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“Room for discussion,” added Charlie slowly, the hand lowered with the pace of a snail, “-what is there to discuss?” he asked keeping a cool face.

“First of all,” spun to face the wife who abandoned her family, “-I’m sure the lady is hurt. Her cries have stained the shoulder of the man who hails from the Jefferson’s. Not that any had the guts to speak; I would have let it be, that is,” glaring back, “-only if thou didn’t get cocky.” Strongly stepped to the lady, the face turned to the man, young in age, tall, dark-skin, brownish-hair, hazel eyes, a well-rounded nose toppled by freckles.

“Not wanting to intrude, I’ve got a few matters to discuss,” said with a smile, the man could but breathe thinking of what was to happen. Sneakily on the way to where he stood, Staxius pushed the man who stumbled.

“HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” yelled Charlie with a flame-filled stare.

‘I’ve got my evidence,’ thought Staxius.

“What’s this all about?” asked Godfather Renaud to Courtney.

.....

“Just watch,” she replied, “-watch as he thoroughly dismantles their confidence. I’m sort of hoping blood doesn’t shed. Considering it’s the Boss, can’t do none about it.”

‘Focus, it’s time to make use of the second boon. With the facts before me as is, I can see a vague line of thinking, plausible scenarios for the massacre of Lerado.’

[Divinity Second Boon: Arcane Library]

“Please, sir, don’t harm,” cried the widow named Mallie.

“Don’t,” said he who had given a shoulder to cry. The right hand to the head of Jefferson’s, Yuri.

“What’s with the wait?” said Charlie trying to move towards Yuri.

“Got it,” he smiled, “-O’ grieving family members of the Lerado,” said to the crowd with fluid gestures,”-hear me, the word of he who has the truth of what transpired. Believe me or not, I have the facts and evidence of who caused such tragedy,” a glimmer from subtle watering eyes grabbed the attention. They came closer to form a circle.

“Tis a thing of utmost woe, I’m ashamed to say for the very reason of this heartbreak is none other than lady Mallie,” he pointed with authority. The tension had the swaying leaves froze; time stopped.

“How dare you!” lashed Yuri with the intent of punching,

“Kneel,” returned Staxius coldly, the pressure from a single word forced the man onto the ground. “The truth shall be the decision of the crowd, for they’re the judges of today’s trial. Here are the facts. Lady Mallie and Yuri grew to be lovers after many passionate nights. Her youthful and playful nature with Yuri’s handsome figure could not have been any more obvious. I’m sure many noticed said act of absurdity, I’ll go as far as say she often snuck out at night, didn’t she,” he said to an unsuspecting man.

“Y-yeah, I SAW HER!” came a nervous reply.

“One thing led to another, talks of the Lerado becoming a reseller had the underground shudder. A secret alliance between Cimier and the Jefferson family was made and backed by Godfather Stanley. The proof is here, we’ve got a fellow comrade from Stanley’s assassination team, here to silence and close ties. To the reason why such a thing played. Yuri used his charm to work into the good graces of the lonely lady. She wanted nothing than to be loved, thus, her craving led to today. Yet, I wish not to have her excused, one sworn to the Goddess of Marriage, Ingyn, must not shame her vow.” The words felt as hard-hitting as a hammer onto a nail, the combination of tone, facial expression, body movement, the way spoken had the crowd’s emotion showed in form of invisible waves. Staxius moved as the conductor, carefully planning each word, each sentence, and each expression; it would eventually lead to something greater.

“What then,” said Yuri, “-what if our love broke the vows of marriage, are you not hypocritical to accuse Lady Mallie of extramarital affair when you, yourself, are sited in history as a man who has an entourage of beautiful ladies!”

“And beautiful they are,” he chuckled, “-beautifully deadly. They are by my side for tis their duty. Would you shame a lady who surrounds herself with men, or would you shame a man who surrounds himself with ladies? The answer is yes, most would, that is if said man or woman is successful and subject to the unfound basis for jealousy. In my example, I do surround myself with ladies, ladies who have their own lovers. Business, and personal life must be separate. Tis the first thing one should understand, I suppose,” side-glancing Mallie, “-she knew not the meaning of pity and love. Enough of ideology, the issue remains that her actions caused her family to be killed. Tis facts, tis the truth, and proof is in my word – witnesses of the incident have been killed. What say you, Lady Mallie, will you admit to having betrayed thy husband for the love of another!”

(No... that’s not the truth,) she spoke, “-yes, that’s true.”

(‘Wait... no, what am I saying?’) “I betrayed my husband, I betrayed the Lerado,” her voice sunk into cries.

(I NEVER BETRAYED ANYONE!) “I was the one who tipped Cimier of our earlier departure. Yuri said to report to them directly, he promised to have me spared. He promised the events to never be tied to my name. We discussed matters of us living together, far, far away.”

(What’s happening?) her helpless eyes rested upon Staxius who nodded. “-IT WAS ME, I KILLED MY OWN TO BE LOVE,” she screamed to a sob to then jump into Yuri’s arms.

“HEY, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?” he tried to push with no avail, her arms wrapped around his back, the scene spoke volumes.

