-~*~-
By the time that Kazuto and Irene reach the station Luyao had just ordered for the guarding officer to take two individuals in. Turning around and seeing Kazuto apprehending a face they clearly knew brings him closer to the two upcomers. "Uncle?... Why him?" Kazuto shakes his head, even he didn't know and can't put any possible reason behind.
As much as this man is well acquainted with the two men, they had to go through the same procedure. Kazuto brought him in to the interrogation cell. Irene who had been turning around for a good 20 seconds turn to ask the inspector in front of her. "Where's Yanyi? She was supposed to be with you, correct."
Luyao — "Yanyi is currently handling the safe return of all the kids in the west courtyard. She won't get involved in the interrogation process."
Kazuto — "Luyao! Let's go."
Luyao — "Feel free to make yourself at home. Once everything is over and Yanyi coming back, we'll recollect everything."
The two men leave Irene by the gate. She slowly walk inside and went to where the inspector's office is. Sitting on the couch and being serve some tea and snacks, Irene wait for the return of her friend. She didn't have to wait long however as she came back in a mere 10 minutes. "Yanyi. You're back."
"Yeah, just drop the last kid home. Max!" She called over Luyao's right hand man and ask about how the interrogation process is handled. He gives the detail of where Luyao and Kazuto will personally interrogate the old man while four experts will handle the other two culprit. "Old man?" She turn to Irene for which she encounter back their dealing.
Hearing everything Yanyi's anger continue to be arouse. I mean, who wouldn't be angry when someone of their empire is being used as a black sheep.
Max had long leave the girl alone which allow Yanyi to start her own story. She recounted back to the moment she learn about the patterns underlaying truths. How the pattern is not something that is being made by the culprit to confuse them but rather by "them" as a clue. She explain her last night process of watching the video tape again and find a disturbing similarity in all the courtyard.
Emerald eyes starts to bulge in fear and shock. "So... This case is supposed to be much bigger than current one?... A-And... "them". They are watching us? Since when?!" To that blue locks shake in denial. She hadn't a clue of when it actually start. But she know one thing, they are not only being watch by their supporters but also by their supposed enemy.
Yanyi — "There's also the dealing with that... music note? I have retold everything possible to Lyon. No further notice yet, but I'll get this info going by the time everything is done."
Irene — "*sigh* I don't know if we are doing something right or dancing in a trap... Regardless, the well being of the people is the duty of the higher blood."
Yanyi — "For that reason we will continue treading this land. At least... until a certain "event" occurs."
If they can converse more about the topic they would. The place they are currently in is not permitting them I'm afraid. To avoid getting eavesdropped by any unwanted individuals, they opt to stop this little chat and wait for the result.
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20 minutes has passed since Yanyi's return and only then did she hear again from the office door. Two figure with blacken face thread into the room which soon bang loud with a punch to the wall. Luyao's fist starts to bleed which worsen Yanyi's facial expression. She took the available first-aid-kit and treats his intentionally wounded knuckles.
"What did you guys find?" Irene choose to be the silence breaker. If no one lead the case, then no one would. "Far worse than we thought." Is all Luyao said before hissing from the all-purpose ointment Yanyi is dabbing on. The brown lock turn to the other man for which she receive an answer to.
Kazuto — "The two people who they had captured are indeed people from Dunisia. After getting a few nails torn off, one of the revealed that they hadn't used the traversing method to get to Volenix from the mountain. But has taken an offer from an unknown man to traversed safely into the land."
Irene — "The old man?"
Luyao — "He was blackmailed. *hiss*"
Yanyi — "Stop moving unless you want the wound to get bigger!"
Kazuto — "He's right. That uncle had indeed own the candy store that all the children are going to. He exposed how someone had taken his daughter hostage and demands for him to follow their bidding in order to keep her safe. We also got a confirmation that his candy store is now a base operation for all these... devilish activities."
Luyao raise his head to look over their direction and enhance a command in a strict voice. "Tonight. We will ambush the base operation tonight and capture those who still linger around the premises close door." Before anyone can say anything, some officer who allegedly one of the guards for the two Dunisian people came rushing in.
