Chapter 20 - The Don and The Priestess Rescue Quest 2

The conference meeting resumed after the young Don sat down on his chair. His butler, Justin, had decided to stand guard behind him while keeping a low profile. One of the representatives, the one who wore her gothic dress stood up. She took a cough before she spoke while reading the content of the report she held. However, she hesitated to open her mouth because of the presence of the young Don and his butler.

"Chief, is it okay to let a stranger come inside and then join our meeting just for a sudden? This is certainly not right in my opinion.," she asked briefly and abruptly looked at the young Don.

With her question, Richarde interjected.,"Good grief, don't stand there and look at our guests like that. Show some respect to this kid. You already know the answer to your question, Lady Ylla. Just proceed."

She flinched and took a cough. She began to speak, "On the 5th day of January, the Priestess was approximately around 6:30 in the evening arrived. She had four bodyguards wearing black suits and armed with handguns on their jackets. On the port, there were already people waiting to pick up the young maiden. However, it was suddenly gone bizarre when a group of unknown assailants attacked them just before she got closed to their side and killed everyone on sight except the young maiden. The bodyguards tried to keep her safe however, they were easily defeated by these people. Some witnesses had seen her held captive after the last of them died. Her nose and mouth had seen covered with a white cloth that we assumed containing a sleeping powder. At 6:58:22 in the evening, the unconscious lady had been carried by a black-haired man with a white mask. Afterward, It is quite unfortunate that the guards nearby didn't get a chance to rescue the young maiden. They made an excuse that they were busy patrolling the other side so it took them a lot of time to arrive at the crime scene. But, It is possible that one of them got received an acc.u.mulated price to sold out her information, in my opinion. That's my report for today."

Hermes clearly understood her opinion. He would absolutely remain a secret to anyone that was really trustworthy like him. However, he got annoyed with her brief and straight to point basis. The young Don shook his head and closed his eyes while recalling the specific time she mentioned. His eyes opened after he realized that the time the Priestess disappeared, it was the same time that a newspaper hit his face.

Coincidence? Maybe. All of these were just a wise guess. But Hermes knew that this classified information might help him to remember what happened to him last night.

"Next," Chief Zamor called the next one.

Rafel, the first district representative, stood up from his chair and spoke, "Wait, sir. Umm, it is kinda rude to say this but can I intrude your time for a minute?"

"Proceed, what is it? I hope it is connected to our topic." Chief Zamor lends his ears and listened.

"Don't worry, I'll make it short. Everyone, this report is very classified information that anyone of you must remember not to leak anything outside this room. These pieces of information had been gathered for the last two months and right now, it is the right time to reveal it to all of you. Just to inform everyone in advance. The paper I hold has to carry a lot of complicated incidents but I'll make it short so anyone can fully grasp what it is indulged here like this woman's personal report. A'right, these files I'll reveal came from the reports from the guard who stationed near my shipyard. Two months ago, one container arrived at the port around 9:01:22 a.m. Well, it's kinda different from the other containers I've always received from other states. I ordered my men to investigate the container however, Captain Mattia arrived and personally gave me an order of notice. Well, the permit was clearly no doubt not a fake and signed by you, chief. So, I had no other choice to let the container in without checking it like other containers imported here with the guidance of that man. Well, I didn't know exactly what's inside but I sensed the same dark aura that had been arrived for the past few years. You know when that guard promoted to his current position, we received almost forty of it. And, the population to District 3 increased drastically out of nowhere. I think the incident and those containers are both connected to this case."

Daliah flinched and her legs trembled. Richarde noticed her face looked terrified so he placed his hand on her shoulder asking, "What's wrong?" But she shook her head and told him it was nothing. Her legs stopped trembling before Hermes looked at her out of curiosity.

The chief placed his palm on his forehead and murmured. "What's that? How exactly that connected anyway? Oh, boy. You're giving me a headache."

"Sorry, sir." Rafel and Ylla motioned to sit down on their respected seats.

Daliah raised her hand and commented, "Chief, I think that the case of the containers and those kidnappers cannot be ignored."

