Chapter 16 Take Them Away

• Gavin rolled a piece of chip between his fingers, harrumphing coldly.
• “Of course not. Once something is pawned to us, it's ours! You're too naive, Theros. Did you truly think that an industry consists of only one type of business? Everyone is doing whatever it takes to make money! All else aside, take those shops that specifically sell tobacco and alcohol for instance. Do you think they make money by selling those two items?”
• Upon hearing that, I was taken aback.
• “How else if not from selling cigarettes and alcohol?”
• “Money laundering!”
• Gavin raised an eyebrow before he expounded, “For example, you were some sort of big shot, and someone wanted to give you a gift but couldn't just hand you money directly. So, the person would buy you expensive cigars and alcohol! Then, you can sell them back to the shop. But it'll be at a slightly cheaper price!”
• I smacked my lips. It seems that the underworld isn't as simple as I had imagined.
• Following some thought, I told Gavin about my encounter with Linus and the fact that I activated the lucky charm that day, seeking his advice on the matter.
• After listening to it all, Gavin wore a look of utter disdain.
• “That Linus is a pretentious jerk! All he does all day is put on airs and go off about nonsensical geomancy stuff to appear sophisticated and cultured! In truth, he's nothing more than a nobody who started from working at a construction site!”
• “Then, do you think I should attend the social gathering tonight, Mr. Warren?” I asked, uncertain.
• Gavin rolled his eyes at me.
• “Why not when you'll be getting a free meal out of it? But listen here—even if they start fighting, don't get involved! Don't draw attention to yourself unless Arnold's subordinate points his knife at you. Even if Linus gets taken out, don't concern yourself with it!”
• “Okay!” I agreed readily without asking for a reason.
• I couldn't quite describe my feelings, but I had an innate trust in him.
• At that moment, the proprietress brought in chilled beers. Gavin and I each opened a bottle.
• We had just taken a sip when the sound of a police siren suddenly split the air. A police car stopped right in front of the restaurant. Through the glass door, I distinctly saw four police officers alight from the vehicle before swiftly barging into the restaurant.
• The proprietress jumped in fright. Before she could even ask any questions, the police officer in the lead pointed at me and Gavin as he declared, “That's them! Take them away!”
• Both Gavin and I wore bewildered expressions.
• Rising to my feet, I asked, “Could have you perhaps gotten the wrong people, sir? We didn't commit any crime, did we?”
• With his hand pointed at me, the officer in the lead barked, “Enough with the chatter! If there's anything, save it for when we're at the police station!”
• Then, he ordered, “Take them away!”
• Following the command by the officer in the lead, his three teammates behind him promptly dragged both Gavin and me out, stuffing us into the police car.
• In the car, Gavin and I were surrounded by them.
• With a calm expression, Gavin asked, “Bro, which precinct are you guys from? And what have we done?”
• The officer in the lead in the passenger seat glanced back at Gavin and snorted coldly.
• “We're from Peace Street Police Precinct. You two brats have got some nerve, daring to offend anyone at all, huh?”
• At his words, my first thought was whether the chubby guy whose phone was confiscated by Gavin couldn't take it lying down and lodged a police report.
• But in the next moment, the man's subsequently words clued me in.
• “You two hit a student at Bronzestad University of Technology today, didn't you?”
• “Is such a huge fuss warranted when a mere student suffered two slaps?” Gavin groused.
• Then, he added, “I know Chief Zachmann. It's no big deal, so just cut us some slack!”
• “No big deal?”
• The officer in the lead snickered before he continued, “You two brats are downright brazen. The student you hit is the f*cking son of the district chief, Calvin Zimmer! Old Mr. Zimmer personally made a call to Chief Zachmann. Say, is that a big deal?”
• Both Gavin and I were taken aback. It was only then that I understood why Howard was so arrogant. Indeed, he had the right to be supercilious.
• It could only be considered a bit of bad luck on their part. Had it been an ordinary student, the matter would probably have just blown over.
• Twenty minutes later, Gavin and I were escorted into the police station. We were both handcuffed, one end of it attached to our wrists and the other to a radiator. Left with no other choice, we could only crouch next to the machine.
• With his other hand, Gavin rummaged out a cigarette from his pocket. He also offered me one.
• As I puffed away, I teased, “You're truly blasé to still smoke when you're now at the police station, Mr. Warren.”
• Gavin wore an expression of confidence.
• “It'll be fine. I'm well-acquainted with the chief officer here. Besides, I only slapped that brat twice. Even if his dad is the district leader, it's not like he can have us executed! It'll probably just involve some compensation and an apology to resolve the issue. He's a big shot, so it's all about pride!”
• He sounded nonchalant, but the situation wasn't as simple as we imagined. Ultimately, I underestimated Howard's pettiness and the ancillary effect of my status as his love rival in adding fuel to the fire in that issue.
• We had just finished smoking when the door was pushed open. An imposing man in his forties, dressed in uniform, walked in.
• Sporting a crew cut, he had an unfathomable look in his eyes. His build was average, but his head was rather large. He was none other than the chief officer there, Nathan Zachmann, more commonly known as Big-Headed Nathan.