Shocking news struck Cilicia.
Last night, Rep. Johanna Feltner was arrested on emergency charges of drug use and trafficking.
Congresswoman Johanna Feltner is known for exposing corruption within high-ranking members of Congress and the security service, and is said to have played a major role in proving the criminality of Chief of Police Alan Iver… … .
The suspect is vehemently denying the crime, but the circumstances and evidence are clear… … .
Security authorities have announced plans to further strengthen their crackdown on illegal drugs.
"The work was done much faster than I expected."
Kim Lee-hyun glanced at the person across from him and smiled.
"You must have touched it from your side?"
"I just followed the trend."
Kabak took the words lightly. He had left work yesterday, no, this morning, at around 2:00, but he had to return to work in just two hours. It was because an urgent report had arrived at the crack of dawn.
The arrest of Johanna Feltner.
When I first heard it, it was so out of the blue that I doubted my ears. Even now, after running around public institutions for about 15 hours, I still feel dazed. Maybe it's because I'm tired.
In any case, I couldn't miss this golden opportunity.
The Paneros faction, led by Harijo, moved quickly. They spread articles that seemed to confirm Johanna's crimes, and conversely, they created public opinion that Allen had been unjustly arrested.
"Allen Iver will be released midweek."
"Oh. Are you going to be reinstated as Chief of Police?"
"Of course. There are few people as talented as that."
He has a sense of justice and responsibility as a public official, and at the same time, he knows a fair amount about politics. He is highly trusted by his subordinates, and his own power is also excellent. He is worth cutting down even if it takes a lot of effort from Johanna.
He must have been quite shocked. He was thrown in prison for a crime he didn't even remember, and then released less than a month later. The person who framed him was dragged away like a change of shift.
The atmosphere had completely changed overnight. It was obvious who had done it. Kabak tried to act calm, but he felt his throat getting parched.
'There's no way to survive.'
There was no need for the Paneros faction to make a fuss.
Because the circumstances of Johanna's crime were so clear.
Even if she claimed that it wasn't her will and that she was kidnapped, it would be nothing more than crocodile tears. The political enemies she created would bite her as they presented evidence.
"...the CCTV footage was crucial. It showed Johanna Feltner walking into the drug warehouse on her own two feet, without any intervention."
"The world is truly scary. People like that are doing all the work of a member of the National Assembly."
He shrugs his shoulders and criticizes the state of affairs. If it were up to him, he would have gotten along, but the current Kabak is a man who runs on caffeine. In other words, he is a little bit out of his mind.
So I asked him directly.
"How did you do it?"
However, it was not something that could be expected with an answer.
* * *
"What did I say?"
"...haha!"
Harijo Metsocalu burst into laughter after hearing the story. He brushed his beard and looked at the monitor on his desk. The screen displayed information about certain people.
Former bounty hunter Kim Lee-Hyeon.
Chelsea, who also worked as a bounty hunter.
Asterike, who appeared like a comet and swept away the league.
It was a list of all the members of Dustborne Corporation, not just the three of them. Most of them had been thoroughly researched, including their past careers.
But for one person, the remarks column was completely empty. While the details of his whereabouts after leaving Cilicia were somewhat investigated, his past was still a mystery.
"What happened to the commotion at the Silenia Grand Palace?"
"It ended well without any noise."
"Well done. I guess we'll be more comfortable with each other."
A strange terrorist attack with no criminal statement or casualties. Harijo was aware of the whole story. At least, it was certain that Dustborn was involved.
'There was no evidence or anything.'
Investigation is not just the domain of the security forces. In order to conceal, evidence must first be found. Harijo was planning to cover up any unfavorable circumstances. As the saying goes, for each other.
There was no need for that.
Harijo's gaze went down. There were several photos on the desk. The monsters captured on CCTV. Not a single one of them was from Dustborn.
It was a ghost. Aside from the driver, no matching citizen was found in the Cilicia database. As a side note, the unfortunate driver was given the council's consideration.
They had no way of knowing.
The fact that Dustborn personnel used the Banjarian 'face' that Priya remembered, and that the unconscious Johanna Feltner was being controlled by Assam.
"흠."
Harijo looked at the monitor again. He was looking at Kim Ihyeon's photo and suddenly asked.
"What does it look like to you?"
"Are you talking about Dustborne?"
"The company is like that, and the president is like that."
"It's definitely different in Dustborn with Mr. Hyun."
It doesn't mean that Bryce is lacking. Even without Kim I-hyun, they have been able to carry out the council's requests without any problems. Although there have been difficulties, they have basically been resolved smoothly.
Rather, in terms of predictability, Bryce was more comfortable. After all, Kim Yi-hyun was a variable and the eye of the storm from the day they first met.
However, this situation was Kim Lee-hyun's main stage.
"They say that they left for Cilicia as soon as they received contact from the branch manager. This means that they are keeping an eye on this place even while they are working outside. Even if they are not staying in the city, it is judged that Mr. Hyun's influence cannot be ruled out. Accidents that occur during normal times can be dealt with with just the permanent staff."
"It's been getting quite good reviews."
"It is an objective evaluation based on evidence."
Knock, knock.
The electronic cigarette, held like a pen, lightly hit the table.
In Cilicia, there was a strange culture where young people smoked cigarettes. It was a trend that was difficult for Harizo to understand, called retro or something.
"Well, a contract is a contract, so I guess I should put a hat on it…."
The question is to what extent should they be treated? In fact, it would have been okay not to grant them any public authority. If they had just publicly acknowledged the connection between the Congress and Dustborn, they would have kept their promise.
but.
'An ambiguous relationship is not good.'
Treating them worse than they are is actually the seed of discord. It is time to make a choice. Either drive them out of Cilicia or actively embrace them.
I calculated the cost.
