Chapter 521: Chaotic System
Huh? That statement was rather thought-provoking. Captain Delana clearly looked down on the police officers of Cando City and wanted to take all the credit. As soon as he said that, the faces of all the police officers present turned grim.
Especially the Police Chief Director, whose face was as black as if it had been dyed with ink. He was an honorary Baron and a nobleman, yet this Delana in front of him was openly insulting him.
Yet, he had no recourse. Captain was already a considerable military rank, and he didn’t need to fear a powerless Baron like him. In fact, the other party held military power.
“Captain Delana, we are jointly investigating this case. I hope you can cooperate with us without any reservations. The specific course of action is determined by the person in charge of the operation. I hope to speak with him.” The Police Chief Director’s words were already very tactful and appropriate.
“I’m sorry, but we are in charge of exploring the phenomenon first, as per the directive from the Director of the National Police Headquarters in Madrid, who is the highest person in charge of this investigation.” Captain Delana said.
He then added, “Oh, right. The Director is currently resting. They rushed here after their journey, and I’ve already invited him and the security team from the capital to go to Santander City to recuperate. You also agree that there’s no need to disturb the Director before the preliminary report of the investigation, right?”
The Police Chief Director’s face was so dark it felt like ink was about to drip from it. Clearly, he had arrived too late. This Captain had already taken the initiative to host the Director from the capital, who was in charge of the investigation, and secured the priority investigation rights.
Furthermore, Captain Delana had employed a strategy of undermining from within by inviting the Director to rest in Cando City, leaving no one in charge at the scene.
It was obvious that if he were to disturb the Director’s sleep over a trivial matter like investigation rights at this point, the Director would likely kick him out directly, and the Director’s plan to perform well and pave the way for future promotion would go down the drain.
The Director was also secretly cursing in his heart. Those big shots in the capital, Madrid, had long since lost their ambition and only knew how to seek pleasure. When a case occurred, they wouldn’t go to the scene to investigate but would stay in the city and sleep, waiting for reports. How could cases be handled well by being with such people!
Of course, he dared not say this aloud. If he accidentally let his inner thoughts slip, not only would his career prospects be over, but he might not even be able to keep his current position.
While they were arguing, Sebastian was explaining the relationships within the police system to me. “That Director holds an official post in the capital’s National Police and is responsible for the entire Iberian Empire. The Police Chief Director belongs to the National Guard and is inherently one level below him.”
“I understand, so it’s like the difference between permanent staff and temporary workers.” I said, but the other three didn’t understand what I was talking about.
Sebastian continued, “In addition, there are the Royal Police who are loyal to the Royal Family, and the local police who are loyal to the lords, and so on. Although there are differences in their status, they have no direct subordinate relationship.”
“It’s so chaotic, I can’t understand it at all.” Sherris said with a headache. As a little Ghoul, she was just a village girl before, and she couldn’t understand these complicated relationships at all. She didn’t even understand the difference between the Royal Family and the lords.
“It’s okay if you don’t understand. Anyway, it should be only the police from our Cando City who are here this time, so it shouldn’t be such a complicated relationship.” Sebastian said with a smile.
He knew so much because of his profession. Detectives often dealt with various types of police officers, and each type of police officer had different priorities.
When writing investigation reports, detectives needed to cater to their preferences and clearly state what they were interested in. Sometimes, they even had to appropriately alter some truths to satisfy them. After all, people only knew what they wanted to know.
Over there, Captain Delana continued to speak, “Actually, this is beneficial for you too. Your subordinates won’t have to risk their lives and can just sit and rest. Don’t worry, I’ll write in the case results that your assistance greatly contributed to solving the case.”
His intention to hog all the credit was so obvious that everyone knew that the mention of assistance was just a polite gesture, and no one would take it seriously.
But the Police Chief Director had no choice. He was unfamiliar with the place. Captain Delana had dozens of soldiers under him visible on the beach alone, and it would be unwise to clash with him here.
“Fine, then I wish you all the best. Humph!” The Police Chief Director expressed his dissatisfaction, then walked aside angrily and summoned the other police officers to rest on the spot.
Those police officers and detectives, after rushing over with such effort only to be treated so coldly, were all indignant. They could only watch those soldiers making preparations on the shore.
I wasn’t angry or indignant because my objective from the very start was only Pierce, not the merit or bounty for solving the case.
In my opinion, as of now, the only clue related to Pierce in this case, apart from the mutated eyes on the corpse, was not a clear pointer to Pierce. It was even hard to say if Pierce had caused it.
Under these circumstances, it didn’t matter to me who explored the scene and collected evidence first. But the problem now was, “Where is the scene? And where is Sturgeon No. 3, which has been reported missing for three months?”
Others also looked at the shore with confusion. They thought they would be boarding the ship to investigate upon arrival, but while they had arrived at the shore, not a single shadow of a ship could be seen.
Could it be that Delana had hidden the wrecked ship to prevent them from investigating? Many people suspected this and looked at Delana, including the Police Chief Director.
“Don’t look at me like that. Sturgeon No. 3 is still at sea, and a warship is towing it back. I’m also urging them to hurry,” Captain Delana, perhaps having nothing else to do, answered our doubts.
“Didn’t you say the Royal Navy found Sturgeon No. 3 and sent people aboard? Why hasn’t it been towed back yet?” a police officer asked with a frown.
Captain Delana glanced at him and seemed to feel that he might as well vent. “Those cowards in the Royal Navy said that bizarre phenomena occurred on the ship and refused to tow it. I had to send my own ship to tow it. Really, no wonder they haven’t been able to defeat the British all these years!”
The Police Chief Director said nothing. Although he was annoyed with Delana, he also felt that the Royal Navy was perhaps too timid. Why were they afraid to even tow a ship? Or was it truly that dangerous?
Sebastian explained to me again, “The Royal Navy is the army loyal to the Iberian Emperor, commonly known as the Invincible Armada. As for Captain Delana, he is merely a Navy Officer for a private lord of Santander.”
I was utterly speechless at the chaotic system created by this feudal system. Not only was the police system a mess, but how could even the navy have local troops?
