Chapter 34: A Fight Broke Out

Olivia crossed her arms and shot Mason a frosty look. "I handle my own work. Reporting on you is my job. But how am I supposed to know what William and Zephyr are up to? Why should that be on me?"

Mason was livid, jabbing a finger in Olivia's face. "You think just 'cause you're pretty, you can mess with the guys in the Detective Unit? I know you come from money and look down on us who worked our way up. Let me tell you, this isn't a playground. We won't baby you. If you can do the job, great. If not, get out!"

Olivia's eyes went icy. She stood up and stared Mason down. "I could say the same to you. While others are out there risking their lives, you're just sitting in the office sipping coffee with Ryan. Do you think you can catch the killer by drinking coffee every day? Do you even have the responsibility a team leader should have? People like you are the real disgrace to the police force!"

Mason had never been so humiliated. His face turned beet red, and he actually took a swing at Olivia. The colleagues nearby tried to hold him back, but he only got more aggressive.

Mason fumed, "I've had enough of you. Always flirting with the guys in the team, making them risk their lives for you. Olivia, you're nothing but trouble. If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'll quit this job!"

Olivia sneered, "It's your incompetence, yet you blame it all on me. Mason, if you're not convinced, let's have a showdown and see who's better. Let him go!"

A fight broke out in the office, and everyone was terrified. Henry wasn't around, and calling him would take time. Someone had already gone to find Benjamin.

Olivia took off her uniform jacket and threw it on the table, glaring at Mason. "Come on, whoever begs for mercy today doesn't deserve to wear this uniform!"

Mason, standing at 5'9", didn't believe he could lose to Olivia, so he swung his fist at her. The colleagues around looked grim. Regardless of who was right or wrong, a man hitting a woman was despicable.

One colleague whispered, "Mason is too much. How could he bully a female colleague?"

Another added, "Exactly, Olivia wasn't wrong. William and Zephyr are out all day, and as the team leader, he just sits there drinking coffee. Even Mr. Phillips isn't that arrogant."

Hearing his colleagues' discussions, Ryan started to sweat. He knew Henry well, and if this escalated, neither he nor Mason would have a good outcome. So he tried to quietly slip out of the office, planning to play dumb when Henry returned. But just as he reached the door, he saw Benjamin running over, and he was stunned.

In the office, Olivia took a punch to the shoulder and a scratch on her cheek, but she pinned Mason to the desk. No matter how much Mason struggled, he couldn't break free.

Seeing this, Benjamin found it troublesome. "Olivia, let go!"

Seeing Benjamin, Olivia obediently let go and walked towards him. Mason, worried Olivia would complain and humiliated by her, angrily kicked her in the back of the head.

"Olivia!" several voices called out simultaneously.

Benjamin was furious, but someone even faster than him rushed forward and kicked Mason in the stomach.

Olivia, after getting kicked in the back of the head, felt her ears ringing. She could see Henry and Benjamin, but everything sounded muffled, and she was completely dazed.

"Olivia, are you okay? Don't scare me. If you get hurt, your mom will come after me!" Benjamin shouted, but Olivia didn't respond. Everyone was freaked out and quickly called an ambulance.

Henry was fuming. If he hadn't been restrained and if he weren't in his police uniform, he might have beaten Mason to a pulp.

Henry scolded, "Mason, look at yourself. Do you think you deserve to be a cop? You've been in the Detective Unit for over ten years, but while others are on the front lines, you're always hiding in the back. You're scared of danger when catching criminals, always staying in the car. You never approach crime scenes because you think they smell. Is this what being a cop means to you?"

In fact, there were several lazy people like Mason in the Detective Unit. The Detective Unit was supposed to be the elite in criminal investigation, but because of people like him, there were few capable of solving cases, while those taking credit increased.

After Olivia's incident, Henry felt it was time for a thorough cleanup.

Mason, feeling desperate, lashed out. "Mr. Phillips, you're just infatuated with Olivia, aren't you? That's why you're defending her!" He knew Olivia had powerful connections in her family, especially in Silverlight City, and he was already jealous and resentful. Now, he hated Olivia even more.

Henry sneered, "Mason, you're so narrow-minded! I always act based on principles, not personal feelings. You were wrong today and you owe Olivia an apology. You even intentionally hurt her. I could put you in confinement, and it wouldn't be too harsh! But for someone like you, confinement is a waste. Take off your uniform; from now on, you're no longer a cop!"

As Henry finished speaking, Mason panicked. "You can't fire me, Henry! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're the captain!"

Henry sneered and looked at him coldly. "Is it me doing whatever I want, or you breaking the rules? Mason, you've been gambling in casinos multiple times, and now you owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling debts. Tell me, how can someone like you still wear this uniform?"

Mason's already swollen face turned pale instantly. He trembled, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word. A cop involved in gambling was a disgrace to the force.

Benjamin was also furious and asked Henry, "Is what you said true?"

Henry nodded, looking at Mason. "Debt collectors went to Mason's house. His wife couldn't take it anymore and came to me. I've been investigating this for the past two days. Those people set him up. Luckily, we found out early, or who knows what could have happened!"

Hearing this, Benjamin was extremely angry. "Take off his uniform and detain him for a week. Breaking the law while knowing it, and even colluding with criminals, Mason, you're really something!"

Mason pleaded, "Mr. White, I'm innocent. They're framing me!"

Benjamin replied, "Whether it's a frame-up or not, this is the police station, and there's the law. Mason, if there's evidence proving all this, losing your uniform will be the least of your worries!"