Barak angrily kicked the leading cowboy in the stomach. "Damn bastards. Tell the police who's behind you. Let Zahavi rot in prison."
The police officers pulled the furious Barak aside. "Mr. Barak, calm down. Leave the rest to us." The officers hadn't expected the victim to be Barak and looked surprised.
Britney and Hannah, who were deeply shaken, were taken into the bedroom to rest. The hooligans were escorted away by the police, leaving one officer behind to take a statement.
"Mr. Barak, please tell me everything you know. We'll handle it fairly." The officer spoke gently as he asked Barak, "What exactly happened just now?"
Barak recounted the entire incident, mentioning Zahavi multiple times. "He lost to me, so he resorted to this despicable revenge. You have to bring that man to justice." Barak was visibly upset as he spoke, his anger spilling over.
After taking his statement, the officer introduced Donning to Barak. "Mr. Barak, luck was on your side. This young man witnessed what happened and alerted us. You owe him a debt of gratitude."
Barak looked atDonning, pretending not to know him, and gratefully took his hands. "Thank you for your kindness in saving my family. I will reward you generously."
After seeing off the officers and leaving the door ajar, Barak turned, panicked. "Zahavi wants to kill me. He won't stop now. He'll do something even crazier. I'm worried about my wife and daughter, Mr.Donning. You have to come up with something."
"Don't worry. Zahavi's done for. After tonight, no one will bother you. Blot City is safe. Trust me. You should rest and wait for the police to handle things tomorrow."Donning did his best to reassure the frightened Barak.
The operation had failed. Zahavi's underground gang would soon be dismantled. If this plan had succeeded, Alkmaar would have taken care of Zahavi's aftermath. But since it had failed, Alkmaar would never risk damaging his reputation to protect his distant nephew.
According to Uncle Anub'arak's understanding, Alkmaar was ruthless and pragmatic, willing to sacrifice anyone, even his own kin, to achieve his goals. Once, in order to lower Uncle Anub'arak's guard, Alkmaar had killed his own father. Zahavi, a distant nephew, was of no significance to him now.
Learning of the operation's failure, Zahavi was on the verge of madness. He had lost everything. Thanks to Barak's exaggerated storytelling, the events of last night had spread all over Blot City.
Under immense public pressure, the police were forced to act decisively. The chief gave the order: "Find all the scum hiding in Blot City and lock them up."
The gang members had hoped the situation would quietly fade, allowing them to continue their activities. Even the captured leader assumed he'd be released the next day. But no reprieve came. Desperate, the gang leader confessed everything.
Zahavi was unaware of this. He still clung to one last hope: Alkmaar. He begged for his uncle's help, hoping that their family ties would be enough. Hastily, he instructed Valen to prepare a carriage. Cloaked and hidden, Zahavi snuck out of his apartment and into the carriage.
"Hurry up!" he urged Valen, who was driving.
The carriage didn't move. Zahavi angrily opened the window to scold Valen, but froze in shock. The carriage was surrounded by police officers.
One officer approached and produced an arrest warrant. "Mr. Zahavi, you're coming with us."
Zahavi bellowed in rage, "Get away! You know who I am. You have no authority to arrest me, or you'll regret it."
The officers ignored his threats, entering the carriage and dragging Zahavi out. To prevent a scene and avoid alarming the public, they gagged him. Valen, Zahavi's loyal servant, was also taken into custody.
In the police station's interrogation room, Zahavi was questioned by the chief himself. "Mr. Zahavi, confess your crimes honestly. Don't make this more difficult."
Zahavi snarled, "You maggots! You weren't so righteous when you took my money. And don't forget my ties with Mr. Alkmaar. Let me go, or you'll regret it."
The chief left the interrogation room, visibly troubled. Mishandling this case could implicate him too. Alkmaar still loomed as a powerful figure. He decided to seek Alkmaar's advice.
"I believe the fact that Mr. Alkmaar hasn't reached out already shows his stance. You don't need to ask. He's completely disappointed in this failure of a nephew. Just proceed with a fair trial to maintain the police station's reputation." Alkmaar's assistant Luke wiped his hand after shaking with the chief, cold as an executioner.
The chief hesitated. "But a fair trial would need to go to court. You know we in the police station can't interfere with the judiciary."
Judicial and law enforcement powers were kept separate to ensure fairness, a fundamental principle.
"We'll handle the court. You just do your part." Luke threw the silk handkerchief he'd used into a tray.
The meeting place was a hotel, one of Alkmaar's properties, so there was no worry about information leaking.
"But this won't keep him in prison for long. Zahavi will be back on the streets soon, and once he is, he'll expose everything we've done." The chief was anxious about the future.
Only the dead don't talk. Luke made a throat-slitting gesture. "You're right. Mr. Alkmaar won't tolerate any loose ends. You know what to do—clean, with no traces."
Zahavi sat in his prison cell, his interrogation temporarily halted. This was a good sign. His threats had worked, and the police must have consulted Alkmaar. For the sake of old ties, Alkmaar wouldn't abandon him completely. When he got out, he'd have more men to deal with Barak.
In the middle of the night, the police chief entered the prison. "Mr. Zahavi, you've been wronged. You can go now."
Zahavi smirked arrogantly. "I told you. I'm an important player in the Alkmaar family."
He walked ahead, confident, out of the prison. But before he could breathe in the fresh air, a sword pierced his chest.
"Zahavi attempted to escape. According to imperial law, execute him on the spot," shouted the guard who had pulled back his sword.
Zahavi collapsed, his eyes wide with shock.
The police chief crouched to examine the scene. It was a perfect setup. A prisoner had attempted to escape and was killed by the guard. But something felt incomplete.
He looked up. "Guard, even though he was an escaped prisoner, we should've tried to save him. He deserved a fair trial. Just be slow on the way."
The guard understood immediately. "Got it, boss." He bent down to pick up Zahavi's corpse.
A sudden sound echoed as the sword flashed again, piercing the guard's chest. Both the guard and Zahavi collapsed to the ground, eyes full of shock.
The chief smiled smugly and placed the guard's sword beside the two bodies, creating the illusion of a fight for the weapon. "Now, it's perfect."
The next day, the police announced that Zahavi had attempted to escape and fought with the guard, resulting in both of their deaths. They promised to generously compensate the guard's family and introduced a series of reward measures.
Zahavi's body was displayed outside the station for reporters. Many of those he had wronged came forward, listing his crimes. The police recorded every accusation, and Zahavi, dead, would now bear every real and false charge. His associates would face countless charges and be imprisoned for life.
Zahavi was vilified after his death. Cast out from the Alkmaar family, his body was unclaimed and dragged through the streets by an enraged crowd.
Barak followed the procession all day, venting his anger. Once again,Donning had been right. Zahavi was no longer a threat.Donning seemed almost prophetic, always foreseeing what would happen. Barak began to hold a sense of awe for him.
"Barak, stay alert. You're in a powerful position now, but soon, someone important will reach out to you. When they do, hint that you have influential backing."
When Barak returned home, eager to tell Britney and still-panicked Hannah, he found Donning already sitting inside.