Empire of Shadows

Lance was arrested.

The news spread quickly, and almost the entire upper class of Goldport City knew about it in a very short time.

At the same time, they also learned about the attack on the Coda Club. It was said that millions of gambling funds were robbed by the robbers.

For a time, the telephone load of the entire Goldport City reached a small climax. Many people were concerned about one question—was there a chance to pry this money out of Lance's mouth?

After all, it was millions, enough to attract their attention. This was just a sum of "windfall money." More people were talking about the possible direction of the matter's development.

The mayor also knew about this matter as soon as possible. Although he failed in the last round of political struggle and was devastated.

But this does not mean that he really knows nothing about this city.

Those political speculators, and some allies who have not been deeply involved, will still pass some news to him.

After knowing this news, a smile appeared on his face. This was what he wanted to see. The more chaotic the city, the more people hurt, the happier he was.

"This time, Lance may not be feeling too good.", the secretary poured some black tea for him and said casually.

The tea soup of black tea poured into the cup, and the rising heat emitted a strong tea fragrance, as well as some spices and even the taste of orange peel.

The mayor took a small sip of the black tea soup, thinking seriously. After a while, he put down the teacup and said, "The worse it is for him, the more beneficial it is to us."

As he spoke, he picked up the phone. The secretary was a little surprised, standing aside motionless, without making any sound.

The phone was quickly connected. As the heir to the mayor's political legacy, the mayor never hesitated to share his political experience. The phone was on speakerphone.

Hunt's voice came from the small speaker, "It's me."

This is the police chief's private number. People who know this number will not be unknown small characters, but people with certain social status and influence.

"It's me…", the mayor said, without saying who he was.

Another person's voice came from the small speaker. The voice was not very clear, a little vague, but soon Hunt seemed to know who he was.

"Your Excellency Mayor, is there anything I can do for you?"

Although the mayor failed in the political struggle, the person who defeated him was not Hunt, not Charlie.

Even if he is now a loser in the struggle, he is not someone Hunt can ignore.

And the fact that he can distinguish the mayor's voice so quickly can only mean that the person next to him should be very familiar with the mayor.

The secretary standing aside immediately had an image in his mind of a smiling, upright-looking person, but who was actually a villain, the Bay Area Hound, Charlie.

"I heard you arrested Lance?"

The mayor's question made Hunt not know how to answer for a while. He was stunned for a while, then looked at Charlie beside him.

Charlie frowned and wrote the word "purpose" on the paper.

Hunt reacted, "It's not an arrest, it's an invitation for Mr. Lance to come to the police station to assist us in the investigation. There may have been some incorrect wording when the matter was spread outside."

"I don't know why you called so late, is it because…"

This is Hunt's shortcoming. He is not as good as Charlie in this regard, but then again, Charlie has been in this director's position for too long. He knows how to deal with others.

Hunt has been doing dirty work behind him, and he doesn't need to contact the Bay Area or politicians, so he is somewhat lacking in this area.

Now Charlie is still assisting him, seemingly helping him, but actually restricting his development.

"Have you finished asking?", the mayor asked.

Hunt didn't quite understand what the mayor wanted to do so late!

He frowned, "There are still some things that haven't been asked."

This is already a very obvious answer—it's not over yet!

Normal conversations should end at this point at this time, and then the mayor would end the topic with something like "Notify me when there are results."

But the mayor violated this rule and directly asked, "When will you be finished asking?"

Hunt and Charlie both felt that something was wrong. Charlie wrote something else on the paper, and Hunt replied, "It depends on our understanding of the case. You know, the Coda family reported the crime, and the losses are huge. We need to be responsible for the property and safety of the citizens."

The mayor "ummed" and could feel that he seemed a little unhappy, "Do you have any evidence to prove that he participated in the crime?"

The two of them felt more and more that the mayor was meddling too much, but after all, he was the mayor, even a mayor who had failed in a political struggle, and they couldn't afford to provoke him.

Moreover, the more they have no worries, the harder it is to deal with them.

Hunt could only honestly reply, "At present, we have not obtained any actual evidence that can prove that Mr. Lance is related to this case."

The next second, the mayor's angry voice came from the other end of the phone, "It's just nonsense!"

