This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.
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CH20: THE EMISSARY
The truck carrying the Alpha Team members arrived at an office building just on the outer rim of Port Harcourt. The building was a three-storey building with an underground parking garage. As the truck entered the underground parking space, it passed a sign that said 'scheduled for demolition'.
The building was going to be demolished to make way for a supermarket. The area is close to a major highway that saw a lot of traffic from those leaving and entering Port Harcourt or those just passing through to other places. Hence, a developer believed a supermarket there would be successful. Not that it matters to those using it now anyway.
With the building scheduled for demolition, it and its surroundings were deserted, making it a perfect hiding place. Also, a place to conduct an illegal business deal.
This is the true place the NDz recommended to both the Emissary and Haram boys for their deal. It was a place controlled by the NDz and neutral ground to both parties. The developer that owned the building had some dealings with the NDz. It has to be known that when a business grew to a certain level, there was a high chance of running into criminal gangs.
Most people would end any interactions as quickly as possible but some 'farsighted' people did the exact opposite and formed good relationships with these criminal organisations so that they may be of use to them in the future. The developer was one of such 'farsighted' people. Every so often, in exchange for 'helping' the developer, the NDz request to use his buildings for a while.
The truck entered the parking garage and came to a stop. The man in the suit came out of the passenger's side. Three people walked up to him. They were Caucasians. Two walked behind while one was in front. The two behind had guns and body armour, so it was safe to say they were bodyguards.
The man leading them had a medium height and build. He had a faint smile on his face that made him look warm and gentle. You wouldn't picture him in a place like this surrounded by armed men. He stretched his hand forward to shake the man in a suit.
"Mr. John, you are back. How was your hunt?" He said.
"Mr. Emissary, your plan worked perfectly. I was able to capture a lot of prey." the man replied causing both men to laugh out loud.
Yes, this 'warm and gentle' looking man is the Emissary. The man in a suit, however, is a mid-level boss in the NDz simply known as John.
John stretched out his hand in a welcoming gesture and led the Emissary to the back of the truck. He opened the door and the tied-up Alpha Team was seen. John turned to the Emissary and said, "We've completed our side of the deal. Please, transfer the money so that I can get out of your hair."
The Emissary nodded his head to one of the men behind him. The man brought out a phone and handed it over to the Emissary. He dialled a number and when the other side picked up, he just said, "Send it" before dropping the call.
He turned to John, "The money will be sent shortly. In the meantime, I was hoping you could join us and act as a witness for this deal. I believe the presence of a representative from the NDz will calm any nerves on both sides."
John hesitated. He was in a bind. When the Emissary met the Duke through the Don's recommendations, the Duke had made it clear that he didn't want to know about the deal between him and the Haram boys. Not that he wanted to tell him anyway. To the Emissary, unlike the Don, the Duke is nothing more than a brute. So, he asked the Duke for two things.
First, for the Duke to introduce him to the Haram boys. Second, for the NDz to help him capture mercenaries that want to ruin his deal so that he can find out which of his competitors sent them. The amount of money he was willing to pay was too much for the Duke to pass up for a 'simple' job like this. Hence, he agreed and sent John to lead the men. Before John left, however, the Duke stressed that John should not involve himself with the two groups' matters. He should just focus on their part of the deal and get out.
It was for this reason that only John and this truck's driver were the only members of NDz present at the moment. Well that, and the fact that if more of the trucks from the port converged in one location it negates the point of them splitting up in the first place as they'll be making their true destination obvious. The first reason is however the major reason for only John and the driver being here.
John was supposed to leave immediately but now with the Emissary's reasonable request, he couldn't leave without souring their relationship. What made the decision more difficult for him was the Emissary's expression and aura which made it difficult for someone to turn down his requests. Eventually, John accepted.
If Korede had been present, he would have been thanking God because if John had left, the tracker would have taken Bravo team somewhere else and the deal could have been concluded before they found out.
The Emissary smiled happily and led John away from the garage. Unbeknownst to John, his presence here had just cemented the NDz involvement in the kidnapping of Nigerian soldiers and a future potential bombing.
As the Emissary and his two bodyguards led John away, more men came down to the garage and took the captured Alpha Team to a large room, still on the underground floor, with no windows. It was probably a storage area. They were tied to a chair. Of the six men that brought the Alpha team members into the room, half waited behind to watch over them while the rest left. Due to the presence of these men, the team didn't say anything to one another. After about 30 minutes, a knock was heard from the door. The three men then walked out.
A thin East-Asian man brought in a wheeled metal table that looked like a serving cart. He placed a leather tools bag on it and rolled it open revealing various tools. It was clear to the team that the man is a torturer. The man checked his tools one by one. Various clicking and sharpening sounds were heard. This was a psychological strategy to put the team on edge before the torture began.
"You don't need to know my name. Think of me as an adjudicator. I will ask you some questions and you will answer. What you say and how you say it, will determine your judgement. Make no mistakes, you will answer one way or the other." The man said slowly as he continued to check and sharpen his tools.
"Psst, HAHAHA"
A laughter was heard. Everyone in the room turned to the source and found that it was the ever impulsive Sergeant Daniel Wike.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it. Did you take that from a movie line? It sounded so cliché that I couldn't help laughing. 'You will answer one way or another'. it sounded like something from a movie, am I right?" He apologized as he explained. Even though he was apologizing, the way he was currently laughing didn't make it seem like he was.
The man almost went into a rage but he took a deep breath and controlled himself. Or so they thought.
He picked up a knife and walked up to Sergeant Wike. He and his teammates expected that the torture would begin with him because of what he did.
Alas, they were wrong. So wrong.
The man didn't torture Sergeant Wike as they expected, he just directly slit his neck. Blood flowed down Daniel's neck, his expression was one of shock. The entire team was shocked, and not in a good way. Soon Daniel choked on his blood and died. The shocked expression on the team's face morphed to rage.
"Wike! Wike!! You are DEAD!! I'm going to kill you" The veteran members of the team roared in anguish.
The man looked on as blood flowed down the soldier's neck. He ignored the shouts around him. To him, these lots were dead men walking, they just didn't know it yet. He spat on Sergeant Daniel Wike's body before going back to his tools and facing the team. He wiped the blood from the knife with a rag. He threw the bloodied rag on the floor as if it was the filthiest thing in the world, thereby making the team angrier. He said to them
"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I am your Adjudicator. I decide your life and death. You merely need to answer the questions I ask you. Remember, I only need one of you alive to answer my questions. If you want to die like that fool, I will be more than happy to send you on your way."
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion really matters to me.]