"What do you mean?" asked Chief Zamor as he turned his gaze towards her.

"For the past few years, the population of my district drastically increased. A lot of people migrated there are surprisingly in a state of middle-class rank. Our place is only known as a place for vendors so I am not surprised that some of these people have the interest to build a business. I tried to ask for my men to investigate these people, however, it was discovered that these people were found normal."

"Who did you ask to investigate them? I thought you're only managing the inn and the sole restaurant of that place, Lady Daliah." asked Elder Wamo.

"It is not quite surprise if some of them are middle-class people but why are sounds very afraid of saying it?" Elder Kilo added.

Daliah trembled, fidgeting her fingers on the table. She bit her lips and took a deep breath before she responded.

"They are men of Captain Mattia."

Everyone was astonished.

"So, what's wrong with that?" questioned Elder Kilo as he looked curious about the issue.

"These men I sent there had given me a report about their identities.," Daliah answered.

The chief quizzed her, "Why did you find about them?"

"I heard that they were from the people who hide from the containers."

"What the heck?" The chief bewildered upon her revelation.

"I knew it. They illegally migrated there. Damn it, I let them pass!" Rafel hammered the table in anger.

"However, they didn't commit any crime so I let it slide on my hands. But because of their business, the economy of our district boost from their investment.," said Daliah as she felt bad for their condition back then. "I thought it was normal to think about it. But for the following month of the start of their businesses, some old vendors were slightly failed to pay proper taxes and only those businesses from those new citizens were booming than them. Some rumors I heard from the gossips around my district that a new gang emerges in our place. They said that they were working to the mafia. I send a request for an immediate investigation about those rumors however, it was still unnoticed by those guards."

"Alright, Lady Daliah. I want you to write down a report related to your statement. I'll personally look after it." The chief looked at her seriously. His gaze made her to gulp.

"Y-y-yes, sir. But, it is just a complete hypothesis. A-a-a-a part of woman instinct. You don't need to rush your body to look for it."

"A'right, I'll note that. Lady Daliah, please calm down. Richarde, please assist our girl to breathe some air outside." Chief Zamor suggested. With his command, Richarde stood up and nodded with a bright smile.

"Consider it done, sir. Let me carry you my princ— Guwuu." His gentle offer was denied with an elbow strike on his stomach. The pitiful Richarde slowly returned to his chair and lost his appetite to tease her. Daliah returned to her senses and looked at him with disgust.

"A'right, we're losing trace to our main topic."

Ylla stood up and reported, "It stated that the guards despatched immediately to aid the victims however, it was already too late to save them all. The leader of the group defended his colleagues that they would possibly rescue her if they were well-informed for the arrival of the Priestess. According to the reporter, his superior named Captain Mattia promised to solve the case and save the Priestess at all costs. However, there's no lead yet so they ask for the time to reorganize a group to make a search and rescue mission to the highness. I'm very convinced that these people are part of the kidnapping, as well."

The chief remained quiet and sighed.

"Chief, I know it is very impossible to believe our statements but it is very clear evidence from the words coming out from our representatives that our main security forces are already corrupt," Rafel added. And, Ylla heaved a sigh and agreed, "Chief, our people who supposed to be the role model of our society has already been strayed away from their true objective — to serve and protect the many - for the past few years since that man named Captain Mattia took office. This incident won't happen if they just did their job properly."

Richarde giggled upon hearing that whilst, Daliah couldn't believe what's just she heard earlier. On the other side, the elders rubbed their beards while looking at the teenagers one by one.

The chief clasped his hand together and looked at them directly to their eyes.

"We can't possibly say that. There's no enough evidence to convince me that they are part of the plot. Ylla, I know you don't like that man but you can't just throw an accusation without proper proof. You don't have the right to judge a man by looking down on their status as well," said Chief Zamor.

