May 28...
There was a deep silence in the office of the Communist Party. Everyone was sitting quietly, with their eyes closed, hands on the table, and any kind of conversation had stopped. James slightly lowered his mask as he entered the office pompously smiling, drawing everyone's attention to him and evidently stepping at the presence of associates.
"Looks like I did a great job saving all of your lives. I'm glad I could help. Well, the culprit was caught last night, you all must have heard the news." James muttered proudly.
"Yes, we are really grateful to you for saving our lives and the others, but James, can you turn around?"
Richard asked, causing the others to look more intense.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
James replied, looking surprised. On his back, a gun was tucked by his belt, Herein was sitting just on the end of the table. He swiftly took it out and pointed at James' head.
"Well, we have a surprise for you, since you helped us."
Richard had something more behind his arguments which James sensed. He gave his gesture of surrender while gazing at the people behind him.
"Oh, but do I need to keep my hands up or is it another way to trap me?"
He smirked afterwards and joked remarkably, further perplexing the group.
"What do you mean? We are just tryi–"
Richard asked, now sweating with apprehension.
"Don't play dumb. If your intentions were genuine, you wouldn't need those fake warrants in your pockets. Besides, I know there's no point in hiding guns under the table. Acting like fools just to kill a single man because he was unable to pay your debt yet he helped you... your hypocrisy was oblivious from the start." James interrupted.
All of them stood up, pointing their guns at James. Hatred was visible in their eyes, some were confused meanwhile some were scared but most were demented.
"So, this isn't your plan, Richard?"
Richard looked shockingly, his eyes wide opened as he sweats.
"It seems you have some other plans with Mr. Herein."
Richard's gun dropped from his tremulous hands. James' sudden intuitive statement affected Richard to the core and flashed a sinister smile momentarily as if he was playing along with their plan.
"Do you think my wife will pay off your debts? I'm afraid not." James taunted.
"I already said we wouldn't discuss the debt. You should have read the settlement more carefully. As for your wife, the court will decide."
Richard responded, trying to maintain his composure while James chuckled.
"Do you really think the court will be on your side? Read that agreement again!"
James raised his channels with a fierce gaze on his face.
"What do you mean?" Richard's voice interrupted as Sara interjected.
"Richard, it's true. The last line of the agreement is commenced under IPC 145.8." She had a tense complexion.
Herein, who was still pointing his gun at James, widened his eyes.
"A man like you with the billing of 145..."
"B-Burn those papers." Richard fumbled as he suggested.
"Do you think it's that easy?" James interrupted.
"Multiple copies of the agreement have already been disclosed as a buzz. Do you really want to ruin your reputation that bad?"
Richard, breathing heavily, but James continued as he lowered his arms.
"All of you have committed crimes and eluded the law in your past period. I mean, even now, you still envelop them in your dark chambers. Do you have a fear of it getting revealed?"
Herein, growing more agitated, questioning and yelling at James.
"What do you mean? I had enough of your games!"
"What do I mean? Haha, Nothing. It's your fault for suspecting me."
James averted his gaze towards Richard and signified a statement.
"Mr. Richard, your niece, had a child last week, right? The case alleged that she was raped."
Richard stared at James in shock and other people had their eyes on Richard.
"W-What? How do you-"
James smirked and interrupted. "Oh, don't act innocent. I know all your deepest secrets. You did the same thing to your sister-in-law, right? People's lustful desires never end."
Sarah's ambience deepens as her piercing gaze shifts and terrifies Richard, making him pale and speechless. She looked at Richard as if she wanted to kill him.
"What? Haha, you still haven't apprised Ms. Sarah about this? How very sinister of you."
"Actually, I even know who the real culprit is."
"Mr. Herein!" He yelled. "Your brother has very well gotten in many asphyxiation cases. Yelena's rape case was closed within an hour as soon as your failed senator brother comprised his bail. How do you plead?"
He asked with a sarcastic smile on her face, this play was all like an instigation of a case in front of a Jury. All eyes turned to Herein, who was now visibly shaking as he tried to scrutinize his fellow statemates.
"H-hey... don't look at me like that. That's a lie!" His vocals quavered from his desperate smile, trying to convince his tenet.
"Oh, so now I have to arrange some paperwork for a timing? The Jury itself uses my camera modulation!" James snapped back. "What am I? Your playtoy? You tried to use me against other syndicates, directed the felony of Mark Heath, commenced a purloin of thirty-seven million Marx for the fall of Ferro hive and so on!"
He tried to maintain his composure but his expression turned towards despondency. Others perceived it as a frustration but no one knows what human nature truly schemes.
"Y'all idea of anthropocentrism is so fucking retarded. I swear to go, I wanna kill every single one of you cunts."
Sarah slowly shifts her gaze towards Herein, giving him a minacious staring look. Amidst the chaos and revelations, everyone's attention focused on questioning their own self. Some people in the room were giving ominous looks to Richard. Overwhelmed by the situation, a politician decided to leave and ran outside in tension.
"Casandra!"
Herein called out to her, but it was too late.
"She was your wife, right?" James asked Herein.
Herein hesitated for a moment, then replied.
"You..."
Before Herein could finish his sentence, another voice interrupted, shouting in anger.
"My foolish little comrades, how could you do these things?"