“Charlie,” said Staxius, “-you were sent by Godfather Stanley. It’s obvious he wanted to hush the lady for her living would be detrimental. The example is there, look at her, she spilled everything after a few words. How pitiful,” staring the crowd, “-what say you, judges, WHAT DO YOU WANT!”

“Revenge... Revenge... Revenge... Revenge,” the cheer grew loud each time.

“Yuri, right-hand man of the Jefferson’s, you dared to have a lonely lady fall for the warmness of love. Thou won her favor, and not only did you win her favor, but you also won her trust, her body, and her soul. Take responsibility or was it all an act for the Jefferson’s. Art thou afraid of another family becoming stronger? I must say whatever happens today is final, the Lerado is finished. Charlie came to assassinate the lady disguised as a plot against Shadow. The real culprit isn’t the lady, no, she was a mere toy for the wise and conniving. Godfather Renaud, what do thee wish?” The last hammer hit upon the nail, truth or not, the opinions around changed. With the vast array of words, the culprit flipped to being the victim, her heart-tearing cries paired with Yuri’s refusal to comfort was sufficient.

“They schemed with another organization to get power. A spat on our code of honor,” said angrily, “-Lerado family, I’m not going to stand and watch ya end. Hear me today, I give ya two choices, either disband or rise again. Mallie Lerado,” he called, as the lady dirtied her dress by being pushed onto the ground. “Revenge or give up?”

“Revenge,” she took the hand of he who accused her not long ago, “-I want them to pay for what they did,” fierce and determined, she stood with dirt contrasting against the black dress.

“Here,” said an innocent voice from above, “-special delivery from Phantom.” Guns and bullets came to a hover in the hands of the Lerado.

“What will ya do?” asked Renaud. The henchman waited for all but one thing. Mallie raised her arms, the signal for them to aim.

“Yuri and Charlie, go to your bosses and say this,” she signaled for them to shoot. “The Lerado ain’t done just yet,” bodies fell left, right, and center.

“You’re going to regret this,” the bullet-ridden car sped along the road. The sheer unfiltered intensity had her on the ground shaking.

“Sonny,” said Renaud, “-you’re the devil, aren’t you?”

“Whatever do you mean?” the outburst of bullets had villagers on edge. The bodies were taken to the hospital where the doctors had them dispatched without proof. The Lerado family revived on the verge of being squandered. An amber given alcohol to flame and rise.

“Tell me, what happened earlier?” asked Renaud on the way to Marrowy. The sun came to set, a jet waited for his arrival.

“A lot occurred, care to elaborate?”

“Tell me everything, how did you know?”

“It was simple for the most part. Truth isn’t facts, it’s what people want to hear. I did just – first, I had to get the crowd on my side. Their hatred was directed to the lady, thus, I spoke of a story I read earlier this month. Yuri and Charlie didn’t react because of a spell. They were under my control from the start, even when Yuri spoke, he could but watch from a window. The spell is very much dangerous since the host thinks that it’s their own feelings and words. Once I had the crowd, I flipped the situation around and made her a lady in distress. In no way would this have worked under normal circumstances – with Lerado, their home, on the verge of being destroyed, any sliver of light in the abyss feels like the sun itself. I’m surprised thee understood the intent in the end.”

“Reviving Lerado, it’s a good sentiment,” he said solemnly gazing towards the setting sun. “-I don’t think they’ll last having made enemies of Cimier, Stanley, and Jefferson.”

“You forget,” he smiled, “-the Haggard family is in Alphia. Sorry to say, I did this not to revive the Lerado but to have my family enter the underground scene without much hassle. Our reputation in Hidros is good enough for the locals. Here, I’m afraid we’re nothing but pebbles. That’s why I went through all the trouble.”

“Sonny,” returned Renaud, “-are you sure about this?”

“Yes, we’ll make sure they know who the Haggards and Godfather Renaud are. I’m not leaving until those who disrespected you are punished. The promise stands, I will have revenge in thy stead, believe it.”

“Conviction, talent, guts, sonny, I’m glad ya on my side. Do what ya need, I help when needed,” soon to climb the vexing slope, a jet waited for take-off.

“Wake up, Sister.”

“Are we there yet?”

“Go, the plane is getting readied to take-off. Protection of Renaud is in thy hands. Give Cake my compliments when you land.”

“Should I tell them of the plan of the conquest?”

“Not now, Phantom will make its move soon enough.”

“Alright.”

Cigar in mouth and leaned against the car hood, he watched as the plane took off. ‘There they go. Things are starting to get going. Guess I’ll do the same as before – get in the underground scene and see what happens from there. Cimier is still an unknown – time solves all, I suppose.”

*Caller: Sultria VI.*

“Hello?”

“Father, where have you been?”

“Had to attend a funeral, what’s the matter?”

“Could you come to Melmark as soon as possible? I’m at the office, there are people here asking for thy name. Did you do something?”

“Let me guess,” he puffed, “-it’s the director of some company?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“I saved the life of one yesterday, I think. I’ll be there shortly, keep the conversation going.”

“Easier said than done. Amber is speaking to them; I think the conversation is turning sour. Whatever you did, has been undone.”

“Seriously...”