"But, I believe we should consider being cautious about trusting them. Since the beginning of his service, a lot of people outside our territory has been lately reported commit a lot of illegal activities. A lot of criminals arrested by decent guards were always released from their cell with his approval. A large percentage of these criminals came from the third district. Well, as the protector and handler of the fourth district, I guarantee that my statements contain factual words even without any eminent evidence on my hands. Don't worry, the factories and warehouses are not affected by their schemes since it was a secret."

Hermes looked doubtful. The factories were supposed to be a secret but he carelessly revealed it even though he's inside the place. The young Don recalled that the village had a weapons factory here to produce their weapons according to Chief Zamor. The factories he stated earlier must be those factories. And, the warehouses are keeping it from the eyes of the public. So, he was grateful to this man's revelation.

His butler wrote something from his hand and poke his master's back. The young Don read the content and shocked.

<Should I get rid of that factory?>

Hermes gulp with cold sweat. He forgot that Justin had no idea about that place. He might do something that would ruin his plan. He turned half-sided face at him and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear it.

"Don't do anything stupid. Don't even think about it."

"As you wish, my Don." Justin lowered his head and returned his chair.

Hermes sighed and focused his mind on the front.

The chief defended as they continued the discussion, "But, that's normal, Ylla. We have a law that the criminals have the right to bail out by paying the exact amount. And because of that, we got a lot of acc.u.mulated funds thanks to his service. The kind of system he used was no doubt a very effective countermeasure to those criminals. More criminals to bail, more money comes into our own funds."

Ylla objected as she could feel that the chief was blinded from the truth. She debated, "Chief, that's very wrong. Even we earn some money from their penalties, we can't forgive the fact that these criminals are living prosperous while our people suffered from their activities. I believe that these morons are completely under control by the rumored organization or should I say, working together with them was the correct answer."

"Lady Ylla, why are you saying our security to those people involved with them? I trusted their competence and loyalty to our feud. They are the people who always risked their lives to save others so we can't assume anything like that. First of all, there are no basis points and proper evidence to show proof. Your doc.u.ments are based to the gossips of the many who we might say envied their job. Can you see that even we're lacking proper resources and have a slow growth of improvements we're still safe? Because of Captain Mattia's guidance, we're happily living with no casualties ever since."

Out of fear that the situation became worse, Rafel interjected and stopped the mad little girl, Ylla, to speak.

"Indeed, these people always there to save the people. They are the men more capable and competent than us. Compare to us who only sitting here and do our office works, they are the people who are always placed their lives to fulfill their duties and responsibilities on the field. Like Ylla, I don't like them because some of them are involved in illegal activities. But we can't deny the fact that we don't have enough evidence since there are no witnesses to prove it and we've based our reports on the rumors. I can see that the chief has been positioned in a difficult situation and I think it is good enough that we reported what we gathered today. Chief, we respect your decision but let me remind you here, sir. Please don't ignore these issues and consider it as a warning that the corruption of our place is in high density. We should always be aware of it, chief.," he concluded.

"I already planned that. And currently, we're doing a lot of countermeasures to fight corruption for the past few years. Ms. Ilona is the one who always do that. We're proud to say that we've decreased the 'corruption level' for at least 69 out of 100 percent. Anyhow, I think we're really losing track to the real issue we're supposedly discussing right now."

Richarde muttered. "Please, let us talk about the incident related to the kidnapping for goodness sake."

Ylla and Rafel sighed in disappointment with the chief's explanation. Daliah comforted the little girl and said, "Oh my, what should we do? The guards are so useless in this case. I rather than place my trust to my fellow representatives rather than those people."

Richard laughed and placed his hands on the table, "Well, they are indeed a worthless shit. Who knows maybe they are part of the crime like what you guys keep believing. But it is just a hunch. Y' know bribing them is a piece of cake. For example, I got drunk and destroyed a bucket of beers last night. A uniformed village guard approached me and tried to arrest me for not answering his dumb question. I just gave him two hundred Luzers to shut his mouth and both of us separated as nothing happened."

Daliah hit him on his back.

"Ouch. What was that for?" asked Richarde as he rubbed his backpain.

