“It’s someone I met in the girls’ children’s martial arts group when I was a kid. Alexis also didn’t want to practice martial arts, so she became a lawyer. Her family used to be middle-class.” Karen replied casually. “What? You’re prejudiced against Cyclopes?”
Hayden immediately shook his head: "Do you believe me? I went on a blind date with a Cyclops a few years ago."
Now it was Kallen's turn to be startled: "Huh!?"
Unfortunately, they didn't have time for much more small talk. Three black and white Federal Executive Office vehicles were already parked in front of the Flower Magic Shop, and five agents and Special Supervisor Mr. Denton had jumped out of the cars.
However, before the federal officials could do anything, Cyclops stepped forward and smoothly began, “Good evening, everyone. I am this lady’s lawyer.”
All the federal employees fell silent when they saw her smug and fearless demeanor.
"I am a lawyer" is a phrase that can put civil servants on edge in the Union of America. It tells them they must slow down and follow procedures, otherwise the law and all regulations will not compel them to do what they are doing. This means that these federal employees cannot act arbitrarily or force Hayden and Karen to do anything.
Unfortunately, this also told them that after a normal day, Karen would call a three-meter-tall giant lawyer to the flower shop for a chat. If Hayden could read minds, he would surely be reading the same thought in the minds of all the federal agents: "Wow, this elf's incriminating evidence is so conclusive that she's even called a lawyer in advance!"
This is the wonderful way of life in the Commonwealth of the Americas.
How can we serve you all?
"The Cyclops Alishan said in a cheerful tone."
The detectives exchanged hesitant glances. Finally, only Special Supervisor Denton, who was resolute, unwavering, and unyielding, stepped forward and said in a flat, emotionless tone, "We have received a report that this store is suspected of conspiring with a criminal gang to smuggle goods. In addition, this store is also suspected of selling unapproved and unlicensed products."
Strictly speaking, half of the accusation is true. However, Karen never conspired with the Mafia to smuggle goods; it's just that those gangs would buy large quantities of her goods for smuggling without her consent.
"By the way, what are you doing here?"
Another federal agent then asked.
The Cyclops immediately let out a cheerful, mocking snort: "I'm here because Ms. Starflower is not only my client, but also my friend. I just came to chat with a friend about flowers and gardening after work and enjoy the spring evening breeze. And then you guys suddenly drove over."
She crossed her arms over her chest and said, "You have no legitimate reason to look around. This is private property. If you want to search my clients' shops, you'll need to apply for a search warrant."
The federal agents were indeed hesitant. Talking to a lawyer who was three meters tall, impeccably dressed, and eloquent was always troublesome for federal officials. They could easily find themselves in trouble.
Only Mr. Denton remained undeterred, unperturbed, and unflappable. He fixed his eagle-like eyes on Karen and the cyclops lawyer, and asked directly, "What is your client hiding from you?"
“That has nothing to do with concealment, Mr. Special Supervisor,” Cyclops replied immediately. “I’m simply protecting my clients from being searched and detained without cause. You have absolutely no reason to search this place. You mentioned receiving reports alleging that my clients are conspiring with criminal gangs to smuggle goods, but that’s not happening here at all. I suggest you gentlemen spend your time fighting real crime, not harassing my clients. Otherwise, I will formally file a complaint with the federal government!”
That being said, Special Director Denton did not appear particularly disappointed or frustrated, but remained remarkably calm. His core principle, his guiding principle, was respect for all authority. This brooked no dissent or restriction. For him, the authority of the law was paramount. Therefore, when lawyers brandished the authority of the law to defend him, Mr. Denton saw no problem with it. He would deal with it using the law.
At the same time, Mr. Denton also had a hound's intuition, a true animal instinct, that told him, no matter what, that the Cyclops and the elf woman were definitely hiding something.
And he was right—Karen did indeed have many new products that hadn't completed the approval process and obtained the necessary licenses. If this were discovered, it would be enough to cause her serious trouble.
However, does Mr. Denton have a search warrant for Karen's shop?
No, he really doesn't. He only thought of checking the Flower Magic Shop's product license a few hours ago; how could he possibly conjure up a search warrant so quickly? Even at his fastest, wouldn't it take at least a day to prepare something like that?
And so, a battle unlike any Hayden had ever fought unfolded right in front of the flower shop.
Karen and Hayden weren't stupid; they wouldn't do anything to create extra trouble for themselves. For most of the process, they wisely stood behind the three-meter-tall lawyer, letting this legal and physical giant handle them.
The Cyclops lawyer could offer a thousand opinions on every single one of Mr. Denton's demands, even the smallest ones.
