Shelley and Pilt stood on either side of the car. Everyone present had their attention fixed on the Secret Intelligence Bureau vehicle, wondering what these two powerful Cape District officials would discuss.
Once they were in the car, Holt said to Luke, "I'm only following orders. Even if you threaten my family, the Security Bureau won't let the Mad Axe Gang off the hook.
"If I'm transferred, someone else will naturally take my place."
Luke gazed outside and said to Holt in a casual tone, "Chief, look at the people out there. Look at their faces. They all know that every word you and I say here could mean that a lot of people won't live to see tomorrow.
"That includes you and me.
"You have your duties, and I have mine. On my first day in the job, I just stood by and watched you wipe out the Mad Axe Gang. How am I supposed to manage my subordinates?"
"The Mad Axe Gang is an illegal gang. They're in league with—"
"Chief Holt, since we're talking in private, don't feed me that nonsense. The Mad Axe Gang may be an illegal gang, but the people working for your Security Bureau aren't exactly clean either.
"Today, you use that excuse to go after the Mad Axe Gang. Tomorrow, I could use the same excuse to go after your people.
"If you kill off all the people doing the work down below, who's going to do the dirty work and transport goods for the rich gentlemen of the Rich District?"
Holt asked warily, "What are you talking about? I don't understand. What do the rich gentlemen of the Rich District have to do with this?"
"Holt, the previous Detective Chief of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau died under very suspicious circumstances! The Grand Princess's first assignment for me was to investigate the cause of his death. But I know the waters in Raging Wave City run deep, and I don't want to risk my life over this.
"I just want to get by for a year or two, then be transferred somewhere else.
"So I hope you won't push me too far. Wouldn't it be better to leave the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau as it is?"
Luke's words made Holt fall silent in thought.
His superiors wanted him to regain full control of the Cape Port docks, but they also didn't want the normal flow of smuggled goods disrupted.
The Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's response today made it clear they intended to protect the Mad Axe Gang at all costs. If the Security Bureau wiped out the gang today, the Secret Intelligence Bureau might retaliate tomorrow by destroying one of his own gang branches. If they kept wiping each other out, they'd eventually kill everyone doing the work down below.
The rich gentlemen of the Rich District certainly weren't going to send their own people to transport the goods.
In the end, the Cape District Security Bureau would still bear the blame.
Besides, if they pushed people too far, their families could be caught in the crossfire.
If this new Detective Chief was willing to maintain the status quo... it might be difficult to explain to his superiors, but it wasn't impossible.
The new Detective Chief had said he was willing to cooperate.
Whether he meant it or was just paying lip service was a matter for later.
"Do you have any suggestions? Even if I'm willing to let the Mad Axe Gang off, I doubt the people outside will agree."
Seeing Chief Holt give ground, Luke said, "It's my first day on the job, and I don't know the Mad Axe Gang well. I didn't really intend to protect them in the first place. But I have to consider how my subordinates feel. You know Black Mamba and Pisco aren't easy to control."
Holt glanced at the two people standing outside the car. He agreed with Luke, and even felt a little sympathy for him. "Those two are a headache for every Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau Detective Chief."
"Since you understand my predicament, here's my suggestion... The Secret Intelligence Bureau and the Security Bureau both withdraw from here and stay out of this incident. You and I can each keep our people from making trouble during the day. Once night falls, everyone can fend for themselves.
"What do you think, Chief?"
Luke's suggestion would prevent a direct clash between the Secret Intelligence Bureau and the Security Bureau, keeping the conflict at the level of a gang rivalry.
As long as the fighting didn't spread upward, the people at the top wouldn't get caught in it.
Especially not their families.
Holt had no idea how the Secret Intelligence Bureau had found his family, whom he'd hidden so carefully. All he could do now was minimize the risk.
"I hope you'll keep your word."
Luke held out his hand to Holt. "That's what I should be saying. I'm the last person who wants to let this get out of hand. The sooner we leave, the sooner the docks can get back to normal. After all this time, a lot of cargo must have piled up."
Holt gave Luke's hand a brief shake, then pushed open the door and got out.
Luke rolled down the window and said to Shelley, "Tell our people to withdraw!"
Shelley asked, "We're leaving now? What about the Security Bureau?"
"Everyone leaves..."
At Holt's command, the security officers surrounding the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters withdrew in an orderly fashion.
Shelley then waved for the Special Task Force agents to stand down.
The convoy honked its way back to the Secret Intelligence Bureau headquarters, making a show of returning in triumph.
They had just reached the second floor when a Secret Intelligence Bureau clerk said to Luke, "Chief, an old woman who calls herself Helm is waiting over there. She says you asked her to come, and that you were going to help her find her son."
Luke looked where the clerk pointed and saw the hot dog vendor standing there, shrinking timidly into herself.
When she noticed Luke looking her way, the old woman immediately bowed.
"I asked her to come," Luke said. Then he turned to Shelley, who was walking beside him. "This is your case. You're in charge... Consider it a test."
Shelley said awkwardly, "Chief, I still need to contact people to support the Mad Axe Gang. Besides, I only know how to kill people, not find them."
Luke had taken Helm's missing-son case on a whim. Seeing Shelley so brazenly defend her dine-and-dash, he'd wanted to put her in her place.
But helping the Mad Axe Gang through this crisis was indeed more important right now.
And if Shelley really handled the case, she might fail to find the woman's son and end up getting her killed as well.
But he'd already promised Helm.
As Luke hesitated, the clerk volunteered, "Chief, you can give the case to me."
Luke looked at the clerk before him.
He was a young man, eager to prove himself to his new boss.
He looked a little familiar.
After a closer look, Luke finally recognized him.
Wallis Thomas!
A five-star hero and a legendary Secret Intelligence agent of the Golden Shield Empire. Known for his meticulous methods and outstanding service, he had been recruited by the Grand Princess into the Secret Intelligence Bureau's highest intelligence organization, the "Raven."
His codename was "Silence."
Later, during the Grand Princess's struggle with the First Prince for the throne, he successfully assassinated several important members of the First Prince's faction, becoming one of the ten ace agents personally appointed by the Grand Princess.
Of course, Thomas wasn't yet the future "Silence." Judging by his age and appearance, he'd only just joined the Secret Intelligence Bureau and was still a rookie.
Luke hadn't expected to meet a young Thomas at the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau.
Interesting!
Thomas saw the Detective Chief staring at him and said somewhat bashfully, "I'm sorry, Chief. I know I'm a newcomer and don't yet have the ability to handle cases on my own. But I hope you'll give me a chance. I'll do everything I can to help Helm find her son."
Before you continue