CHAPTER 319: THE BAIT.

Leo and June rode the car to the secretariat and after all the security checks they came to the Mayor’s office. June walked over to the reception and after she mentioned her name and whom she was accompanying, the lady made a call to confirm the situation. The answer was positive and the lady said, "Please have a seat, the Mayor is in a meeting. He will call for you when he is free."

June frowned slightly but told Leo about the situation and the young man simply sat down on the couch and June went to get him some water. Kyle stood behind the couch, keeping an eye on things.

Leo sat straight on the couch but his head was bowed, it appeared as if he was thinking something, but Leo was actually taking a nap. June sat beside him amused with this. Half an hour passed, before June saw someone approach the reception and then turn to look in their direction.

June said softly, "Sir, it is time."

Her voice woke up Leo, he picked the cup of coffee and drank a mouthful. The bitterness jump started his brain just in time to see a dignified man walking over. The person was dressed formally and wore glasses. Leo stood up and the man extended his hand as he said, "Hello, President Cardinal, I am Hiron, Assistant to the Mayor."

Leo extended his hand and they shook on it before Hiron said, "This way please, the Mayor is waiting for you."

Leo followed the man and they came to a big office on the third floor. Entering the room, Leo paused for a bit before he located a middle-aged man standing before the french window looking outside. Hiron said, "Sir, this is Mister Cardinal."

The man turned around and looked at Leo before he nodded and walked over. The man smiled and replied, "Good afternoon, President Cardinal. I am Jinn Haso."

Leo shook hands with the person and asked, "Can you tell me how I can help you?"

This straightforward attitude surprised the two people, and then the Mayor chuckled before he said, "Well, I have heard that you are a man who likes to be straight forward. So, let me also get to the point. The city needs your help."

Leo raised his brow and asked, "What about?"

The mayor gestured for him to sit down and after the two of them took seat, Jinn Haso gestured to his assistant and said, "I am aware that you are behind Simon Silence. The south street gang has changed their ways and it is a good thing. However, in the region around the city there is something very obnoxious going on."

Leo wasn’t surprised by the fact that the Mayor had this information about him. After all, Simon was now rising in the standing and earning himself some prestige as well. So this was normal. Hiron passed Leo the file and the young man opened the document. After reading the things mentioned inside the file his gaze turned cold and asked, "You want me to handle it?"

Jinn shook his head and replied, "I want you to have Simon handle this, because in official capacity whatever I do, it would be the violation of human rights and these guys are not humans. I have tried to call people in the higher authorities, but the fact that the main culprit is connected to the reputed Media Mogul, they have turned many facts of black into white. Even after several arrests, they still walk out.

This network is spread across the entire city, and it is high time that we use fire to fight fire. So, I am seeking your help."

Leo frowned and wanted to ask something when Jinn said, "I approached Simon Silence first, but he said that he would only authorize the movement of men when you have approved of it."

The young man took a deep breath and replied, "I will need your word that whatever happens, I and my people will not be implicated by the authorities. I can assure you Mister Mayor, that while I condemn the situation strongly, I will not jump into it for your or any other guys sake."

Leo stated his demands directly. The mayor looked at Leo with a calm face. He didn’t expect that Leo would react in such a manner, he asked, "As a Sigil Family, is it not your duty to help the people?"

Leo sneered and replied, "Do you know what I did to earn that Sigil? I have been helping the people out for a long time. I have spent millions if not billions to do nothing but help. This scenario is not about helping people, it is about protecting them and that is the task of the police force and the government officials."

His logic was sound and his argument was fair. The mayor wanted to push him a little more but looking at the cold gaze, he knew that chances of success were none, and so he said, "I will give you my assurance. If you manage to handle this, none of your people would be implicated."

Leo nodded and said, "I will have Simon set up an investigation team, and then when we have sufficient evidence, you can step in. I will help you, and I don’t want the credit of involvement."

Jinn was shocked and asked, "Are you sure? This could be a merit deed for you."

Leo waved his hand and said, "Mayor Jinn, merit can also bring us trouble, and it hasn’t been long since my daughter was attacked by mercenaries, if not for the presence of mind shown by my guards, I might not be sitting here."

Jinn nodded with a thoughtful expression and said, "I understand. You can handle this task as you wish, and then inform me when you have procured the evidence. I will try to keep the police working on this case."

Leo nodded and then looked at his watch before he asked, "If that’s all, may I leave?"

Jinn stood up from his chair and shook hands with the young man before the two of them parted and Leo walked out of the office. Outside the office, Kyle asked, "Sir, what is it?"

Leo sighed and replied, "The brother of the Media Mogul behind Advance Media, is running a trafficking racket, and the city authorities are tired of this hide and seek situation."

June opened her eyes wide and asked, "How could this be? There should be some chatter about this on the news. Even if Advance Media is a big company, they shouldn’t be the only one working on this? Can they?"

Leo frowned and then said, "You are right, there must be something more going on. Seems like we have to look in on it, and not only the trafficker but also the one who just informed us."

June looked at her, and Leo took out his phone before making a call to Simon. When the call connected, Leo said, "Simon, meet me at my house tonight."

Simon was stunned but agreed to meet him over. They were going to discuss strategy about this situation. Leo smelled something fishy and he wasn’t going to let it go that easily. If the suspicion manifested to be true, Leo would definitely make waves in the business and the financial fields of the city.

It was past seven when Lily and Snow returned home. The two greeted Leo and went to their rooms to change clothes, and Leo looked at Zeenat, who was hesitating. He asked, "Say it."

Zeenat sighed and replied, "Sir, I spotted three people following us, they took turns and they changed vehicles."

Leo raised his brow and said, "Too much caution revealed their tracks."

Zeenat nodded and asked, "What shall we do?"

Leo thought for a bit and said, "Covert tracking. Then standby."

Zeenat agreed and just then Simon Silence arrived. Leo gestured for him to sit down and pointed at the table, as he said, "Take a look and tell me what you see."

Simon nodded and after reading through the file he said, "So, he came to you as well."

Leo hummed and Simon said, "Sir, I have looked into this issue, and I found something interesting."

He paused and continued, "Jinn is particularly close to Matilda these days. She is pursuing his company to gain some contracts."

Leo raised his brow and asked, "You mean to say, they are trying to bait us?"

Simon nodded and replied, "These days, I have called over a few people from outside and they are looking into this whole issue for me. The media has yet to catch the wind of it, the operation is that covert."

Leo frowned and said, "Someone from the inside is involved in this, right?"

Simon nodded and Leo patted his thigh with the tips of his finger for a few minutes, before he said, "Go, find me evidence. Don’t use your own people too much, but get me everything on everyone. Can you do that?"

Simon smiled and replied, "I already initiated the best people under me. They will not go too deep but on the surface the enemy will think that we are taking the bait."