Conversely, for every 10,000 opinions, Mr. Denton would wield his established procedural justice to reject 9,999. One agent was responsible for taking statements, while another took photos and videos. A search was definitely out of the question, and sealing the shop was obviously impossible, but soon Special Supervisor Denton inspected the merchandise licenses in Karen's shop.
Incidentally, Karen had removed all the unlicensed items from the store beforehand and put them in the basement. The federal agents don't have a search warrant yet and can't actually go down to inspect, so at least for now, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Currently.
Karen did not relax, because she knew the situation was not improving.
Hayden wasn't stupid either.
Today, Karen removed the unlicensed goods and hid them in the basement to buy some time.
But can't the Denton Special Supervisor come to inspect again tomorrow?
What about the day after tomorrow? The day after that? Will it last for a whole week?
By then, the search warrant should have been issued.
"Lady Starflower".
At this point, Special Supervisor Denton turned to Karen and said in a gentle and calm tone,
"The Federal Enforcement Agency requests your assistance in the investigation into the case involving the Mafia smuggling your goods."
The Cyclops lawyer immediately gave Karen a wink.
Legally, citizens are not obligated to provide assistance or go to the Enforcement Office building if they are only requested to assist in an investigation by federal police. Karen could decide for herself whether to "assist" this special officer. Theoretically, they cannot detain her at the Enforcement Office unless they have a formal arrest warrant for Karen, which is very difficult to obtain.
However, Karen and her lawyer were well aware that this was actually a threat.
If this protracted battle continues, Karen will almost certainly be the one to suffer. After all, they don't have the means to fight back against federal officers.
That being said, Karen didn't feel scared.
She wasn't one to be easily intimidated or threatened. Besides, she had her lawyer standing in front of her and her friends behind her. They shared the same goals and supported each other, so what was there to fear?
The current difficulties, though troublesome, are by no means insurmountable.
Hayden immediately realized she was planning to go to the Federal Enforcement Office and quickly pulled her aside, whispering, "Are you sure this is okay? What if they find a reason to detain you?"
Karen shook her head: "If they don't let me out within a day, Alex will make them suffer. From this special supervisor to the agents under his command, they'll either go home or be demoted."
噫
Even so, it still didn't sound like a good idea. For a moment, Hayden really began to seriously consider the feasibility of assassinating Mr. Denton.
Unfortunately, Karen immediately saw through his thoughts and stopped him: "You can't do this! We can't do this to legitimate government officials! We can't stoop to the level of evil capitalists!"
That makes perfect sense.
“Fine. I won’t do that,” Hayden said in a low voice. “But I will do what I have to do. No matter what, no matter what the law says, I will not allow you to be taken away by the cops alone. Period. Do I need to make myself clearer?”
No need.
In fact, Karen's face had already turned red.
“Okay, fine. But even if a lawyer can follow me, I don’t think the cops will allow bodyguards or something similar to stay inside. Do you have any special invisibility or shapeshifting magic…”
Without her saying a word, Hayden had already entered the flower shop, found a place to hide, and then pulled out a bottle of potion and gulped it down. In less than three seconds, he had transformed into a mosquito, buzzing back and landing on Karen's elven pointed ear.
"The effects of this medicine can last for eight hours."
Mosquito Hayden whispered to Karen,
"Hopefully this issue can be resolved before then."
Fortunately, things weren't as bleak as he had imagined.
Karen and Mosquito Hayden boarded a government vehicle and were taken by the agents to the Federal New Seattle Enforcement Office building. The Cyclops lawyer, due to her size, had to fly there first. However, before they were even led inside by the cops, something completely unexpected happened.
Just before Denton was about to lead Karen up the countless steps leading to the office building, a civil servant in a dark gray suit, possibly some kind of official, had already swiftly descended the steps like an arrow.
He rushed over, even sweating profusely.
"Special Supervisor Denton! Denton!"
He waved a file folder in his hand and immediately shouted when he saw Karen and Denton.
"These are the documents proving that this woman's application for approval of a new product was approved three months ago!"
……ah?
Not to mention Denton himself, even Hayden and Karen were stunned by these words.
But then the official in the gray suit ran up to Karen and handed her the file bag with a respectful, even obsequious, attitude, saying, "It seems the relevant department mistakenly sent them to your old address and is only now forwarding them to you."
Karen was dumbfounded.
Fortunately, the cyclops lawyer next to her wasn't stupid. He immediately took it for her and opened it to find that inside were the licenses for the unapproved products in Karen's store.
Oh, it was sent to the wrong address!
Unfortunately, no one here really believes these words.
