Volume 10 – Chapter 36: Cause & Effect (Part 2)

“Go to the ninth street first. I’ll tell you how to get to the destination when we’re there.” Bucky shook his head and said. Then, he picked up the phone that he had just smashed and dialed another number.

“It’s me! Someone has conspired against me in Rio! I can’t stay in prison anymore. Send a few people over to pick me up!”
Cage didn’t listen carefully to what the person over the phone said. But, he heard a cheer, “Brother! Are you finally coming out? Your brother has been waiting to do something great with you!”

Bucky didn’t say anything. Instead, he just cut the person off, “I will arrive by noon tomorrow.”

Bucky looked at Captain Cage and patted him on the shoulder, but he didn’t move away the utility knife. He encouraged, “Cage! Now is the time to show your driving skills. Didn’t you always brag about it in front of me? You always brag about your drift on the five consecutive sharp corners at Mount Haruna?”

(TN: Initial D reference)

You take away the utility knife first!
…

“Have you eliminated Crocodile? Great.”

The Minister of Security nodded. Another call came in. His initially elated mood turned foul, “Bucky escaped? What are you doing?!”

He thundered on the phone, “I don’t care. You need to get rid of him within two hours! Otherwise, just resign!”
Throwing the phone on the table casually, the Minister of Security rubbed his head and sat down.

There was a large number of prisoners in this country who successfully escaped from prison every year. It didn’t affect the overall situation for the small fries to escape. Anyway, the prison had long been overcrowded. What happened here could even save some money.

But Bucky was different. He was caught after many years of manpower and resources. Yet, he was only sentenced to about ten years in prison. At the very least, he was put under surveillance.

The strategy of the country’s higher-ups in combating slums was to dismantle the anchors of these desperate generations. Then, they planned to absorb the manpower there slowly. However, this couldn’t happen right now. It would jeopardize political stability and send the country back to its chaotic period years ago.
Fortunately, Crocodile had been dealt with. He could at least have an explanation to the senate president. As for Bucky’s problem, he had no choice but to respond based on the situation.

The Minister of Security called his secretary and then ordered, “Call the senate president’s secretary later and tell him about Crocodile. I’m going to the presidential palace now to explain what happened today.”

“Yes, sir.” The secretary had followed the Minister of Security for many years and had already figured out the minister’s temperament. At this time, the secretary replied quickly, “Before you arrive, I will prepare the report and summarize it.”

The Minister of Security didn’t say much and walked out of the command vehicle. He then moved to another car that was heading to the presidential palace.

But when he had just gotten into the car, the secretary ran over from a distance eagerly and slapped the car window.
The Minister of Security frowned and opened the window. He looked at the secretary who was still holding the phone, “What happened again?”

The secretary said in horror at this time, “Minister, no, it’s not good! Senate president. He was shot and killed on his way home!”

“What!! Prewitt…”

…

“How did it happen? Explain to me clearly.”

The Minister of Security failed to calm down completely. He rolled down the car window and stared at the secretary who had followed him for ten years.

The secretary had no choice but to reply, “I don’t know the details. It is said that when the senate president’s car passed by the bank at Thirteenth Street, a private car suddenly ran into it out of control and a car accident occurred. Then, the assassination happened at this time. According to the driver and the guard, a sniper lay in ambush in the distance!”
“What about that private car that got out of control?”

“There was no one in the car. It is assumed that the driver jumped out of the car before the crash. However, the owner of the car was found tied up in the trunk. I’m afraid it was the car temporarily hijacked by the criminal. For the specifics, follow-up investigation is needed.”

The Minister of Security felt like his brain exploded, “What about the police? Why are there no police for escorts?”

“This situation is too chaotic!” the secretary said resignedly, “Isn’t Bureau Chief Jose killed by the thugs in the theater? Now the police force is in chaos since there are many factions in the police bureau already.”

Boom—!

The Minister of Security slammed his fist on the car door and kicked on the front seat. His neat hair went messy because of such a big movement. He squeezed his fist and bit his knuckles. Another piece of news suddenly came to mind in his chaotic brain.
Several assassinations had taken place in the city before the hostage-taking of the theater took place. These victims included gang leaders, well-known people in business, and prominent figures in political circles. Was there any connection between these people?

But those who had been assassinated wouldn’t contact one or another, nor would they know each other. This situation put the intelligence department into a deadlock in the investigation for quite a while.

“Could it be that the assassin’s target is only the senate president all along? Many of them are just smokescreens to mess with us. No, this diversion is completely unnecessary. If the criminal’s target is only the senate president, then the first target to be assassinated will be him already. There was no need to do other killings. On the contrary, it would attract our attention. But is there any connection among those being assassinated?” Different thoughts surged into the Minister of Security’s head, making him confused.

Suddenly, a light bulb lit atop the Minister of Security’s head, “The criminal wanted to make a move in the theater already! After encountering this hijacking incident, they failed their attempt. The temporarily robbed private car is the proof!”

“Minister, what do you mean?”
“I want a list of all the theater guests that night!” The Minister of Security rubbed his forehead and said, “Even if it is an employee of the theater, I want everyone’s information! The criminal must be among these guys!”

“I’ll get someone to get it done. No, I will do it personally!”

“Drive. Bring me to the presidential palace. Wait, I’ll go over by the command vehicle.” The Minister of Security thought for a while, got out of the car, and walked back to the modified large commercial vehicle with thick armor.

…
Traffic had recovered a bit. However, due to the abundance of vehicles, the taxi was still driving slowly.

“En… We’re still in a traffic jam, and I don’t know when I can go back.”

In the car, Caroline was talking on the phone with Livia, “By the way, are you at home with your pretty boy?”

“Pretty boy? Arnold is the most motivated man I have ever met!” Livia seemed a little dissatisfied with what the landlord said.

“Fine, an earnest man he is. I know.” Caroline responded casually, staring at the densely packed cars outside the car window, not knowing when the traffic jam would end.
“Caroline, you shouldn’t go back tonight?” Livia suggested at this time, “Come and stay with me for the night. It’s probably not safe to go back to that district anyway. I don’t know if you will be in danger if you go home so late? On my side, there is still a small room. I’ll just tidy it up for you.”

“I see.” Caroline hesitated for a moment and finally agreed. She said directly, “Driver, please drop me right there. Thank you.”