Chapter 14 Famous Quotes

Tony and Tom, two officers, had followed Arthur's trail all the way, but despite their good physical condition, catching up to Arthur in the crowded streets of London was no easy task.

By the time they caught sight of Arthur again, the two had arrived at the door of the Greenwich District station of the London Metropolitan Police.

Arthur was standing there, confronting a policeman who was much bulkier than him and about thirty years old, with a hooked nose.

The two men's uniforms were almost identical, the only difference being the three V-shaped insignia on the elder policeman's epaulet, which denoted his rank—Chief Inspector.

He was Wilcox Roberts, Arthur's direct superior and the Chief Inspector in charge of the Greenwich District station within the London Metropolitan Police.

Though Arthur was thin, he was a head taller than his opponent.

Though shorter, his opponent's fierce demeanor was unmistakable, and he sported a shallow scar on his neck and a missing piece from his eyebrow.

Each scar on his body had a significant story.

The scar came from the Seventh Coalition's war, during which he had served as a soldier in the British Army and participated in most of the campaigns against the First French Empire.

The missing piece of his eyebrow stemmed from an event in Manchester's St. Peter's Square in 1819.

Because Britain had been involved in the seven coalitions against France from 1793 to 1815, and had been at war with France for a prolonged period, domestic trade and the economy were severely impacted. The British authorities chose to adopt a hard-line high-pressure policy domestically, which deepened internal conflicts continually.

These accumulated grievances finally erupted completely in 1819, when a mass gathering of up to 80,000 people broke out in St. Peter's Square, Manchester, on August 16th.

They demanded an electoral system reform, the abolition of the Corn Laws, and the repeal of the Combination Acts.

Furthermore, the organizers had invited the renowned radical reformer, Henry Hunter, to speak to the public.

In a panic, the Manchester City government ordered the arrest of Henry Hunter and the organizers, intensifying the conflict.

To control the situation, British authorities eventually ordered the military and British Army to suppress the gathering.

The 15th Light Cavalry, who had distinguished themselves at the Battle of Waterloo, also participated in this action, and they completed their task with similar 'distinction'.

The 15th Light Cavalry charged back and forth on their tall horses, ultimately causing the deaths of 18 people and injuries to more than 700 others.

As a result, the incident was facetiously referred to by the British public as the Battle of Waterloo at St. Peter's Square, simply known as the Peterloo Massacre.

And this Chief Inspector had been one of the participants in the Peterloo Massacre.

Wilcox, as a seasoned veteran, had officially retired last year and decided to accept an internal arrangement to take up the position of Chief Inspector at the newly established Greater London Police Department.

He circled Arthur slowly, scrutinizing him with eyes like those of a serpent, before finally speaking.

"I've heard about what you did in Magistrates' Court. Nice job, well done. Did you think I would praise you like this, Arthur?"

Arthur glanced at him. "How could I be lucky enough to receive your praise?"

Wilcox snorted coldly. "It's good you still have some brains left!"

"Let me tell you the truth! I am very angry, extremely angry! And you are very lucky, extremely lucky!

If it were back in my days in the Army, you would already be on the ground clutching your stomach, unable to get up!"

"What do you think you are?"

"You are just a policeman!"

"What you need are orders and obedience!"

"Not some damn public morality or conscience. That's something for politicians and cabinet ministers to worry about!"

"Arthur, do you want to overstep your duties?"

"Publicly attacking the legal statutes in Magistrates' Court, do you realize the kind of chaos this could cause if it gets out?"

"What do you think the high court will think?"

"What do you think the legislators will think?"

"What do you think the two High Chancellors supervising Scotland Yard will think?"

"Just for your insubstantial conscience, do you want to drag me down with you?"

"Answer me! Arthur!"

Arthur spoke calmly, "I came here today specifically to explain."

He took off his hat and shoulder straps and handed them over with both hands.

"All of this is my sole responsibility. The consequences it incurred, I will bear alone. I, the Patrol Officer from the Greater London Police Department's Greenwich District, Arthur Hastings, hereby resign due to my faults."

Wilcox had his hands behind his back, and though he was clearly grinning, his face looked uglier than if he were crying.

Compared to today's bright weather, his face looked dark and gloomy as if it were a cold rainy night.

He suddenly grabbed Arthur by the shirt collar, "You take all the blame? Resigning due to your faults? Who do you think you are? Do you think you're the Prime Minister of Great Britain!"

Arthur looked at his aged face, which was close to his, slowly closed his eyes, and his fists made a cracking sound.

Upon hearing this sound, Wilcox looked down at Arthur's fists, laughed arrogantly, and said, "Come on, hit me! Haven't you always wanted to beat me up? Come on! Back when I was on the battlefield, no one managed to knock me down. You think you can lay a hand on me?!"

Arthur took a deep breath, and his hand slipped into his pocket.

"Wilcox, don't say I didn't warn you. Last night when I was patrolling the East District, just in case, I did bring a gun."

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, Wilcox felt something pressing against his stomach.

Cold sweat slowly trickled down from Wilcox's temples, and time seemed to have frozen as the two remained in this standoff.

Seeing this, Officers Tony and Tom hurried forward to mediate, "Arthur, Chief Wilcox, both of you calm down. We are colleagues after all; there's no need for this."

"Yes, yes... continuing like this could really lead to death."

But Arthur seemed not to hear their pleas and instead said to Wilcox,

"Your brain could really be used as a bell."

Wilcox's pupils shrank, and he roared, "What did you say!"

Arthur shook his head slightly, "That wasn't me, it was Victor Hugo who said that."

Wilcox shouted, "Which district does Victor Hugo patrol?!"

Arthur coldly responded, "He's not a policeman, he's a French writer."

Upon hearing this, Wilcox felt a mix of embarrassment and rage.

He was about to curse Arthur out, but as he opened his mouth, he felt the object that had been at his stomach move up to his chest.

With his forehead drenched in sweat, he had no choice but to change his tune, "Oh, Arthur. I know you're a college graduate and a book lover."

"But let me advise you, read less of the French material; it corrupts your mind. Perhaps try reading something else, like our own treasures, Shakespeare or the like."

Arthur nodded, as if he understood the chief's words, then said, "Your brain has less capacity than earwax."

"What did you say!"

"Don't be mad, Chief. Just as you wished, that line was by Shakespeare."

Wilcox's face turned beet red, wanting to retort but unsure what to say, his limited vocabulary curbing his 'zealous ambitions'.

Seeing him silent, Arthur continued, "You uncultured bastard."

Wilcox appeared to have given up, taking a deep breath to suppress his anger.

"Forget it, consider this a lesson. Tell me, who said that last line? "

Arthur raised his eyebrows slightly and laid his removed shoulder strap and uniform on Wilcox's head.

"That last line was by Arthur Hastings. Farewell, Chief."

He tossed the object that had been pressing against Wilcox's chest aside, hands in his pockets as he walked away confidently into the crowd on the street.

Wilcox looked down to see that it had not been a gun, but rather an ordinary pipe.

The tobacco in the pipe was unfinished, scattered all over the ground.

Humiliation, anger, hatred...

All these emotions surged within Wilcox. He clenched his fists and roared in the direction Arthur had gone,

"Arthur! You wait! Just because you've taken off that uniform doesn't mean you can escape! I'm going to launch an internal investigation against you! I will definitely launch an internal investigation against you!!!"