The Shadow of Great Britain

This statement was impeccably made, leaving no trace of emotion detectable.

Chadwick nodded as a gesture of politeness and then walked out of the meeting room. The door closed gently, and the sound of footsteps in the corridor gradually faded, quickly disappearing beyond the heavy walls.

In the room, only Arthur and Phillips remained.

The repeatedly used, slightly worn document folder still lay quietly in the center of the table, like a demarcation line yet to be truly unveiled.

Phillips finally stopped tapping the table.

He picked up the somewhat cold tea, taking a light sip: ”Sir Arthur, it seems... you have already completed the most challenging task for me.”

Arthur merely offered a faint smile, as if taking this statement as a courtesy rather than genuine praise.

”If you mean emotional management, there’s not much of a task there. I merely returned the issue to where it should originally be. The police department isn’t good at explaining concepts, but is quite sensitive to outcomes.”

Phillips’s gaze lingered on Arthur’s face for a few seconds: ”You’re well aware that the Home Office isn’t ignorant of these situations. The local police’s financial structure, personnel composition, discipline issues... These are never missing from documents. But there always seems to be a chasm between documents and reality. And this gap is often bridged by the execution level.”

Arthur nodded: ”Precisely because of this, I don’t want the police department to be repeatedly pushed to the forefront. Once the police become the buffer between policy and society, over time, people may mistakenly believe these costs are naturally shouldered by the police. Clearly, our primary legal duty is to combat crime.”

Phillips chuckled: ”Are you reminding me that the close ties between the Home Office and the police department might not necessarily be a good thing?”

”I’m not implying a reminder, but if you insist on viewing it that way,” Arthur corrected, ”I’m just suggesting that if the distance dissolves too quickly, the boundaries of responsibility will blur. And once the boundaries blur, Parliament will inevitably step in and redraw the lines for us.”

This statement finally caused a change in Phillips’s expression: ”Your sensitivity to Parliament sometimes even surpasses that of the Home Office itself.”

”That’s because I have no control over Parliament,” Arthur replied calmly, ”so I must assume the worst case will always occur.”

Phillips paused for a moment in silence and then nodded gently.

”Well, from the government’s perspective, we also have to assume another worst-case scenario: a police system that has high societal mobilization capability, actual executive power, yet is not completely within the Home Office’s framework.”

Phillips spoke heavily, but Arthur didn’t show any intention of backing down.

”I understand your concern. But I must also point out that the police department requires a certain degree of operational space not from a desire for power, but due to efficiency needs. In the face of sudden unrest, mass incidents, and local breakdowns, we can’t wait for White Hall’s directives.”

”Act first and report later, is it?”

”More accurately, it’s first stop the bleeding, then explain to the patient, just like a doctor treating a disease.”

”Is this your stance?” Phillips leaned back with crossed arms: ”Have you ever considered what the most realistic method would be if the Home Office wishes to re-establish effective influence over the police system?”

Arthur looked up at him, speaking slowly, but each word carried significant weight: ”If I were you, I wouldn’t rely on administrative orders or restrictive measures. The first issue to address is the people.”

Their gazes briefly met in the air, with mutual understanding evident to both.

In truth, both had already found the answer within themselves even before today’s negotiations began.

Only, this answer might be the best for Arthur.

But for Phillips, this answer could only be described as not the worst.

”The police department cannot consult with the Home Office on every matter,” Phillips rose up, ”but if the judgment of the police department itself already partially exists within the decision-making framework of the Home Office, the issues would naturally be much smaller.”

Arthur gave a faint smile: ”Sounds like a form of dual protection.”

”I would prefer to call it system coordination,” Phillips answered calmly.

This time, he did not beat around the bush.

”Sir Arthur,” the Permanent Secretary rarely spoke plainly: ”You’ve proven one thing, the Home Office alone can’t topple you with administrative orders. Even Parliament alone might not be able to constrain you. But if you stand within the framework of the Home Office, many originally sharp issues would become manageable.”

Arthur’s gaze briefly rested on the worn document folder on the table, then looked up again: ”If that day indeed comes, I hope it would mean that the police department and the Home Office no longer have a zero-sum relationship, but jointly bear the consequences.”

Phillips nodded, his expression regained his usual composure: ”That’s exactly what I mean, and I’m glad we’ve reached consensus on this topic.”

”Then at least this means the Home Office is willing to see the police department as a collaborator to be incorporated into the system, rather than a variable needing correction.”

Phillips gently nodded: ”Having spent enough time at White Hall, you’ll come to realize one thing,” he said, ”It’s not the variables themselves that’s truly dangerous, but those variables that have detached from the framework of institutional explanation.”

Arthur chuckled lightly, not arguing, as he stepped forward and reached out his hand.

This time, Phillips didn’t hesitate, their hands clasped beside the table, the gesture not exaggerated, but extremely firm.

”Farewell, Sir Arthur,” Phillips said: ”I hope next time I see you, it’s not in this temporary meeting room, but in the room opposite my office.”

Arthur inclined slightly, his tone polite yet layered with meaning: ”I also hope that until that day, the police department can continue to shield the most difficult messes outside for the Home Office.”

Phillips let out a amused chuckle: ”That’s precisely why I invited you today.”