Meanwhile, as the struggle continued, Stanley heard Akin's voice cutting through the chaos, addressing Hickson directly.
"Are you just going to let him take over you like that, Hickson?" Akin shouted, seizing the opportunity to help his friend regain control.
Akin watched with turmoil in his heart, looking at tears streaming down his Hickson fighting, desperation etched in every glance, aware Hickson is giving it is all.
"A-Akin," Hickson managed, his voice strained.
"What are you doing? Go back to sleep," Feya sneered, slamming Hickson's body to the ground to shatter his resistance.
Hickson screamed in agony as the impact coursed through him, feeling as though his bones cracked and his skin burned from the relentless struggle for control.
"I'm… sorry…" Hickson choked out, tears mingling with pain as he looked at Akin, his closest friend, with a pleading gaze.
"Don't you dare give up, Hick—"
Akin started, desperate to encourage his friend, but his words were cut short as he watched Stanley grab Hickson by the face and drag him across the ground. Akin stood frozen, shocked at Stanley's actions.
"Hey, what are you doing—" Akin charged forward but stopped in his tracks as Stanley shot him a menacing glare. Standing over Hickson, Stanley placed a firm hand on his face.
"Playtime is over boys. Like I said earlier," Stanley spoke coldly, his voice steely with finality. "You're all under arrest."
Akin's anger flared. "Yeah, right? For trying to save my Friend, huh?!"
Stanley turned his gaze on Akin, an unsettling mix of playfulness and intensity. "That's exactly it, isn't it?" he said with a faint, twisted smile, his tone almost mocking.
Then Stanley and Akin heard Kalè's weak voice break through the tension.
"I'm… sorry. It's all my fault." Kalè, struggling to stand, let a single drop of dark liquid fall from her black orb pendant onto Hickson, who was still locked in a fierce battle for control with Feya beneath Stanley's palm.
The drop hit Hickson's skin, making him scream as it seemed to ignite a reaction deep within him as his screaming become intensified in agony.
Stanley's gaze shifted to Kalè, a faint smile touching his lips as he recognized the strange substance.
"You're all coming with me," he declared, standing and eyeing the trio—Akin, Kalè, and Hickson.
With a snap of his fingers, two of Stanley's individual appeared behind Akin and Kalè, twisting their arms back firmly.
"coming with you?" Akin said, struggling against the grip, his body weakened by Feya's earlier brutality, looking bloody. "We're the victims here, as you can see!"
Akin added.
Stanley leaned in close, his voice icy and unwavering.
"If you want to know why, I'll gladly tell you." His gaze turned steely, his voice a low hiss. "You three are all under arrest… for the massacre of everyone in that orphanage, and you specifically has a criminal record with us."
Akin's eyes widened in horror, his heart sinking as Stanley's words sank in.
"Massacre—?" he gasped but was cut short as Stanley delivered a hard punch to his gut, forcing the air from his lungs.
He coughed in agony, unable to process the shock as pain surged through his body.
"How about that? Are you satisfied?"
Stanley faintly smiled.
"Damn it…" Akin groaned before slipping into unconsciousness.
Stanley turned, meeting Kalè's eyes, which blazed with fury. She let out a low growl, her rage igniting at what Stanley had done to Akin.
"Let go of me!" Kalè shouted, her voice thick with fury as she struggled against the woman restraining her.
Her suspicions about Stanley only deepened with each action he took. The woman holding Kalè leaned in, whispering something into her ear, trying to calm her as Kalè strained against her grip, her gaze locked on Stanley with rage.
"You three are certainly troubles," Stanley remarked, picking up the unconscious Hickson and slinging him over his shoulder.
"Let's go, you two," he commanded, nodding to his team.
Without another word, they began moving, Kalè casting a hostile look toward Stanley as they set out.
"Chief is probably throwing a fit about what's taking me so long again," Stanley thought to himself with a faint smirk.
"But don't care."
Moments later, they arrived at a vast compound.
As Stanley touched down in the yard, a loud, impatient voice called out.
"What took you so long, money lover?" shouted a tall woman, her arms crossed as she watched them approach.
"Hey, Cara, we all need money to survive, you know," Stanley replied, his usual playful demeanor intact as he strode toward a large building that sat heavily guarded and isolated, deep within a forest.
"Hold on, Stan," Cara said, exasperated, keeping pace beside him.
"I'm asking you why it took so long, not about your obsession with money, nor it importance. you jerk."
Her tone shifted, tinged with urgency. "Did you even realize the orphanage was wiped out? Along with the people in that entire village?"
Stanley didn't react, but Cara's eyes landed on the young girl—Kalè, barely thirteen—who glared back with such intensity it made Cara shiver.
"Yikes," Cara muttered, leaning toward Stanley. "For a second, I thought she was a ghost."
"To answer your question, yes, I'm aware," Stanley interrupted, flashing Cara a mischievous grin. "And my heart goes out to them, truly. But my mission was...different, you know."
"You damn liar," Cara shot back, fully aware of Stanley's true motivations. "you probably went to earn some money and now pretend you were saved people. along your way back here."
Stanley's grin only widened, but Cara wasn't finished. "You missed an important meeting yesterday—and even that class you were supposed to teach, just for a day! One day, Stanley!" She emphasized the last part with frustration. "And why? Because of money! Like seriously i hope money won't be the cause for your end!"
Stanley shrugged nonchalantly.
"I'm sorry, but that's beside the point now. Inns are springing up more now than usual, and you know what that means!" He pushed open a large door, revealing an old man with long white hair and a beard, standing by a huge window. Beside him, a majestic white lion sat, occasionally stretching in calm repose.
"Right, old man, Michael?" Stanley called out, a faint, expectant grin on his face as he met Michael's gaze. He was ready for the old man's typical reaction, almost relishing the anticipation of it.
"Young man, where have you been?!" Michael said clearly and calmly, though a hint of anger laced his tone.
Stanley was aware of Michael's frustration regarding his tendency to run off from his duties, usually to earn extra money elsewhere.
"If I'm guessing right, you went to earn some more change," Yuri interjected coldly, a smile creeping onto her face as she uncrossed her legs from the table.
"Apparently, his monthly salary isn't enough—that's what it seems like I'm hearing, and seeing old man," Edie remarked nonchalantly, wearing a smug look as he directed it at Stanley.
" can't blame me," Stanley replied, placing Hickson on the table.
The room fell silent and serious as Yuri's gaze darkened, while Edie remained calm yet slightly serious as he regarded the two individuals Stanley had dropped. Michael's expression turned cold as he looked at Hickson followed by unconscious Akin being laid on the table.
"As you can see. I've got something that'll pique your interest, old man!" Stanley announced, drawing the attention of Michael, Yuri, and Edie toward Hickson, and Akin on the table.
Then their gaze shifted to Kalè, who was held by Madie. Kalè glared at them, her brow furrowed in anger.
"And this time, I promise it's no joke!"