Fynn understood the rationale, but it still didn't feel right, "But why did the two have to meet up, anyway? If it was just a discussion, it could have been done remotely. Did the councilor come to pick up drugs and see the research results first hand? But since councilor Desmond had access to the lab, couldn't he have just gone in and taken the drugs himself? Why the need to meet up?"
This time, Noah was the one to speak up, "Would a paranoid person, such as Asan, trust the other to quietly take a few drug samples and see himself out? He had to be there to supervise the other and make sure he didn't do anything he shouldn't."
Fynn paused a moment to consider Noah's words, then he spoke up again, "But if the councilor had access rights to the lab, couldn't he have dropped in at any time, all by himself?"
"What makes you think he had permanent access rights? Asan could have granted his number clearance each time they were supposed to meet and revoked them afterward." Noah sighed softly, "You found those two unknown communicator numbers on the access logs, but there are no corresponding logs for granting or revoking access clearance." Noah's two amber eyes narrowed, "In fact, I bet that, too, will be exploited by Asan in his defense. He'll just say he has no idea how those unknown two numbers got their access rights. Maybe their security system was hacked?"
Fynn's eyebrows furrowed, "It's true that we don't have any proof that it was him that gave those numbers access rights…"
The room fell into a momentary silence, then Noah spoke up again, "By the way, I assume you already tried calling those two unknown numbers?"
Fynn nodded, his loose ponytail bobbing up and down, "That's the first thing we tried. However, the calls didn't go through. It is very likely that their communicators are set to automatically block calls from those not on their contact list. Which makes sense; they wouldn't want to give up their identities by answering a wrong call."
"What about messages? Can those still be sent?"
"I would assume so. Otherwise, there would be no way for numbers not on their contact list to contact them at all. Besides, communicators usually don't have a built-in setting for blocking all messages. They'd have to be specially modified to include that. And why go through the trouble of getting it modified when it might not even be beneficial. If all messages are blocked, it would mean they wouldn't even receive some automated service messages."
"So we can message them but can't call them." Noah cupped his chin in thought, and his two amber eyes narrowed dangerously. Or rather, not as dangerously as he thought. He just looked like an angry kitten plotting revenge.
The other two men patiently gave him some room to think. Or rather, they were too mesmerized by his adorable mannerisms to interrupt him.
"If our conjectures are right, then after Asan is done tying up loose ends and preparing his defense, he'll contact you himself, claiming he just found out the peacekeepers were looking for him." The Noah-kitty's cute snarl was replaced by a pout, "It would be best if we could find him before he is ready for us, but it's probably already too late. If I were him, I would have left Concordia last night. As long as he is in another city, we would lack jurisdiction to arrest him even if we did have evidence of his guilt. We'd have to appeal to the international court." Noah fidgeted in his seat and then grumbled, "Our best bet now is to catch the councilor red-handed. Hopefully, we can find something that can be used against Asan in the councilor's communicator. Or maybe, the councilor would be willing to strike a deal for a more lenient court hearing and testify against his accomplices."
Fynn rubbed his glabella and closed his tired eyes, "I wish it were that simple. We'd have to have sufficient grounds to arrest the councilor in the first place."
Noah's two bright eyes locked with Fynn's half-open ones, "I have a way. A way that will allow you to immediately arrest him if he is guilty. As for Asan…" Noah huffed, "Can you find out whether he left the city already? If so, then…" Noah's pink lips curved slightly, "there is a tactic we can try…"
***
After settling the terrorist-related matters, it was time to focus on settling the marriage arrangements. The entire family, besides the actual newlyweds-to-be, had been busy handling various wedding changes since early morning. And now it was time for two grooms to experience the same woes.
Last minute changes needed to be made to Noah's wedding tuxedo. Now that he was not just attending the wedding but actually getting married, he couldn't just wear any random tuxedo from his closet. No, no, no! His tuxedo had to be a matching set with Levi's.
Starry-eyed Maery, (✪ ω ✪) "Baby brother, I think you'd look great in white! How about we make you a tux that's the same as Levi's but inverted in color?"
The idea was barely out when outraged Cordia daddy shot it down, "Absolutely not!!! If he wears white, wouldn't it imply he is the bride?!" (ꐦ °Д°)
His intentions were good, but unfortunately, his outburst rubbed the two women present the wrong way, "What's wrong with being a bride?! Do you think a bride is somehow lower than her husband?! Hey, hey!! Do you look down on women?!" (ꐦ °Д°)
Cordia daddy, who had been cornered by his own wife and daughter, "…it's not the issue of superiority or inferiority, it's the issue of gender!" QAQ
His attempts of explaining himself did not get the desired outcome, "So what? You look down on transgender people?!" (≖_≖)
Cordia daddy felt his spleen, lungs, and liver all hurting, "...what? No! But my good son isn't transgender! He is 100% male!" щ（ﾟДﾟщ）
Levi nodded seriously, "Mn. 100% male." （*︶‿︶*） 'I confirmed it with my very own eyes. And hands.' (ﾉ*^o^)ﾉ*
However, upon being glared at by his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Levi felt obliged to add, "But my baby would indeed look good in white."
Noah, 'Um… hello? Is no one going to ask my opinion on this?' 〒▽〒 Noah awkwardly raised his hand, "Um… I'm with dad on this one…"
Cordia daddy turned to gaze at his son with unshed tears in his eyes, 'My good son! So, you have not abandoned your old man after all!' ಥ‿ಥ
Levi did not even bat an eye as his words did a shameless 180-degree turn, "My darling is so good looking. Of course, he'd look good wearing any color."
Cordia daddy, Cordia mommy and Maery, "…" 'Why is there suddenly a taste of dog food in my mouth?' ಠ_ಠ
Noah, "…" (⁄ ⁄> ﹏ <⁄ ⁄) Ah, ah! This husband of his was too embarrassing!
Noah tried to pull his hands away from Levi's big ones, which were kneading and pinching and playing with his hands as if he was a plushie. But this big shameless thing refused to let go!
'And why are you using those embarrassing endearments in front of my parents?! щ（ﾟДﾟщ）It's not like they are not in on the truth!' ○|￣|_ 'How are you not embarrassed?? How thick IS your skin?!'
Blackie clicked his tongue, 'Ah, yes. They are certainly in on the truth. Unlike you. Tsk, tsk, tragic, really tragic!' ಠ‿ಠ
And thus, the matter of the tuxedo was settled – Noah would be wearing the exact same design as Levi.
Next, Noah had his measurements taken in the other room, while Levi used this time to admire the couple photos the reporters had taken yesterday in the cinema.
'Ah, look at my baby obediently sitting on my lap!'
'Ah, how adorable! Look at him snuggling inside my bosom like a little bird!' ❤o(≧▽≦)o
Suffice to say, Levi saved each one of the candid photos in his "My Baby <3" collection. He also didn't forget to leave a like on ones that were especially pleasing to the eye.
Reporters who had their photos liked by the official account of the famously unreasonable and cold-hearted wild wolf Astar Levi, "…" 'Is this a threat? This must be a threat, right??' 😱