Mosquito Hayden leaned closer to examine the documents and was immediately speechless: the issuance dates on all the documents were three months ago, and they were all approved and issued by the Evergreen State Government—but precisely because he was a mosquito, he could see even more clearly that the ink on these paper documents was not even dry yet!
No matter how you look at it, these are things that were just printed and taken out, right?
Special Supervisor Denton was a man who had worked his way up from the bottom as an agent. He wasn't stupid; if Hayden could see it, how could he not? So, of course, Denton couldn't help but ask loudly, "Superintendent Scofield! Why isn't the ink on these badges dry yet?!"
The official who brought the document bag paused for less than half a second before immediately replying, "These documents were mistakenly sent to Dahuzhou. Perhaps the humidity there is too high?"
Wow
Even Hayden was shocked by his ability to lie through his teeth.
Mr. Denton was furious. However, he didn't lash out. Instead, he immediately connected to the Evergreen State's federal server to check when these documents were created. And what he found—well, the database clearly showed they were all from three months ago!
But he clearly checked the database just a few hours ago, and these files didn't exist at all! Was he crazy, blind, or had reality been altered?
No wonder Mr. Denton was experiencing the most intense shock of his life at this moment. He was truly stunned, his mind went blank, and he couldn't speak. He had exceeded the limit of what he could bear.
what on earth is it?
The answer is actually quite easy to guess.
Karen, Hayden, and lawyer Alessandra all knew Karen's true identity, so they could easily guess the answer: the daughter of the Peacock King. Whether she was secretly running a business or not, who would dare to let her be taken to the police station for questioning over such a trivial matter?
Even if we don't consider the monk's feelings, we should at least consider the King's feelings, right?
Mr. Denton didn't know whose child Karen was; he only knew she had elven ears and must be a god. After several seconds and taking several deep breaths, he regained his senses and roughly guessed what was going on.
The supervisor presented irrefutable written evidence, both physical and data files, all laid out "legally" before him. At this point, even knowing something was amiss, Mr. Denton could no longer change the situation. He himself was well aware of this.
So it's clear that Denton must have been "furious" to dare turn around and yell at Karen at this moment: "You elves—lawless, bullying pointy-eared goblins! What do you take justice and the law for!?"
The Cyclops lawyer was actually a little embarrassed at this point. However, she had known Karen since childhood and knew her family background, so she quickly recovered and retorted, "Watch your tone when you talk to law-abiding citizens, Special Supervisor Denton! These conversations have been recorded, and I will be reporting this to your superiors!"
Karen, however, could not react like Alexandra.
She felt as if she had swallowed a block of iron, her stomach heavy and unsettling.
Ultimately, no matter what she does or what she does, she cannot escape the social relationships brought about by her family.
Karen's parents didn't even need to intervene. Simply because of her identity, these federal officials would naturally be extremely cautious, even having their departments work overtime to "conjure" a complete set of evidence of fraud for her!
We must not stoop to the level of evil capitalists.
Ha! This is what you call inescapable, bloody karma!
090: Can the devil eat me up?
Karen offered some words of thanks to the supervisor who worked overtime to temporarily "conjure" a complete set of documents for her, but afterwards she couldn't even remember what she said.
Fortunately, the federal government official seemed to have no idea what was happening or what it meant.
"Hey, are you alright? You seem a bit distracted."
Hayden, the mosquito perched on Karen's pointed ear, was more acutely aware of her reaction and asked in a low voice,
Are you that upset?
Actually, no.
Karen is indeed somewhat frustrated, but not to the point of mental collapse.
With a lawyer giant behind her, Hayden perched on her ear, and friends supporting her from the side, Karen's heart wasn't made of tofu; it wasn't going to crumble so easily.
She was just a little frustrated.
Is she frustrated because she leveraged the power of capital?
That's not quite the case. Karen isn't actually that rigid. Hayden himself is always wary of becoming a capitalist, of starting a company, and things like that, but Karen has never been wary of these things. Otherwise, why would she have started a business?
Karen was frustrated simply because she believed that people could survive without resorting to crooked means.
Just as she believes that she can start her own business independently without relying on her parents or the accumulation of her ancestors.
She wanted to prove to her parents and everyone else that people can succeed without bowing down to evil.
Even when she was secretly attacked by Joyful Heaven and caused trouble by the federal government, which was in cahoots with businessmen, Karen was still determined to break through the predicament by fair and square means.
The results of it?
Before she could even resort to any legitimate means, the federal government officials had already arrived. This was all because they had discovered her identity as Karen, the daughter of the Peacock King. Nothing more.
How can she then prove that she doesn't need to rely on her parents?
Such an ironic outcome would naturally make Karen sad and frustrated... but since Hayden was standing in her ear, she wouldn't be completely devastated.
All I can say is that she was very upset.