After receiving the reply from Avery Manor, Tommy began planning the next steps. Every phase of the Shelby gang's infiltration into the Ministry took clear shape in his mind.
The Shelby Family's direct members all set aside their current affairs, gathering at the Shelby pub. Dim yellow light fell across everyone's faces, reflecting expressions that were grave, excited, or expectant.
Honestly, Tommy hadn't expected Tiger to give him such a huge surprise. What he'd thought would be a single point of influence had become multiple points. This chain reaction would develop terrifying influence over time.
"I have to go too?!"
"That's right, John."
As the "Strikers" plan gradually took shape, John was placed in a key position.
Seeing Tommy's firm gaze fixed on him, John rubbed his temples with a pained expression.
Compared to fighting alongside Aurors, he'd much rather fight alongside those Pure-blood nobles' wives.
"What, you don't want to?"
Tommy frowned slightly, looking somewhat dissatisfied with his brother's laziness.
John spread his hands, trying to defend himself: "I just think I might not be up to such an important task..."
But clearly, he'd forgotten Tommy's ability.
"Uh..."
Facing Tommy's penetrating cold smile that saw through everything, John could only admit helplessly:
"Fine, I just think it's too exhausting. There's still so much to handle here."
"Come on, Tommy, I'm not a slave..."
Hearing this, Mother Polly impatiently stubbed out her cigar and glared viciously at her most dissolute son. "Shut your mouth, John!"
"Tommy's not making you pick cotton. Or would you actually like to try that?"
"God, Mom!"
"That's too harsh!"
"I'll go! I'll go!"
John's face darkened. He quickly raised both hands, signaling surrender, just begging his dearest mother not to keep trampling his pitiful bottom line.
The Shelbys burst into laughter.
Even the baby in the cradle giggled. Tiger and Theodore's hearts melted watching her.
"Father, Mira is so adorable."
Theodore couldn't help reaching out a finger, wanting to touch his little niece's chubby cheeks.
"You don't need to tell me that..."
Tiger swatted Theodore's hand away, then stuffed Gunpowder's tail into his niece's hand.
Gunpowder: (?_?)...
Just then, the pub door burst open. Dense footsteps sounded. A group of inspectors wearing bowler hats and black uniforms stormed in, looking aggressive.
"John Shelby!"
"I'm asking, where's that dog John Shelby..."
The lead inspector roared into the room. However, when he noticed the room was full of Shelbys, the curse that had escaped his lips was forcibly swallowed back.
In Surrey, how long had it been since anyone dared speak to the Shelbys with such an attitude?
So long the Shelbys had almost forgotten.
Like beasts spotting prey, everyone stared at these intruders with amusement. Their lips curved slightly upward, revealing vicious smiles, as if ready to pounce and tear the intruders to pieces...
Facing such uncomfortable gazes, the lead inspector's breath caught. An inexplicable pressure surged in his chest.
His subordinates behind him clearly felt the atmosphere too, unconsciously slowing their breathing.
"Inspector William?"
"What brings you here?"
Tommy raised an eyebrow, still sitting steadily in his seat, seemingly unconcerned about the previous rudeness. Cigar smoke curled from his fingertips.
Arthur calmly drained his whiskey, then turned his gaze toward the inspectors at the door. His eyes held depth and anticipation.
These guys were newly assigned tax inspectors from London. Arthur had already investigated their backgrounds thoroughly.
Just a bunch of noble brats here to pad their resumes. They'd return to London when their terms ended.
So the Shelbys hadn't planned to deal with them.
However, these guys had nothing better to do than target the smuggling business at Surrey's docks, wanting a cut.
Arthur naturally wouldn't give them face.
The Shelbys didn't do something for nothing, let alone for a bunch of clueless outsiders.
These inspectors weren't stupid either.
In Surrey, they were outnumbered and outgunned. No need to risk their lives over mere wages.
So they waited.
Waited for the Shelby Family to expose a fatal weakness, then sweep them up through proper procedures.
Even if Surrey was the Shelbys' iron fortress, orders from London couldn't be refused by Surrey officials.
Arthur naturally saw through their thinking. But he didn't care. Only the lowest street thugs spent all day smashing and burning. They were a gang—all their Surrey business had legal paperwork...
"I... I'm looking for..."
Sensing Arthur's restlessness, Inspector William subtly stepped back half a step. Panic and unease flashed in his eyes.
As if their uniforms meant nothing.
In this moment, they'd become helpless lambs, subject to those beast-like gazes.
But immediately after, the arrogance of English nobility surged up. Mixed with unease, it instantly transformed into indescribable humiliation, as if suffering great insult.
Blood rushed to his face.
Inspector William suddenly drew his gun, raising it high toward the ceiling. As if to bolster his courage, he gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
Wood splinters flew. The shell casing hit the floor.
However, Inspector William didn't see the expected fear. Including Nia behind the bar, all the Shelbys looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Good choice."
"The ceiling's the cheapest part of the renovation."
John whistled flippantly, then shrugged with exaggerated sympathy:
"But unfortunately..."
"Above the ceiling is my brother's room."
The instant his words fell, a baby's cry rang out. Tiger and Theodore both raised their heads, eyes cold, looking at Inspector William's extremely ugly expression.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the quiet room, seeming to hammer on every inspector's heart.
Accompanied by heart-stopping pressure, Tiger walked step by step before them, bending down to pick up the shell casing.
"Now swallow it. Or I'll gouge out your eyes and stuff them somewhere else."
Looking at the shell casing held before him, Inspector William began trembling uncontrollably. It was as if someone was screaming in his mind, telling him to run.
He didn't even dare raise his head to look at Tiger.
His subordinates behind him all held their breath, foreheads covered in sweat, faces drained of color.
"I mean what I say..."
Just as Tiger was about to withdraw his hand, Inspector William suddenly grabbed the shell casing from his palm, shoving it into his mouth without thinking.
His bloodshot eyes filled with indescribable humiliation and unwillingness. Before his subordinates' eyes, his dignity was thoroughly trampled...
After struggling to swallow the shell casing, Inspector William's expression twisted to the extreme. His heart felt like it was being cut by knives.
Then he spun around, roughly shoving aside his bewildered subordinates, striding quickly toward the pub door.
Just before the door closed, he suddenly turned back, staring directly at everyone inside, especially at John with his mocking smile.
His face, twisted with rage, was filled with intense killing intent and bone-deep hatred.
"John Shelby!"
"You slept with my fiancée! Damn bastard, I swear I'll make you pay!!!"
The door slammed shut.
The pub fell silent.
John looked embarrassed.
Honestly, he couldn't remember who Inspector William's fiancée was...
The Shelbys looked at John in unison, then silently gave him thumbs up.
These inspectors had been in Surrey less than a week, and this guy had already precisely targeted someone's fiancée. Absolutely beastly.
But that aside—the Shelbys never tolerated threats. These inspectors didn't need to return to London.
As for why not kill them in the pub? Same old reason—you can take a shit, but not in the middle of the street.
Those inspectors probably realized this too. They might even strike first. Thinking that John wasn't as hardheaded as Arthur, Tiger shook his head helplessly, then turned to look at John.
"John."
"Looks like I'm giving you your birthday gift early."
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