The Storm Was About to Make Landfall

Luke hadn't expected that his brief trip around Cape District last night, disguised as Clear Sky, would have such a huge impact.

Although most of Raging Wave City's maritime trade no longer passed through Cape District, Cape Port was the city's old harbor and still accounted for a substantial share of that trade. In particular, various illicit goods were smuggled in and out with ease under the protection of Cape District's various factions.

That was why the dockside business at Cape Port had become the core interest of Cape District.

The Mad Axe Gang controlled a large share of the docks at Cape Port.

With Jumu dead and the Mad Axe Gang leaderless, this was the perfect opportunity for everyone to swoop in and take a bite.

But Luke was thinking... If a large-scale armed brawl broke out in Cape District, would it endanger him?

The "one-before-last" Detective Chief of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau had died under mysterious circumstances.

If he took the lead in starting a war, would he become the target of everyone's hostility?

Luke didn't answer Lambert right away. Instead, he searched through the information on his phone about Cape District, Raging Wave City.

First of all, Raging Wave City was the Golden Shield Empire's largest port city. Its maritime trade was thriving, and it was the richest city in the Empire.

It was known as the Golden Shield Empire's purse.

Second, the real beneficiaries of the large-scale smuggling in Cape District were the wealthy people in Raging Wave City's Rich District.

City councilors, officials, nobles, merchants, and celebrities... They were all involved. The interests the various factions in Cape District fought over were nothing more than a few grains of gold dust slipping through their fingers.

Looking at what was happening in Cape District from a higher vantage point, Luke could see far more than Lambert and Shelley, who could only see what was right in front of them.

As an agency directly subordinate to the Imperial Family, the Secret Intelligence Bureau was clearly unpopular with the city's upper class.

After all, its work involved fleecing the Empire and evading its taxes.

As a thorn in the side of the smuggling trade, the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau made people uncomfortable. Even if they had dragged the Bureau into smuggling, they would still trust their own people more.

The Cape District Security Bureau was subordinate to Raging Wave City's Public Security Bureau, making it the City Council's own law-enforcement arm.

The city's powerful treated it like their own darling!

Now that they had a chance to wrest control of all Cape Port from the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau, the Cape District Security Bureau would fight at any cost.

Send another Secret Intelligence Bureau Detective Chief to his grave?

It would be a slap in the Grand Princess's face, but that didn't mean they wouldn't stoop to it.

And if the Security Bureau took Cape Port, the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau would be trapped inside the district.

Once morale crumbled, the team would be hard to manage.

If danger arose and they wanted to flee, they probably wouldn't be able to get out.

This was tough.

But it wasn't a dead end.

As long as the fighting in Cape District remained an internal conflict, outside forces wouldn't intervene lightly. After all, the big shots in the Rich District didn't want the matter blown wide open, and they wouldn't dare expose their ties to the smuggling trade.

With the forces currently under the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's control, it wasn't impossible to hold the Security Bureau at bay.

Everyone in the room waited for the New Detective to state his position.

"War?" Luke said. "If it can't be avoided, then we have no choice but to fight."

When the New Detective said they would go to war, the Mad Axe Gang's core members immediately grew excited.

As long as the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau was willing to arrange mercenaries, they had a chance of holding out until reinforcements arrived from Fishbone Island.

Lambert and the Mad Axe Gang's core members stood and bowed to Luke. "Detective Chief, thank you for reaching out to help us again. If the Mad Axe Gang gets through this crisis, we'll always remember your kindness."

Everyone echoed, "We'll always remember your kindness, Detective Chief."

"I hear you. I hope you really do remember. Please, sit down..." After the Mad Axe Gang members sat, Luke turned to Shelley. "I'm not familiar with the various factions in Cape District. Can you handle contacting the people who can provide us with mercenaries?"

"Don't worry, Detective Chief. I'll take care of it," Shelley said.

Luke stood, picked up his cane, and said to the Mad Axe Gang members, "I can't help you with the specifics of defending your castle, so I won't stay here and get in your way. I'm going to meet with the Security Bureau chief now and see if I can ease some of the pressure on your side."

The Mad Axe Gang's core members surrounded Luke and respectfully escorted him out.

Outside, the Secret Intelligence Bureau's Special Task Force agents were still facing off against the Security Bureau officers.

At this moment, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses stood beside Captain Bazel. He wore the uniform of a senior security officer and had no hat on. His bright blond hair stood out.

Luke walked over, tucked his cane under his arm, and extended his right hand to the man.

"Chief Holt, hello. I'm Meteor, the new Detective Chief of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau. We'll be colleagues from now on. We'll need the Security Bureau's support with our work in Cape District."

The blond man was the chief of the Cape District Security Bureau.

He had just returned from Central District. When he heard that the Secret Intelligence Bureau's newly appointed Detective Chief had openly shown up to back the Mad Axe Gang, he rushed over at once.

Hearing that the new Detective Chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau had effectively issued a death warrant against his Security Bureau, he'd been unable to rein in his anger.

Ignoring Luke's outstretched hand, Holt demanded, "Detective Chief Meteor! I know you've just taken office and want to establish your authority. But you don't do that by trampling on the Security Bureau or sheltering criminals!

"I'm issuing you a stern warning. Don't interfere with the Security Bureau's investigation. Take your people and leave at once, or you'll bear all the consequences!"

Luke kept smiling as he replied to Chief Holt, "I did come here because yesterday's murder here is connected to a national security case our Secret Intelligence Bureau is investigating.

"I'm new to Cape District, and there's a lot I don't understand. If I've offended anyone, I apologize to my colleagues at the Security Bureau.

"When you have time, I'll treat you all to pastries at the bakery at 267 Silver Avenue in Central District.

"I hear their pastries are very, very good."

The moment Luke mentioned the bakery at 267 Silver Avenue, Chief Holt's expression changed dramatically. "How do you know about that place?"

"We're the Royal Secret Intelligence Bureau. We know more than you think. I'd like to talk to you about this in private. A storm is about to make landfall, and I doubt you want too many innocent people caught up in it."

Holt snapped, "If you dare lay a hand on them..."

"Their safety is in your hands. Don't worry, I want the storm to stay within manageable bounds too. Come on... Let's talk in the car."

Luke walked toward his car, leaning on his cane.

Holt told his men not to make any rash moves, then followed Luke into the car.