Daliah replied while pointed a curse sign, "You. So that was you. Do you know how much money it cost for me to buy those beers for my customers? And, how much trouble did you cause that time? I swear to gods that I will find the man responsible for hurting my kitchen staff and avenge him. So, it was you all along. Prepare to get yourself to get hurt."

"C'mon, w-wait, so that man is one of yours. Please don't get mad at me. I'm very innocent here. I just happened to pass by there and accidentally got hit by that muscle man. Well, I admit I punched his face because he's too handsome compared to me. If I just know I already apologized and I would do everything to pay for the damages I've done."

Daliah fl.u.s.tered but took a cough. She folded her arms with closed one eye, "Whatever. It doesn't matter. Back to the main topic, those corrupt village guards are complete cannot be trusted. But since they are the protectors of our place, we must consider making a plan about it. I suggest to this conference that we should create a chance for them to prove their innocence. Like what we just heard, Captain Mattia already promised to help us to solve this case. That's the good thing to consider, in my opinion," Ylla suggested. "So far, I think we should make a clear clarification and interview the people who personally witnessed the crime there. We cannot just toss aside the fact that the village guards are very competent, useful and easy to dispatch."

"Lady Daliah, that's a very positive response. I wish I can be like you," Ylla complimented as her cheeks pouted after hearing sweet statement. Her cute expression made Daliah fl.u.s.tered from neck to ears and embraced the little girl. "Oh, lady Ylla, these big sis of yours is very happy to hear that. I promise to give you a large teddy bear for the payment of praising me."

"Thanks, Lady Daliah." Ylla smiled and felt embarrassed.

"Childish. Dogs are better than teddy bears." Rafel muttered aside.

Richarde giggled and cajoled, "Oh, Lady Ylla. Don't worry, I can give you more bears than my angel."

Even his voice was very convincing, both girls stared at him with disgust.

Daliah asked, cracking her fingers with a sharp gaze. "Like I said over and over again. Stop saying like that. I'm not your property, stupid. And besides, I won't let you touch my beloved Ylla. Never. If you even try to lay your hands on her, I'll personally kill you on the spot right now."

Richarde gulped and spoke with an apologetic tone, "Oh c'mon, I won't fight you. You're my beloved angel who'll carry my children and become the grandmother of our grandchildren." The girls sighed. There's no point of talking nonsense to this man. Daliah fixed her face and asked, "Anyways, please forgive us for making a scene. Chief, should we build a team to search the Priestess as our second option? If we don't want to cooperate and use those men, I fully suggest to form a group outside our territory."

Everyone turned their gaze at their leader who was surprised. But Chief Zamor remained quiet and closed his eyes for a minute. He gulped some air and exhaled before he could give them his response, "Unfortunately, we can't."

Daliah flinched and asked, "But why? There's nothing wrong to ask for help from the others."

"We don't have enough time to prepare something like that."

Daliah became completely saddened. "Agreed. But we should save her before they could do something bad on her. But now, how?"

Elder Wamo "Young lady, please hold your tone for a bit. Calm your mind and heart so you can clearly find the solution for this madness. I'm very entertained lately while watching all of you talking normally as if you guys are so close to each other as a family. I'm very fortunate to have these teenagers to place down under your care, Chief Zamor. However, don't give up. Don't ever lose hope. Every problem has a solution. I don't know have a slight idea about anything related to government management. But, I'm completely aware that as the elder, if the youth started to feel gloom, we're here to enlighten them from their doom."

Chief Zamor nodded, "Thank you, Elder Wamo."

"You're welcome," replied Elder Wamo as he rubbed his bear up and down.

