章 32: Prelude To Chaos (2)
With a hardened expression, the Chief sighs and places the report down. Showing it to the three men in front of him, who had curiosity written all over their faces, he watched as their own expressions fell upon reading the same accursed report he had just read as well.
"As you can see, the work of our new intelligence network is already proving to be extremely valuable. I wish that the first major report we got was not as ghastly as this though..."
The three men didn't even pay attention to his words for they were still processing the words on the page. Each one of the three had an adverse reaction, one clutching a cross underneath his shirt, one thinking of Lily, and the other having thoughts unknown.
Bazel was the first to break the silence,
"The rate of 'suicide' has quadrupled within the past three months, conveniently around all the areas where new blood banks and drives attached to these three organizations that are suspected to be controlled by House Sanguis. They were deemed suicides because all else had been ruled out, with their wrists cut open and the cause of death being blood loss...."
The gears in his head turned, searching for a possible explanation of this sudden rise in the vicinity. He ruled out a few flimsy explanations before inadvertently stumbling on what he felt was a strong theory.
"The gifts... yes the gifts" said Bazel, at first uncertain but then self assured.
Seeing that no one else in the room was following, he explained.
"The main reason for these institutions that House Sanguis has here is that they serve as a method of recruitment. The branch families main goal, of any noble house, is to search for candidates who show promise with accepting the Gift of their House and then to bring them into their number by offering them the power of the Gift. The deaths we are seeing could very well be what happens when the process of adapting to the gift fails, death by blood loss. This would also explain why it is disproportionately members of the younger generation that are affected, they are easier to manipulate after all...as grim as that sounds."
The Chief did not reply, instead he simply looked at the man who had delivered the report and gave an order,
"I want this new threat to be moved from organized crime to a terrorist organization. Include this report and new classification with the data gained from our recent raid on the Sanguis HQ, bundle it, and send it to the Governor's desk no matter what. I don't care if you have to break and enter to make sure that insufferable fool reads it, get it done."
The officer gives a small salute and leaves, no doubt to fulfill the orders given.
"The future looks bleak indeed, but we still have our jobs to do. Captain Neto and Captain Schwarz, I want you two to have the framework for the DASF ready as soon as possible. Get it done, then you can sleep. Make sure that when you do finally pass out, everything is ready for Special Adviser Vasa. I want it as simple as possible for him since he is new here."
"Yes Sir" replied the two Captains.
"Get on with it then" said the Chief, dismissing the two.
With the door closed and the room now empty, besides Bazel and the Chief, a button is pressed under the Chief's desk which causes the sounds of several electronic locks being activated all at the same time to ring out.
Bazel raises a brow at this, wondering if the man had gone crazy, but the Chief just laughs it off as his entire demeanor changes from the hard boiled Chief of Police to a more open and childlike demeanor full of wonder and curiosity.
"So that our conversation is not interrupted," began the Chief as he stretched in his seat and looked at Bazel with clear reverence in his eye, "You know, I have been bored recently. When I was young everything was so new and interesting, but as I got older and came to understand how the world worked the bright world grew dimmer with each passing day. When I rose to my current position the world was at its darkest and to this day it is like I can no longer see the color in anything."
The Chief then pointed at the desk he was using,
"Gray"
He pointed at the painting of a starry night sky that had been donated to him,
"Dull"
Finally, he pointed at himself,
"Bored."
Perhaps noticing the strange expression on Bazels face, the Chief just laughed once more but this time his laugh was akin to what you might expect a young child to utter.
"Everything in my life has been a wash, with everything too simple and known. There is no more wonder, no more mystery...or at least there wasn't until you arrived. When I first saw the recording of your fight against Tiernan McGrath my heart almost gave out in excitement, I wanted to believe it so bad that I could taste it. So I gave you the chance to prove to me that it was true, and not the obvious conclusion of it all being fake hogwash.
"You did not disappoint, in fact you exceeded my expectations. You filled me with hope, vigor, and most importantly you brought color back to my world. Secret Houses that have strange and powerful abilities that defy all common sense and logic, that also secretly control the world? Oh boy...everything I knew was a lie it seems and I absolutely love it.
"And because of this, that is why I am giving you whatever you want. I know that you do not truly care all that much about anything other than getting back your sister, that everything else is just a means to an end. I can see it in your eyes, demeanor, and most importantly in your actions. Don't underestimate me boy, I have not sat in this chair for a decade without learning anything."
Bazel was finding himself completely caught off guard, half wondering if he should just silence the apparently insane man in front of him.
'I had thought he was some kid of wise seer before, but it appears I misjudged him. He is just insane...'
"So what are you trying to say with all this, Chief?" asked Bazel.
"No need to call me Chief when we are alone, just call me Willy.
"Now, my main point is that any other Chief of Police would have walked you right out the door or perhaps had you locked up as some kind of insane monster or perhaps even just outright ignored reality. Instead you got me, who will give you everything you want and more.
"No other Chief would have agreed to your raid, not cared about the devastating losses, and then despite the failure turn around and give you unlimited funding and authority to wage your own personal war. All of which I did, of course, to get on your good side so that you could continue to show me a world I had never seen before.
"But now...now I want more. You mentioned a gift earlier, that it can be given to normal folk and they can join the ranks of this impossible world. I want that, no, I need that. If you can get me a chance to step into this new world, you can have everything.
"Hell, I will even put Neto on a fast track to being the next Chief of Police should anything ever happen to me. Which all but guarantees you continued access to the resources at my disposal no matter what.
"But...but if you do give me the chance I so desire, I will swear eternal loyalty if it is required. I don't care, I just need it."
Having been buffeted by a rather shocking revelation, Bazel looked carefully at the man in front of him as his understanding of Chief Willy changed drastically.
'He will sacrifice anything to get what he wants, at any cost. If I can give him his need, then all is fine, but if I cannot...he will surely switch sides to whoever will offer him the golden ticket he requires...Alas, I need him too for my own goals. Even if part of me is uncomfortable with essentially taking over the entire department for my own needs...Lily above all else.'
Having made up his mind, Bazel finally responded after more than a few moments of deafening silence,
"I have no problem with that, but as of right now I do not know the method of passing on a gift. For both you and me, there are only two places where we could learn about or obtain this service. One of which is now in open conflict with us and the other remains mysterious and unknown.
"I do have contact with the McGrath family and one of their high ranking members does owe me a favor, so I could obtain the method or get you a chance at accepting a Gift. But, my current priority is to rescue my little sister. If you will accept it, you can have my word that after the upcoming conclusion...whatever it may be...I will give you your Gift."
Although the words were not exactly the most reassuring in the world, it seemed that the Chief cared not as he happily nodded and reached over to shake Bazel's hands.
"It is a deal then, just don't keep me waiting for long haha.
"I have seen a lot and I also have the ability to see the broader picture you know, a benefit of sitting at the top of such a large organization for so long, so I can guess as to what will happen in this town sooner or later.
"The Governor will never act according to our wishes and when he does finally make a move it will be far too late. The police by themselves, even if all the departments get involved, could at most deal with two of these branch families if we increase our recruitment and get a little more funding..but that is our limit. After that, things will inevitably go under the radar and our institutions will either be slowly taken over from within or outright taken by force. Our time is quickly running out, so be sure to get me my gift before it is too late."
Bazel reassured Chief Willy of his promise once more, before an idea came to him. An idea, with a little help from his new ally the Chief of Police, could perhaps make this apparently unmovable Governor dance to his own tune...
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