Chapter 16 - Busted

When Marc and Rofta reached the stone site, they saw a lot of people surrounding Antonio, trying to get answers about what's going on. Genno was there too with a lot of guards to keep the situation under control.

"What's going on Antonio?" Yelled an important-looking man.

"Yes, spit out what you are hiding!" Yelled a fat arrogant rich looking man

"Shut your mouths or I will do it for you!" A man suddenly commanded while releasing a domineering pressure, that made everybody sweat, even Genno, and Antonio's backs fully straightened

"…" the place was as silent as it could be after this man spoke out. Not a single person in Maquarry City did not either respect or fear this man, mostly both.

After what seems like minutes of silence the domineering man followed up with "Antonio explain what's going on,"

"Yes, Major. It seems like someone is targeting my Calcul-Stone Company's employees. Right now Genno and his men have found more than 10 dead people who have been killed and displayed inhumanly around the city while different messages were left behind that all mention my company….They didn't even spare babies or pregnant women," Genno explained to the man he who also holds a high rank in The Kingdom of Fiore's military and has been offered a promotion multiple times because of his overwhelming combat ability. But he has declined it every time because he doesn't want too many responsibilities, though he was forced to manage this city because of some annoying nobles.

"Have you confirmed all of them have connections to your company?" Major asked after confirmation.

"Yes, it seems that these killers specifically went after the families of my employees," Antonio said while gritting his teeth.

"…" the Major thought about the situation and reasons to do so, while nobody dared to interrupt his thinking.

"Sigh, so their goal is to deal a blow to our economy before we go to war again." The Major said after analyzing everything.

"I think so too." Antonio agreed because his company is very important for the kingdom. If the business is going bad, the kingdom will get less tax money, making its military budget lower.

"But I don't have a solution to fix this mess. I can't have a guard protecting every employee's family even if I wanted..." Antonio followed up.

"…" The Major thought about a solution while looking very serious.

"Genno, go select 4 prisoners that would fit to be the scapegoats for this crime." The Major suddenly said something that made Antonio really angry.

"Scapegoats? You aren't going to catch those fuckers? I never took you as a coward!!" Antonio yelled in the Majors face, making the surrounding people sweat buckets and internally wish him good luck. All of them are people the Major choose himself and he more or less trusted them or knew their personality enough to calculate their decisions.

"Antonio stop. It's not what you think!"Genno immediately pushed Antonio away from the Major and told him he got it all wrong.

"Genno? What do you mean I got it wrong?" In their young days, Antonio was the hot-headed guy while Genno was calm and collected who always solved Antonio's misunderstandings, and it seems things haven't changed.

"At one side, the Major is trying to calm the people down so your company's work won't slow down much. At another, this will keep the assailants from leaving this city. They can't possibly leave when their goal isn't reached right?" Genno explained before he looked at the Major for confirmation of his theory.

"…" The Major just nodded while standing domineeringly with his arms crossed around his chest.

"But I just said I can't have guards protecting every single family. If their goal isn't reached. Then they will proceed to kill my employees right?" Although Antonio understood, he still had questions.

Genno didn't speak further and wanted the Major to explain his plan further, but the Major suddenly used his magic by wrapping himself in blue lightning before he suddenly disappeared from everyone's eyes.

…

In a bush a few hundred meters away two people were hiding and looking at all people gathering at the stone site.

"We shouldn't be here!" Said one of them.

"Don't be such a scaredy-cat." replied the other.

"Don't be ridiculous!! This isn't a joke!!" Fired the first one back with a low voice.

Then the atmosphere suddenly changed and the second said "I'm not joking right now, I'm getting involved in this no matter what!" With a really serious voice.

"Why?" Asked the first individual.

"Simple. Those fuckers actually tortured and killed pregnant women and children. Although I realize I have been a little naive about killing people up to now, there should be a bottom line. And this is way under my bottom line. I want to catch those fuckers and see with my own eyes what true scum really is. This will also benefit us." Explained the second individual.

"Benefit? How- I see… You don't think this will be the last time we see monsters like those killers?" The first person was about to question further, but he stopped himself from asking as he realized the answer.

"I'm sure of it. We will definitely run into cases like this in the future…" the second person confirmed with certainty in his voice before he continued to say "Let's just watch and see what Genno and Antonio are going to do."

"Okay, but that person looks really strong. Everybody is very reserved around him."

"Yea I wonder what his magic is- he disappeared?" he exclaimed because it looked like instant teleportation

"Shit run!!" He said but none of them could move because a sudden heavy pressure dawning on their bodies while their skin is stinging all over.

Then a voice reached their ears from behind that said "Who are you and what are you doing here?" With a tone that wouldn't take a lie for an answer.

The two hiding people robotically turned their heads around while one on instinct said "Selling milk and cookies. Scout's honor," with a smile, though sweat ran down his forehead. The other person at first chose to stay silent but regretted it greatly after hearing his partner in crime's excuse which didn't even make sense to him at all.

The person behind them is the same person who suddenly disappeared in front of them, and after hearing that weird confession his eyebrows lifted a little. He didn't say anything further before he used a spell to completely stun the two people with his lighting that are around his body like armor.

…

While Antonio, Genno, and the other surrounding people tried to spot where the Major went, he suddenly appeared in front of them again two seconds after while lifting two people like a sack of potatoes.

"Marc young-in and Rofta young-in!?" Genno exclaimed when he saw the two people the Major is carrying are somebody they know.

"What are those two brats doing here?" Asked Antonio with surprise in his voice.

"You know these two?" Asked the Major before putting down the unmoving Marc and Rofta. They are still conscious but they can't move a muscle, not even speak. They are totally stunned by the Major's Lightning Magic.

Marc tried activating his Paw Magic to repel the effect, but no matter what he couldn't activate it.

"We do, those two young-ins are guests of mine that needed money so I recommended them to work for Antonio," Genno explained.

"I see, but can you trust them?" the Major asked Genno.

"Yes they are good young-ins," Genno said proudly like they are his own grandsons.

"You can trust that little devil to make trouble." Antonio nodded and agreed, but on something else entirely.

The Major couldn't help look a little weirdly at Antonio for saying that. Who calls a good kid a devil? Then he just dispelled his magic so that Marc and Rofta can move again.

They looked around and saw they were the center of attention. Rofta felt a little embarrassed but Marc didn't feel a thing and just said "Yo" with a hand in the air as a greeting with a face that told people "I'm innocent"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

The people around couldn't help but think that something is wrong with this kid. Why isn't he panicking? Everybody could figure out the Major just caught them spying on them, so shouldn't he be afraid?

"What are you doing here Marc young-in and Rofta young-in?" Genno tried to disperse the weird atmosphere.

"Guess I have to thicken my face a little and go with the same excuse. I was taught to never back down when telling a lie, no matter how bad it is." Marc thought to himself after hearing the question.

"Selling milk and-" Marc couldn't finish his sentence as Rofta quickly closed his mouth and explained "We saw one of the murder scenes and we don't like it one bit. We want to help!"

***

(A/N: Sorry for not posting any chapters in the last two days. I started reading a fanfic again with hundreds of chapters, so yea you know…Sorry?)

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