## Chapter 201: Who the Hell is Messing with Me?
**London, Westminster, 4 Whitehall Street, Metropolitan Police Headquarters.**
The brightly lit conference room buzzed with the weekly routine of Scotland Yard’s Monday morning meeting.
Following the fall of the Tory cabinet, anti-government protests in London had significantly decreased, allowing Scotland Yard’s perpetually strained police force to return to their daily duties.
With the workload significantly reduced, Chief Constable Rowan seemed in high spirits. The usually stoic British Army Colonel wore a broad smile that seemed at odds with his stern features.
Of course, a mere reduction in workload wasn’t enough to make him this happy.
The real reason for his elation was his connection with the new Home Secretary, Viscount Melbourne, through the introduction of Viscount Palmerston. He’d received confirmation from Melbourne himself.
From this day forward, he would officially retire from the British Army and transition from his position as acting Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police to a permanent role.
While upper-class aristocrats might not consider the position of Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police a desirable assignment, it was still a position of power, even if it meant a lot of work, heavy responsibilities, and a meager salary.
But for Rowan, who had climbed the ranks from a humble merchant family, his years of service in the military had finally borne fruit.
However, what truly pleased Rowan was the Home Office’s unhesitant approval of Arthur’s transfer to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Perhaps the Home Office officials had grown tired of Arthur’s presence, or maybe they genuinely believed he was a talent for criminal investigation. Regardless of their motives, Rowan had achieved his goal.
According to his plan, he would first place Arthur on the bench in the Criminal Investigation Department for a few years. After all, major cases only occurred a few times a year. Even if they did arise, it would be his decision whether or not to hand them over to the Criminal Investigation Department.
By keeping Arthur sidelined for a while, until everyone forgot about Britain’s most brilliant officer, Rowan would have plenty of time to slowly manipulate his opponent.
The police superintendents present listened as Rowan read through several resolutions recently issued by the Home Office. Their gazes towards Arthur and Rowan grew increasingly peculiar.
Although the twenty-year-old man maintained his usual composure, the officers believed the young man’s promising career at Scotland Yard was about to come to an end.
Taking advantage of the break during the meeting, the superintendents seized the opportunity to indulge in their gossip as Chief Constable Rowan and Deputy Chief Constable Sir Maine left the room.
Whispers spread through the conference hall.
“The Criminal Investigation Department?”
“Only four people in the department?”
“This is absurd!”
“Did the young man offend Chief Constable Rowan? Or did he anger some bigwig at the Home Office?”
Amidst the buzz of discussion, several superintendents who had fought alongside Arthur in Hyde Park couldn’t sit still.
They were all veterans of the Duke of Wellington’s forces, having fought together in the Peninsula War and Waterloo.
Though they weren’t particularly close to Arthur, they weren’t about to stand by and watch their colleagues talk down about Arthur, who was practically one of their own.
Superintendent Davis Lee rapped his knuckles on the table. “Gentlemen, the meeting hasn’t adjourned yet. If you have something to say, why not wait until after the meeting?”
Superintendent Matherlin, who had lost an eye, leaned back in his chair and echoed his sentiment. “Have you all forgotten how Clemens died? Don’t be so nosy. We’re just police officers. Don’t get involved in other people’s affairs. The most important thing is to do our jobs.”
Superintendent Michel, who had been resting with his hat covering his eyes, pulled his hat up and chimed in. “If you continue this discussion, you’ll be violating the internal regulations on political neutrality. Sir Peel may be gone, but his rules should still be remembered.”
Although the superintendents spoke of maintaining neutrality, anyone listening could tell they were being sarcastic.
As direct subordinates of the Duke of Wellington, these officers, recruited by Sir Peel as the backbone of Scotland Yard, couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss at Arthur’s downfall.
Before Arthur could even utter a word, they had already jumped in to shut down the noisy discussions on his behalf.
Seeing these seasoned officers speak up, the other superintendents could only chuckle awkwardly and shut their mouths.
Sitting beside Arthur, Moseley, the oldest and most experienced officer, who had served the longest under the Duke of Wellington and retired from the 5th Royal Regiment of Foot, the “Wellington Guards,” nudged Arthur with his elbow.
The taciturn old man offered a comforting word. “Arthur, it’s nothing. Just a small setback. Rowan is almost fifty years old. He can’t stay at Scotland Yard forever. Sooner or later, he’ll have to get out of here. And you, you’re so young. Even if you just endure it, you can outlast him. That Chief Constable position will be sitting under your backside sooner or later. There’s no need to worry.”
Moseley believed Arthur’s silence was due to his bad mood. But in reality, while Arthur’s mood wasn’t exactly good, it wasn’t as if the sky was falling.