"Sire! The two prisoners had committed voluntary suicide in the cell!" The inspector stood from his treatment and look over in anger and frustration. The guard further elaborate how they both had bit off their tongue to kill themselves. Filled with rage, Luyao slam the floor with his boots and said in very loud, demanding and fury command.
"ALL TROOPS! READY YOURSELVES AT ONCE! THE AMBUSH WILL PROCEED IN 10 MINUTES!!"
"SIR, YES SIR!"
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*Inside a certain candy store*
A total of seven people had gathered at the store. All of which are either old man or someone nearing their 50s. The look outside the store from the close blinds. They had been waiting for 3 hours already and no news had reach them about a certain owner of the shop. Just when all hope is lost, they heard a knock coming from the front door.
Without thinking they open the door only to be met with a cold glare from the eyes of the inspector of the state himself. "In-Inspector Chen. It's good to see you sir. May I know what we can do to help you?" Instead of answering, Luyao look around the store that he once frequented. At last, it comes down to taking it down.
"All seven of you. You are all under arrest for suspicion of colluding with the enemy of the empire and giving a hand in the serial children kidnapping." All people within the store are filled wit shock and sweat before finally giving out a content aura. It starts to look like none of them are willingly entering this. Luyao soften his composure and added a bit of reassurance.
"Gentlemen, if the truth dictates that none of you are willingly doing this, the law will set you free and will help you. For now, we must lower the casualties and solve the problem. Interrogation will be process and I hope that all of you could give you best answer to help the Volenix Empire." They all nodded and slowly walked out the door where dozens of men in military attire choose to surround the store. Contrary to them working for the Dunisian, they are more willing to let themselves be captured.
Soon they are brought over to the station where the interrogation process is held. They all didn't give much things to work with but did relay how they all got into this situation. All of them has a dear family members that is being held hostage and wasn't allowed to move back home. They did try to refuse this demand but only after a day they got the disturbing pictures and message of their loved one being beaten up to a horrendous degree. Some almost dying in the process.
"That is all they said." Kazuto slam the report close and lean back into the couch. Nothing is said in between the four people. Yanyi is the first one to broke the silence by looking over to the clock. The long hand is headed towards the number 12 while the short hand is nearing the 6 digit. "It already late. We will return home first. If you lots find anything inform us tomorrow. Irene, come on."
They both went away for the day and leave behind the two men in the office. Though, someone's adventure is not yet finish for the day.
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*00:25 midnight*
The moon is in full bloom at the center of the dark sky. No stars in sight due to the cloudy sky they presented in the day. Outside of the candy store, many police officers stands guard as the yellow tape is anything but to indicate restricted zone. Albeit that, they only have eyes on the ground level and not so much on the upper level.
A figure dressed in black attire moves quickly from rooftop to rooftop, making her way without any noise to the restricted area. Landing on the said roof, she slide herself down the chimney and landed through the excess ashes of burned firewood. Cleaning her clothes, she breathe in a fresh air.
After a quick clean she rummage through the cashier desk to find any secret lever. Yanyi didn't magically gain the blueprint of the store. Think of it as clever deduction. If the police aren't able to find anything on the surface of the store then something must be hidden. And what better place to hide such items if not for secret room.
Considering the store owner as one blackmail victims, he must've hid it somewhere where customers can't reach. She remembered how Luyao said that all of them had been waiting for the store owner to come. This conclude that none of them also know where the lever is. If they were to only reach by the cashiers desk, then all the member can access it. The only place where the owner would inexplicably has premium access to is the cash machine.
Yanyi dabble with the machine's interior mechanical before finding a strange buttons underneath the tiny copper coin compartment. Copper coin is something children often get so the compartment would be filled easily. This makes the bottom hard to be seen and makes a good hidden area.
Yanyi pushed the button which continued with a click sound coming from behind the cashier's desk. Underneath the stairs leading up to the second floor, there's a large horizontal plank that tries it best to blends into the rest of the stairs. At last it failed.
Yanyi was about to open the door before a hand reach out to her shoulder for which she twist her body to the side and tries to get a hold of the hand. At last she manage to caught it but her other hand was also caught by the person. "Relax, it's me." The familiar voice lets her hand loose and let go.
