Chapter 44 : Disagreement

"So, how was your night?" Axion asked.

"I don't like being put in your plan so suddenly," said Kaizo.

Axion chuckled. "Any pretty girls?"

"Pretty girls? I didn't know you're interested in girls," said Ramenman.

"You can ask him yourself. He spends the night with Vivre bar's girls," said Axion with a teasing tone.

"Ooohhh. Tell me the story," said Ramenman.

Kaizo grunt. "Some of the girls that I met last night were kidnapped victims. I asked around. There are at least 20 victims there."

"That's a big number," said Axion. "Evidence?"

"I have it," said Kaizo.

"Good. Don't report it," said Axion.

Kaizo looked at her in confusion. "Why?"

"I need Vivre bar if I want to squeeze information about Circus Maxima from Rosario," said Axion.

"But those girls-"

Axion stares sharply at Kaizo. "If you report it now, Rosario can pay his way out of the jail. Among the 20 victims that you found, how many of them want to testify? Do you think Rosario won't make any threats to shut them up?" Axion folds her arms. "If we want to put him down, we need more solid evidence. Something that can't be manipulated by bribed judges or lawyers."

"She's right. How many criminals do you think have escaped jail because they're rich enough to pay the judges? Or because the victims are too afraid to speak?" said Ramenman.

"So, what evidence can we use?" Kaizo asked.

Axion shrugs. "Proof of abuse like bruises. Work permits, passport, legal documents, and stuff. We also need to find out what keeps them there. What prevents them from reporting to the police? What threats did Rosario use to keep them stay?"

"Alright! I'll keep looking for it."

"I also got information about Circus Maxima from Phoenix," said Axion. The holographic screen shows data from Phoenix.

"Circus Maxima has at least 10,000 workers including circus performers. I'm not sure this number includes the animals in their show," said Axion.

"Leave the animal part. It's Spicy Gluten's job," said Rum.

The rest of the team nod in agreement.

"Alright. Circus Maxima has around 50,000 seats. The owner of the circus is called Diabolos. There is plenty of news about kids who were kidnapped or sold to the circus and trained to be circus performers. But none of these news has been made certain. It's either these news are fake or Circus Maxima is rich enough to bribe the media and authorities to keep their victims hidden," Axion explains.

"Which one do you think is it?" Ramenman asked.

"The second one, possibly. Not only Cirque du Sombre, Planet Circus also has other places where criminals do their jobs like L'ultima Cena or Vivre bar. Looking at the amount of mafia gangs around this planet, it is possible that Circus Maxima hides plenty of criminal acts," Axion answered.

"So, how do we get in? Don't tell me we need to buy a ticket to Circus Maxima and watch the show. Cause I'm kind of broke," said Ramenman.

"You're broke from bringing Rum on a date?" Axion asked.

"Menu from a 4-star restaurant is not cheap," Ramenman shrugs.

"I'll figure something out. Maybe Rosario can be my patron and get us a few tickets in," said Axion.

"By the way, I heard the raid on L'ultima Cena will be postponed. 2 squads of intergalactic police are already on their way here. But they're not going to take immediate action once they got here," said Ramenman.

"I see. So that's your plan," said Kaizo to Axion.

"Yes, I'm the one who asked it to be postponed," said Axion.

"What? Why?" Rum asked.

"Rosario's friend, Venturi wants Strada Raspa dead," said Axion.

"Why does that have anything to do with the raid?" Rum asked.

"Venturi hired a bounty hunter to kill him," Axion answered.

"So?"

"Axion is the bounty hunter that he hired," said Kaizo.

They all looked at both Kaizo and Axion in confusion.

"Okay... Say that again," said Ramenman with an unsure look.

Kaizo looked at Axion. She let out a deep breath.

"I know. I haven't truly told you everything. The reason why I always get more information is because I'm a bounty hunter," said Axion. "Both Kaizo and I get to know Rosario well partially because I'm an S class bounty hunter."

"The same goes for Scrozux?" Lahap asked.

"Kind of. I don't know how Scrozux got my identity. But I assure you, I don't work in a team. I'm a solo hunter," said Axion.

"So you asked the raid to be postponed so you can hunt L'ultima Cena's owner first?" Ramenman asked.

"Yes! If Venturi knew L'ultima Cena is going to be raided by police, he'd cancel my job," said Axion.

"Why do you have to do that job? You already get 2 million zemulite from the down payment," said Kaizo.

"2 MILLION?!!!" Lahap, Rum, and Ramenman were shocked.

"Venturi owns a casino. He's rich. Possibly richer than Rosario. We can use him to get us into Circus Maxima," said Axion.

"And you're using Strada to bargain with him. Just like how you use Carponio to make Rosario gives us tickets to Cirque du Sombre," said Kaizo.

"Exactly!"

Ramenman shook his head in frustration. "Ok. Ok. This is not right. This is insane. I know Strada is a real bad criminal. But he's supposed to be JAILED. Not Killed!"

Axion looked at him.

"We're space rangers, not vigilantes," Ramenman adds.

"I didn't say I'm going to kill him. I said I'm going to hunt him," said Axion.

Ramenman looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"I'm bringing Strada to Venturi, alive," said Axion.

Ramenman facepalmed. "Just when I thought you won't get even crazier."

"She can do it. I'm with her. We'll bring Strada to Venturi alive. Just like we bring Carponio to Rosario. Alive," said Kaizo.

"Oh? So instead of killing him yourself, you're going to let Venturi's man do the dirty work?" Ramenman asks sarcastically.

"Guys...." said Rum, trying to tone down the intensity around them.

"Don't think you won't have anything to do with his death just because you're not the one who executes him," said Ramenman.

"Don't act like you're some sort of saintly warrior like Captain Albi. Don't be so naive! There are victims at Circus Maxima waiting for us. We need to finish this whole mission fast!" said Axion.

"Axion is right. Our priority is to save the victims of alien trafficking, not keeping Strada alive," said Kaizo.

"What about victims at L'ultima Cena then? Aren't we supposed to save them fast too?!"

"They can wait! Being forced to perform at a circus has a higher risk of death at work compared to being a waiter," Axion denied. "We're not Gods. We can't save everyone. I dare say this won't be the last time you're given a choice to let go of one life in order to save another life."

"I don't think I need to learn about the value of life from a Bounty Hunter," said Ramenman.

"So what are you going to do? Saving Strada?" Axion furiously asked.

Ramenman shook his head in disbelief. "And you're fine with this?" he asks Kaizo.

Kaizo looked at Ramenman for a moment. "I do," he firmly answered.

"Admiral Maskmana already agreed on this," said Axion.

Rum, Ramenman, and Lahap flinched.

"Sometimes, it's not about doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing. Sometimes, It's about choosing the lesser evil," said Axion.

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil," said Ramenman.

"Most of us don't have the privilege of not choosing either of the two," said Axion coldly. "If you can't go through this plan, step down."

Ramenman clench his fist. He suddenly stands up and furiously walks away.