The Storm City City Administration is located in the central district, with a seven-story building, a large square, and a giant statue of Sea God in the square, showcasing the wealth, grandeur, and magnificence of this world-class commercial city.
Upon arriving at the administration building, Lucas was led to the meeting room by the reception staff.
The layout of the meeting room was circular and stepped. At the front was the podium.
Beside the podium was a lectern, facing tiered semicircular conference tables arranged according to rank and position.
Lucas's seat was in the front row, while Holt's was in the second row. There was no way around it.
The Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau was directly under the Imperial Secret Intelligence Directorate, and the Imperial Secret Agents were the personal troops of Grand Princess Agatha.
The Seawall District Security Bureau was under the City Security Directorate, which reported to both the City Safety Committee and the Imperial Minister of Security.
Therefore, although the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau's detective had little presence in Storm City, his rank was on par with the City Security Chief.
After finding his seat, Lucas warmly greeted his colleagues on either side. Including Holt, who was seated behind him.
Karina sat in the seat next to Lucas, placing a heavy briefcase on the table and taking out various materials that might be needed.
In the meeting hall, besides the Secret Intelligence Bureau detectives, each accompanied by a confidential secretary cyborg, other officials, even if they had secretaries, did not have such advanced assistants.
The Secret Intelligence Bureau detectives were big figures anywhere else in the Empire, but here in Storm City, they were just another part of the crowd.
The time had come.
Councilman Virgil, along with representatives from Arcanum Academy and the Storm Fleet, took their seats on the podium.
A woman with golden curls stood behind the lectern, the spokesperson for the City Safety Committee, to explain to the attendees:
- The power and potential destructive force of the Red Dragon Nielcolone;
- The catastrophic damage the Book of Calamity had previously caused at Arcanum Academy;
- The timeline of the elf Ela's appearances and the crimes she had committed or was suspected of committing.
She gave a detailed account of Ela's battle with Headmaster Willard at Arcanum Academy.
"Although Ela wrested the Ruhad Staff from Headmaster Willard and endangered his life, this was an improbable event based on information asymmetry.
Ela knew Headmaster Willard very well, while he was unfamiliar with her. One battle does not prove Ela is stronger than Headmaster Willard. We now have a rough understanding of Ela's powers.
She controls water, ice, and holy energies, can create large-scale freezing environments, perform continuous short-distance spatial movements. And... she can influence the flow of time."
The spokesperson's final sentence brought an extreme silence to the room, and everyone's expressions became grim.
Most of the attendees only knew that an elf had invaded Arcanum Academy and stolen the Book of Calamity. This was the first time they heard that Ela could alter the flow of time.
Capturing such an enemy seemed like a death sentence.
After a brief pause, the spokesperson said, "Next, Professor Barney Lennon from the Magic Department of Arcanum Academy will explain space and time magic, to help us understand our opponent better."
Professor Barney Lennon was the representative sent by Arcanum Academy to attend the meeting.
He stood up and performed the mage's salute to everyone.
Then he said, "Space and time have always been very popular research topics since the emergence of magic.
Among them, space magic has been mastered and applied to a certain extent, which I believe you are all familiar with. Next, I will focus on explaining 'time'... "
Lucas listened attentively from the audience.
At the same time, he recognized the organizational capability that a well-developed societal system could unleash in response to crisis events.
Professor Lennon used a very simple and understandable explanation to make everyone in the meeting room understand what controlling time meant.
He even performed a brief time reversal on the spot.
Although the reversal was so short as to be almost imperceptible, it effectively dispelled everyone's fear of time manipulation.
Fear stems from ignorance.
Once they understood what controlling time entailed, even though they knew it was still an extremely powerful skill, their fear diminished significantly.
Professor Lennon concluded by saying, "Controlling time consumes a tremendous amount of energy, making it a skill that cannot be used arbitrarily. Headmaster Willard warned us after his battle with the elf Ela to never face her alone and to always seek help.
This is my advice to all of you as well."
Just as Professor Lennon finished speaking, Councilman Virgil said, "This is the reason for our meeting today. By bringing together all of Storm City's safety agencies, we aim to jointly capture Ela. No matter how strong she is, she cannot stand against a great city."
Lucas was relieved that he hadn't chosen to escape and hide. Handing over control to a highly efficient city machine would have been impossible to elude.
Staying within the system was the only way to learn how to protect himself. This was a real world, quite different from a game.
At this point, Councilman Virgil called out, "Detective Meteor of the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau... The City Administration tasked you with investigating after 'Nielcolone's Heart' was stolen, but we have yet to receive your report.
It is now confirmed that Ela stole 'Nielcolone's Heart,' and she publicly appeared in the Seawall District, committing two massacres.
The City Administration has repeatedly issued communiqués to the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau, urging a thorough investigation of this case, but it seems none of these requests caught your attention.
Now Ela has become a significant concern for all of Storm City. Please provide an explanation."
Passing the blame begins!
Lucas first observed the surroundings. Everyone deliberately turned their heads in other directions.
As a newcomer without established connections and having offended many due to the dock situation in the Seawall District, the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau detective was a perfect scapegoat.
His rank carried weight, but his influence was minimal, making him ideal for taking the blame.
Lucas stood up without taking the manuscript Karina handed him.
"Councilman Virgil and esteemed officials, The theft of 'Nielcolone's Heart' occurred in the central district and was classified as a theft case. According to jurisdiction, it should have been investigated by the central district's Security Bureau, with support from other district bureaus.
The murders by Ela in Windshield Alley and the Mad Axe Castle in the Seawall District are criminal cases, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Seawall District's Security Bureau.
The duty of the Imperial Secret Intelligence Bureau is to safeguard national security, not to handle ordinary theft and murder investigations.
Before the Book of Calamity was stolen, the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau had sufficient grounds to refuse the commission. If an explanation is required, it shouldn't be me providing it first, should it, Councilman?"