The Shadow of Great Britain

361: Chapter 218 Opposing Scotland Yard Comes at a Cost (4K) 361: Chapter 218 Opposing Scotland Yard Comes at a Cost (4K) Arthur had just finished looking at the advertisement in front of him when he suddenly saw Minister Rowan, who was sitting across from him and smoking, toss him a tin box filled with tobacco.

Minister Rowan said, “If you want to smoke, just take some, and while you’re at it, we can also discuss your thoughts.”

Arthur lit up and leaned back in his chair, saying, “It’s certainly good news that Harrison is willing to withdraw the lawsuit, but the crux of the issue is that he started this, we at Scotland Yard didn’t provoke him.

If we just stop the investigation now, aren’t we telling other departments that we’re easy to mess with?

I know that our police force in Britain possibly cannot be as feared as the Parisian police or Russia’s Imperial Office, but we are still an institution of force after all.

We aren’t asking that MPs respect us like they do the Royal Navy or the Army, but should they really be allowed to falsely accuse us whenever they wish?”

Upon hearing this, Minister Rowan showed a meaningful smile, his fingers interlocked under his chin, his body slightly leaning forward, and spoke in a lowered voice.

“You are right, Arthur.

Ever since Sir Peel ordered the establishment of Scotland Yard, the Home Office has always requested Scotland Yard to present a gentlemanly image in front of the citizens of London.

We fully understand and respect the decisions from above, and it is for this reason that our policemen do a lot of additional, unnecessary work, like using police funds to provide porridge, clear crowded roads, give directions to visitors, help citizens find their lost pets, and scare disobedient children for their parents, among other things.

“Nowadays, looking across Europe, and even the whole world, there is no police force that deals with more trivial matters and treats the citizens with more gentleness than us.

But our efforts, in the eyes of some short-sighted MPs, seem to signify weakness.

If we don’t teach them a lesson, this kind of thing will only increase.”

Arthur caught the letter that Minister Rowan handed to him from Sir Peel, glanced over it quickly, and saw that the language was earnest, with none of the arrogance expected of a party leader.

The key point in the letter was to plead on behalf of Bernie Harrison, hoping Scotland Yard would not escalate the situation.

At the same time, Sir Peel also assured that once the situation calmed down, the Tory Party would indeed take serious measures against Bernie Harrison.

Arthur rubbed his chin and thought aloud, “It seems Sir Peel is using every trick in the book to preserve the unity and integrity of the Tory Party.

With Harrison causing such a big issue, he hasn’t even asked him to resign from his seat in the House of Commons.”

Minister Rowan started speaking, “Arresting Louis Bonaparte has already significantly diminished the impact of the Bernie Harrison incident.

Additionally, since we actually got part of the suspicious evidence in the Harrison case, and murder is a serious allegation, even MPs don’t have criminal immunity.

Now, if those MPs want to make an issue out of this case, they just won’t have a leg to stand on; they can at most fault us for not reporting to the Speaker of the House in time.

It can be said that most of the reasoning is now on our side, and if we really want to take down Harrison, we just need to report it in advance.

The Speaker doesn’t have a legitimate reason to refuse our application.

Of course, we will consider Sir Peel’s face.

We might not take down Harrison, but making no sound at all, that’s impossible.”

Arthur pondered for a moment and then said, “Actually, not touching Harrison for now isn’t a problem, after all, we can’t directly convict him just yet, at most we would bring him in for a few days of inquiry at Scotland Yard.

However, if we want to strike at someone like Harrison, who doesn’t regard Scotland Yard highly, we actually have another starting point.

Such as, the small group around MP Harrison.”

“Small group?” Minister Rowan frowned, “Arthur, are you joking?

Harrison is a politician who started by selling perfume; he himself isn’t very powerful, but he became an MP because he knows many people.

His group includes many powerful political figures.

We currently can’t even fully take down Harrison, who we have incriminating evidence against, are you planning to go after Earl Eldon, Drummond, or Crook as well?”

Arthur smiled, “Sir, as you said, Harrison is just a political hustler; those bigwigs are merely using him to expand their social circles, how could that be considered as him being in a group with them?

Besides, if those big names really wanted to target Scotland Yard, they would just go directly through Parliament; why would they resort to such petty movements?

It’s usually those with middling but not low positions that are the main force in making these moves.”

Minister Rowan caught the unspoken implication in Arthur’s words, took a drag of his cigarette, and exhaled, “It seems you’ve already found your target?”

Arthur nodded, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out the arrest warrant for Bernie Harrison, signed previously by George Norton.

“I guess you’ve probably forgotten about this; Mr.

Norton has always had a good personal relationship with Mr.

Harrison.

Yet, he did nothing as we went to arrest Mr.

Harrison.

You can probably guess, that this new judge also had a hand in making things difficult for us.”

Minister Rowan, while continuing to smoke, scrutinized the arrest warrant attentively, and remarked, “Getting a magistrate removed?

Somehow, that seems even harder than removing a MP.

Dismissing a magistrate requires the personal approval of His Majesty the King.

Besides, he just signed one wrong arrest warrant, which really isn’t such a big mistake.

Harrison’s issues are much more severe than his.”