It was Mrs. Nadine, a senior woman who had been quietly observing the whole episode until now. She turned to Richard and expressed her disappointment and hurt. But soon James' voice resounded, intent on exposing the secrets hidden beneath the surface.
"Mrs. Nadine, please calm down. Don't act like you are a victim here. You literally articulated your husband's mother by whoring yourself."
Nadine hesitated, not fully comprehending the implications of his statement. She stammered.
"W-What do you mean?"
"Mr. Richard, Mr. Herein and Ms. Sarah are the leading roles of this organization, right? Should I tell them how you were gonna take it away from them by using other individuals? After all, you're the one I made the contract when you were the minister."
"What are you even talking about? Do you even have evidence about this?"
Nadine acted like she knew nothing. The man, unfazed by her reaction, produced a stack of papers and claimed.
"Oh, indeed, I have evidence."
James took out his phone, took some time and played a "document" on the projector.
"These are the graphs showing the transformation of black money and social complaints directly linked to Mr. Lynx's Bank and if I remember correctly, that time when you were having an affair with the next heir of Giardino di Fiori hotel, I listened to it very closely..."
Nadine's world seemed to crumble as she attempted to defend herself.
"That's just... Richard, don't believe him! Those documents are undoubtedly fake!"
She pleaded desperately.
"How can you even question the authenticity of these documents? They are from your own bank company but indulging in grooming? That's disgusting."
He proclaimed, shock and confusion ran through everyone and pursued through the room. Seeing the commotion he had started, James decided to leave. As he started to walk out, a deep silence descended on the room. People sat quietly in their places, their voices fleeted as they realized their steps had come to divulge. James, who had caused the situation in the middle of all this, headed outside. As he reached the door, he saw Casandra—Herein's wife—sitting alone, her face filled with sadness. At first, James wanted to ignore her, but then a thought came to his mind, which prompted him to go to her.
"Mrs. Casandra, I suppose?"
James spoke softly, approaching her cautiously. Casandra glanced at him, her face devoid of expression.
"After creating all of that ruckus, what do you want from me now? Sorry, I can't play your game now."
James took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. Casandra averted her gaze, remaining in her seated position, seemingly uninterested. He sighed and sat down next to her.
"Look at this world. It is brief, and a person's life is even shorter. Yet people indulge in sinful desires that bring them pleasure while pretending to be angels. What kind of hypocrisy is this? Can you answer this?"
He asked, a hidden intention evident in his eyes.
Casandra's angry look melted into one of confusion and vulnerability. She mustered the courage to speak, her voice carrying an emotional weight.
"Hatred? Jealousy? Like how do fire and ice symbolize? But it's a nuisance when your own family doesn't care about you and treats you like a dog and servant... what kind of life is that!?"
Casandra's voice trembled with pent-up frustration and sadness.
"Sometimes when I cook, I just feel like stabbing everyone in my household..."
James interrupted her, catching her off guard.
"Does that mean you would even consider killing them?"
"N-No, of course not! What are you saying?"
She stood up, regaining her composure, and yelled at him. But James remained unperturbed by her hypocritical outburst.
"But you just said it."
He calmly pointed out.
"The truth is, I appreciate it. You've lived a limited life, bound by your parent's expectations and your so-called family's indifference. It's understandable that you would have such feelings. I sympathize with you, and yet, I envy the fact that you are so capable in every aspect. You got brilliant marks at the Martial Institute, which was ranked top in the country. Knowledgeable people like you are a real need in society. I envy that Mr. Herein caught the attention of a woman like you. But have you ever considered taking radical measures against your family?"
Cassandra's emotions oscillated between shock, confusion, and a flash of surge.
"I… I never wanted such praise. Well, my parents were very strict, and they forced me into this marriage. And my so-called family?"
She took a deep breath, her voice full of resignation.
"If I ever get the chance, I will..."
"Then embrace it." James encouraged, confidence in his voice.
"Embrace hate, for no one can live in a world where dualities. Choose your own destiny and freedom. And get a guide along that path without any disturbance."
Her eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and hope.
"But how?"
"Lend me your ear."
James whispered softly in her ear and leaned in close. As he spoke, Casandra's state changed from shock to a look of understanding and resonance. They spoke in low voices, their conversation shrouded in secrecy. James' admiration and willingness to make such an effort on her behalf astonished and impressed Casandra.
"You would do so much for me, even if it cost you dearly?"
Cassandra's voice trembled with uneasy hope.
"Of course, I would do anything for a woman."
James declared, his eyes fixed on Casandra. Caught up in James' charisma, their heads drew closer and James slightly removed his mask and leaned in for a kiss, creating a subtle and unsettling atmosphere. After that, the two went their separate ways, after their secret conversation. Amidst their moment, she took out a small blade and slowly cuts her lips, blood trickling down from her grotesque result of atttempt.
"This... whill remain... bhetween us..."
"You're crazy..." James muttered as his eyes widened in disgust but admiration.
As they left, an awkward silence descended on the room. The incident that had taken place had left a deep impression on everyone present. The discussions, issues and problems that had dominated the atmosphere earlier were now hidden in a silence. Tension and uncertainty lingered in the air, causing a great deal of disruption for two days. Everything suddenly reached a critical state.