He was more puzzled. He had pondered all night but still couldn’t figure out: Who the hell is messing with me?
He had already met with Viscount Melbourne.
Lady Cowper had a good impression of him.
Arthur had even exchanged a few words with the new Foreign Secretary, Palmerston.
But then, he received news of his transfer. Could it be that Viscount Melbourne had been swayed by Rowan’s sweet talk, making him believe that this Criminal Investigation Department was some kind of vital department?
Or perhaps Rowan had a hidden patron who could exert immense influence on Viscount Melbourne, forcing the lazy new Home Secretary to take time out of his busy schedule to give him, a small superintendent at Scotland Yard, a little smackdown?
Arthur racked his brains, trying to think of who in all of Britain had the power to do such a thing. It could only be either the newly crowned King William IV or the newly appointed Prime Minister, Charles Grey, Earl Grey.
But Arthur couldn’t think of any reason why he would have offended either of these powerful figures.
He had absolutely no contact with Earl Grey, and as for William IV, the former Royal Navy Admiral, if Arthur had done anything to make him resentful, it was perhaps revealing the secret relationship between the Royal Navy, goats, and fish?
But even if the King resented that, wouldn’t he have dealt with Elder Carter first?
After all, he was the key figure in the leak!
As Arthur was lost in thought, the door to the conference room was pushed open. Chief Constable Rowan, having finished his break, smoothed down his hair and walked past Arthur with light steps.
He caught a glimpse of Arthur’s expressionless face and couldn’t help but stop, placing his arm on Arthur’s shoulder and whispering in his ear.
“Arthur, what did you say to me the other day? To leave you alone and hide? We can only have one of us left? You young people’s thinking is always so extreme. In that regard, you’re far less fair than we middle-aged folks with our experience in the world.
You see, if it were me handling this, you’d stay, and I’d stay. I’d use my strengths to lead Scotland Yard. And you’d use your strengths to manage the Criminal Investigation Department.
Knowing people and using their talents is quite an art. But you don’t need to thank me. After all, it’s all for the public good. Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, you can also put your London Regional Temporary Surveying and Statistical Bureau job on hold.
I just went to see Viscount Melbourne this morning, and he also believes that work like city surveying is best left to specialists.
Scotland Yard’s police resources are very tight, so it’s best to prioritize serving the community in a reasonable manner.”
Looking at Arthur’s bloodshot eyes, Rowan couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. He wanted to share how he had belittled LPS in front of Viscount Melbourne, but he thought it was too undignified to do so in public.
After all, he was the official head of Scotland Yard now. He had to maintain some semblance of authority in front of his subordinates.
He patted Arthur on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Arthur, the Criminal Investigation Department is just being established, but it’s an important department. From now on, all major cases in London will depend on you. Scotland Yard has talents like you. Why would we spend a fortune every year hiring professional detectives? We have to make good use of your talents.
The reason for shutting down LPS is precisely to allow you to focus more on criminal investigations. Only in this way can your talents be used in the most valuable areas. Viscount Melbourne asked me about your work experience today. He asked me to tell you not to worry too much about the job change. It’s just a technical change. Your efforts are clear to everyone. You have a bright future ahead of you.”
As soon as Rowan finished speaking, he couldn’t hold back his smile anymore. He suddenly burst into laughter, then quickly covered his mouth and apologized. “Sorry, Arthur. You know, I have no issues with you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have recommended you to Viscount Melbourne to be the head of the Criminal Investigation Department. You think I’m right, don’t you?”
Arthur, upon hearing this, didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up his hat from the table, placed it on his head, and looked down at Rowan with his eyes, which were half a head taller than Rowan’s.
Rowan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What? Arthur, you want to salute me?”
Arthur just smiled slightly. “Sir, are you sure you’re really hiding? You’re standing right in front of me.”
Upon hearing this, Rowan suddenly remembered that the man in front of him was the master of boarding actions, who had once single-handedly taken on 17 opponents without a scratch.
He instinctively took a step back.
Moseley, seeing the situation was getting out of hand, hurried forward to stop Arthur. “Let’s get back to the meeting.”
Then, he leaned close to Arthur and whispered, “Don’t fall for it. Rowan is doing this on purpose. If you strike out today, you’ll be packing your bags this afternoon.”
Arthur nodded slightly. “Thank you, Superintendent Moseley. But you don’t understand the thinking of young people. Back then, I almost ran off to America just to prove a point.”
With that, he took off his right-hand white glove, ready to throw it at Rowan’s feet.
But before he could throw it, a familiar, gentle voice rang out from behind him.
“Arthur, long time no see. Have you been studying law on your own since graduation?”
(End of Chapter)