Chapter 20: "You're Quite a Fighter?"
The lively atmosphere in the warehouse was instantly shattered, and everyone looked angrily at the uninvited guest.
Then, silence.
Because the newcomer was dressed in a deep blue uniform, a gun at his waist, and a badge on his shoulder bearing the kingdom’s emblem—a three-headed dragon intertwined with a sword and shield.
He was an enforcer from the Kingdom’s Security Bureau.
“Why stop?” The man stood tall, his stern and commanding presence radiating complete control as he crossed his arms.
He spoke, then smiled.
“Since you’re not continuing, it’s my turn. Let me introduce myself: I’m Lewis, an inspector from the Wenster Security Bureau. I suspect you are holding an illegal gathering here. Who’s in charge? Step forward and speak.”
“I am.” Ethan had no choice but to step out and face him. “I’m Ethan Boretta, current CEO of Boretta Venture Capital. I was just visiting the employees at our company’s dock. There must be some misunderstanding here, Inspector Lewis.”
“So you’re Ethan Boretta? You’ve been quite famous lately. I was just looking for you.” Lewis smirked as he stared at Ethan and nodded. “Ethan Boretta, I suspect you’re directly involved in several recent murders in the city and gang conflicts. You’re coming with me for questioning.”
The moment those words fell, tension gripped the warehouse.
The dock workers who had just been paid suddenly looked fierce; some were subtly reaching for weapons.
“What, planning to resist arrest?” Lewis showed no fear—instead, his face bore an expectant expression.
“Young master, this Lewis is notorious for his corrupt enforcement and has close ties with the Evans family,” Anya whispered to Ethan.
The Evans family?
Sure enough, they had no intention of letting the dock’s recapture go quietly.
The illicit liquor business was too tempting.
“Everyone, calm down. There must be some misunderstanding. I’ve always been a law-abiding citizen. I’ll go with Inspector Lewis now and believe I’ll be back soon. Anya, please look after them.”
Ethan took a few quick steps and moved out of the crowd.
“You’re quite sensible, Ethan. Good boy, I like that,” Lewis said with increasing brazenness.
He tilted his head, and immediately two men lunged from behind to grab Ethan.
They even pulled out handcuffs.
“Handcuffs?”
“Yes.” Lewis pulled out a paper and showed it to Ethan.
“This is a warrant signed by the chief inspector. Given your involvement in multiple murders and your potential dangerousness, handcuffs are authorized.”
Ethan said nothing further and allowed himself to be taken away.
***
As soon as they stepped outside, blinding flashes of camera lights erupted.
A throng of reporters was already waiting, eagerly capturing the scene.
Ethan Boretta, the city’s hottest figure recently, suspected of arrest?
That headline was guaranteed to dominate tomorrow’s front page.
Ethan squinted, clearly not expecting this.
Though the Boretta family lacked powerful allies in the Security Bureau, they usually maintained enough influence to avoid trouble.
Yet this time, they had been set up.
Half an hour later, Ethan sat in the Security Bureau’s interrogation room.
Lewis kept questioning details about the past two days and nights.
Ethan’s only reply was, “I’ll talk when my lawyer arrives.”
Though the Boretta family’s influence in Wenster’s political and legal circles was not as firm as the Conti family’s, reaching the ranks of the five major families meant they had spent heavily to open doors — including retaining a lawyer.
Anya was surely on her way with him.
Faced with Ethan’s silence, Lewis initially kept up his arrogant questioning but soon found it dull.
He tossed a booklet onto the table, crossed his arms again, and said, “Not bad. Your skills are decent—no wonder you managed to kill Fred and Joan. Much stronger than your brother.”
Lewis said this because he was also a TrueName wielder.
During the interrogation, Ethan felt a subtle force emanating from Lewis, as if trying to compel him to speak.
But Ethan resisted it swiftly.
Lewis’s TrueName was unknown but seemed related to rules and orders.
“Whether you talk or not doesn’t matter. I never really intended to make you speak. That was just a game. What I truly want is to keep you locked here for forty-eight hours. Your family’s second-rate lawyer can’t change that.”
Lewis chuckled darkly.
“In these forty-eight hours, guess what will happen outside? Do you think the Boretta family remains solid without you?”
He stood and leaned close, locking eyes with Ethan.
***
Ethan remained calm, silent.
“Don’t want to fight? What a shame—I was looking forward to testing your skills. Well then, be a good boy, Ethan, and…”
Lewis sat back down, extending a hand with a gesture mimicking a fireworks explosion.
“Watch as your hard-won family blows apart again—boom!”
“Haha, let’s go grab some food. No more playing with this rich kid,” Lewis said, leading his men away.
A while later, Ethan’s lawyer finally arrived.
Bob Alder.
A man around forty, looking weary; even his decent gentleman’s suit couldn’t mask it.
“Sorry, Bob, to ask for your help on our first meeting,” Ethan smiled.
“You don’t need to apologize, Ethan. I didn’t expect I wouldn’t be able to help you right away,” Bob forced a smile. “Lewis is a veteran who knows all the rules. This detention is completely legal. He can hold you here for forty-eight hours. You’ll have to endure it.”
“That’s okay. It’s not your fault, Bob,” Ethan said, not planning to stay the full forty-eight hours.
“But I do need your help with a few things.”
“Just say it,” Bob nodded, pursing his lips.
“First…”
Twenty minutes later, Bob left.
Lewis returned with his men.
“Well, my handsome boy, decided yet? Sit and wait for death, or shall we talk about something else?”
Lewis casually pulled out a cigarette.
“Are you good at fighting?” Ethan suddenly asked.
“What?”
“I said, are you good at fighting? You’ve been wanting to face me all along. Are you good at fighting?”
Lewis laughed wildly, took a deep drag of his cigarette, then stood up.