Luke didn't expect that his deliberate attempt to hide the prop for summoning the Red Dragon, Niercolone, among the bulk items would still be discovered by the Imperial spies at the time.
But since the "heart" of the Red Dragon had been destroyed after it was summoned by Clear Sky, there was nothing he could give them even if he wanted to.
Might as well play dumb. After all, the Red Dragon had already been dismembered and was lying in Clear Sky's dimensional backpack.
What could be the consequences?
I'll take responsibility! Luke replied nonchalantly, "Oh, I understand..."
Unaware of the situation, Kailena anxiously said, "Detective, if we can't apprehend Clear Sky, the City Administrative Hall may use this as an excuse to cut off our funding."
Another deduction!
Luke said to Kailena, "Reply to the City Administrative Hall that neither Clear Sky nor the Red Dragon is something our Cape District Security Bureau can handle. The theft occurred in the central city area, and Clear Sky purchased the summoning prop in the central city area. It's not our jurisdiction to solve this case."
"I've just taken office and I'm not familiar with the work yet, so I don't have the capability to handle such a major case."
"And... there's no target worthy enough in the Cape District to warrant the use of a Red Dragon."
Upon hearing Luke's last sentence, Kailena asked in a low voice, "Detective, is it appropriate to reply to the City Administrative Hall like this?"
"Reply in that manner. I'll take responsibility for all consequences. The City Administrative Hall is pressuring us like this to divert our attention and energy away from the Furious Axe Gang, in coordination with the District Security Bureau, to seize control of the dockyard in Cape District."
"They don't expect us to apprehend Clear Sky or retrieve the 'heart'."
"These pests! The City Administrative Hall will definitely find ways to reduce our funding in the future. We need to accelerate the production and sale of magic potions. Prepare a reliable financial plan to address the funding issue in our sub-bureau."
"Yes, Detective!"
Sigh...
Being a detective in the Cape District was really frustrating.
The Imperial Royal Secret Bureau was a highly influential secret agency directly under the imperial family, wielding immense power. Other government departments in the Empire were cautious and careful, fearing to offend these guys and be invited for coffee.
But in Storm City, the City Administrative Hall dared to assign cases to the Cape District Security Bureau and even claimed that all consequences would be the "responsibility of you."
If I have to take responsibility, then it's also my responsibility to the Imperial Royal Family!
The positions in Storm City were completely reversed, and everything was due to the trouble caused by sugar-coated bullets.
The standard salary for an Imperial secret agent was 6,000 to 7,000 Imperial Marks per month.
In other parts of the Empire, it was considered a lucrative profession.
But in Storm City... Imperial secret agents not only received the base salary from the Empire but also received city subsidies.
Their monthly income in Storm City exceeded 20,000.
Those with higher positions earned even more.
Shelley, who was originally imprisoned, came to work in the Cape District Security Bureau completely clean. After just eight years here, she could fully pay for a detached house.
And she even had a classic steam-powered motorcycle.
This showed how lucrative the situation was here.
Of course, the city's finance department didn't give so much money for nothing. The biggest requirement they had for the Imperial secret agents was... not to work.
Clock in on time every day, drink tea, read newspapers, play cards, and chat. That's how you get the money.
If you follow the instructions of the City Administrative Hall, you can get even more money.
Storm City used its powerful economic strength to corrupt all the sub-bureaus of the Secret Bureau into their own interest groups.
The Empire wanted to rectify Storm City, but it was like a tightly run operation here, with no way in.
The officials sent here either had to collude or face annihilation.
Luke felt that what he was doing now was not far from being annihilated.
Now, what he needed to do was to build a strong "fortress" for himself in the Cape District using money.
Establishing the Flame Sun Syndicate was the first step, binding more people to this fledgling war machine.
Next...
He had already done everything he could for the headquarters of the Furious Axe Gang. Reinforcements and highly potent Berserker Rage potions would be in place before curfew. Whether they could win or not was beyond his control.
What he could do was to improve his own strength as much as possible.
Having the bloodline of a troll was a good foundation, but it was only brute strength. To fully unleash his power and further refine it, he needed to build a complete combat system based on this foundation.
It was like playing a game. He had reached a certain level, and now his proficiency and equipment needed to catch up.
Luke made a plan for his activities for the evening, pretending to inspect while wandering aimlessly in the district. He continued to fish until it was nighttime.
The delivery of 500 bottles of high-potency Berserker Rage potions was on time, ready to be sent to the headquarters of the Furious Axe Gang.
Lambert would be able to hold his ground, considering the lack of manpower and potions last night.
Tonight, they had both people and potions. They could just wait and see the spectacle tomorrow.
After having dinner, Luke returned to his quarters and lay down on the bed. He logged in to Clear Sky... It felt more and more like playing a game at night.
Tonight's target: the central city area.
You asked me to take responsibility, right?
Here I come!
...
Captain Bonal, the leader of the Second Special Task Force of the Storm City Central Sub-Bureau, patrolled the streets with a team of Imperial secret agents.
In the past, these Imperial secret agents would have found a place to enjoy their nightlife. But ever since the "heart of the Red Dragon, Niercolone," was stolen from the Alchemist Association, the whole city had become tense as if facing a major enemy.
This was a real dragon!
If someone released it in the city, even for just ten minutes, the unimaginable destruction it would cause...
In these past few days, the city's influential figures had been pressuring the City Administrative Hall to quickly recover the stolen "heart" and protect the lives of taxpayers.
Of course, the City Administrative Hall wouldn't place the entire weight of such a significant case on the Cape District Security Bureau. The bureau's style of investigation was well-known.
The District Security Bureau and the Security Bureau in various city districts were mobilized to apprehend the suspect, Clear Sky, and especially at night, additional patrol teams were assigned near the wealthy neighborhoods to ensure the safety of the elites.
"Captain, did the chief reward you for finding the clue to the 'heart of the Red Dragon, Niercolone' yesterday?"
"Reward? I got a good scolding more or less," Bonal and his subordinates chatted as they walked. "The detective asked me why I didn't apprehend the suspect on the spot. Sigh..."
One of the secret agents below grumbled
, "The detective should experience the situation we faced at that time. I was completely frozen and unconscious. Killing me would have been a simple task."
Another secret agent shivered and said, "I heard that the elf killed more than a hundred people in the Cape District in one night, freezing them all into ice sculptures for display. If it weren't for the captain's timely intervention, we would all be dead..."
"Yes! Yes! That elf is too powerful... and beautiful!"
"Right, so beautiful. I've never seen such a beautiful elf before, especially when the ice dust was swirling around her. I was stunned."
"You were stunned too? It would have been great if she weren't an assassin!"
Just as the team of secret agents was discussing the elf's strength and appearance, another secret agent ran quickly from the other end of the street.
"Captain, the elf from yesterday has appeared again, right ahead... She seems to be waiting for the bus to Olu Academy."