Lambert immediately led Lucas and Shelley into the castle.
In the first-floor hall, the body of Jumu had already been collected, but the debris and broken bed still lay scattered on the floor, with the gaping hole above a grim reminder.
Shelley couldn't help but glance at it; she knew Jumu's room was up there.
Once they entered a secluded meeting room, Shelley couldn't hold back and asked Lambert, "What happened last night? How did Jumu die?"
Lambert offered Lucas the seat of honor and then took his seat along with the other Mad Axe Gang members.
With a sigh, he began, "Last night, a female elf calling herself Ela infiltrated here. She jumped down from the east tower and entered the castle through a third-floor window.
Then... it was a massacre.
She killed so quickly we couldn't react. From the third floor to the second floor, we lost over a hundred people. The entire third-floor corridor and second-floor hall were filled with corpses and blood. Chad, Bernie, Jabir, and Brenda all died by her hand.
Finally, the elf broke into the boss's room, killed him, and took his head."
"Took his head?" Shelley frowned and then said to Lucas, "Inspector, the elf probably took Jumu's head to fulfill a bounty. There's an assassin tavern in the Seawall District where we might find some clues."
At this point, a maid served Lucas a cup of tea.
"Thank you..." Lucas politely thanked the maid and then said to Shelley, "We are not here to investigate this case unless you think you can defeat her."
Shelley, knowing her limits, replied, "No, I'm not her match. I doubt anyone in the entire Storm City could handle this elf. Being able to kill Jumu here proves she is very strong!"
"Then let's not discuss the elf," Lucas said to Lambert. "Please understand... our coming here has already stirred up enough trouble, and we won't investigate this intrusion for you."
Lambert earnestly replied, "We will investigate this intrusion ourselves. We just hope the inspector can deal with the people outside, especially the security bureau... We need time to get our dispersed members back.
Once our support arrives, we will have the strength to reclaim our lost territory and continue providing dividends to the Secret Intelligence Bureau."
Lucas sipped his tea and said lightly, "Your support? Pirates, perhaps?"
The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
Pirates had always been a prime target for the Empire, and in a port city like Storm City, there was zero tolerance for anything disrupting maritime trade.
Captured pirates were immediately hanged as a public warning.
While the connection between the Mad Axe Gang and pirates was an open secret in the Seawall District, it was a taboo topic.
Lucas's sudden mention of their collusion with pirates left the gang leaders puzzled about his intentions.
After some deep thought, Lambert cautiously replied, "Inspector, the support we are expecting are our friends from offshore, with no direct ties to pirates."
Lucas smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if they are. When your friends arrive in the Seawall District, let me know. I'll arrange for us to meet, have some tea, and discuss making money together."
Lambert was even more perplexed by the inspector's intentions.
Is this the right kind of conversation for this setting? Are you an imperial secret agent or a gang leader?
"Inspector, that might not be appropriate."
"Why not? If I say it's appropriate, then it is. I've long heard of Lady Tasya of Fishbone Island. If it's her, I must meet her personally."
Lambert hadn't expected the new inspector to arrive in the Seawall District and immediately mention Lady Tasya of Fishbone Island, aware of the deep collaboration between the Mad Axe Gang and Fishbone Island.
It seemed the Mad Axe Gang had no secrets from him. What else did he know?
Lambert recalled the recent theft organized by the Mad Axe Gang, stealing the "Heart of the Red Dragon Nielcolone" from the Alchemy Association of Raging Tide City for Lady Tasya.
If this were exposed, even the Secret Intelligence Bureau couldn't protect the Mad Axe Gang. How should he respond?
"Inspector, if I meet Lady Tasya, I will certainly convey your goodwill and invitation to her. However, our relationship with Fishbone Island isn't that deep, and meeting over drinks would require her decision."
Lambert's reply was impeccable, neither admitting to the Mad Axe Gang's ties with pirates nor refusing to facilitate the meeting.
Lucas wanted to meet Lady Tasya to prepare a contingency plan for himself. A wise rabbit has three burrows.
If he couldn't stay in the Seawall District, the quickest way to escape danger would be to take a sea route to another country.
Lady Tasya of Fishbone Island belonged to the legalist faction in the pirate world, adhering to the old "Pirate Code" of prioritizing money over lives.
Building a good relationship with such pirates would mean more friends and more paths to safety.
"I'll leave the task of arranging my meeting with Lady Tasya to you. Of course, that's provided you survive until your support arrives. There are many wolves outside waiting to feast.
Today is my first day as the new inspector of the Seawall District's Secret Intelligence Bureau, and I don't yet have the authority to make them back down. During the day, we can help guard you from the outside, but at night, even my people's safety can't be guaranteed. Do you have a way to protect yourselves at night?"
Lucas's question plunged the room into a long silence.
During the day, the Security Bureau and the Secret Intelligence Bureau could maintain order, but at night… especially tonight, when the Mad Axe Gang's weakened state was confirmed.
The Secret Intelligence Bureau might not be able to keep the "wolves" at bay.
The Seawall District's Secret Intelligence Bureau wasn't as strong as those in other districts.
After a while, Lambert said, "Inspector, if we are attacked tonight, we can only rely on this castle for defense. Without support, we might not hold out."
Shelley then said to Lucas, "Sixty percent of Seawall Port's docks are controlled by the Security Bureau, the rest by us, with half of that under the Mad Axe Gang's management.
The Security Bureau won't miss this chance to eliminate the Mad Axe Gang. Without the Mad Axe Gang, the entire Seawall Port would fall under their control. Our people might even switch to the Security Bureau's side."
Lucas said, "It seems we need to treat this situation as if we are at war."
Lambert immediately responded, "This is war, Inspector. We hope you can help us organize a mercenary force. The Mad Axe Gang is willing to cover all the costs."