New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

"You were driving a bit fast there, Godrick. You in a hurry for something?"

Godrick looked into the police truck, recognizing the officer in it.

"Officer Grant. Funny seeing you here. I thought you were looking into my sister's disappearance."

The officer looked at the black SUV parked behind Godrick's truck, as well as the people disembarking it. That included the Asian man he had just seen walking toward Godrick, who was now as still as a statue.

Pointing at them, the officer asked Godrick a question.

"Friends of yours?"

Godrick spun his head, seeing who he was pointing at, and almost froze. Godrick was always a terrible liar, and he despised lying.

But he still didn't want to put in trouble the people who had possibly saved his sister, and that had saved his town from a future mess.

After taking a moment to re-center himself, Godrick spun with the fakest sincere smile he could muster.

"Ahh, yes. Distant relatives from Canada. They came to offer support after hearing about Laura."

Looking at the man behind Godrick's truck, the officer frowned.

"You have Asian relatives? Up in Canada? Why is this the first time I hear of it?"

"Ah, no. You misunderstand. That is… Lee. He's my… Great Uncle's…butler?"

Hearing the hesitation in his tone, the officer became even more suspicious. But Guo saw what the young American was trying to do, and intervened, before the situation became unsalvageable.

"My name is Guo, young master Godrick. I'm sorry officer, I failed to introduce myself earlier."

Turning to the officer, Guo also did a sign to his boss, under the level of the side of the truck, where the officer couldn't see. Jack saw it and understood what was happening.

He started walking toward the police vehicle.

"What seems to be the problem, Godrick? I will be late back home at this rate."

Godrick turned to face Jack, breathing a small sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, Great Uncle. Officer Grant was warning me I was going fast when I followed you to send you home."

Jack turned to the officer, walking closer.

"Well, Officer Grant, I apologize. It might have been my butler who was speeding. You see, we are quite unfamiliar with the mileage system you Americans use."

Officer Grant stopped his vehicle, stepping out of it.

"Can I please see your IDs, gentlemen?"

"Why certainly, sir. Guo, give the man our IDs"

Guo bowed to Jack, keeping up his facade of butler instead of assistant. He then pulled out two ID cards, his and his boss'.

Walking up to the Officer, he handed the two cards to him.

Officer Grant pulled out a small card reader from his belt, in which he slotted the ID card. After a few seconds, the scanner flashed green, certifying the IDs were authentic.

He also had a bit of their information on the display. When he read it, Officer Grant couldn't help but let out a small gasp of surprise.

He looked at Godrick with wide eyes.

"Boy, I didn't know you had some family with money. This Great Uncle of yours is loaded."

Godrick coughed a bit, not knowing either. Jack had been so silent and precise earlier, he thought the old man was a mercenary.

"I'm sorry for inconveniencing you, sir. I see here you served in the military, and reached the rank of General, no less. Even if you didn't serve in the USA, thank you for your service."

The officer handed the two IDs back to the "butler", before smiling at the old man.

"Surely you would want your great niece to be found as soon as possible."

Jack nodded.

"I would indeed like her to be found as quickly as possible. I can't stand that a family member of mine went missing, even if so distantly related"

The officer grinned.

"Well, in that case, you wouldn't be against helping Valentine's police department, would you? You see, as a small town, our budget is quite thin."

Jack frowned.

"Are you asking me for a bribe, Officer Grant?"

The Officer shook his head a few times, his grin remaining.

"No, sir. Bribes are illegal. I would never. I'm only asking if you would make a citizen contribution to your local police department. The Sheriff elections are starting soon, and a citizen contribution to me would go a long way in helping my position, as well as our town, of course."

Godrick almost wanted to punch the police officer in the face. One second he speaks about helping find his sister, and now he was lobbying for money.

'What a sleazebag!' Godrick thought, gritting his teeth.

Jack could tell what the officer was trying to do. Of course, he would rather not have to part with money to a dirty cop, but the cop in question was holding them here, and it was a matter of time before someone found the Goblin camp, as well as all the shells from the rounds he fired earlier.

It was in his best interest here to give the cop what he wanted.

"How much would the 'Police Department' need in this case, Officer?" Jack asked, emphasizing on police department.

Officer Grant's grin widened. He looked like a shark in a cartoon.

"Hmm. I think a hundred grand would do just fine for our community and our department. With that amount, we would find your great niece in no time."

Jack clicked his tongue, but he still pulled out his chequebook.

Writing a cheque for a hundred thousand dollars, he signed it and handed it to the officer.

"I trust that with this, my family and butler are now free to go?"

The Officer barely heard the man speak, as his eyes laid on the cheque in his hands.

"Yes, yes. You are free to go," Officer Grant replied, waving his hand at the man.

The police officer rapidly embarked in his truck before high-tailing it out of there. He already had something in mind on how to use the bribe… *Ahem* donation he just received.

Godrick couldn't believe this man was even a policeman. When he turned to thank the old man, he noticed he and the Asian man were already walking away.

"Wait! Thank you!"

Jack stopped in his tracks. He barely turned his head to reply.

"Don't thank me yet, kid. I didn't give away that money for free. Now, you owe me. And I never fail to collect my debts."

Godrick felt a shiver run down his spine as the words entered his brain.

'That old man is scary.'