The Mafia Empire

"What brings you here today?" Gador asked, releasing his grip and motioning with his hand, inviting Pronto inside. He stepped aside, leading Pronto toward the house. This was something he had learned in etiquette class, for which he had spent a considerable sum to hire a retired royal etiquette master to teach him the daily courtesies of high society.

This also made him realize that continuing down his current path was utterly meaningless.

Three hundred bucks for a thirty minute lesson. You could say it was expensive, or you could choose not to learn, but plenty of people wanted to learn, and Gador had to pull some strings with a big boss just to secure the etiquette master. The more Gador was exposed to the things of high society, the more he felt his own insignificance.

For Gador, this was a good thing because it allowed him to finally understand that he wasn't as grand as he thought.

As Gador led the way into the house, Pronto wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, giving Gador a sideways glance before letting out a cold chuckle without answering his question.

That cold laugh sent a shiver down Gador's spine. His smile froze momentarily, but he recovered quickly and smoothly, not asking any more questions. He continued to lead Pronto into his study.

The study was opulent, with a thick camel-hair carpet underfoot that felt like walking on butter, sinking slightly with each step. Gold and red wallpaper adorned the walls, giving the room a grand, palace like atmosphere, complemented by luxurious light fixtures and ornate decor.

Pronto made his way to the desk and plopped himself down in the fully enclosed chair, letting out a contented sigh. He beckoned with his finger, and the older police officer following them handed him a file folder. Pronto slammed it onto the desk with a scowl.

Gador, suspicious and uneasy, picked up the folder and extracted a document. His pupils instantly contracted. Keeping his composure, he placed the file about Corder back on the desk, furrowing his brows slightly. "I don't quite understand, Chief. If you're here because of those past slanders and accusations, I think it's unnecessary.

The city court has already rendered its final verdict, and according to the Imperial law, once a final ruling is made... in short, there can be no further pursuit of a closed case."

Indeed, Imperial law stated that any charge could only be judged once, and after the final ruling, even a wrongful conviction would be considered "resolved" and could not be pursued again. The old nobility had crafted this law to protect their own interests, and now criminals were also exploiting it.

Although Gador was a gang leader, that didn't mean he was uneducated. He read books, and out of the 397 books on the shelves behind Pronto, there were only a mere six that he hadn't... carefully perused yet. The rest, he hadn't had the chance to finish. But those six books all dealt with divine and imperial law.

He remembered his boss once told him, "A smart butcher not only knows how to slaughter pigs, but also how to sharpen the knife."

So, whenever he needed to sleep, he would pull out one of those books, read three to five pages, and then drift into slumber.

From reading so many books, he had retained a bit of knowledge. This particular law stuck with him because he often needed to rely on it.

Pronto looked at Gador, who met his gaze without fear.

Gador wanted to project an air of openness. His etiquette teacher had told him that when making a controversial choice, meeting someone's eyes with a calm gaze would convey sincerity and honesty.

But to Pronto, it seemed like Gador was deliberately provoking him.

Pronto chuckled coldly again as he stood up from the chair, dusting off his pants with the brim of his police cap. "Well, if that's the case, then I have nothing more to say. Goodbye!"

Why didn't it work?!

Gador could no longer worry about etiquette. He knew full well that for a police chief like Pronto to disregard public opinion and come here personally, something serious must have happened. Letting Pronto leave now, what if something went wrong later? Who would he cry to then? With a flattering smile, he grabbed Pronto and pressed him back into the chair.

He quickly retrieved a pack of "Le Tu" from his desk.

"Le Tu" was a kind of drugs that could soothe intense emotions and induce a subtle sense of happiness.

It had once been a specialty of the Mexican Empire, and after the Mexican was conquered by the Star Empire, it became a prized product of the Empire. The main production area was in the southeastern part of the Empire, and due to its popularity among pleasure seeking nobles, it quickly went from being abundant to nearly extinct.

Now, it was an economic pillar for two provinces, mainly supplied to high society social circles.

Because of its unique effects, it was dubbed "Le Tu!"

A standard box of Le Tu contained twelve pieces and sold for between five hundred and six hundred dollar. If made from wild fungi, the price would exceed a thousand per box, with only six pieces inside.

Clearly, this wasn't wild fungi but cultivated. After all, the sale of this stuff was propping up the economy of two provinces, so its value was self-evident! chapter-source-MvLeMpYr

Pronto, satisfied, crossed his legs and watched as Gador used a solid gold cutter to snip the end of the Le Tu before lightly heating it and handing it over. Nodding in approval, Pronto took a puff, immediately relaxing and even feeling a touch of laziness. He glanced at the Le Tu between his fingers and remarked, "This is good stuff."

Gador immediately placed the gold cutter into Pronto's pocket and handed the rest of the box to the old officer nearby. "Since you like it, Chief, take it with you!"

Pronto smiled, pointing at him before finally speaking leisurely...