Chief Zamor continued and turned his gaze at everyone, "As you can see, our village is in really bad shape right now despite the outside appearance of every street and buildings. For the past five years, we're really trying our best to survive on this island. We all know the fact that everything has already done their job very well according to their specific position bestowed to each other. Prior to the incidents committed by the continuous assaults of the Archnemesis men, we're conducting illegal activities such as creating weapons without the permission of the former owner of this land. So, we can't judge everyone like Captain Mattia for being corrupted. All of us committed a sin and we have not right to say we're in the right position to judge the others. Right now, we have a small budget to boost our economy and because of that, we have slow progress to save money for future use. The Neue Fiona village has an acc.u.mulated budget from the taxes collected last year however if we allocate more funds to recruit some groups to rescue her is going to result in a large deficit. We don't have enough funds to spare. Our budget is preserved for — Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Aljen, I don't want to say this but please, don't let the others know about our situation. I hope you still plan to continue your investment here."

"Don't worry, I'll keep it in mind. Please continue," said Hermes. "Please don't mind me. I promise to all of you. Everything you said will just nothing but a smoke air on my ears. Just proceed and continue your discussion."

Elder Kilo inquired, "Chief Zamor, how about we ask the guards to become part of the rescue team? We can use them, right? By the way, who's in charge of taking command of those men?"

Hearing it made Rafel answered, "All of the representatives has all the authority to command them all. We're the commander of these folks in case of emergency. The chief had given us at least thirty men under our banner."

"And, thanks to the good but slow production of secret factories, we're barely given them proper equipment and weapons to carry. But at least, they are competent like she said compare to other people who wish for a normal life." Richarde added.

Elder Damaso sighed while rubbing his beard like his brothers, "So we have a grand total of 120 village guards with average equipment and preparedness, huh. This makes me believe that we can further use these people to rescue the young maiden. Like my brother and the young lady suggested, we must use these men to save her. We can just say that it will become one of their ways to prove their innocence."

Ylla spoke while folded one by one the pages of her doc.u.ments on the table, "Despite that low number, these pathetic people are well-trained killers, oh sorry, I mean well-trained security personnel and can be comparable to the soldiers of any mafia family. However, there's no way they will agree to become part of the rescue team. I know them very well. They are just a bunch of losers who'll probably play like a hero within their own territory. But I admit they are competent than the others."

"Right." Rafel seconded.

Elder Wamo asked with confusion, "So, why don't we use them to rescue the young Priestess if they are like that?"

"Too expensive," Rafel answered. He placed down from his hands all the files connected to their spendings while looking at the elders. "These people will eventually make a riot for the increase of their wages equivalent to their service. These competent employees are no doubt won't work with us without proper payments."

Daliah agreed, "I can't argue with that. I agree to your words, Rafel."

Ylla followed, "I second the motion. You still have a piece of intelligence in your brain, huh."

"Shut it, bitch.," Rafel muttered aside.

Only Richarde remained his silence while tapping his fingers on the table.

The place fell into silence for a few minutes.

"*cough* Please stop staring at each other and continue," Chief Zamor felt his mind was going to explode if the situation remained like this. Therefore, he decided to speak first before the silence absorbed everyone.

"Chief Zamor, can you explain to us what does they mean?" asked Elder Kilo.

Chief Zamor sighed and replied, "The village guards are not really a simple security team who can be mobilized easily. Despite their good reputation, they won't move without paying for a high price. We can compare them to the mercenaries but in low aspects."

"Oh, that's explain everything. This quest is certainly entertaining. My heart and mind boil in excitement.," Hermes muttered aside while keeping his eyes focus at all of them. He carefully listened to all information he heard from everyone. He felt really grateful to be part of this meeting today.

The chief sighed and decided to tell them to have a break. The representatives and the elders motioned to take a bow before they exited the room. Only the young Don and his butler had personally asked to stay for a minute.

The young Don clasped his hands together on the table, "What do you want to talk?"

Folding one by one the pages of the doc.u.ments, the chief closed the folder and placed it next to his filed papers. He scratched his chin and heaved a sigh. 'As expected' He thought.

"Mr. Aljen, what do you think about the meeting?" asked Chief Zamor as he slid over a folder towards the young Don. Hermes caught the folder and took a lot at the contents.

He whistled as he read something to make him awe.

"That.? Well, its kinda sucks. Oh, — "

"— That files contains the classified information related to our corrupted officials. You may find there that some of it are full of their personal assets, liabilities and equities for the past few years."

