Empire of Shadows

Chapter 519: Incompetence and Madness [666+2]

Nate didn't get a good night's sleep. He lay on the sofa in the living room, pondering the words Director Blue had spoken to him.

He had to admit that his good friend had unique insights on many issues and allowed him to see a higher level of strategy and struggle.

The defeated Mayor's faction—he had once asked Director Blue, "How can you ensure you become the new director?" Then he said Lance had already taken care of the Mayor.

As long as Hunter was finished, the Mayor would appoint him as the city's police chief, fully in charge of the Goldenport City police force.

As an old cop, an old cop who had worked in the city police department for twenty years, he knew one thing very well.

The police force had no "purity" to speak of.

This wasn't to say that the entire police force itself had problems, but that society was like this.

Just like that case where someone caused a car accident, assaulted the victim, and ultimately both parties accepted mediation for an out-of-court settlement, a person full of justice would be angered by this, but what after the anger?

If the police station arrested that old man's child, they would soon face pressure from politics.

From municipal councilors to state assembly members, all members of committees related to the police system would call their director one by one.

The mayor would also call their director, hinting overtly and covertly about how they should handle this matter.

Then some companies would suddenly announce layoffs and salary cuts, and the old man could mobilize at least hundreds or thousands of people to the police station to protest, even inciting some people to throw stones or trash.

They would track the police officers handling the case, threatening and intimidating their families, and society would become a mess!

The entire city would be full of complaining people, and the other party involved might lose their job, their house would be foreclosed, their car would be foreclosed, and no company in the city would take them in.

They would have to take their families and flee Goldenport City in a panic, starting over in other cities, and not necessarily be able to truly start over.

This was the price of "justice"!

But what about the other way around?

The victim received a sum of money, a sum that meant nothing to the old men, but was considered a large extra income for the victim as compensation.

There were no municipal councilors, state assembly members, mayors, or other officials constantly calling to harass, no workers striking and protesting outside the police station, no one smashing the police station or the police officers' homes.

Everything was so peaceful, as if nothing had happened!

And!

From the director to the police officers, officers, lawyers, and judges handling the case, everyone could get a reward from it.

Everyone was satisfied, no one was dissatisfied, and no one needed to pay the price.

This was the most real, most foolish, but also the most helpless side of this society!

Sometimes, justice, sometimes it is not necessarily what people really want.

Now, there was such a "justice" placed in front of him, just turn it over, and it was an opportunity!

He didn't fall asleep until dawn, and after napping for a while, he was lured awake by the aroma of breakfast.

With something on his mind, he couldn't sleep. His wife walked over with a salad bowl she was stirring, kissed him on the cheek, "Sweetheart, you're so sweet!"

"You don't have to worry about waking me up. Rather than my sleep, I'd rather you lie on a soft bed instead of the sofa!"

His children also came out of the bedroom. His youngest son said in surprise, "Mom, are you saying Dad slept on the sofa all night, right?"

The mistress of the house looked at their youngest son with her hands on her hips, "Don't even think about it!"

His youngest son had always wanted to sleep on the sofa for a night, but had always been rejected.

Nate squeezed out a smile, ate breakfast, got rid of the trivial matters of the family, and quickly came to the police station.

He had already made a decision when he left Director Blue.

After he entered the office, he called the people from his group over, "Didn't go back last night?"

Two subordinates rubbed their eyes and sat on the chairs opposite him, "No, Hunter wouldn't let us, but fortunately, he couldn't hold on himself after four o'clock, and we all slept for a while."

Nate nodded, "Has anyone been able to crack those hard bones?"

His two subordinates shook their heads, "Not yet. These people are very tough. Even if they are beaten into shock, they are unwilling to speak."

"I really don't know what kind of drug Lance gave them to make them protect Lance so much."

Nate understood a little. Young people of this age, as long as they have experienced fighting, bloodthirst and loyalty will make them disregard life.

But there are also some who are cunning, afraid of death. Hunter was looking for those who were afraid of death, but he couldn't handle so many people in an hour or two.

Nate nodded. Just as he was about to say something, the phone on the desk rang. It was an internal call.

He answered it and heard Hunter's voice, "Come to my office."

Hunter was awake.

He put down the phone and rubbed his face. His eyes were full of red bloodshot.

These people were too damn disobedient. He had to find another way to pry open their mouths.

