Detective Guide to the Steam World

Chapter 20 Provoking Conflict

Potter frowned slightly at Willow's sudden visit.

"You shouldn't be here. These are special times! You should stay with the Fletcher family. Even if you can't gain that old man Jesper's trust, you absolutely cannot arouse his suspicion."

Although he has a cooperative relationship with the Fletcher family, the cooperation has been quite pleasant over the years.

But as his business grew and his profits became increasingly staggering, Porter naturally began to have some different ideas.

Willow was a pawn he sent into the Fletcher family, and the effect was quite remarkable.

It's just a pity that Cyril died young, otherwise the two of them would have been married by now.

Then, we'll need to create a little accident to make that old geezer Jasper die smoothly, so that Potter can indirectly control the Fletcher family and firmly grasp this business in his own hands!

But things didn't go as planned, and who could have known that Cyril would end up like this?

Potter feels a pang of regret whenever he thinks about this.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter. I have some news to report to you. I apologize for disturbing you."

Willow showed an apologetic expression and bowed respectfully.

"Speak, what is it? Please don't tell me it's anything bad again."

Potter rubbed his temples, a headache throbbing. "See those corpses on the ground? This is the trouble that's come knocking today. Damn it!"

Upon hearing this, Willow glanced at the corpse on the ground, her expression unchanged, and calmly said, "Jesper hired two detectives yesterday, ostensibly to investigate Cyril's death."

"detective?"

Potter paused for a moment, then slammed his fist on the table with a loud bang, his expression one of extreme rage: "Has this old bastard gone mad?! Has he forgotten what kind of business he's in? Hiring a detective? He's the biggest idiot of all!"

"It's just one offspring anyway. If he dies, he dies. Can't we just have another one?"

"..."

After grumbling and cursing for a while, Potter's anger subsided a little. He took a deep breath and looked at Willow, saying:

"Keep a close eye on those two damn detectives! Don't let them get their hands on anything they shouldn't know. If they do, you know what to do."

"In fact, I have already done so, Mr. Potter."

Willow replied respectfully, "Regarding these two individuals, I will have the investigation report on your desk by tomorrow at the latest."

"Well done! Willow, you truly are my most capable subordinate, a million times better than those idiots like Edgar!"

Potter nodded with satisfaction, then asked with some curiosity, "Did those two detectives find anything out? Actually, I'm quite curious about how Cyril died; it's really strange."

"I don't know if they've found anything out."

Willow shook her head. "I originally planned to ask them about it this morning, but the Fletcher family servants said that the two detectives went to the port area early this morning. I felt something was wrong, so I came to find you."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the row of corpses, and said with self-reproach, "But it seems I'm too late. I'm so sorry, Mr. Potter."

"Arriving at the port area?!"

Potter abruptly stood up, bracing himself on the desk with both hands, staring intently at Willow, and spoke through gritted teeth:

"You mean, the two bastards who did this were the two detectives Jesper hired yesterday?"

Before Willow could answer, he suddenly roared towards the door:

"Edgar, get in here!"

Hearing the commotion, Edgar, who was waiting outside the door to dispose of the body, shuddered and hurriedly pushed the door open, a fawning smile on his face.

"Mr. Potter, you wanted to see me?"

"Listen carefully!" After replying, Potter ignored him, suppressing his anger, and looked at Willow. "Now describe the truth about those two detectives, without holding anything back!"

"No problem, Mr. Potter."

Willow didn't hide anything and immediately described all of Rean and Kent's physical characteristics in detail.

After she finished speaking, Potter turned to look at Edgar, his face twitching.

"Are these the two people?"

Although Edgar did not participate in the battle inside the warehouse, he still managed to see Rean and Kent's faces clearly while watching from the main building.

So when he heard Potter's question, his expression immediately became excited, and he nodded repeatedly:

"That's right! It's them! Their physical characteristics match perfectly! Mr. Potter, I swear, it's definitely them."

"Alright, you can get out now."

Before he could finish speaking, Potter waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away an annoying fly.

"Uh... okay, sure."

Edgar's expression froze for a moment, and he obediently walked out of the study again, closing the door behind him.

After he left.

"Bang--!"

Potter slammed his fist on the desk, gritting his teeth, his expression twisted and ferocious.

"Fuck! I knew the Fletcher family was up to no good! They're a bunch of damn bastards! I'll kill that damn old bastard Jesper sooner or later!"

Willow's expression shifted, and she casually picked up the conversation: "You mean, these two detectives aren't here to investigate Cyril's death, but rather to target you?"

"Otherwise what?"

Potter laughed angrily, "If the investigation was just about Cyril's death, how could those two detectives have gotten all the way to the port area? Cyril's death has nothing to do with us!"

"Furthermore, if that old geezer Jesper hadn't personally given the orders and informed them of this information, how could those two detectives have ended up in the port area and so accurately targeted our company?"

"What investigation into Cyril's death? This is clearly an operation by that old bastard Jesper against me!"

This time, Willow didn't respond, keeping her head down and remaining silent, perfectly befitting a submissive subordinate.

"You don't need to worry about those two detectives, just keep a close eye on Jesper!"

Potter's face showed a hint of ruthlessness, and a flash of ferocity appeared in his eyes.

He hadn't originally intended to completely break ties with the Fletcher family, and had been using relatively mild methods. But since the other party was so unruly, he wouldn't be so unruly himself!

"Also, if you find anything amiss with this old man, don't report it to me. You know what to do!"

"Yes, Mr. Potter, I understand."

Willow bowed respectfully, but in that instant, out of Potter's sight, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashed in her jewel-like brown eyes.