When Luke said those words, everyone turned to look at him.
The restaurant fell utterly silent.
Shock, and a little disbelief...
Kailina secretly nudged Luke with her elbow, reminding her detective chief: he couldn't just say something like that.
But Shelley and Pisco held their heads high and chests out, looking down their noses at these "idiots" who had no idea who their detective chief really was.
Was their detective chief wrong?
If the Grand Princess ever ascended the throne and became Emperor of the Golden Shield Empire, their detective chief would be a prince.
What their detective chief said would be Imperial law!
After a while, Madam Tasia finally asked somewhat awkwardly, "Detective Chief, do you have the authority to pardon us?"
Luke answered, "Madam Tasia, you don't understand the Golden Shield Empire Secret Intelligence Bureau. In theory, our authority has no boundaries beneath imperial authority. It's only that the Imperial Family and the officials don't want us abusing that power, so senior agents like us are relatively restrained and don't do anything too out of line.
"My circumstances are rather special. I can do a few things that cross the line."
Shelley, at his side, could not help saying, "Let me tell you, our detective chief has people above him. His backing is enormous.
"This afternoon, our detective chief gave Councilor Virgil a thorough scolding right in City Hall. Councilor Virgil had to give our detective chief 80 million Imperial Marks before he could calm our detective chief's anger.
"Pardoning pirates like you is nothing more than our detective chief signing a notice."
Wow!
When everyone in the room looked at Luke again, their gazes were completely different.
He had chewed out a councilor of the Raging Wave City Council, and the councilor had even had to pay