Before long, there was a knock on the door. He said, "Come in."

Then Nate entered the room, and Hunter told him to close the door tightly.

"It'll be a little tiring these two days. I'll give you a vacation when things are over."

Nate nodded without expressing his opinion. Hunter didn't care either. They had worked together for a long time, so these casual words were enough.

"I remember you had a case in your hands last time where we seized a batch of Maple Iris grass?"

Maple Iris grass is an herb, a native plant, but not common.

The natives used it more often in the past because it has a strong hallucinogenic effect, and at the same time, it is more harmful to people. If the dose is too large, it may directly turn into a vegetable or cause death.

In 922, the federal government legislated to identify Maple Iris grass as a high-risk plant, regardless of planting, transportation, storage, possession, sale, use... all are illegal.

And a round of campaigns to eradicate Maple Iris grass was launched nationwide. Now it is almost extinct. Only some laboratories and other places still have its seeds.

But this kind of thing cannot really be extinct on the market. Before, they caught a transportation and sale case and obtained more than a dozen seeds.

In principle, these things should be destroyed immediately, but Charlie didn't do that at the time. Hunter reminded Nate and forgot about it, saying that they might be able to use it sometime in the future.

So this small bag of contraband was placed in a corner of the evidence room.

Maple Iris grass is also within the management scope of the Dangerous Goods Administration, but this thing has too many side effects, and few people use it because there are other alternatives.

Although its toxicity is high, it is said that part of the ingredients of truth serum are Maple Iris grass.

Nate's eyebrows twitched slightly when he heard this. Once something happened, he would definitely be responsible, and no one could bear this problem.

He suddenly understood the decision Director Blue had made and what he had said.

Under tremendous pressure, Hunter had become somewhat mad.

Nate nodded and said, "There is such a thing, but Hunter, even if we use Maple Iris grass to make them open their mouths, are these testimonies really useful?"

"Can they really play a role in court?"

"We all know that they are Lance's people. What we need now is to get them to stand up and accuse Lance, not to let the judge know that they are Lance's people."

Although he said it a bit roundabout, Hunter understood. He was also a little annoyed, "But no one is willing to stand up now!"

He had no choice. Now that he had arrested so many of Lance's people, he could already imagine Lance planning to take his life.

He had to race against time. As long as he could find someone to accuse Lance of running those bars, to testify that he was the family Boss, and to remotely control these gang members to commit numerous crimes.

Then they could get legal documents to directly arrest Lance and put him in prison, so that he would never get out!

The more heavyweight the character, the more complete and strict the evidence is needed, because this kind of case cannot be resolved locally at all.

Lance will definitely appeal to the appellate court, or even the Federal Supreme Court, so the evidence must be clear and effective.

This is also the reason why Hunter is very anxious now. The longer the delay, the more preparations Lance can make!

Expect the Coda family to beat them down?

Go to hell!

Last night he noticed that the casualties of the Coda family were much more than those of Lance. They were not Lance's family's opponents at all!

He can only do it himself!

Hunter's mania and madness made Nate's heart, which was still hesitating, had already made a decision. He had his own family, wife, children, and future. He didn't need to gamble everything with Hunter.

If he wins, it will be Hunter and Charlie's carnival, which has nothing to do with him.

If they all lose, he will have to accompany Hunter to hell at least. Why should he gamble?

"I think these people were only arrested last night. They still have hope. When we wear down their patience a little, let them know that not only can they not leave, but they may also spend the rest of their lives in prison, they will panic."

"At that time, some of them will definitely be willing to stand up and accuse Lance, which can help us achieve our goal. You need to be patient."

Hunter wanted to destroy something, but he also knew that Nate was right, so he could only take a deep breath, "Yes, I should listen to you on this matter."

"Go handle it and see if you can get them to talk. You can promise them some conditions, as long as they sign a confession and are willing to help us testify against Lance and the Lance family. I can promise that the sentence will not exceed three years..."

This is obviously also an illegal act of inducing confession, but the federal government will not deal with it, because after the Department of Justice set a "wrong example" a few years ago in order to finalize some cases as soon as possible, now various places have begun to use the plea bargain system to speed up the trial process.

To put it bluntly, it is a transaction between justice and evil.

Nate stood up, "You have a good rest, I'll keep an eye on things this morning..."