Chapter 60 - Volume 4 (2/2)
Max was dumbfounded by Isaac’s words. The syndicate bosses, on the other hand, slowly turned their faces away; Isaac’s words. .h.i.t them where it hurt.
“But you see, I just can’t understand this. You should have been fully aware that you’d be a dead man if you were to fail. But the fact that you pulled this off means that you were confident that I wouldn’t care about who became the syndicate boss. What I’m curious about is who gave you the a.s.surance of that fact.”
“What do you mean a.s.surance? I simply tried to serve you to the extent of my abilities because I admire you!”
Max proclaimed his innocence, but Isaac only smirked.
“Those syndicate bosses may be idiots, but there’s no way they weren’t prepared for betrayal when they climbed to where they are in a world saturated by lies and backstabbers. The fact that they were so powerless against you means that this was an extremely well-thought-out and carefully executed plan, and you’re telling me that a man with the patience, intelligence, and foresight to capitalise on the opportunity of a lifetime just waltzed into me? It seems more like they just sent a puppet. There’s no need to fear death, and they can escape even if the plan were to fail.”
Isaac saw a hint of uneasiness in Max’s eyes. Even so, Max continued to keep his mouth shut. Isaac tilted his head, then smirked and got off his chair.
“Why am I even bothering to find out who’s behind this? There are so many suspects, I’ll never believe your words no matter who you point at. More importantly, what are the damages?”
Soland spoke out with a grim expression.
“There are significant damages to our businesses due to the clashes between the different syndicates.”
Isaac looked at Soland with a dumb expression and then kicked Soland in the stomach.
“Uck!”
Soland groaned in pain, and Isaac immediately grabbed at the collar of Soland’s clothing.
“Are you playing with me? You’re telling me that businesses being destroyed and affecting my income is damaging? Can’t your smart a.s.s understand what I’m asking? You’ve been disappointing me a lot today.”
Soland took the full brunt of Isaac’s cold, piercing eyes just inches away from his face. When Isaac let go of him, he quickly regained composure and changed his answer.
“N, no. We haven’t got the full report, but we estimate more than 300 dead and injured among the syndicate members. Civilians didn’t suffer much damage, but the Rose Garden…”
Soland’s words traced off, and Isaac turned to look at Milena.
“Did many of them get hurt?”
“The sudden ambush was aided by the betrayal of the security guards in the building, and it all collapsed so soon. We tried to stop it with just our workers, but… those sons of b.i.t.c.hes laid their hands on everyone, even our students.”
“Then I’ll leave the clean-up to the crazy b.i.t.c.h. Make sure you finish it before the damsel comes and makes a scene tomorrow.”
Milena couldn’t hold her anger and screeched out murderously.
“Can we kill them!?”
“N, no! If so many people were to die, it’ll just give the police the justification to intervene!”
Kalden quickly intervened but backed off when Milena’s vengeful eyes turned to him.
Isaac approached Milena and patted her head.
“You guys aren’t syndicate bosses anymore but representatives who must administer the land in my stead. It’s problematic for you to commit crimes where I can see them.”
“So you’re telling me that I have to let them live!”
Milena spoke up to Isaac about the injustice she felt, and Isaac simply walked away from the area as he answered.
“That’s why I’m telling you to clean it up quietly where I can’t see. And finish it up before the damsel arrives.”
With that said, Isaac left the premises, and Rizzly followed closely behind him.
The hubaes and merchant employees thought for a moment if this was okay, then quickly chased behind Isaac. Pleas of mercy began to echo in the warehouse district, and Max stopped Isaac in his tracks with his shout.
“Why! I swore on my life to serve you!”
“Oh! Really? Then die for me now. I trust that you’ll live up to your words. Ah! Take that armour back from him. It’s expensive.”
“Lord Isaac!”
Max’s scream acted as a signal; the syndicate bosses’ underlings looked to Milena, weapons in hand.
“Wait. We will begin once Lord Isaac returns to the city hall. I’ll make you all wish for the morning to come soon. Ohohohoho!”
