Chapter 183 If I were him
At 7:00 AM, a cement mixer truck stopped outside the gates of Lab Graveyard. Behind the wheel, a man in a devil mask sat shrouded in shadow. Strands of blond hair escaped the mask's edge, betraying his Victorian origins.
His eyes, cold and sharp, remained fixed on the entrance. The moment his target appeared, he'd ram the gate and finish the job personally.
Suddenly, he stiffened, eyes narrowing.
A black car with the license plate A·00001 rolled into view.
'Police.'
'Veridiania Police.'
Recognizing the number's representative, he gritted his teeth.
He knew the death order was absolute and no interference would be tolerated. He'd gladly die here, but his target would die with him.
The black car stopped at the gate. Leonard stepped out, a casual wave of his hand sending the accompanying special forces vehicle further down the road.
The message was clear: this was a private meeting.
The Lab Graveyard gates swung open, revealing Elbert. He stood framed in the entrance, munching on a green apple in a relaxed posture.
"Well, well, Mr. Paul Two," Leonard greeted playfully. "Did you sleep well?"
Elbert bit his apple, smirking. "Officer Leonard, you seem to have me mistaken."
Leonard feigned disappointment. "Of course, of course. You, Elbert, the tech genius behind the Gemini app, the wunderkind entrepreneur... why would you ever stoop to leading a gang?"
Elbert shrugged. "Funny; you seem to be contradicting yourself."
Leonard chuckled, enjoying their little dance.
Elbert descended the steps, joining Leonard on the pavement. He continued to munch on his apple, seemingly unbothered by the officer's scrutiny.
Leonard squinted, as if trying to pierce into Elbert's composure. "Strange things happened last night. Two gangs clashed, with over 600 men taken down single-handedly. Rumor has it that the victor was blindfolded."
He paused for effect. "If that's true, this individual makes Mr. Gray's soldiers look like amateurs. Even cyborgs pale in comparison."
He continued, intrigued. "Moreover, their hacking skills! Every camera at the scene was disabled. This Paul Two is truly a genius – brains and brawn in equal measure."
He turned to Elbert, his question pointed. "Tell me, Elbert, who in all of Wavehaven possesses such a unique skillset?"
Elbert chuckled. "Indeed, such a prodigy would certainly give me a run for my money."
Leonard smirked. "I've made sure to delay the investigation into last night's brawl. Your boy Paul Two should be thanking me." He snuck a glance at Elbert, but the young man continued to eat his apple, his expression unreadable.
"Of course," Leonard pressed, "gratitude shouldn't just be verbal." He let the implication hang in the air. "If I were this Paul Two, I'd start by cleaning up Wavehaven's underworld. Maybe open a few bars, nightclubs... all strictly legitimate, of course."
Elbert grinned, finally taking the bait.
Leonard snorted, then continued, his tone turning conspiratorial. "And if I were him, I'd help a certain lenient officer with a particularly troublesome case. You know, that international human trafficking ring that gives me sleepless nights."
He shook his head, feigning exasperation. "Those bastards are heartless, snatching kids and shipping them overseas. Some disappear, some lose limbs, and some... well, let's just say it's not pretty."
He lowered his voice. "These traffickers are like ghosts. Anti-surveillance experts, international connections... my SWAT team is outmatched."
He looked at Elbert, his meaning clear. "But Paul Two could definitely do something. A little undercover work, perhaps? Purely out of the goodness of his heart, of course."
Leonard paused, gauging Elbert's reaction. "What do you say, kid? Interested in hearing more about this case?"
Elbert sighed dramatically. "Officer Leonard, such talk doesn't suit a man like you."
"Hold on," Leonard interrupted, his eyes mischievious. "What if I sweeten the deal?"
"Elbert, my boy, you're about to lay eyes on something truly special." He pulled out his phone and held up a picture.
Elbert leaned in, curiosity piqued.
The photo displayed a woman of breathtaking beauty. Dressed in a scarlet gown, her raven hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall.
Elbert's breath hitched.
Her face was a mix of allure and intelligence, her eyes holding playful danger. The dress, with a daring slit, revealed a long, toned leg. A gun holster adorned her hip, a stark contrast to her elegant demeanor.
Her gaze, even through the phone screen, seemed to hold him captive. It was a look that could make any man weak in the knees.
"Well?" Leonard asked while grinning smugly. "What do you think? Beautiful, isn't she?"
Elbert shrugged, feigning indifference. "She's alright."
"You brat!" Leonard exclaimed, albeit his tone was amused rather than annoyed. He pocketed his phone. "International Interpol, son. Agent Trinity, the Seven Continents Law Enforcement Alliance's finest. She's here in Wavehaven to assist with the trafficking case."
He leaned closer, his voice low. "Partner up with her, Elbert. Crack the case, save the day, and win the girl. What do you say?"
Leonard puffed out his chest, speaking pridefully. "Consider yourself lucky, kid. I'm the only one here who knows her true identity." He fixed Elbert with a knowing look. "So, are you tempted?"
Elbert let out a long, suffering sigh. "Officer Leonard, have you considered a career change after retirement?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Leonard bristled, momentarily surprised. "Retirement's a long way off. I've got years of service left in me!"
Elbert chuckled. "There are many ways to serve, Officer. You'd make a fantastic matchmaker, you know."
"You little-" Leonard sputtered, his face turning red. He looked ready to launch his thermos at Elbert's head.
"Officer Leonard," Elbert interrupted, his voice suddenly serious. "If I were Paul Two, I'd start by uniting Wavehaven's underworld. Then, I'd use that influence to legitimize their operations."
Leonard paused, his anger momentarily forgotten. "What kind of legitimate operations?"
Elbert shrugged. "I'm sure Paul Three would have some ideas."
"Good," Leonard nodded, slowly smiling. "What else?"
"Moreover..." Elbert tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Once Paul Two settles things on the home front, he will dedicate his considerable resources to dismantling that human trafficking ring. Not for the Black Fox gang's safety, mind you, but out of the goodness of his heart."
"Good! Very good!" Leonard threw back his head and roared with laughter. "Alright, you've convinced me. I'll give your boy Paul Two a chance."
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