The man standing before is her own boss, though she figure that he must have come here with another man. "Wow. You manage to find their hiddy-hole." The voice from behind her give enough clue already. Before she could open the door, he had already walked inside. Rolling her eyes, she whisper in frustration. "Not even a fucking thank you, bitch!"
She let it slide and went down to which they all find an almost ritual like set up. Well, replace the ominous circle in the middle and replace it with a round table. The wall on the side where many unlit candle is the only source they can produce. There is also a cage with a bed where they presume kidnapped children are kept before being sent away.
Kazuto — "So we got in. What now?"
Yanyi — "Rummage through everything and find our next clue?"
Kazuto — "Geez~ Thanks much Sherlock."
Yanyi — "Well I strive to be like that fictional character. Thank you very much."
While the other two are arguing, Luyao stood by the entrance trying to find a place where people would least expect for something to be hidden. The cage would be easily suspected and the table's drawer is normally where people put their stuff. Something so confidential won't be place so normally. The one place where people would not suspect is where you wouldn't even think to do anything aside from its function.
He take one chair in the middle of the room where the leader would be seated and cut through the side of the cushion with a switch blade. Indeed he was right, there is something hidden underneath the cushion which seems to be a bunch of papers. "Found them." Two figure walk over to him.
He shown on his light to the writings and they seem to be an order placement for the kidnapped children. Shining through each sentence, they tried to find any semblance or clue about this customer. At last nothing can be found. "Who the fuck is this person!" Kazuto can no longer held his anger and scatter the paper all over the table. "Let's bring these back to the station and do more searching. Places and relation can lead to the culprit with proper deduction."
"Yeah, yeah. *sigh* Let's-!" Kazuto hold his speech before turning his head in the direction of the entrance. There's a bright orange light coming from the secret entrance. It used to be pitch dark and no light had been lit up. Unless. "FIRE!" He shouts and immediately ran to the exit. Luyao followed suit while carrying all the paper he could.
Getting out of the store, they both collapse to the ground as buckets of water in being thrown into the store. Luyao looked around him and has an inkling that something is not right. Only two people made it out. "Yanyi?! Yanyi?!" Gazing into the fiery building the worse thought came to mind. The secret tunnel is small that they can't squished through each other. Had she been lock down there when they ran out?!
Scrambling to his feet he ran towards to the store door only to be pushed back by many of his man. He needs to go back inside to confirm his partner's safety. He just need to. He doesn't know why, but he need to. Yet with all the shouting he do no response came through the fire. He almost lost his balance before...
*cough cough*
The sound is that of a woman from inside of the fire. Some of the officers that stayed close to the door see a small figure coming through the fire. The petite figure with sky blue ponytail latches onto one of the officers before losing her footing. "YANYI!!" He yelled as loud as he can and ran to her frantically.
Placing her head to his chest, he clean up the ashes on her pale skin and wipe away any remaining debris from her clothes. He felt her pulse from her wrist and thankfully it is still breathing. Her coughing is ongoing and she pulled his clothes and whisper in a sentence. "B-Bring me... back home...*cough cough*"
Luyao carried her in his arms and command his men to do their best with the fire while waiting for the fire department. However he strictly ask them to comply that if the situation is out of control, leave it be and wait for the fire department. He carried her into the car which he and Kazuto had taken to come here and drove it to their apartment.
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A worried maiden walked all over the living room in her cardigan shawl while biting her thumbs in fear. She had been sleepy for a while but something in her heart jolt her awake. Something about her best friend. Smashing through her bedroom door, she finds no one. Searching through every area she could think in their apartment, even the storage area where only firewood is collected there.
A rushed knock from the front door gets her to reality and rushed down and open the lock only to be greeted with a worried looking Kazuto and Luyao who is holding onto... Yanyi. "Irene, get ready a bucket of clean water! Quick!" Kazuto command and she gets to her feet. Seeing the ashes on her friend face, she must've run through a fucking fire.
