"A major case?"
Looking at Inspector Lestrade sitting before him, Li Wei went straight to the point. He was not at the Tower in Fog City right now, but at his villa in Delicate. Since Inspector Lestrade had come in person rather than contacting him remotely, even an idiot could have guessed this was no small case.
"Not exactly big, but not exactly small, either."
Inspector Lestrade took a sip of tea before continuing.
"Recently, the police in Fog City and the surrounding areas have received quite a few reports of fraud."
"Fraud?"
Li Wei was somewhat surprised. Fraud... that isn't really my department, is it?
But seeing how serious Inspector Lestrade looked, he kept listening. The inspector nodded, then reached into his briefcase and took out a letter.
"Take a look at this."
Li Wei took the letter and opened it. The following was written on the paper in elegant cursive.
[Dear sir: You must be most surprised to receive a letter from someone you have never met. I have taken the liberty of writing to you because a mutual friend mentioned you in passing. For reasons of safety, I cannot disclose his name.
I am a member of a royal family from the southern Duchy of Lorraine. However, recent unrest in my homeland claimed the lives of my family. I alone escaped with my life, but villains are now hunting me. I cannot reveal my identity. Should my true circumstances become known, only imprisonment and death await me.
To be entirely frank, before the unrest began, I concealed my family's gold, jewels, and other treasures, worth a total of three hundred thousand pounds, in a gold mine in Francis. Now that Francis has fallen, that mine has been frozen by the imperial government.
I am currently stranded at