“Have any of you heard any news?”
On the lawn of a large villa in the Bay Area, several gentlemen were sitting, enjoying the beauty of spring.
The gentle sea breeze no longer carried the grimness of winter or its biting cold, only a tenderness full of life.
It’s hard to find an exact word to describe the wind blowing at this moment, but it was gentle, like the hands of a young matron.
The hands of little girls are either too light or too heavy; only those of young matrons have just the right amount of force.
As the spring breeze caressed their faces, it felt as if their whole beings were melting into the spring.
Some of the gentlemen wore scarves, some did not. For the older ones, it was actually still a bit cold.
One of them asked curiously, “I’ve heard something, but I don’t know if it’s what you’re talking about.”
The gentleman who first brought up the topic asked him, “What is your news about?”
The gentleman who answered shrugged. “About the Navy. I heard they’ve already decided. A whole fleet will be stationed in Golden Port, but not in the city. They will build a larger military base to the west.”
“The number of troops stationed in the first phase will exceed 20,000.”
Another gentleman wearing a scarf whistled. “That many people?”
The well-informed gentleman shook his head and said, “The news I heard is that they will continue to increase the number of personnel. Their plan is to station 50,000 people here.”
The expressions of the gentlemen on the lawn became serious. A naval base with 50,000 people—so many people seemed a bit wasteful for strategic defense.
In everyone’s mind, it seemed that the news that was often reported in the newspapers recently came to mind—
The Secretary of State was negotiating with another military alliance on the Tanfit continent about an alliance and the issue of war.
They were inviting the Federation to join their military alliance and then fight against the people of the Dantra Republic together.
The news revealed by the Secretary of State and the President’s Office was very restrained, and a certain general from the Department of Defense even declared in a semi-public occasion that the Federation would absolutely not intervene in this war.
Until now, everyone believed that the Federation would not blindly and meaninglessly join this war, but looking at the current situation, it seemed that they were not so sure anymore.
The gentleman who first started the topic said after a moment of silence, “Didn’t the President just say that he would not intervene in wars that have nothing to do with us?”
The gentleman wearing a scarf sneered. “He also said he would respect the election results.”
As soon as this sentence came out, everyone laughed loudly. Yes, his words were not credible. He had a history of lying, and not just once.
After laughing for a while, everyone’s mood relaxed a little, but there was also some worry.
“If a war really breaks out, Golden Port will immediately become the front line…”
The thought of their sunny beaches being covered with numerous fortifications, the thought of their docks starting to work for the military for free, the thought of most of the factories in the city, including the people, having to work for the Navy for free.
Even a portion of their wealth would have to be donated to the Navy because of their “selfless patriotism.” They felt a little dejected again.
“I hope… there won’t be such a terrible future. The gentlemen in Congress will stop the President.”
Everyone did not continue to talk deeply about this topic. It was not a suitable topic to talk about in such comfortable weather.
The topic returned to the gentleman who had first brought it up. Someone asked him, “Is this the news you heard?”
The man shook his head and did not continue to maintain his mystery. “I heard that Charlie has run into trouble recently.”
“What trouble could that old dog run into?” someone asked.
His thinking was understandable. Charlie basically had no natural enemies in Golden Port, and now he was also wrapped in the skin of a politician.
Even the lowest-level politician was still a politician. Dealing with him would be very troublesome, and the price would be very high.
“It seems the State Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the corruption of the Golden Port police force, and they seem to have arrested many of Charlie’s men.”
Hearing this news, the expressions of those gentlemen who originally didn’t think there was any problem changed.
The gentleman wearing a scarf asked, “Who did you hear it from?”
“Someone told me that the new chief named Bruce arrested Charlie’s men. At first, I thought it was just a child’s game.”
“You know, people like them are just like that, fighting back and forth, but they can’t achieve anything.”
“I heard that Charlie was asking the prosecutor’s office about news from the State Prosecutor’s Office a few days ago. He specifically asked if any documents for assisting in the investigation had come down.”
He pointed vaguely. “It’s about that matter last year when they said they were going to investigate police corruption.”
“So I suspect that the State Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him.”
