Smuggling Group

Only after everyone repeatedly urged him did Luke speak. "I originally just wanted to provide a source of goods. I didn't want to get too deeply involved. But you all came here in response to my summons at a time like this, which proves you're loyal and honorable partners.

"I'm happy to put the goods in your hands! And if you want me to take charge, I can do that too!

"From now on, I'm your boss. I have only one demand of you, and it's very simple.

"You'll obey my orders. Can you do that?

"Don't rush to answer... This concerns your lives, so you need to think it through."

The conference room grew quiet and oppressive.

The demand was indeed simple, but the more they thought about it, the less simple it seemed.

An inexplicable pressure made all the sponsors break into a sweat.

They were all unruly men, yet now they didn't dare look directly at the Secret Intelligence Bureau Detective Chief seated at the head of the table, as though their lives rested on his every whim.

Even if they left this room, their lives and deaths would still be in his hands.

After a while, one man stood and bowed to Luke. "Detective Chief, I'm willing to obey all your orders!"

The others stood one by one and bowed to Luke as well. "Detective Chief, I'm willing to obey all your orders!"

"Good. Excellent. This is what a smuggling group should look like. Take your seats. Let's discuss supporting the Mad Axe Gang..." Once the new underlings had all sat down, Luke thought for a moment and said, "We should give our smuggling group a name first. Let's call it Blazing Sun. What do you think?"

The new underlings exchanged glances.

We're in the black-market business. Isn't a name this bright and cheerful unlucky?

But Meteor Detective Chief had come up with it. Who would dare say it was bad?

"Detective Chief, you're truly learned!"

With the name settled, the Blazing Sun Smuggling Group was officially established in the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau's conference room in Raging Wave City, Golden Shield Empire.

Next on the agenda was discussing how to support the Mad Axe Gang.

The Mad Axe Gang had to be saved!

This was the Blazing Sun Smuggling Group's first chance to establish its reputation. They couldn't give up even an inch of their dockside interests.

The core members of the Blazing Sun Smuggling Group began listing the manpower they could contribute. Both the quality and the quantity were far greater than the day before.

Putting together a relief force of two thousand was a breeze.

Luke also brought out his own reserves: five hundred Potent Berserk Potions, to be delivered to the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters before curfew.

Another five hundred tomorrow!

Five hundred, then another five hundred. With the Detective Chief sending so many into the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters, he clearly had a huge stock on hand.

Once this battle was over, they'd all get rich following the Detective Chief!

The Blazing Sun Smuggling Group's core members were in high spirits. Some who considered themselves capable even decided to personally lead teams to support the Mad Axe Gang, eager to make a good impression in front of Boss Meteor.

Just as the atmosphere in the conference room was heating up, Pisco pushed open the door and walked in.

He set the safe he was carrying on the table.

"Detective Chief, we've caught them. They're being held in the interrogation room. Here's the safe you asked for. It was where you said it would be, beneath the tenth plank to the left of the captain's cabin on the Lucky Princess."

Luke said, "In a moment, you and Black Mamba can interrogate those two. Get a confession that Hamilton masterminded the assassination of the former Detective Chief."

Black Mamba answered confidently, "You can count on us, Detective Chief."

Shelley and Pisco, the "golden duo," could definitely "get" the confession.

As for the rest...

The safe was about the size of a suitcase, painted green, and rusted from the damp sea air.

The lively meeting fell silent. Everyone stared at the safe.

And at Meteor Detective Chief.

Luke stood and walked over to the safe. He didn't open it. Instead, he placed a hand on it and gave it a meaningful, gentle tap.

"The evidence that Hamilton murdered the former Detective Chief is inside... Would anyone like to take a look?"

The new underlings began sweating again.

Did it matter whether Hamilton had murdered the former Detective Chief?

It didn't!

Did they need to see the evidence?

Was this something they could even look at?

Whatever was inside, if Meteor Detective Chief said Hamilton had killed the former Detective Chief, then Hamilton had killed the former Detective Chief.

Wanting to look... would mean they doubted him!

"Detective Chief, the evidence in the case of Hamilton's murder of the former Detective Chief is conclusive. You solved this cold case on your second day in office. Your investigative skills have opened our eyes.

"We believe that with you in the Cape District, peace and prosperity will soon follow."

They really were prominent figures in the Cape District—sharp-eyed and quick to catch on.

Luke didn't open the safe.

"Good! Excellent! It's getting late, and you still have to go back and prepare to support the Mad Axe Gang. I won't keep you for dinner.

"Starting today, you and I will carve out a place for ourselves in Raging Wave City!"

Luke smashed the High-Efficiency Berserk Potion in his hand against the floor.

"We'll carve out a place for ourselves in Raging Wave City alongside Meteor Detective Chief!"

More than a dozen empty potion bottles came crashing down together. The crowd left the Secret Intelligence Bureau in a grand procession, heading to their respective strongholds to rally their men and support the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters.

In the now-empty conference room, Shelley looked at the shards of glass scattered across the floor, then at the Detective Chief, who sat there lost in thought.

Unable to hold back, she asked, "Detective Chief... We're Imperial Secret Agents. Our duty should be to suppress and eliminate people like them. You're taking part in smuggling—and even building a gang—while serving as a senior imperial official.

"Isn't that wrong?"

Luke took a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. Then he raised his right hand. The Dragon Snake poked its head out and breathed a puff of dragonfire, lighting the cigarette before sinking back into his skin as a tattoo.

He took a deep drag.

The sharp smoke entered his chest, warm and stimulating, and steadied his rapidly beating heart.

"Besides being a senior imperial official, I have another identity. Shelley, don't question me, and don't question the Grand Princess. Just do your job." Luke stood and looked at Shelley, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Prepare the evidence that Hamilton murdered the former Detective Chief... and close the case!"

Shelley stood at attention. "Yes, Detective Chief. Pisco and I will have all the evidence ready before work tomorrow."

Luke patted Shelley on the shoulder encouragingly. "Keep up the good work!"

After leaving the conference room, Luke returned to his office.

He had barely sat down when Kailina pushed open the door and walked in.

"Detective Chief, the City Administration Hall just sent you an urgent notice. Last night, a female Elf named Clear Sky bought an item at Whisperer's Mystic House in the Central District that may be able to activate the 'Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon.'

"The City Administration Hall is ordering the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau to arrest Clear Sky immediately and recover the 'Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon' before she causes any major damage.

"Otherwise..."

When Kailina paused there, Luke asked, "Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise, you'll bear all the consequences."