Reputational Damages Fee

Although the person shouting was not close, nearly ten meters away, Lynch recognized him at a glance. It was the greasy-haired young clerk from Edmond Douglas Bank who had just served him, hopping up and down as he pointed in Lynch's direction, while the elder Douglas followed behind him, panting heavily from exhaustion.

Another group of blue uniforms was rushing past them, appearing everywhere, both in front of and behind him.

Tweeeet! Tweeeet! Tweeeet!

The police whistles were sharp and ear-piercing, stabbing into the heart with every blast. A large crowd of burly men brandishing rubber batons ran closer and closer, their chaotic footsteps carrying immense pressure.

Seeing these police officers looking fierce and menacing as if facing a formidable enemy, closing in and seemingly about to pin him down, Lynch frowned. Without saying a word, he took off his hat and held it in front of him, revealing its inner lining.

Pinned inside was the badge issued by the Governor's Mansion. Previously, when Lynch used it to enter and exit the Hall of Order and its affiliated Police Club, the rookie officers on duty had treated him as a superior. Lynch did not doubt the effectiveness of this item in the slightest.

Sure enough, the moment the badge was revealed, the police officers directly in front of him hesitated and came to a halt, colliding with their colleagues behind them. The officers surrounding him from the flanks also realized something was wrong. They managed to halt their steps just as they were about to reach Lynch, and none of them dared to be rude to him anymore.

After a brief huddle of whispering, the one who appeared to hold the highest rank stepped forward, identified the badge from a distance, and immediately gestured for the other officers not to make any rash moves.

“It's him! He just cashed a check for fifty pounds!”

The two bank employees, one old and one young, had already rushed over. The young clerk's face was flushed with excitement as he pointed at Lynch and shouted to the surrounding police:

“Look at his clothes! How could someone like him possibly have a fifty-pound check? He must have stolen it from somewhere, and his goal was to use the opportunity to steal our safekeeping items!”

Meanwhile, Douglas's small eyes darted around. He seemed to have already sensed that something was amiss, and he watched silently from the side.

Lynch looked at the police, then at the banker and clerk who were being squeezed through the crowd by other officers. He had a rough idea of what had happened. The gentleman covered in mystery relics from earlier had likely succeeded and made his escape. Having discovered their loss, these two victims wanted to pin the blame on him.

“Quickly, gentlemen! Arrest him!”

Seeing that the blue uniforms did not immediately pin Lynch down, the young clerk's voice grew even louder, as if he wanted to grab Lynch with his own hands.

Lynch smiled. He had no intention of making things difficult for the police, so he tossed the badge from his hat to the officer who had stepped forward. The blue uniform immediately looked relieved, inspected it carefully, and then handed it back with both hands. “My apologies, sir.”

“Ah?”

The two of them realized that something was wrong. Their mouths fell open in bewilderment, and their faces turned incredibly pale. Lynch looked at the young man with a half-smile and raised an eyebrow, leisurely taking back his badge. “What is going on with these two?”

“Reporting, sir. Mr. Douglas reported that the bank has lost an important safekeeping item. They said you...”

“Hmm? Does a simple theft require mobilizing so many of our brothers?”

“Sir, it seems the stolen item is extremely important.”

Lynch caught the implication in the officer's words, glanced at him, and nodded. “So another officer is leading the team? Since it's being treated with such gravity, is it Inspector Brute or Inspector Walter leading the investigation?”

Hearing Lynch's casual tone, the blue uniform felt even more reassured. “It is Inspector Brute, sir.”

“He should be nearby. Go find someone to notify him. Tell him Lynch Levive is here. He knows me and will come over. You don't have to make any decisions.”

“Yes, thank you, sir.”

Only then did Lynch turn his gaze toward the two pale-faced bank employees. Smiling faintly, he said to the young clerk in a low voice, “It seems that giving you five minutes earlier was far too generous. You still haven't learned your lesson. I should have only given you five seconds.”

The young clerk instinctively took a step back, looking as if he wanted to slip away, but with police officers surrounding him, he had nowhere to run.

“Oh, my friend, you do know that making a false accusation carries the same penalty as the crime itself, right? I truly pity you. Why would you do such a thing? Or do you think that because you're a respectable member of the upper class, you can just pin a theft charge on a lower-class pauper like me, and our police brothers from the Hall of Order and the honorable judges of the Hall of Justice won't bother to lower themselves to your level?”

“I... I... I didn't make a false accusation!” The young clerk's face was deathly pale, and he looked on the verge of tears. “It has to be you! Otherwise, why did the item disappear right after you left?”

