Shelly and Pisco stood on either side of the car. Everyone's attention was on the Secret Intelligence Bureau car, guessing what the two powerful officials of the Cape District were talking about.
After getting into the car, Hoult said to Luke, "I'm also following orders. Even if you threaten me with my family, the Security Department will not let the Wild Axe Party off.
"If I'm transferred away, someone will naturally take over my position."
Luke looked outside and said to Hoult in a relaxed tone, "Director, look at the people outside. Look at their expressions. They all know that every word you and I say here can make many people here unable to live past tomorrow.
"Including you and me.
"You have your responsibilities, and I have mine. On the first day I took office, I watched you destroy the Wild Axe Party. How am I supposed to manage my subordinates?"
"The Wild Axe Party is an illegal gang. They colluded with..."
"Director Hoult, since I'm talking to you alone here, don't tell me those empty words. The Wild Axe Party is an illegal gang. But those people who follow your Security Department are not necessarily innocent.
"Today, you used this excuse to deal with the Wild Axe Party. Tomorrow, I can use the same excuse to deal with your subordinates.
"If all the people working below are killed, then who would be the coolie to transport the goods for the rich people in the rich district?"
"What are you talking about?" Hoult asked warily. "I don't understand. What does this have to do with the rich people in the rich district?"
"Hoult, the previous inspector of the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau died in a very strange way! The first mission the Eldest Princess gave me was to investigate the cause of my predecessor's death, but I knew that the waters in Wild Waves City were very deep. I don't want to lose my life.
"I just want to stay here for a year or two and then get transferred.
"Therefore, I hope you won't push me too hard. Isn't it better to let the Cape District's Secret Intelligence Bureau maintain its status quo?"
Luke's words made Hoult fall into deep thought.
The higher-ups hoped that he could take back control of the port, but they also did not want to affect the normal transportation of smuggled goods.
The Cape District's Secret Intelligence Bureau's reaction today was to protect the Wild Axe Party. If the Security Department destroyed the Wild Axe Party today, the Secret Intelligence Bureau would take revenge and destroy one of his subordinates tomorrow. If both parties continued to kill each other, they would really kill all the people working under them.
The rich people in the rich district would not send their own people to transport goods.
When the time came, the responsibility would still be borne by the Cape District's Security Department.
Moreover, if he forced him into a corner, it would bring disaster to his family.
If this new inspector was willing to maintain the status quo... Although it was difficult to explain to the higher-ups, it was not impossible.
The new inspector of the Secret Intelligence Bureau expressed his willingness to cooperate.
As for whether he would cooperate sincerely or it was just lip service, that was a matter for the future.
"Do you have any suggestions? Even if I'm willing to let the Wild Axe Party go, the people outside probably won't be willing either."
Seeing Director Hoult relent, Luke replied, "It's my first day in office, and I'm not familiar with the Wild Axe Party, and I don't have plans on protecting them. However, I have to take care of my subordinates' attitudes. You should know that Black Mamba and Pisco are not that easy to control."
Hoult looked at the two people standing outside the car and agreed with Luke. He even said sympathetically, "Those two gave every Cape District's Secret Intelligence inspector a headache."
"Since you understand my difficulties. I suggest... that the Secret Intelligence Bureau and the Security Department withdraw from this place at the same time and don't directly send people to participate in this incident. At the same time, you and I will restrain our subordinates from causing trouble during the day. At night, we will rely on our own abilities.
"Director, what do you think?"
Luke's suggestion was to avoid a direct conflict between the Secret Intelligence Bureau and the Security Department and limit the fight to the level of gang competition.
If the flames of war did not spread, the upper echelons would not be affected.
Especially the families of the higher-ups.
Hoult didn't know how the Secret Intelligence Bureau found his family, which he had hidden so well. Now, he could only minimize the risk.
"I hope you can keep your promise."
Luke reached out his hand to Hoult. "I should be the one saying this. I'm the one who doesn't want to make things worse. The sooner we leave, the sooner the dock can operate normally. After such a long delay, a lot of goods must have been delayed."
Hoult and Luke shook hands gently before getting out of the car.
Luke rolled down the window and said to Shelly, "Inform our people to retreat!"
Shelly asked, "Do we retreat now? What about the people from the Security Department?"
"Retreat together..."
The sheriffs surrounding the entrance of the Wild Axe Party's headquarters retreated in an orderly manner under Hoult's orders.
Shelly also waved her hand, signaling the secret agents of the Special Task Force to retreat.
The convoy honked all the way back to the Secret Intelligence Bureau as if they had won a battle.
As soon as he reached the second floor, a Secret Intelligence Bureau clerk said to Luke, "Inspector, an old woman called Hirm is waiting over there. She said that you asked her to come and help her find her son."
Luke looked at where the clerk's finger was pointing. As expected, the old woman selling hot dogs was standing there timidly.
Seeing Luke look over, the old woman immediately bowed.
"I asked her to come." Then, Luke said to Shelly, who was beside him, "It's your case. You'll be in charge... Consider this my test for you."
Shelly said reluctantly, "Inspector, I still have to contact people to support the Wild Axe Party. Besides, I only know how to kill people, not find them."
Luke's decision to take on the missing son case was purely a last-minute idea. Seeing that Shelly was so confident in her claim of dine and dash, he wanted to give her a beating.
However, it was more important to help the Wild Axe Party tide over the crisis now.
Moreover, if Shelly was really in charge of this case, she might not be able to find the son and might make them lose their life.
But he had already promised Hirm.
While Luke was in a dilemma, the clerk volunteered, "Inspector, you can leave this case to me."
Luke looked at the clerk in front of him.
It was a very young man who looked eager to prove himself in front of the new leader.
He looked familiar.
After some identification, Luke finally recognized who this familiar person was.
Wallis Thomas!
A five-star hero, a legendary secret agent of the Golden Shield Empire. Because of his meticulous work and outstanding achievements, he was recruited by the Eldest Princess into the Secret Intelligence Bureau's highest intelligence agency, Raven.
His codename was Silent.
Later, in the struggle for the throne between the Eldest Princess and the Eldest Prince, he successfully assassinated many important members of the Eldest Prince's faction and became one of the top ten secret agents bestowed by the Eldest Princess.
Of course, the current Thomas wasn't the "Silent" of the future. Judging from his age and appearance, he should be a rookie who had just joined the Secret Intelligence Bureau.
Luke didn't expect to meet young Thomas in the Cape District's Secret Intelligence Bureau.
It was interesting!
Thomas noticed that the inspector was looking at him and said in embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Inspector. I know that I'm a newcomer and don't have the ability to handle cases independently. But I hope you can give me a chance. I will do my best to help Hirm find her son."