Chapter 309: Reversal [1]

Mr. Hawke laughed, a deep, mocking sound that echoed through the sanctuary. "You think you can win, boy? You're nothing but a naive dreamer. You have no idea how things work in the real world," he sneered, his eyes narrowing at Adrian. "This sanctuary is finished, and no amount of false hope can change that."

Adrian remained silent, refusing to give Mr. Hawke the satisfaction of a response. He knew Mr. Villain was waiting for him to argue but he couldn't care less about him.

Instead, he turned his gaze back to Irithel and the children, offering them a reassuring nod. They watched him with a mix of trust and anxiety, holding onto the belief that Adrian knew what he was doing.

Before Mr. Hawke could say more, the doors to the sanctuary swung open, and a group of people entered, led by the inspector and the TWAO agent from last week. They were accompanied by several other officials and a large contingent of personnel in uniform. The inspector, the man with sharp features, surveyed the scene with a stern expression.

He exchanged a brief glance with Mr. Hawke, a silent acknowledgment passing between them, before turning his attention to the workers and the beasts. "By order of the Eldoria City Security," he announced loudly, "this sanctuary is to be vacated immediately. All beasts are to be relocated to the special beast storage facilities outside the city."

The personnel behind him sprang into action, moving toward the enclosures with practiced efficiency. Mrs. Rena, her face pale and her eyes wide with disbelief, stepped forward, her hands raised in protest. "Wait! You can't just take them like this! These beasts are under our care—"

Several of the workers also moved to block the personnel, their faces set in defiance, but Adrian quickly intervened. "Stop," he said firmly, placing a hand on Mrs. Rena's shoulder. "Let them do their job."

Irithel, understanding Adrian's intent, knelt down beside Mia and Finn, gently holding them back. "It's okay," she whispered. "Sir Adrian knows what he's doing."

Mr. Hawke, standing off to the side, watched the scene unfold with a triumphant grin. His eyes glinted with malicious satisfaction as the workers reluctantly stepped aside, allowing the personnel to begin moving the beasts from their enclosures. The chaos and confusion played right into his hands. He had finally won.

In his mind, Mr. Hawke reveled in his victory. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the culmination of his plans to monopolize the city's sanctuary business. Soon, he would be the sole owner of the only remaining sanctuary, and his influence would skyrocket. He could almost feel the power slipping into his grasp.

Yet, despite his confidence, a nagging doubt gnawed at the back of his mind. Adrian's calm demeanor, his unwavering smile—it unsettled him. Did the boy have something up his sleeve? Had he asked for help from the academy? Was there a hidden ace that could turn the tide?

But Mr. Hawke shook his head, dismissing the thought. "It doesn't matter," he muttered under his breath, watching as the personnel continued their work. Even if Adrian had a plan, it wouldn't be enough to counter the meticulous schemes Mr. Hawke had laid out. He had covered his tracks too well and set up many scapegoats.

There was no direct evidence linking him to anything illegal.

He would walk away clean.

Meanwhile, Adrian stood silently, observing Mr. Hawke from across the sanctuary. He could see the older man's face alight with a sick sort of glee, clearly enjoying the chaos and despair unfolding before him. He seemed confident about everything. But Adrian knew this momentary triumph would soon be short-lived.

He waited patiently, watching as the personnel began to lead the beasts toward the sanctuary's exit. The air was tense, filled with the low growls and hisses of agitated creatures, the muted sobs of the children, and the hushed murmurs of the remaining workers. It was a scene of hopelessness—or so it seemed.

Once the first few beasts were led outside, Adrian's lips curled into a small, confident smile. He took a deep breath, his voice clear and steady as he called out, "Wait!"

Everyone fell silent, all eyes turning to Adrian. He took a step forward, his expression calm yet resolute. "Before you take another step, there's something you should all see."

Mr. Hawke frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his features. "What are you playing at, boy?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation.

Adrian ignored him, keeping his focus on the inspector and the TWAO agent. "Misters, I have a question I wanted to ask. What would happen if I were to prove that this whole situation was orchestrated—sabotaged and schemed? What if the sanctuary was actually fine all along?"

The inspector narrowed his eyes, his stern features reflecting both annoyance and curiosity. "If you have proof to support such a claim, we would be obligated to review it and conduct a thorough reinvestigation," he replied, his voice steady but laced with skepticism. "And if it turns out that the sanctuary has been unjustly accused, the order for its closure would be lifted immediately."

A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian smiled, a calm, confident smile that seemed to further unsettle Mr. Hawke. "Thank you, Inspector," Adrian said, nodding in appreciation. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."

He then turned to Mrs. Rena, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of hope and fear. "Mrs. Rena, it's time. Bring out 'it'."

Mrs. Rena's expression shifted dramatically, her previous despair replaced by a look of determination and resolve. With a firm nod, she reached into her storage ring, her hand emerging with a small, glowing orb. The sight of it caused a ripple of surprise and curiosity among the onlookers. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Mr. Hawke's confident demeanor faltered slightly, a frown creasing his brow as he glanced between the orb and Adrian. The inspector's eyes narrowed, clearly trying to discern what Adrian had planned. Find more to read at m_v l|-NovelFire.net

Adrian took the orb from Mrs. Rena, holding it up for everyone to see. "This," he began, "is a magic recording orb, one of the latest models designed to capture everything that happens within its range. And it's been active in this sanctuary for quite some time now."

He activated the orb, and a holographic screen materialized above it, flickering to life with a bright glow. The screen displayed the inside of the sanctuary, specifically the aviary.

The holographic image shimmered slightly, casting a faint glow over the crowd. Everyone's eyes were glued to the recording, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

At first, the footage showed the aviary in its usual state—birds perched on branches, ruffling their feathers, some flying between perches. Workers moved around, feeding the beasts and attending to their duties. The calming scent filled the air, visibly soothing the creatures.

But then, something unusual caught everyone's attention. A figure in the shadows, dressed in the standard sanctuary uniform, moved with a deliberate yet cautious pace. The figure seemed to be carrying something small and inconspicuous in their hands. The onlookers leaned in, trying to get a better look.

The figure approached the area where the calming scent was stored. They carefully glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, and then pulled out a vial from their pocket. Without hesitation, they unscrewed the cap and poured the contents into the scent diffuser.

Gasps filled the sanctuary as everyone watched the figure tampering with the diffuser. A few seconds later, the birds in the aviary began to act erratically, squawking loudly and fluttering about in a frenzy. The scene on the screen showed chaos erupting in the aviary as the birds were driven into a frenzy by whatever had been added to the calming scent.

However, they seemed to have calmed down a bit later.

Adrian paused the recording at a crucial moment when the figure turned, revealing their face in full. The sanctuary fell into a shocked silence as everyone recognized the figure: Miss Jenny, one of the sanctuary's trusted and old workers.

All eyes turned to Miss Jenny, who stood near the back, her face as white as a sheet. Her body trembled, and her legs shook uncontrollably. She looked like a cornered animal, panic evident in her eyes.