On the left side of the scale were the potential damage and effort required to repair the damage caused by opposing Dustborn. On the right side were the costs of quelling the potential backlash that would come from giving power to private companies.
The scales in my head quickly tipped to one side.
"First, I guess I'll have to move the office."
* * *
I had to move out of the blue.
From the seedy neighborhood where Dustborne had previously made their home, to a commercial area near the city center. Not just one floor, but an entire four-story commercial building became Dustborne's property.
"Wow. Look how big it is."
"I have to scoop up some water and bark at the parliament every morning."
"Aren't you praying?"
"How does a dog pray? Woof woof!"
Ignoring Chelsea, who had started to babble again, I looked around Dustbourne's office building. It was still an empty building. Even if I moved all my stuff in, there would still be plenty of space. There was even a basement floor.
"The first floor is used as a lobby. The second floor is a conference room and waiting room, and the basement has been renovated into a shooting range…."
Rarely, Bryce was mumbling to himself while biting his fingernails. Jenna and Pep were also stunned, beyond amazement. The newbies were busy moving the furniture.
"Ugh! What the hell was I thinking? This is an abuse of authority."
"So what? Fill it out however you want. And use the subsidy generously."
"...Is that okay?"
"You're the branch manager, what are you doing?"
He was the one who took care of all the big and small affairs of the branch while the president was away for a whole year. Kim I-hyeon felt indebted to Bryce. He had coaxed him into coming, but he himself was always wandering around.
'I'll be wandering around from now on too.'
There was no point in trying to customize it to your own taste. It was better to leave it to Bryce, who would be spending a lot of time in the office. The corners of his lips twitched as if he wanted to do it too.
"It would take several days just to find the materials and do it. I don't have the time for that."
"Oh, should I go out again?"
"I'm sure we'll hear from this side soon."
"What do you mean?"
I haven't relayed it yet because it hasn't been confirmed yet. However, it's close to being confirmed. I heard about it through Kabak a while ago.
"There will be a continental summit soon. The Cilicia Council is on the invitation list. The Council needs security to accompany them."
"It doesn't seem to have anything to do with us. Aren't there security forces?"
"Of course, the main force is the police."
Kim Lee-hyun chuckled.
"I think they'll draft a few from Dustborne too."
"...crazy."
Bryce was astonished. The council was even taking care of Dustborn's external standing. This was an absurdly large agenda.
"Have we made it big?"
"Yeah, Inma. Our life is on the line."
"I will follow you for the rest of my life, boss…!"
I patted Pep on the shoulder as he was squeezing tears out of his eyes. Although he didn't really cry, perhaps because he had no talent for acting, I could understand what he was feeling.
"Heh, uhhh. A-class matchmaking agency will come out!"
"You little brat. That's all you can think about."
"You're a good senior, but you're acting like that for no reason."
Jenna burst into laughter at Pep's teasing.
"That's good. Wow, Robben would be upset if he heard that."
"Please don't talk. It'll be annoying if you keep nagging."
"Even if you don't do it, word will spread quickly."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
He was merciless even to his colleagues from the White Fang era.
'That's only natural.'
There are few things as shameless as sticking around after you've already made it. Kim Yi-hyun also hoped that the bald Robben wouldn't do something foolish. So that his memories as a former comrade wouldn't be tarnished.
"By the way, the question is how many people will be called. First, let's have Hyeon as the representative…."
As I listened to Bryce, a thought occurred to me.
'I think it would be better to participate from this side.'
Cellbrox Labs is planning to join the talks in conjunction with Bastitera. Kim Yi-hyun was also planning to do the same, but if you look closely, the picture is quite funny. Dustborn looks like nothing more than a squirrel.
On the other hand, if you go along with the offer of the Cilicia Council, it becomes justified. In fact, it is like going out with an iron plate on your face. There is no reason to refuse a better option.
'It's strange that they're torn apart and left separately.'
First, it seemed like I had to contact the lab. I had to send the twins back. The weapon I had asked Tamtam to make was probably almost finished, but since I couldn't bring it to the conference anyway, it would be better to just return and get it.
'How should we select the personnel?'
First of all, Arya is out of the question. If she were to run wild, it would become an international incident. Edwin and Echidna, who are vicious criminals, are also in danger. If you take away the three, there are only two left.
In the end, it was the original members' combination again.
* * *
"Oh my. Why is it so cloudy?"
Coming out of the apartment, Roscoe tilted his head upward. The sky was overcast and looked as if it might rain at any moment. The air was so humid that it was uncomfortable.
I guess I'll have to stay home today. I thought to myself as I dragged my slippers on. I was on my way to the trash bin where the separation and recycling was automated.
Living.
Yes, it was close to being alive. It was a feeling I sometimes felt when I was rolling around in the information business in the past. Even now, with my stomach full and my back warm, I could sense the presence of my instincts, wondering if they had not died.
When I looked back, there was an unexpected person there.
"Oh, Miss Asterique?"
It was Asterike with horns on its head.
Roscoe's pupils dilated at the sight of a face he hadn't seen in a long time. For a moment, joy rose in his chest. The moment he read the anger in Asterike's eyes, memories naturally came to mind.
Phew. I was trying to let it pass quietly. Are you Asterike?
The truth is, I was the manager of that legendary player… .
Hehehe! The young lady's face is pretty. How many times more premium...!
"Fuck, fuck."
"What the heck? You were swearing at me?"
As soon as his eyes sharpened, Roscoe stood at attention.
"shoes!"
"what?"
"Can I lick your shoes…?"
A look of contempt appeared on Asterike's face.
"It's dirty."
Roscoe, who had become a money-grubber, couldn't help but think. If he took a picture of that and listed it on an auction, how much would he earn? There were countless perverts with unique tastes in the world...