Chapter 86
86
As he left the room, Viktor received a call from Palin, who had gone to the newspaper company on his orders.
Viktor answered the phone, and Palin said,
"Captain, this photo was taken at the store. When the First Mate went to the store and asked Hiram Pete, he confirmed that the Royal Police took the photo. And I have a friend at the newspaper company, whom I met secretly. It's true that the Royal Police placed an advertisement with Scarlett's location and face."
"I see."
"Does this make sense? This is a challenge from the Royal Police to the Navy. You can't let this go, Captain."
Palin continued, his voice filled with anger.
"The sailors of the Rubid Ship fleet have already heard this news and are furious. How dare they attack the Navy, and especially you, Captain?"
And Evan, next to him, pretended to dissuade him but was actually fueling the fire.
"The Royal Police just sit in good places, doing paperwork, summoning people, and interrogating them. Do they even know the hardships we go through in the field?"
"Exactly! They don't know anything. We should attack the Royal Police Headquarters right now!"
"Oh, calm down, calm down. Even the pirates are like that. Kidnapping civilians instead of naval personnel to negotiate."
"Oh, now that you mention it, is that so?"
"The Captain clearly showed the difference in punishment when he killed naval personnel and civilians. Touching civilians was another matter."
"Captain! We can't let the pirates get away with this either!"
Evan emphasized to the sailors that Scarlett was a civilian to justify Viktor's negotiation to bring her back, and the sailors, already aware that Viktor had differentiated the penalties, naturally accepted this fact.
Viktor hung up and called the Holton Family, where his friend Larry was.
Viktor took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, looking at the Royal Police's magnificent headquarters building.
Larry Holton, a senator and Viktor's childhood friend, who had rushed over at Viktor's call, approached him in a fluster. Most senators were heirs to families that could be called prestigious families of Salantie, holding honorary positions until they inherited the family.
Larry said,
"Viktor, I have a schedule too."
"Let's go in."
Viktor gestured towards the building, and Larry glanced at it and said,
"I don't think so."
"You will."
"I was wondering why you called me first. I'm just a senator because my family is old, what power do I have to do something like this? Especially for Lord Dumpelt, who is of royal blood."
"Senators can enter the Royal Police Headquarters, right?"
"I can only enter. Besides, you... well, you can enter if you want to, right?"
"I thought I'd try to enter legally first."
"So, you're throwing me into the lion's den just to make yourself feel better."
"You know me well."
Larry sighed at Viktor's nonchalant answer.
After all, there was little concept of friendship among noble children. It was just a political alliance, and the son of an ousted princess had little advantage in such relationships.
However, his father was a man of broad vision and had an eye for people. From the first time he saw ten-year-old Viktor, he had told his son, the heir to the Holton Family,
"Don't antagonize Viktor Dumpelt. You don't have to be too nice to him. Just don't keep too much distance or get too close."
His father's idea was right. Viktor was a person who should not be kept at a distance, nor should he be too close.
Larry grumbled,
"...Okay, let's go. But you know, you shouldn't use your friends like this. You should cherish them more."
Larry reluctantly took the lead.
"I appreciate you taking down the pirates, but do you have to put me in such danger?"
Almost pushed by Viktor's force, Larry stood in front of the Royal Police Headquarters and sighed, showing the silver butterfly brooch that proved he was a senator to the ordinary police guarding the entrance.
"I'm going in."
"Yes, Senator."
The policeman saluted in confusion, and Larry gestured for him to follow with a tired face.
As he walked, he said,
"But why are we here?"
"It seems the Royal Police are trying to kill my ex-wife."
"What?"
Larry stopped and laughed, bending over.
"Say something that makes sense. Who would mess with Viktor Dumpelt's wife?"
"I don't know, that's why I'm trying to find out."
"You're framing innocent people."
"The Royal Police were with my divorced wife."
"...That's a bit suspicious."
"And they put her picture and address in a newspaper ad."
"What?"
Larry's expression grew increasingly serious.
It seemed he had gotten involved in something more serious than he thought.
Eventually, they stood in front of the entrance to the Royal Police Headquarters. Larry went in first, and when Viktor tried to accompany him, the Royal Police stopped him.