Luyao lays her on the couch before going to the kitchen to get an empty bowl. Kazuto had prepared a jug of drinking water, though this isn't meant for drinking. "I'll leave her to you! I'll go find the first-aid-kit!" He left the jug on the coffee table and scrouge through the every cabinet in the room.
Luyao hold Yanyi to sit and help her to drink the jug of water. "Swallow them. Don't be scared for the next part, it hurts but it's necessary." She swallow the water with a pained expression. He turned her to back face him and place the empty bowl in her hand. With a quick hand movement, he stub his fingers behind her back from the lower of her spine to her hips to her mid torso before pushing his palms against her chest level.
The sudden jolt cause Yanyi to vomit all the water she had swallow into the bowl. The clear drinking water is now in the color of black and brown. The sheer amount of ash in her lungs and her body is nearly deathly. Irene came back with a bucket of clean water and a towel for her dying friend. "Irene, please clean Yanyi up."
He left her and sat back to the headboard and heave a sigh of relief. Kazuto came back with a first-aid-kit in hand. He sees that Irene is cleaning up the seriously injured one and decided that he and Luyao could use some patch up. They had also suffered some injuries from running away from a burning building. Though not much as the girl.
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After everything is slowly coming back from ruin, Irene turn to the two men and her friend about what had happened. Kazuto explain everything that had transpire this night and how they suddenly come to such extent. Luyao then turn to the girl that had been left behind and seeing her slowly gaining her strength, he ask with a tint of anger. "What the fuck is inside the fire that is so important you forgot that your safety comes first?!"
Silence permeant the building. The only one who can answer the question pulled out something from her chest pocket which seems to be a wax candle insignia. One that is used to close up letters. "This little piece of shit! That is what so important that you risk your life!" The man with blood eyes can't control his own volatile anger and let it loose.
Yanyi — "To you it may seem insignificant. But not to both of us. Irene,"
Irene — "What now?"
Yanyi — "Do you remember the insignia that Anderil's academy used when they came to visit Soter Academy few years ago?"
Irene — "How can I not remember. Those people tried to change the Soter's newspaper logo in secret which still enrage me till today! What does that have to do with this?"
Yanyi — "That is them! Whatever. That is not their logo to begin with. Apparently, they had been using the Anderil Embassy's official logo for a long time for the purpose of advertising themselves using the academy. However, their embassy had changed their insignia 5 years ago. From that year onwards all the stamps are either kept away or confiscated."
Luyao who had just finished wrapping his own wounds turn to Yanyi to wrap hers up and ask the correlation about the two thing. "This wax wrapper was using the old embassy insignia. The lines are jagged which entails for many uses. The stamps are ONLY kept by the embassy. You know where I'm going with this." The other in the room can only think of one possibilities. The Kingdom of Anderil or rather someone representing them has something to do with this issue.
Irene take a map that had been kept in a drawer for years to the coffee table. This map is the general map of Yucoria which shows the terrain of all the countries, kingdoms and empires in Yucoria. It even shows the height of the terrain around. Like a geo map of some sort. The range of mountains that boarder Volenix and Dunisia is so high, yes. Though there is some place that are arguably much more easier to traverse. That area is between Volenix and Anderil.
This is the only safest way for the Dunisian to cross into their empire. Kazuto's grip starts to burn as he further clench his fist. "Those damn monkey!!" They all wear a grim face across their head. Anderil and Volenix had a long history of enemies amongst each other. Albeit this feud both choose to live in silence and continue their diplomatic relation for various reason. To be fair, Anderil had been trying to conquer Volenix territory for quite a while now so its only fair that they retaliate.
"If you guys want to bring this down for good, I'll be more than happy to help." True in some way. Not many can waltz into their embassy without prior appointment. However, those who had been wronged by their representatives are granted special access as they can bring certain suspicion upon any misconduct. Previously, all the embassy in Yucoria as place Ashrin to make things easier to managed. Instead of living in peace, Anderil choose to ignite some flame.
