Chapitre 32: Setting the pieces 1
[Sunday, 3:00 AM]
"Ezekiel got what…?"
—He got kidnapped, we aren't sure because the CCTV footage was blurry but it's a man in a suit.
I couldn't help but slam my hand on the table as I heard the word 'suit'.
They're getting annoying, a thorn in the side turns out to be a dagger. It's time to remove this problem honestly.
Then I got another call.
"Okay, let me know if you saw him"
—Sure do, you too, be careful if someone is targeting you.
"I know, thank you"
Who called me is a soldier in the outpost named Tony. I call him Uncle Tony and he's nice.
Anyways. I got some bad news and I only got it when they tried to find Ezekiel for a whole day. They didn't want to worry me because they knew how I would act, especially because I just got kidnapped and fell into a coma in just a single year.
I answered the other phone call and it was from Sophia.
"Sophia?"
—I found some information regarding Riley's route
She's truly competent, it was very convenient having her here. Now that said, since she is that competent, I asked.
"Sophia, find a Van that has E127GH as its plate number"
That's the plate number caught on CCTV but I doubt the kidnappers are that stupid, I'm. Pretty sure it's a throwaway vehicle.
"And check the ones who bought it, or if you can track it down"
"understood"
I ended the call
Currently, Sophia is with Anna. I got some understanding after I explained what I plan to do, nonetheless… she still cried. Every time she does that it feels like my mother looked at me like I was going to war.
And I can't deny that's what I'm doing right now. As long as my enemy isn't Nexus I am fine with it.
Unlike the mafia which has limited resources, Nexus on the other hand is a completely different topic.
They're the house of Villains, whilst the mafia is an organised crime syndicate.
So Anna, please don't worry. I know what I'm doing.
I need a refreshed brain, so I'll rest for today.
[Sunday, 9:32 AM]
I washed myself up, dressed up, watered my bonsai and went to the warehouse. I used one of the empty warehouses to discuss with Sophia.
"So. Where are your findings?"
"over here"
She handed me a thick folder. Nonetheless, I took it solemnly and read its contents.
Riley's schedule consists of inspecting the property and going to parties, banquets etc, most of the time he goes to these events to expand his influence and connections.
Another part of Riley's information is what he does to get to those parties. Even before we got entangled in each other's throats he would always use different vans just to get to one location.
As I flipped this I saw one van with a plate number of E127GH. I Glanced at Sophia momentarily.
"They are the ones who used the same van"
I almost crumpled the papers in my hands, but immediately stopped as I kept my cool. Sophia is not a bad purchase, she is extremely competent.
"good job"
I asked her to dig up Riley's schedule and make it the highest priority whilst the Van plate number is next, both with urgency but to give me both reports in one go.
Just amazing.
"oh well."
I took a deep breath. Today is where I start the assault. The plan was incomplete due to lack of information but now my plan just got solidified. After all, the more I know about the subject the scope of my prediction wouldn't go far off.
Even if there are variables, I fucking got you now Riley.
***
[Hotel Room, Upper floor. 12:15 PM]
Riley was eating his food, one of the high-class foods made out of meat that came from gates.
"I believe it is minotaur meat"
"Is that so?"
Riley was uninterested as he was thinking about something else. Entirely planning what he should do next, as he was just informed that the victim of his actions was also targeting him. Nonetheless, the man before him continued speaking.
"Of course! It's a boss monster from a [C] rank gate! It is said that it could revive vitality and its liver can be used for medical purposes!"
The man seems young, and with the uniform, he's wearing you could say that he is a Butler of some sort
But since Riley is not in the mood to play a generic bad villain he just cut down the Butler's enthusiasm by politely saying
"You seem young, but don't be too energetic. There's a lot of people who would've thought you're arrogant, you know?"
"m-my apologies"
Riley just reminded the young man he is working for the mafia, having an energetic attitude is good but in a place of hierarchy is prevalent, the way one should portray energy is by their work not by their mouths.
"It's fine"
Riley dismissed the young man and finished his food with good etiquette. And when he left the room, he was immediately met with Jin who had a heap of papers in his arms.
"godfather!"
He called out to Riley with delight, Riley looked at Jin solemnly and used his head to gesture to follow him, which Jin gladly did so.
They walked through a wide hall coursing through doors till finally reaching Riley's office. And once he got inside he sat down and Jin placed the papers on Riley's desk.
"Alright."
Riley took a folder and opened it, it made him lock on a deep frown, but he quickly fixed his expression.
'That's the 4th unit of surveillance corps'
Riley has been putting eyes on Damian, after all, he's just not an ordinary child. Even by the standards of Insidious High Damian is far from normal.
No child would want to fight a Mafia gang, much less when it's an executive of the underworld. Unless he's a puppet.