"You are not allowed to enter."
Then Larry said,
"Viktor Dumpelt is the real royal bloodline, it's strange that I'm allowed in but Viktor isn't."
"Orders from above..."
Viktor's gun touched the Royal Police's forehead. Viktor gestured inside.
"Turn around."
The Royal Police turned pale and turned around, and Viktor pushed the back of his head with the gun.
"I want to meet the Royal Police who interrogated my ex-wife."
At his words, the Royal Police cursed and quickly turned around to attack Viktor. However, Viktor overpowered the Royal Police as if dealing with a child, grabbing his neck and pressing him against the wall.
"Ah!"
The Royal Police's scream was heard, and Larry bent down to check on the Royal Police.
"Are you okay? Ah, damn it, I wouldn't have come if I knew it would come to this..."
In the meantime, the Royal Police who had rushed out pointed their guns at Viktor, but Viktor was faster in every way. One of the Royal Police hit by his gun sat down, covering his arm.
Larry grabbed his hair with both hands and said,
"My father was right. I shouldn't have been so nice to that bastard."
"When were you ever nice to me?"
Viktor pointed the gun at the face of the Royal Police, who was trembling and raising both hands, and Larry shouted,
"I was nice enough! And put the gun down!"
In the meantime, a Level 2 Royal Police officer ran down.
"I, I will guide you!"
"Thank you."
Only then did Viktor reply in a voice that was inappropriately elegant for the situation.
As they entered the headquarters, unlike the ordinary police, the Royal Police, who were leisurely chatting and drinking tea as if they were at a social event, froze when they saw Viktor.
Larry looked around and followed, saying,
"If you're going to get me involved in something this big, give me a warning in advance."
"Now that your job is done, you can go back."
"How can I leave naturally in this situation? The Holton Family is already doomed. Whether we live or die, we're now sharing our fate with the Dumpelt Family! Aren't you being too harsh on a commoner like me?"
"If a senator is a commoner, what should we call the rest of the people?"
"A commoner who isn't a senator!"
Viktor chuckled at Larry's matter-of-fact answer.
This quirky side was the only thing that made him consider Larry Holton a friend. But he was too afraid to do anything big together. Seeing him so timid, he briefly wondered if he should have brought Andrei, who at least knew the Royal Police well.
However, Viktor didn't like him. The fact that he had tried to kill him was nothing to worry about since it was impossible, but Andrei's gaze during the interrogation bothered him.
Andrei, who was already skinny, was haggard, but his eyes were sharp. It bothered him that such a suspicious person was attached to his ex-wife. The fact that he was caught because he was helping Scarlett, who was too important an employee to be dealt with, also bothered him.
After a while, the Royal Police who had guided the two took Viktor to one of the two police superintendents in the headquarters.
"Our Police Superintendent personally interrogated her."
"I see."
Viktor looked at the nameplate on the Police Superintendent's office.
[Level 1 Royal Police Superintendent Phillip Herbie]
Viktor stared at the nameplate for a moment. Seeing the nameplate that read 'Police Superintendent,' he remembered Scarlett's pale face.
"I think I remember a little about what happened at the Royal Police Headquarters. I definitely saw that person."
"Really, Viktor. That's the person who interrogated me at the Royal Police Headquarters that day. If you ask him, he'll know exactly what happened that day..."
Hugh Gun Hunter.
The moment he thought of that name, he asked the Royal Police who had guided him,
"Where is Hugh Gun Hunter's office?"
"Why are you looking for Police Superintendent Hunter's office?"
"I asked where it is."
When Viktor said it again, the Level 2 Royal Police officer flinched. He had been trained to deal with various situations, but dealing with such a fierce beast was not a theoretical matter.
"Ah, ah, I'll guide you."
Eventually, the Royal Police turned around. His knees were shaking, and he stumbled before quickly straightening up and climbing the stairs.
The Royal Police seemed to be sending signals to each other along the way, and the surroundings were busy.
Larry said,
"Can we... get out of here alive? The Royal Police are all looking at us."
"We may not get out alive, but at least the Royal Police Headquarters will disappear."
"...What are you talking about?"
Larry, who was only a commoner at heart, asked, but Viktor didn't answer.