“Heh, save those words for the judge. Good luck, and I hope you find one who believes you. What do you think, Mr. Douglas?”

“Boss, you have to believe me!” The young clerk was almost on his knees, ready to cling to Douglas's legs.

The old banker's eyes darted around again, and he gave a dry laugh. “We are merely assisting the Hall of Order in their investigation. As for who actually did it, that is for the inspector to decide. However, very few people came by today. Surely you aren't suggesting that that gentleman did it?”

“Exactly!” The young clerk instantly found his courage, raising his voice to shout, “You are accusing a Viscount of the Kingdom of Salter, who wears an honorary medal issued by the Friedman royal family and whose assets are jointly guaranteed by three lords of the Kingdom of Salter, of being a thief! You...”

As they were speaking, several people hurried over from not far away. The leader strode directly up to the young clerk, raised his hand, and slapped him twice across the face, leaving ten bright red finger marks and knocking out a bloody tooth.

“Are you accusing an honorable detective—personally employed by His Excellency the Governor, publicly commended by the city council, presented with a cash reward by the chairman himself, and highly praised by Saint Nightingale and Archbishop Trinlais of the Church of the Black Night—of being a thief?”

The man who had rushed over to deliver the slaps was none other than Inspector Brute, one of the two inspectors of the Hall of Order. Upon hearing the inspector's words, the young clerk's legs gave out, and he slumped directly onto the ground. Clutching his face, he did not dare utter another word. The old banker's expression also stiffened. He finally realized that this detective's background was entirely unlike the young men he had dealt with in the past—this was not someone he could easily push around.

After only a second of stiffness, he immediately forced a smile, leaning in close to Lynch to whisper, “Your Excellency, Your Excellency, I am truly sorry! It was all a misunderstanding on our part. We were simply too anxious after losing our property, and in our confusion, we placed the blame on you. We are deeply sorry. Please, considering that we are also victims, do not lower yourself to the level of insignificant people like us.”

As he spoke, he kicked the young clerk over and shot him a look. The young clerk immediately crawled back to Lynch, clinging to his legs and wailing incessantly.

Lynch let out a breath. He could tell that this inspector definitely had some connection with Edmond Douglas Bank—likely acting as some sort of protective umbrella, which was why he had arrived so quickly and subtly warned the two not to provoke someone they couldn't afford to offend.

Lynch thought for a moment, then sneered, “If apologies were useful, there would be no need for the Hall of Order to exist. You have damaged a gentleman's most valued possession—his reputation. And you believe a gentleman's reputation is worth only a mere apology? Although Lande law now strictly forbids it, I am currently considering whether to slap you in the face with my glove.”

“No, no, Your Excellency, you misunderstand!” Upon hearing this, the old banker quickly spoke up. “The apology is merely to express our thoughts. We feel deep remorse for damaging your reputation, and we are willing to compensate you with ten pounds to make up for the harm we have caused.”

“So, you believe my reputation is only worth ten pounds? You are insulting me!” Lynch roared in anger, striking his cane heavily against the ground. “Is your sincerity inferior even to Grant's?”

“No, no, Your Excellency! I misspoke. I meant fifty pounds! Just like His Honor the Chairman. We are merely merchants and would not dare exceed the amount set by the Chairman. Please, accept our sincerity!”

“Hmph, if not for Inspector Brute personally rushing over, I would never have let you off so easily. Deliver my reputational damages fee to the inspector as soon as possible. I will pay him a visit in a few days.”

It wasn't worth taking a life over such a matter. Having successfully fleeced the banker, Lynch was in an excellent mood. After all, it was rare to meet such generous souls who willingly leaped forward to get beaten and give him money. After taking a passing jab at the inspector as well, Lynch casually asked:

“What exactly was stolen to cause such a massive commotion?”

“A ruby. It was deposited in the bank by a princess from the Kingdom of Salter who came to Lande to study,” Inspector Brute replied with a sheepish smile. “Because of the political implications, we must treat it with the utmost gravity. Furthermore, the gemstone itself possesses unique properties and is rumored to involve a certain unspeakable entity. Right now, half of the Hall of Order has been mobilized.”

Hiss. That swindler-thief had quite an appetite.

Lynch hesitated for a moment. He instinctively felt that this was an incredibly troublesome case. Such potentially embarrassing and troublesome matters were best left to those fools in the Rangers. Thus, he gave Inspector Brute's arm a meaningful pat and whispered, “Let me give you a piece of advice, Inspector. Don't waste your time. Directly invite the Rangers to get involved as well.”

“Are you saying this involves...” Inspector Brute's face turned even paler.

“Highly likely.