Island, and the matter of having tea with you would still require Madam Tasia to make the decision."

Lambert's reply was airtight; he neither admitted the relationship between the Mad Axe Gang and the pirates nor refused to act as a go-between.

Luke wanted to meet Madam Tasia because he was thinking of preparing a backup plan for himself.

A clever rabbit has three burrows.

If he couldn't stay in the Cape District, the fastest way to escape danger would be to take the sea route to another country.

Madam Tasia of Fishbone Island belonged to the Code faction in the pirate circle, meaning she followed the ancient "Pirate Code"—"money over life."

Building a good relationship with such pirates meant more friends and more paths.

"I will leave the matter of meeting Madam Tasia to you. Of course, that is assuming you can survive until your reinforcements arrive; there are many wolves outside waiting to eat meat.

Today is my first day as the Detective of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau, and I don't have the prestige yet to make them back off. During the day, with us guarding the outside for you, they won't dare to take excessive actions.

But at night, I fear even my own people won't be safe.

Do you have any way to protect yourselves when night falls?"

Luke's question plunged the room into a prolonged silence.

During the day in Cape District, the Public Security Bureau and the Secret Intelligence Bureau could still maintain order, but at night... especially tonight, now that the news of the Mad Axe Gang's weakness had been confirmed.

The Secret Intelligence Bureau was likely unable to suppress the "Evil Wolves" circling outside.

The Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau was not as formidable as those in other districts.

After a while, Lambert said, "Inspector, if someone attacks us tonight, we can only rely on this fortress for defense.

However, without reinforcements, I fear it will be difficult to hold."

Shelley then said to Luke, "Sixty percent of the Cape Port docks are controlled by the Public Security Bureau, and the rest are in the hands of our people, half of whom are managed by the Mad Axe Gang.

The Public Security Bureau will certainly not let this golden opportunity to eradicate the Mad Axe Gang slip by. Without the Mad Axe Gang, the entire Cape Port will fall under their control.

I fear our people will all defect to the Public Security Bureau."

Luke said, "It seems we must treat this matter with the attitude of war?"

Lambert immediately replied, "This is war, Inspector. We hope you can step forward and organize a mercenary force for us.

The Mad Axe Gang is willing to cover all expenses."

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