Nighttime, in the interrogation room of the police
station. Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other, bound
to the chairs in the middle of the room. The air in the room was cool and
damp, and darkness shrouded them completely. They could feel an invisible
weight on their shoulders. "My bad, I didn't mean to drag you into this
mess," Dustin spoke first. "They claimed you stole some valuables. Is
that true?" Dahlia asked, cutting to the chase. "What do you think?" "You
don't look that bold to me, so my guess is someone is trying to frame
you. Does this have anything to do with the Cobra?" "The Cobra is merely
a pawn. The mastermind is none other than Duane Welch." "Duane Welch? Are
you talking about Sir Anderson?" Dahlia was dumbstruck. "Weren't you on
fairly good terms with him before? Did you strike a nerve? How?" "I
punched him," Dustin admitted flatly. "What?" Dahlia choked, struggling
to keep her calm, "You You dared hit Sir Anderson! Are you out of your
mind?!" Sir Anderson wasn't just anyone–he was like a brother to Mr.
Anderson. Not to mention being of the prominent Welch family of
Millsburg! He was someone even the vicious, unyielding Cobra would kneel
to. Yet Dustin dared place a hand on him, the epitome of digging one's
own grave! "He hit me first. I only hit back in self–defense." Dustin
didn't seem bothered in the slightest. "Y–you act too rashly!" Dahlia
fumed, "Who do you think Sir Anderson is? Do you think he's someone you
can afford to offend? One order from him is all it takes to wipe you off
the face of the earth!" "Since I've already offended him, there's nothing
else we can do than go with the flow," Dustin said with a shrug. "Easy
for you to say, but do you think you can handle this?" Dahlia's patience
was running thin. She asserted, You better find an opening to call
Natasha later. She's the only one who can save you now!" As the words
left her tongue, she felt an acrid taste at the back of her throat.
Although she wouldn't admit it if she didn't have to, there was no
denying that there was no comparing herself to Natasha when it came to
family background. Suddenly, the metal door to the dark room creaked
open, Interrupting their conversation. A man with a rotund beer belly
appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room. He sat down on a chair
and flicked the switch of the bright lamp on the desk. The glare from the
lamp made the two detainees squeeze their eyes shut Instinctively. "So, you're Dustin Rhys or something." hissed the
fat man maliciously. "Yes." Dustin continued squinting until his eyes
grew accustomed to the intense light. I "Do either of you know who I am?"
the man asked. "No clue." "Then, allow me to introduce myself. I go by
Gardner, the inspector here. I am nicknamed Heinous Hades by many!" The
fat man lifted his chin with pride. 1 Dahlia's heart dropped. Having
spent a good chunk of her life mingling in this field, it was not her
first time hearing that nickname. He was a man of barbarian cruelty,
always baying for the blood of his next victim. Any offenders who fell
into his hands could only pray for an outcome less than horrific. They
were in grave trouble this time around! "Nice to meet you, Mr. Gardner.
We've heard a lot about you." While Dahlia anticipated the worst, Dustin
seemed relatively calm and breezy. "Great! Given that you've heard of my
name, I assume you're familiar with my habits. I recommend that you learn
your place and cooperate. That is your only hope of leaving here alive!"
The inspector lit a cigar, slid it between his teeth, and took a deep
breath. "Mr. Gardner, what do you need my cooperation for?" Dustin asked
with a calm voice. "The lot of you stole some valuable items, and the law
can sentence you to prison. However, I am giving you the chance to
straighten out the issue with the original owner. If we reach a mutual
agreement, no charges will be pressed." "Mr. Gardner, you must be
mistaken. I didn't steal anything. The Panax root belongs to me," Dustin
rebutted politely. "Hey! Kid! Are you sure you know what's happening?"
The fat man snorted. "Does it matter whether you stole it or not? Once
you step foot in my territory, I make the rules. If I say you stole it,
it means you stole it. Do you understand me?" "Mr. Gardner, isn't the way
you're approaching this case a little unreasonable?" Dustin's eyebrows
creased into a frown. "Unreasonable? Haha. My words could not be more
reasonable!" snarled the fat man. A sinister smirk stretched across his
face. "Now, you both have two options. One, to reach a deal with Sir
Anderson. Or two, spend the rest of your lives in jail!" "Can I choose
neither?" Dustin asked." "Hey! I'm trying to engage in a peaceful
discussion with you. You'd better be sensible and take the option, or
else you won't have it easy if you cross me!" Hostility flashed in his
eyes. "Are you trying to threaten me?" "What if I am?" the inspector
sneered. The cigar hung from his teeth as he continued with disdain, "I
know you have some punch in you, but even superpowers won't be
useful in my territory! Besides, need I remind you that your gorgeous
girlfriend will be very popular if she ends up in prison! Even if you
could not care less about yourself, you should keep her in mind! That is,
if you can bear watching as the other prisoners ravage such a delicate
beauty!" Dustin's expression hardened. Murderous intent seeped from his
eyes. "If you dare touch her, rest assured that nothing but death will
await you!" While his aggressive remark stunned Dahlia, she couldn't help
the warmth that filled her chest. "Haha! You can barely stand up for
yourself. And to think, you're trying to threaten me! If you have brains
in that head of yours, just hand over the Panax root and call it quits.
Otherwise, you can't blame me if I throw your beloved in prison! Give it
some thought. You'll have thirty minutes to think it through. I'll be
back with hopes of an affirmative answer." With a grotesque grin, Gardner
turned to leave, leaving nothing but a loud, resonating bang in his wake.
The room plunged back into darkness.