Chapter 132: Captain Hato

In the heart of the Mysterious Heaven Palace, tension hung thick in the air as Ruchir, Garret, and Robert stood in the grand chamber, their heads slightly bowed.

Before them stood Captain Hato, a figure of unyielding authority, known throughout the ranks as a symbol of hard work and justice.

His reputation was untarnished by the corrupting influences of the court, yet his strict adherence to orders was both his strength and his flaw.

Captain Hato's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Do you three have any idea what you've done?" His eyes narrowed, reflecting the anger boiling beneath his composed exterior.

"You were given a direct order to cease your investigation, and yet you continued, defying the chain of command."

Ruchir stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Captain Hato, we—"

Hato's hand shot up, silencing him. "Enough! This is not a discussion. You will not justify your actions to me, Ruchir. You and your companions acted recklessly, endangering not only yourselves but the integrity of the entire investigation."

Garret, who had been fidgeting nervously, blurted out, "But Captain, we found crucial evidence! The cult—"

"Silence!" Captain Hato's voice was thunderous, causing Garret to flinch. "You are not heroes, Garret. You are soldiers, and soldiers follow orders."

Robert, usually the more reserved of the group, tried to speak up. "We thought we were doing what was right—"

"Right?" Hato scoffed, his stern expression unwavering. "What is right is not for you to decide. Your duty is to obey, not to think you know better than those above you."

Captain Hato's piercing gaze shifted to Senior Catcher Ji, who had been standing quietly in the corner, watching the scene unfold with a worried expression.

"Catcher Ji," Hato addressed him with a tone that was more respectful but no less firm, "these young men are under your command. Their actions reflect poorly on your leadership."

Ji, seeing the severity of the situation, stepped forward. "Captain Hato, with all due respect, they are young and hot-blooded. Their intentions were not to defy orders but to protect the people. They found critical information—"

"Critical information that could have been passed up the chain of command," Hato interrupted. "Instead, they chose to act on their own, disregarding the consequences."

Hato's expression softened, but only slightly. He was known for his unwavering dedication to justice, but he was also a man who understood the challenges of youth.

"I understand their intentions, but the fact remains that they disobeyed a direct order," Hato continued.

"As a result, I am suspending all three of you for one week. During this time, you will reflect on the importance of discipline and respect for authority."

Garret's face fell, and Robert clenched his fists in frustration. Ruchir, however, remained stoic, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of defiance.

Hato wasn't finished. "In addition, your stipend will be reduced for the next month as a penalty. Consider this lenient, given the gravity of your actions."

Ji stepped forward again, his voice softer, more pleading. "Captain, I understand the need for discipline, but these young men are dedicated to their duty. They acted out of concern for the safety of the people. Perhaps, instead of punishment, we could—"

Hato shook his head. "No. This is my final decision. I will now personally oversee the investigation into this cult. You three are relieved of your duties until your suspension is over."

As Captain Hato turned to leave, the tension in the room seemed to lift slightly, though the air was still thick with unspoken emotions. Ji let out a sigh of relief, glad that the punishment had not been more severe.

He turned to the three young men, his expression a mixture of sternness and concern. "You heard the Captain. You're suspended for a week. Use this time to cool your heads and think about what's important. If you act out of line again, the consequences could be far worse."

Garret, always quick with a quip, muttered under his breath, "Worse than this?"

Ji shot him a sharp look. "Yes, Garret, much worse. Captain Hato is a fair man, but his patience has limits. If you disobey orders again, you might find yourself facing more than just suspension."

Ruchir nodded, his face unreadable. "Understood, Senior Catcher Ji."

But inside, a storm was brewing. Ruchir couldn't shake the feeling that they were being silenced for reasons beyond simple protocol. The cult was dangerous, and he knew they couldn't afford to sit idly by while Captain Hato took over.

As they turned to leave, Ji placed a hand on Ruchir's shoulder, his voice low and filled with concern. "I know that look, Ruchir. Don't do anything foolish. Rest, reflect, and come back ready to serve properly."

Ruchir nodded again, but his mind was already racing. He needed to find a way to continue the investigation without drawing attention. There was too much at stake to simply walk away.

Ji sighed, sensing the turmoil in the young man. "You're dismissed. Take the week and don't make me regret standing up for you."

Garret and Robert followed Ruchir out, their moods somber. But as soon as they were out of earshot, Garret couldn't help but whisper, "So, what's the plan?"

Ruchir didn't answer right away. He simply walked ahead, his thoughts already formulating a strategy. He wasn't about to let some suspension stop him from uncovering the truth.

As they exited the palace, Ji watched them go, a deep worry etched into his features. He could only hope they wouldn't let their determination lead them down a path of no return.

____

The night was cool, with the pale moon casting long shadows across the dimly lit streets.

Ruchir, Garret, Robert, and Professor Aanya moved silently through the capital's back alleys, their identities concealed beneath nondescript cloaks.

They were no longer acting as official investigators, having been suspended for seven days after their recent reckless actions.

But Ruchir's determination to uncover the truth about the cult left him restless.

His friends and the enigmatic Professor Aanya had decided to join him, even if it meant breaking the law.

As they navigated the narrow streets, Garret's curiosity got the better of him. He edged closer to Professor Aanya, who was leading the group, her eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger.

"Professor," Garret whispered, glancing around nervously, "aren't you afraid of being arrested? I mean, what we were doing before was at least under official investigation, but now… we're technically criminals, right?"

Professor Aanya didn't respond immediately. Instead, she continued walking, her posture calm and confident.

The group came to a stop near a quiet, deserted square, and she turned to face Garret, her expression thoughtful.

"Garret," she began, her voice soft but carrying a certain weight, "for the sake of righteousness, any sacrifice is worth it. If we have to break a few rules to save innocent lives, then so be it."

"Sometimes, the law isn't always on the side of justice. "

"Sometimes, we have to take matters into our own hands to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Garret and Robert exchanged glances, both of them feeling a swell of pride in their hearts.

Professor Aanya's words resonated deeply with them, reminding them of the gravity of their mission.

Garret's chest puffed up slightly, and Robert nodded in silent agreement, their resolve strengthened.

But then, just as Garret was about to express his newfound admiration, Professor Aanya broke into a mischievous grin.

"Do you really think I'd say something like that?"

"No, I just like the thrill of it all."

"And since you kids aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty, do you really think I'm afraid of a little lawbreaking?"

Garret's face fell instantly, and his heart sank.

The emotional high he had just experienced came crashing down. Robert's expression mirrored his own, a mix of disbelief and betrayal.

They both internally cursed their gullibility, feeling as if they had been played by their own teacher. 

Ruchir couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.

The contrast between Professor Aanya's serious tone and her sudden playful twist was too much for him to hold back his laughter.

"You guys really fell for that?" he asked, grinning at his friends' expense.

Garret clutched his chest dramatically. "Professor, my heart aches! I can't believe you would betray us like this. We were ready to follow you to the ends of the earth… for righteousness!"

Robert nodded vigorously. "Yeah! We were already imagining ourselves as noble martyrs. And then you just… you just rip it all away!"

Professor Aanya smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction she had provoked. "And for the matter of arresting me," she continued, "let's see whose background is bigger."

Her cryptic comment hung in the air, and the group fell silent for a moment.

Ruchir, Garret, and Robert exchanged curious looks, suddenly realizing how little they knew about their teacher's past. What exactly was Professor Aanya's background, and why did she seem so unconcerned about potential repercussions?

"Wait, what do you mean by that, Professor?" Ruchir asked, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of background are we talking about here?"

Professor Aanya simply gave them a mysterious smile. "Let's just say, if anyone tries to arrest me, they might find themselves regretting it. But enough about that—we have a job to do."

The group resumed their search, their thoughts briefly distracted by the enigma that was Professor Aanya.

Despite her lightheartedness, they knew she was serious about their mission.

They continued to scour the suspect locations, their movements careful and deliberate.

After what felt like hours of searching, they finally gathered in a small, secluded courtyard, the tension in the air palpable.

Ruchir had been analyzing the clues they had discovered—a series of symbols, coded messages, and suspicious activities that all seemed to connect in some way.

He spread out the papers they had collected on the ground, studying them with intense concentration.

Garret and Robert leaned over his shoulder, watching as Ruchir's brow furrowed in thought. Professor Aanya stood a few steps back, arms crossed, waiting for Ruchir to piece it all together.

Ruchir's mind raced as he reviewed everything they had uncovered.

He thought about the strange behaviors of the nobles and merchants, the ancient texts in the library, and the coded messages they had intercepted.

His thoughts connected dots, forming a pattern that led to a single, startling conclusion.

"Everything points to one place," Ruchir finally said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "The answers we're looking for aren't in the locations we've searched so far. They're beneath the capital. Underground."

Garret's face drained of color, and his eyes widened in terror. "U-underground? You mean, like, in the dark, creepy tunnels where nobody ever goes? That underground?"

Robert's reaction was similar, though he tried to hide his fear with a weak laugh. "Heh, wow, Ruchir, you really know how to pick the most terrifying places. What's next, haunted crypts?"

Ruchir didn't smile. His expression was one of grim determination. "If we want to stop the cult and find out what they're planning, we have to go down there. It's the only place they could be hiding without being detected."

Garret gulped audibly. "Well, I guess we've come this far… Might as well see it through, right?"

Professor Aanya gave a nod of approval, her usual playful demeanor replaced with seriousness. "You've all come this far, and you've faced worse. Remember, fear is just another obstacle. We'll face whatever's down there together."

Despite their fear, Garret and Robert felt reassured by Professor Aanya's words. They exchanged a determined look, steeling themselves for what was to come. Even though the thought of descending into the underground sent chills down their spines, they knew they couldn't back down now.

As they prepared to move, Ruchir took one last look at the map in his hand, committing the route to memory.

The underground tunnels were vast and treacherous, but he was confident they would find the cult's hidden lair.

He only hoped they would be ready for whatever awaited them in the darkness below.

Garret glanced around nervously. "I've got a bad feeling about this…"

Robert gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry, Garret. We've got Professor Aanya with us. And besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

Garret groaned. "Why would you say that? Now something bad is definitely going to happen!"

Ruchir shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Let's go, before Garret talks himself out of it."

With that, the group headed towards the hidden entrance to the underground, ready to face whatever horrors the cult had waiting for them.