The next day, Luke yawned as he arrived at the office. Before he could even sit down, the heads of the Secret Intelligence Bureau's various departments rushed in.
"Detective Chief! Elf Clear Sky broke into Aolu Academy last night and stole the Book of Calamity."
"Detective Chief! City Hall has issued a bounty for Elf Clear Sky... Anyone who provides a lead can receive a reward ranging from a minimum of 1,000 Imperial Marks to a maximum of 100,000 Imperial Marks.
Anyone who recovers the Book of Calamity will receive a bounty of 2 million Imperial Marks."
"Detective Chief! Security Bureau Chief Holt wants to meet with you."
"Detective Chief! Councilor Virgil, who's responsible for security in Raging Wave City, has invited you to attend a city security meeting at two this afternoon, at City Hall.
The agenda is coordinating security departments across the city to capture Elf Clear Sky and recover the stolen Book of Calamity, Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon, and the wand belonging to Lord Wilfred, the headmaster of Aolu Academy.
Since Clear Sky first appeared in Cape District, you'll be questioned at the meeting."
"Detective Chief! The Mad Axe Gang..."
Luke stopped his subordinates from talking over one another. "Black Mamba, stay. Everyone else, head out. First, compile your reports with Kailina, then have her brief me."
"Yes, Detective Chief!"
Everyone left the room, leaving only Shelley.
Unlike yesterday, when she'd been down in the dumps, today Shelley was in high spirits.
"Detective Chief, the Mad Axe Gang's fight last night was incredible. More than two thousand reinforcements, boosted by Potent Berserk Potions, completely overwhelmed the attackers.
Lambert even led a counterattack, fighting all the way to the docks.
Now it's the people who used to bully us who are shaking in their boots. As long as the Potent Berserk Potions arrive tonight, it'll be our turn to strike back."
The situation with the Mad Axe Gang was just as Luke had expected.
The various factions attacking the Mad Axe Gang had plenty of people, but they were a disorganized rabble. The Security Bureau was willing to back them, but it didn't dare openly organize them.
But Luke had gathered the Secret Intelligence Bureau's forces and formed the Blazing Sun Smuggling Group. There was a world of difference between striking with a clenched fist and an open hand, especially with Potent Berserk Potions boosting them.
Another important factor was that... Clear Sky had charged into Aolu Academy last night, drawing all of City Hall's attention away from Cape District. That meant they had no chance to sabotage things behind the scenes.
Holt from the Cape District Security Bureau wanted to meet. He probably saw that the situation was turning against him and wanted to negotiate.
Luke asked Shelley, "Did Holt say why he wanted to see me?"
"The messenger didn't say. Detective Chief, does the Security Bureau want to mediate because the situation suddenly turned against them?"
"That's part of it."
Shelley asked, "How do you plan to respond to Holt? The Mad Axe Gang is already preparing to retaliate tonight against everyone who took part in the attack."
Luke considered it for a moment.
"Send someone to the Security Bureau and tell Chief Holt I want to meet him now aboard the Lucky Princess at the Cape Port docks.
Have Pisco take some people to the ship and make preparations.
Then go to the Mad Axe Gang Headquarters and tell them... the moment I meet with Holt, they're to launch their retaliation. They need to be fast, precise, and ruthless, and finish before noon."
Hearing that the Detective Chief wanted to move the retaliation forward, Shelley couldn't help asking, "Detective Chief, the Security Bureau issued a warning against causing trouble during the day. If we start a fight now, could that put you in danger?"
"Didn't I tell Pisco to make preparations first?
Besides, something this serious has happened in Raging Wave City. City Hall will want to wrap things up as soon as possible so we can help capture Elf Clear Sky.
City Hall is holding a security meeting this afternoon. I think Holt is meeting me because he's under pressure and wants to carve up the docks again before noon. You won't need to come back after you go to the Mad Axe Gang. Help them make as much trouble as possible. The better you do, the easier things will be for me."
At the mention of a fight, Shelley's fighting spirit was roused.
But she still asked, a little worried, "Didn't you and Holt agree that neither the Secret Intelligence Bureau nor the Security Bureau would get involved?"
"Are you stupid?" Luke scolded her. "Can you really compare things now to how they were a couple of days ago? Holt is the one who wants this whole mess to end as quickly as possible! City Hall wants to concentrate its forces on capturing Elf Clear Sky. Does Holt have the guts to start a war with the Secret Intelligence Bureau?
"And can't you come up with an excuse?
"The Secret Intelligence Bureau is investigating and capturing Elf Clear Sky and recovering the stolen Heart of Red Dragon Nilcolon. City Hall commissioned us to handle the case.
"I'll deal with Holt. Just focus on your work without worrying about a thing."
An investigation!
That was right up her alley.
And hearing that she could work without worrying about a thing made Shelley feel she could finally let loose.
"Rest assured, Detective Chief. I'll make sure the job gets done before noon!"
"Go! Send Kailina in."
"Yes, Detective Chief."
Shelley stood, saluted Luke, and strode out.
Kailina soon came in carrying a stack of files and set them on the desk.
Then she said, "Detective Chief, there was a serious break-in at Aolu Academy last night. Elf Clear Sky, who killed more than a hundred people in a single night in our Cape District, suddenly entered Aolu Academy last night..."
Kailina gave Luke an orderly account of what had happened.
Even though he was directly involved and already knew the details better than anyone, Luke listened very attentively.
When Kailina finished, Luke asked, "Any leads on Elf Clear Sky?"
"None, Detective Chief. Elf Clear Sky's movements are extremely strange. By all logic, if she's hiding in the city, she has to eat and rest... And as an Elf, she has distinctive features. Whenever she goes out, she should leave something we can track.
"But there are almost no leads.
"Several of the city's key districts are now screening every Elf.
"City Hall is holding a meeting this afternoon to coordinate all the city's security forces and carry out a thorough search of Raging Wave City.
"The people in Cape District are the most diverse, so our district will probably be the focus of this search."
Luke nodded.
It was about what he'd expected.
Holt from the Security Bureau was in such a hurry to meet him because of the pressure from above.
Then if he was under pressure, Luke would give him even more to worry about.
"Mm, I understand. Elf Clear Sky's theft of the Book of Calamity now threatens the Empire's security. As the Secret Intelligence Bureau, we have a duty to hunt her down.
"Based on Cape District's situation, draft a search plan and bring it to me."
"Yes, Detective Chief! If there's nothing else, I'll get to work."
Luke stood and said to Kailina, "There's no rush on the search plan. Come with me to the Lucky Princess to meet Chief Holt."
"Yes, Detective Chief!"
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