"It's so late, without evidence to prove him guilty, you are still holding him back, what do you want to do?"

"Chief Hunt, give you five minutes to release Lance. If I know that Lance is still at the police station after five minutes, write me a resignation report tomorrow."

"That's it!", he said, pressing the speakerphone button and ending the call.

The mayor curled his lips, with a hint of a smile on his face. He looked at the secretary standing aside, "Do you understand?"

The secretary nodded slightly, "Don't let things stop."

The mayor was very satisfied with the secretary's answer, "Now that they have started fighting, then don't stop. Soon more people will join in!"

There was a hint of anticipation on his face. When these people fought him, they were very fierce. So when they fight each other, will they also be very fierce?

The secretary was a little uncertain, "Will Hunt release Lance?"

The mayor couldn't help laughing. It was rare for him to have such an outward and positive emotion, "He will, and he will do it immediately, because he knows that I can really make him lose that job he values!"

The mayoral system is the most basic ruling system of the Federation, which means that at the level of "urban management," even the governor is not bigger than the mayor.

If the governor and the mayor have disagreements on certain issues, then the governor can only first find a way to impeach the mayor before he can interfere with the city's management, otherwise he can only watch.

In fact, the mayor is going to step down in seven months. At this time, no one wants to provoke him, including Hunt.

Otherwise, the mayor's administrative order would send Hunt home. For his own position and power, he must do what the mayor asks.

They made his life difficult, so he must make everyone's life difficult!

What's more, he and Lance still have an agreement.

On the other side, Hunt's face was already very ugly after hanging up the phone, and so was Charlie's.

Even if Charlie's city is deeper, he has no way to deal with such unreasonable demands.

Just as he was about to say something, the phone rang again. Hunt answered the phone with some resistance, "This is Hunt."

"Chief Hunt, hello, I am City Councilor John Lawrence. I am shocked and angry that you took Lance away without any evidence or legal documents."

"I hope to see Mr. Lance come out of the police station as soon as possible, otherwise I will take all necessary measures…"

Everyone knows that John and Lance are in the same group. Hunt was silent for a while, "I see."

As soon as the phone was hung up, it rang again. Charlie and Hunt looked at each other, and both of them began to show unreadable expressions in their eyes.

"This is Hunt…"

"Hunt, it's me, Arthur. I heard that you arrested Lance?"

Hunt was silent again for a while, "We asked him to come back to consult on some matters, and he will be able to leave soon."

"Is that so?"

"Okay, I see, that's it."

Hunt stood up after hanging up the phone. He realized that if there was no evidence, he would have no way to deal with Lance.

Charlie also rubbed his temples, signaling him to go and release him. He was considering how to tell Bandi about this later.

Two minutes later, Hunt came to the interrogation room. Lance leaned back in his chair, looking at him without any tension.

"Is it your turn to interrogate me?", Lance's face was full of a smile but not a smile.

Hunt glanced at him, turned around and pushed the door open, "You can go."

The other policemen in the interrogation room, including a deputy police chief, turned their heads and looked at Hunt in disbelief, as if to say, "We have offended people, and now you say he can go, then what stupid things were we doing just now."

It's strange that an expression can have so much content, but that's the fact.

Hunt really didn't want to let Lance leave. Since he had already offended him, he should offend him to the end.

But who the hell knew that Lance had gotten together with the mayor again!

Lance put down his legs, pressed his hand on the table and stood up, stomped his feet, and took out a cigarette from the ivory cigarette case.

Lawyer Robben immediately took out a lighter to light Lance's cigarette. Lance put one hand in his pocket, held the cigarette in the other, and exhaled the smoke in his mouth at Hunt, "It seems that victory has come earlier than I thought!"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the deputy police chief, "I have always felt that we should have met before. You give me a familiar feeling, but not so familiar."

The deputy sheriff turned his head, looking at the others, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lance smiled and pointed at him, "I remember, that night!"

He stopped abruptly mid-sentence, then chuckled twice, flicked his coattails, pushed past Hunter at the doorway, and walked outside.

This made Hunter's face darken so much it seemed like water could be squeezed from it!

Too damn arrogant!

This is my turf!