"Oh, so why are you giving me this to me? I'm certainly not interested to meddle with politics and involve myself that can ruin my normal life." He placed down the files on the table and tapped his fingers on his armrest.

"Mr. Aljen, do you still plan to invest here on this island?"

"Of course."

"Do you know why you can't meet me for the last three days?"

"Because of that woman? Or should I say, it is because you asked her to do that for some reason. Am I right?" he concluded.

Chief Zamor giggled and replied, "Certainly."

"But why? I thought we're in good terms. You already praised me to everyone like you already know me too well. I don't understand why were you doing that to me for the past three days." Hermes was curious about it.

"To be frank, I don't trust you too well."

"Oh, you're really interesting, old man. What a surprise, I don't trust you either. So, we can say that we're even and in the same league no doubt. Oh, why did you gave us these emblems — no one but two of them were personally handed over to us, if you didn't trust ask back then what's the main reason?"

Chief Zamor said with confidence, "There are several reasons. But it will take more time for you to earn it. Oh, one of them was when you saved me and my kids. I felt something that I could use you for something back there. Listen, Mr. Aljen. The day you've come I tried to investigate your origin."

"However, you failed."

"Indeed. So, I give up on that."

Hermes sighed and felt annoyed at his face. "W-wow, you easily tossed aside something important. Well, whatever. Let me take a guess. You want me to work with you. Right?" And the chief answered him with a, "Yes."

Hermes folded his arms and let the man spoke his request.

"Three days ago, I received a report from Ilona that some vendors are currently placed in protection racket under by the gang named Handdog gang. These group of thugs are said to be part of an organized crime under the protection of a mafia family. However, we're still no enough evidence that can link them to any of them. Like what Daliah's stories said earlier, my fellow villagers, who are working there, had failed to pay their taxes property. They were forced to accept their demands for the past few years. Half of their income that supposedly collected by our government was transferred to their illegal fundings.The members of the Handdog gang were no doubt the immigrants that hide from the containers."

"Handdog gang, huh." Hermes recalled the second quest he read from the newspaper. [Destroy the unorganized gang located at District 2.].

"We're still doesn't have evidence to link this gang to the kidnapping but I have a hunch that we can solve this problem by involving you. Bunch of my village guards are undeniably been bribed to keep their mouth shut. We're doing some investigation to make an excuse to kick them out of our territory. If it is not because of that group, we've already made it quick. Oh, I'm talking about the National Organized Human Right Council Mr. Aljen, please forgive me but I won't allow you to create a business in this place. I can't guarantee your safety if you're getting hurt. The reputation of our village will be placed in bad shape if something bad will happen to you. I know you can understand how desperate we are to completely annihilate these bastards strolling around the streets and keep pestering the lives of the many. But, I can give you something that you cannot ignore if you insist to stay here. This one chance will let you ―"

"So, you want someone to work from the shadow right?" the chief flinched and smiled after the young Don spoke out what he wanted to say. Hermes resumed, "I'm quite surprised that you still manage to keep your fake facade in front of me. Like I told you before. I don't want to get involved in the problems of this village. However, I cannot ignore the fact that you have something that can be certainly beneficial for both parties. To be frank, I don't listen to any kind of request because it's kind of annoying. So, you want to say you were protecting me for the past three days because you don't want me to ruin the image of your place? How pathetic."

"My apologies, there's no other way but to do it."

"Oh, boy. A'right, what's your request anyway?"

"Your service will be secretly rewarded. A man like you will surely no doubt guaranteed a one hundred percent success. What I want you to do is to rescue our new Priestess. And last, salvage our village from the brink of corruption. I know it'll be abruptly annoying for this favor, but please, help us resolve these problems." The chief lowered his head, ninety-degrees, at the young Don.

Hermes heaved a sigh and patted the shoulder of the old man. He raised his hand and waited for his response.

"I'll accept.," said Hermes and shook his hands delightedly. His face viciously smiled as his plan to resolve his own problem had finally on his palm.