Milena’s bewitching laughter saw off the hubaes and employees as they left the area, chilled to their bones. Isaac took out another cigarette and ordered Rizzly to come closer with a flick of his finger.
“Is there something you need?”
“Watch Smarta.s.s carefully.”
“Do you suspect that he was behind everything? If so, Max wouldn’t have kept his mouth shut.”
“The probability that Smarta.s.s is behind it is low, because that lunatic didn’t even glance at him. But what makes me suspicious of Smarta.s.s is that he even got hurt trying to save the other syndicate bosses.”
“I must say, the tide of battle was tipping toward Soland by the time we arrived. The responses from other districts were lukewarm at best, despite Max claiming that he had acquired all of the districts.”
Rizzly nodded in agreement with Isaac’s explanation.
“In everything, the culprit is always the man who has the most to gain from it. There is no reason for Smarta.s.s to try save the other bosses when they aren’t even on good terms with each other. In fact, he could have simply taken over if he used that rebellion as a justification to kill the other bosses and subjugate the opposition.”
“Now that you say it, he does seem suspicious.”
“Even though I say that, everyone seems suspicious to me when I keep digging for the truth.”
“Sorry?”
“It’s nothing.”
Rizzly didn’t seem to understand what Isaac was saying. Isaac simply smirked. This was the perfect opportunity. Isaac had kept the date of Rivelia’s arrival secret because of how annoying it would be to deal with the irritating crowd that would come to watch her arrival.
The only people that were aware of when she would arrive were those at the top of the city’s administrative body. Isaac’s head began to ache when he began to think of who leaked the date to who, who was involved, and whether the leak was done accidentally or if it was leaked with the purpose of aiding the rebellion.
The world changed as soon Isaac arrived in Ceta District. The grim, dark storage units transitioned to streets of all colours of light, the streets brightened by the smiles of the pedestrians as they enjoyed their time.
Isaac muttered as he watched the crowd walk by.
“It’s not so bad living a cutthroat life by using my brain to its fullest…”
Once Isaac arrived at the city hall, his hubaes and merchant employees left for their residences. Isaac walked to the rooftop, which was now his residence, and looked down at the plaza. Isaac smirked and added on his monologue.
“But the best life is to play around all day without a care.”
Request for Emergency Response in New Port City
Sender: Central Directorate of Strategy, Leader of Project 401
Receiver: Director of Directorate of Strategy
A branch of the ‘angelic’ turncoat swarm attempted to approach Surveillance Target 728. The swarm was detected after the declaration of their wors.h.i.+p of Surveillance Target 728 was observed. The incident resolved with the surveillance target’s rejection and annihilation of the branch.
Unable to a.n.a.lyse the ‘angelic’ turncoat swarm’s size and state of consciousness. Considering their act of using a follower as an expendable p.a.w.n, it is expected that they have spread their roots across all parts of New Port City. It is expected that a swarm of fanatics is currently in completion. Requesting an emergency a.n.a.lysis by the Directorate of a.n.a.lysis. Requesting directives for responding when the ‘angelic’ turncoats establish contact with surveillance target again.
Orders on response to New Port City
Sender: The Grand Council of Central
Receiver: All agents deployed in New Port City
The Queen of the Sword will be responsible for all incidents regarding New Port City. All agents are to follow the Queen of the Sword’s orders.
The primary task is to find the ‘demonic’ turncoat and retrieve the Queen’s artefact.
The Directorate of a.n.a.lysis has determined that the ‘angelic’ turncoats have spread their roots across the entire city. Project 401 will be altered and used to continue to find the members of the ‘angelic’ turncoat swarm. Pa.s.sively observe any continued contact with the surveillance target from the swarm. Use their communications as clues to find the swarm.
If cooperation is observed between the ‘angelic’ turncoats and the surveillance target, retrieval of the Queen’s artefact will be forfeit along with the search for the ‘demonic’ turncoat. Extermination will begin.
Once Extermination is initiated, ‘Armageddon’ will trigger. All agents currently deployed in New Port City are included. Unable to authorise escape, evacuation, rejection or transfer. Do your best for the mission.
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