But the possibility is low after a thorough investigation, Riley knew that Damian and the mayor only got to know each other after Damian got into the truck-bus accident.
So truly, Riley could only blame himself.
"hah…another unit down."
The Surveillance Corps are a substitute for black ops, after all, the members of the surveillance corps are the failures of Black ops.
In the end, Riley decided to make a plan, to make sure that Damian was cut off from his plans.
Eventually, he got a report.
===
[Ezekiel Vogue, Damian Vogue's younger brother has been captured, we have the upper hand against the Alliance between Damian Vogue and the mayor]
===
And the report is one of the branches Riley had in the city.
"What.."
Riley paused and looked at the report for a moment.
"WHAT?!?"
Riley couldn't hold his emotions anymore and raised his voice.
'Alliance?? What fucking alliance?!'
Riley was making sure he isn't involved with Damian anymore, but also keeping him in check, at this point he was just digging a bigger grave.
"Tsk. Jin, what's the meaning of this?"
Riley then remembered Jin's suggestion, he looked at Jin with all of his suspicions.
"Godfather?"
But Jin only looked at him with confusion, acting innocent.
"Jin."
"..."
Jin never revealed anything, Riley couldn't help but be suspicious, he has known Jin for a while now. Riley knows that Jin has a few loose screws.
But Riley couldn't help but keep his suspicion to himself. Because according to his experience with Jin. He wouldn't know the things he has done till it's already late.
Jin is the hardest to control out of Riley's dogs after all.
***
Ezekiel was kept in a box with a gag on his mouth.
'What the fuck?!?'
Thanks to Ezekiel's Blood manipulation skill he can easily ease the bruises he had accumulated from the beatings he received.
He was beaten the moment he went to their destination, even though he was a child.
'Those bastards! Is this what my brother had to go through when he got kidnapped???'
'I swear! I'll get them back! I won't just let this go!'
Unfortunately for the other party, Ezekiel is a rabid dog to other people he deems an enemy. And he doesn't back down even if the enemy is stronger because to him:
'Brother fought much scarier enemies than these boneless pricks!'
That's what his train of thought is. He doesn't care that he was kidnapped, but he still knows that he's in danger at least so he won't act like a rabid dog.
'Now where am I?'
Since Ezekiel is tied down he tried ways of breaking the material used for tying him. Fortunately, it's rope but his hand is tied properly as if they're making sure he couldn't escape.
But that's no problem for Ezekiel, his Skill [{Unique}Blood Manipulation][Active] can make a blade and cut the rope.
Ezekiel struggled with his hands to make a wound, after opening a wound Blood seeped out in an organised manner and formed a blade behind him.
After that, it started cutting the rope. The blade is still wobbly, Ezekiel is controlling it after all and all he ever did with his blood is solidify it into a weapon, not make it move as he will.
–Shk
The rope loosened and Ezekiel commanded his blood to go back to his body. He rubbed his wrist as it hurt.
"tsk"
Since Ezekiel is inside a box it was pitch black. So he then decided to light bang his head on the walls, making it sound like his head hit the box.
And by the sound, Ezekiel concluded where he was.
'it's a wooden box'
Ezekiel then made his blood form into a blade, then decided not to, as it might alert his kidnappers. Then he decided to have his blood go back.
'i hope they aren't sensitive to magic like brother'
Ezekiel then started formulating a magic circle in his head then raised his fingertip
—fwoosh!
A tiny emblem of fire lit on the end of his fingertips that illuminated the inside of the box. But it's a tiny flame and its brightness is not that much.
"Okay, this is enough…"
Ezekiel tried to look around making as little noise as he could, and then he saw where he was.
"What the.. "
He saw a white container which was behind him, he looked closer and Ezekiel's eyes went pale.
"w-why are there alcohol here"
It says isopropyl alcohol, and it was stacked, next to it is a tiny portable gas canister.
"W-what???"
'W-what is this combination?'
Ezekiel removed his tiny emblem of fire and started thinking about how he could get out of here. But he couldn't just think how because if he did so, there's a possibility that someone might use the items before him and completely incapacitate him.
"just what…"
In the end, Ezekiel found himself in quite a situation.
***
[Warehouse. Sunday, 1:54 PM]
I dressed myself up in a fashioned manner, I of course kept it to my tastes. Back then I would get criticised by Ezekiel about my fit so I learned how to dress up quite nicely. I think it's about the skill I gave him [{D}Jesters humour] if I remember correctly.
Why am I wearing things like this? I'm going to introduce myself to the underworld, to be specific, as an identity.
Taking out the mask I bought from my storage I wore it and immediately felt the effect.
The black market operates 24/7 so I can go in whenever.
"Are you ready Sophia?"
