Chapter 41: Beneath the skin pt.2

"I Appreciate that an admiral came to help us in our time of need"

Within the high walls of the local office quarters of Komod sat Benedict, his expression solemn and serious — in a intimidate way that could only make the one he faced nervous. 

"Its our duty" Benedict replied, his tone harsh. 

"We have the understanding that there's been kidnapping going on here in Komod" He said not beating around the bush and wanted to get straight into it.

Infront of him stood a well dressed man in a dark red/violet attire, his stomach chubby and carrying around a impressive thick mustache — It's the major.

"Yes... that's our conclusion"

Benedict narrowed his eyes looking at the major with a suspicious glaze.

"On our way here we saw the current conditions of the area that's above the waters, you sure its not just people who have fallen in between splits of the platforms of the city?"

Benedict had seen the current state of Komod. The island was surrounded by a lower class living on a unmaintained platform that could fall down any time. As for the people they wore rather plain clothes unlike the man Infront of him now. He'd seen this before, it was negligence. 

In most cities across Endeia the richer with powers often ignored the hardworking people who technically was the pillars of their home yet the richer didn't even look their way. 

"..W-Well, with all due respect that's not what we've found out".

The major said with a worried and nervous look. 

"..At the start there were only a few who went missing... but up to recently its been happening consistently".

"How many goes missing in a week?"

The major had a hesitant look before answering. 

"...11 people went missing last week".

"....".

There was a evident anger on Benedict's face.

'11 people? that's absurd, the local officers hadn't done anything with it at all during that time... No, that's not why, there's a reason why he hasn't done anything' Benedict thought to himself starting to see the picture. 

"...You haven't done anything at all about it except searching for clues?"

"We have heavy security everywhere...". The Major replied.

Benedict crossed his arms, his thoughts starting to make sense the more the man spoke. With a slight smug appearing in the corner of his lips he asked something important.

If he was right, the major would've only posted up guards on the inner sector of the city where the well off people were, a man like the major would never have any regard of the lower class people.

"...The land area" The major said.

Benedict could almost laugh yet he composed himself barely. The discrimination was ridiculous. If he spoke with truth that meant it was the lower class locals being kidnapped because the major didn't care about their safeties.

Knowing the current conditions of the outer sector it was a haven for any criminal to do whatever they wanted without needing to think about getting caught. 

Benedict slammed his hands onto the table Infront of him.

-Thud-

"That's enough, I know everything".

Pulling the chair back he raised himself from the chair before turning his back to him, soon to take his leave.

"The marines will take care of it, all surveillance within the city will be taken care by my own members who've come with me, I'll have them patrol the streets, take care of any criminality happening in the broad daylight...".

"...In other words... the marine will take control over the entirety of Komod ".

The major didn't say anything, he seemed rather scared after hearing the man speak. He was unsure... after all, the marines are terrifying people. 

"Every report that goes through this building will also go through me and be well analyzed by my soldiers, I want all documents about past incidents and the current problems here".

"....Y-Yes Admiral"

***

-Thud!-

"S-Sir, W-What did I do wrong?!"

On the floor laid Suran on the wooden flooring, his clothes shivered due to the hardening floor behind him holding the fabric of his clothes twisted.

Solan stood Infront of him, standing silently and menacingly his hand was balled together like a fist. Despite wearing the mask to hide his face and expression overall the tense atmosphere there was a displayed anger running behind the cover.

"...Your fortune telling just how accurate is it?" Solan uttered, his voice visibly angry was composed just barely over the edge. 

'This clown Infront of me, I was intrigued to know about what he could tell me, but it's just a bunch of clownery and mockery'

Remembering the few minutes prior when the fortune teller had told him about his future, sitting behind his ball of trickery that could light up.

"I will die by the hands of a Leviathan so powerful that even anax or marines can take on?"

I've half of my life as a hunter onboard the lighting division, I have written and journaled all my experiences as a hunter ever since I the 'smokey island' incident. My death could only mean that I was reckless nothing I never was even in the face of a leviathan. Maybe I do to tend operate in a more unique ways, but not once have I ever considered it reckless as I'm still alive.

"T-That was the smoke told me sir! I-I'm just a messenger" Suran spoke, a visible red bruise on his cheek as he lightly crossed his face to feel it. 

"What smoke? Is it those almighty deities your people worship?"

I know the origins of the southern regions. Its a place that too have a mainland... though the majority of the land is endless deserts that have yet to be explore. Its believed that the people of the south believe in the concepts of greater beings that control powers even beyond human understanding, something like that is a intriguing topic to talk about yet it makes me feel pity. My village for the south of Endeia bordered the southern continent so I'm familiar with a few things.

"...Y-Yes, there is a deity that knows of our future.. and makes a path for us". Suran said with a sense of terror in his voice. 

"And just what does this deity of yours knows of my future?"

Suran didn't dare to speak, clearing his throat a bit he was still hesitant to answer it afraid of the previous incident to occur again.

"Your an evil man sir" Suran said, composing his voice and fear,

"My deity has made a path for you that only the most tragic of men will ever live on, once you think everything is under your order fate will come after you!". 

"A leviathan or someone who will stand up to you!"

Solan was silent, this man was terrified. 

With a slight huff Solan turned his back before taking his leave out of the tent. 

"I'll let you know this purple cladded clown, I've already decided to create my own fate by the time death or whatever will come after me".

With a slight smirk of amusement appearing beneath his mask he told.

"Eventually at some point I will make a visit to the Southern region... I'll take my time learning about your powerful deities".

***

After a while when the sun had made its way beneath the sea blanket. The bright stars were shining as beautiful as ever, the city streets were silent by the dock and there were not a single soul in sight.

"Alright, what about you two?" 

Inside a meeting room within the fleet the a few selected sky members stood around a huge map on top of the table, the room was dimly lit with lanterns every now and then creating a warm light.

"..Me and another one went further into the city.. In the north of Komod is the slums".

The young man stood firmly with his hands behind his back, he was a proud member bearing a higher status then the ordinary soldier, the silver gadget placed on his chest explained so. 

"The north of Komod is a haven for human trafficking, on our travels we didn't see a single guard except for when we were in the center sector".

Admiral Benedict sat comfortable on his wooden chair laced with thick pelt as a cushion for his back and butt — His arms were rested on top of the map, his index finger tapping back and forth on the hardened table, it was easy to tell that he hadn't patience anymore.

"The officials here have been completely useless, they haven't done a single thing since the kidnappings spiked up... They are selfish bastards who only think about their own people". 

Benedict was angry with the officials here though he himself found it rather ironic in his saying.

'Selfish men who only cared about their own good and safety. Its just like the mainland except for the fact the guards actually have a duty to uphold there no matter who they are helping... and the same goes for the entirety of marine' 

"We have already several of our soldiers patrolling the streets around the city, they are overwatching by the roofs and the towers around the city".

"How many are patrolling?" 

"About 60 of our men are currently out sir".

Admiral Benedict was relieved yet annoyed, just up to now there weren't any news by his soldiers that were useful, in fact they were still clueless on how to find them. 

With a sigh Benedict leaned further into his chair, stretching his back a bit yawning as the night was already taking the toll on him. 

A sudden distorted voice ran through his ear calling his name, it was slight echoing and there was a sound of a distant distortion.

"Solan?" Benedict was puzzled, he hadn't expected to hear Solan speak inside of his head.

Remembering the past meeting Solan was nowhere to be seen nor had any soldier reported to be with him or seen him during the investigation earlier today. 

"Where are you?" 

"I'll be on my way right now"