The others all fell into a state of thought. Someone also added, “Last time when Senator Cleveland came, it seems that Lance also talked with Terry.”
“Has he already gotten into Senator Cleveland’s circle now?”
If that were the case, they would have to consider adjusting their strategy.
No one knew the real situation, but they didn’t think Lance could get in. He was just a gangster from the very bottom of society. On what basis could he get into the highest political circle?
“I think it might still be because of Williams. Williams has some connections with that circle, and Lance and Williams are very close now.”
What he said was a bit vague, but everyone understood.
Lance and Williams were on the same side now, so Williams would naturally introduce him to the higher-level circles, but this did not mean that Lance could join.
He was like a handy tool. When they were socializing upwards, if Charlie was present, they would also introduce Charlie, this is the chief of the Golden Port City Police Department, but he might not be able to jump into those circles.
“I don’t really care about this. I just want to know what’s going on with Charlie right now.”
The gentleman wearing a scarf frowned. “Give him a call and have him come over and explain.”
Then someone went to call Charlie. As gentlemen, they didn’t need to personally call Charlie.
But after waiting for seven or eight minutes, there was no news. After waiting for a while longer, a man who looked like a secretary came over and said with a somewhat unnatural expression, “I’ve called all the numbers. No one is answering.”
Now the expressions of the gentlemen were not as natural as before, as if everything was under their control.
The arrogance hidden behind the peace began to show, but then a trace of unnaturalness was revealed.
“Have someone find him. Find him as soon as possible.”
The man who looked like a secretary quickly went to make arrangements. The few gentlemen on the lawn looked at each other, their expressions becoming solemn.
Charlie was very useful, and very handy. He had been used for more than thirty years. He had become a “habit” for people.
“He knows too many things.”
The gentleman wearing a scarf took out his pipe, lit it, and took a puff.
Thick smoke came out of his mouth. “I’m going to make a call.”
This gentleman wearing a scarf had many connections in the state government. The others nodded one after another. He stood up, holding the armrests of the chair, and walked into the room.
It was more than ten minutes later that he came out of the room, a grave expression on his face. “I just called Terry and asked about the progress of this matter.”
“He told me that he had never arranged for such work.”
“I think he’s lying.”
Another person couldn’t help but say, “Then find Charlie and have him explain the problem clearly.”
The gentleman wearing a scarf sighed. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to find him.”
They sent more people out to look for Charlie. For ordinary people, Golden Port City is very large. With so many administrative districts and a population of 1.7 to 1.8 million, or 1.8 to 1.9 million, it’s very difficult to find a person in such a large city.
But for the gentlemen of the Bay Area, finding a person is actually not too difficult, and this person is someone they are very familiar with.
A large number of people were looking for Charlie outside, but they never found him. After more than an hour, they would have realized that something was wrong even if they were slow.
What was worse, Charlie’s family had also disappeared!
For a time, the Bay Area seemed to have experienced an earthquake. The news that Charlie might have been arrested by the State Prosecutor’s Office began to spread, and everyone was trying to find out the truth through their own means.
Among them, some people did have some ability. They got a piece of news that Charlie had not been arrested, but the investigation did exist.
Immediately, many big shots sat down together urgently to discuss how to handle this matter.
Mr. Hoff hurried in from outside. He took off his hat and put it on the coat rack, then found a seat.
Many people in the room greeted him. “What’s the situation now?”
“Charlie may have escaped.”
“I hear they are also looking for him. We must find him before they find him.”
Mr. Hoff nodded in agreement. He had accidentally killed a high-class call girl before. At that time, his whole person was in a state of special excitement and had no ability to process external information.
By the time he came out of that state, the girl was already dead.
As an important regional opinion leader, he had a good status and reputation in Likalai State. He could not ruin his future just because of a bitch.
So he had Charlie and Hunter help him deal with it. That girl should be living at the bottom of Angel Lake now.
If Charlie was arrested, would he, in order to save his own life, confess these secrets?
The thought of this made Mr. Hoff feel an unprecedented tension and unease.
At this moment, he, and the entire room, and even some people further away, all had the same thought—
Find Charlie, and then make him shut his mouth forever!
(End of a Chapter)