They had spread rumors and shared some "evidence" that Xue Xenzi, Yanyi's father, is involved in a drug trafficking incident. They had gone so far to set up a trial for him. But not everything can be placed at the palm of your hand so easily. Xue Xenzi had more that enough irrefutable evidence of his innocence. This put Anderil in a tough spot and eventually, after negotiation, they would be put away in Kinsel closer to their boarder while another more trusty ambassador to be place in Ashrin.
"You alone won't be enough. We need someone to vouch for you." Irene said following her idea. She had the feeling that something like this in unavoidable. Following her gaze, Yanyi looks for confident that ever when she look over to her signia laying in her hand. "I have a person in mind."
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*The Next Day*
*Ding! Ding! Ding!*
The clock sound as the clock strike 12 in the afternoon. Yanyi didn't go to work today for her stupid decision recklessness. She is currently reading through this week's news issue. Irene had taken some home after work everyday just so she has something to read to catch up on the latest news. She is currently alone in the apartment but not for long. She has invited someone for lunch. An old acquaintance of her family.
"Knock Knock, Young Lady." The voice that she had recently encounter a month ago rise back into her eardrums. Putting down the newspaper she smiled happily to her visitor. "Uncle Jerad finally came. Come on in, I have something to discuss with you. "
U. Jerad — "*sigh* You and your reckless mind. Can't you for once think before you act?"
Yanyi — "You're talking about these wounds? Who told you?"
U. Jerad — "Lady Irene of course! She came over to the blacksmith to invite me on your behalf. I pity that girl to be the safety lock to your trigger."
Yanyi — "Hey! You're supposed to be loyal to the Xue's not the Millar!"
U. Jerad — "I AM being loyal to the Xue by worrying and nagging you!"
The man in his early 40s put the plastic takeout bag he had bought over to the dining table. Thinking that he had been invited over for lunch yet the only girl who can cook between the two is currently semi handicap, he ought to buy something to eat. Yanyi take her seat by the chairs and ready to dig in.
"So, how has your adventure been in Kinsel?" Yanyi recollect the events that had transpire throughout her stay. She had even tell him about the current one. "Turns out that the former ambassador of Anderil that had been place in Ashrin may have something to do in this case. After all, you can't just get the wax approval if not through the ambassador himself." Taking a sip of his water, Jerad ask on what she has planned out.
"I plan to bring them down, of course. Its already damaging enough they tried to take down father. Now being demoted, he tries to cause problem in Kinsel. Involving the enemy of Yucoria that is." He take the plate to the sink and start to clean them up while chatting with his former employer's daughter. Yanyi didn't say anything else as she want to wait for another mind to her plan. So they change the chats topic to that of current issues.
Soon enough, a shadow emerge from the front door before walking over to the kitchen where Yanyi and Jerad is having some tea. "I'm here now. Care to explain?" Yanyi shows him the chair and he sat with pouring some tea into an empty teacup. The fact that she requested for Kazuto to be here and not Luyao means that it is something that needs the approval of direct descendants and or someone of equal status to her. Kazuto is the only one available in Kinsel.
Yanyi — "I plan to make my presence known in Kinsel."
U. Jerad — "..."
Kazuto — "... You're joking...?"
Yanyi — "I won't be fucking joking about my OWN presence!"
U. Jerad — "Young Lady, if you reveal your whereabouts, it'll increase your vulnerabilities. You're no longer in the comfort of the Xue Manor anymore."
Yanyi — "I know... and I'm ready to go with it. Beside, we need something to catch them off guard. Something that hinder them from having ample time to perfectly hide the evidence. My title as the Young Marquess Xue may not allow me to enter the office directly without appointment. But my OTHER title can. We can use this as a mean to seize them."
Kazuto — "That title can't be used for personal use, you know. What'll be your excuse?"
Yanyi — "The safety of the citizens contribute to the social predicaments of the citizen. I'm doing my job to keep the social structure and safety in check. This case involves not only the people of Volenix but the safety Yucoria as a whole. I'll have further discussion with Lyon myself."
Silence permits the room before Jerad sips on his beverage and continue the conversation with, "I consent. After all, the presence of her would decrease the amount of large crime from being committed." Yanyi gives a gratitude smile before Kazuto ask about her plan. I'm not going to reveal anything and let the time do the bidding.
-~*~-