Sophia would be my proxy, I can't keep going there to operate it myself.
"Yes, Sir"
I also told her to call me sir instead of master, I don't like the honorific at all.
Walking out of the warehouse and walking towards one of the entry points going to Bluelights, me and Sophia entered with no difficulty.
"Let's start"
"Understood"
I took a 1Million C as the budget for this operation of mine. You may not know it but C is very valuable, C means Chervo and it can buy you a lot of things.
[Bluelights, 2:50 PM]
All the budget is allocated in a different account on Sophia's hand. What is the budget for? Simple, attract attention and make Riley use his subordinates, making his security less, even if just a little bit.
I need a lead you see, the information I bought from the taxi broker. Told me where Riley is staying, but it's highly guarded. So I plan on being part of his schedule.
In just seven hours, he will go to the meeting. I plan to crash this very same meeting.
I ordered Sophia to use the necessary measures to make this plan work. I'm going to be a usurper, murderer and criminal after all of this is done after all.
***
[Bluelights 2:50 PM]
Me and sir Damian have parted ways to our respective tasks, I've always tried to get a read on Sir Damian's face but to no avail, I'm always left empty-handed.
For a child to have a face so controlled it was quite terrifying. His expressions don't change at all.
I sighed.
He gave me a task to do so we can sabotage Viperpool, and gave me the necessary money for it.
1million C. Even if I worked myself as a Civil Engineer I won't be able to make that much money.
And that's not all, Sir Damian knew that the suppliers won't just cut their operations so he gave me a ton of papers inside bracelet storage.
He knows all of the Suppliers' weaknesses and is planning to use them. How far did he think of this?
That aside I walked to a building that is full of old decorations, from pillars, design patterns and even the wooden floor.
"Welcome"
The smell of wood and some wax invaded my nose, I could tell this place had its aesthetics.
"Is this the Circles of Merchants?"
"Yes indeed."
I remembered the names on the papers given to me. Neil Arman, John Lock and Flint wood.
"I would like to meet Neil Arman, John Lock and Flint wood. If I'm correct today they're in the establishment?"
"Yes that's correct"
"Is two hours fine?"
"Yes it is fine"
Our conversation ended there and the receptionist brought out a paper and asked for my name, even asking the exact time and contact number.
After that, I went out and went to another building. Sir Damian told me about this but I don't understand. This building looks shabby.
As I entered darkness only met me. But per Sir Damian's instructions, I will not turn around immediately.
"Who ye be to enter?"
As soon as I finished my thought a raspy old voice behind me spoke, I felt a sharp object on my nape, it was not pressing but I know it could kill me, why did you make me go here, Sir Damian.
Regardless I spoke per Sir Damian's instructions.
"I came here for obsidian"
"Oh? Do ye?"
"Yes, one that reflects no light"
With a thud behind me, it's not that hard to say that he was above me, no— he was hanging off the ceiling.
He just walked in front of me, he was covered in a dark coat, I couldn't even see under his hood. He was a man completely clad in black.
His footsteps made no sound, but wasn't that strange? He just fell up there with a thud yet his footsteps didn't have sound? Was he only declaring he was there?
"Follow me"
I nodded and he continued walking as if again no sound. But I can't follow him in such dark conditions.
And like reading my mind the place was then lit up by chandeliers. Only I could look in amazement.
"them"
The man in front of me urged me to follow him and so I did. We walked towards a two-door hallway and I walked with him. I feel scared but I can't let him know.
I need to do this, to survive.
"Here"
He led me into one of the metallic doors. I guess it was so heavy that it had to open for a few minutes, all by itself automatically.
And when we went inside I saw multiple men and women filled with scars and tied to poles.
It was…. Too inhumane.
They are tubed in their mouths and noses, to their bottoms filled with filth. They practically have no life here.
"They're too crazy to let loose, those poles are Mana drainers."
Mana Drainers, as said devices are used to drain one of their mana, but They could only be used once on an individual so why are they tied to it?
"Their mana production is abnormal"
As if reading my mind he told me the answer to my question. But they're… they're the black ops?
"Those scars are their proof of battle, we easily remove scars as we are painting the walls with new paint, don't underestimate them as they're once part of a cause."
He then slammed his fist into the wall, it let out a loud clang.
"choose wisely. Each of them is 125BP"
There are 8 of them in the room. Me and the man excluded. I decided to go for my gut feeling.
"I'll… take all of them"
"... That's not so wise"
Sir Damian let me handle this, so I am confident in this decision, I know Sir Damian thinks of me as competent.
"It's my final decision."
I have about 1,000BP in store, so I could take all eight of them in. I immediately showed it to the man before me.
He let out a sigh and took all the 1000BP on me.
"follow me, they need to be 'woken up' before meeting you properly"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone