亚洲综合中美

“Silence!” thundered Igna, lawyers stopped shy of choking each other, “-we’re in a court of law,” a glance at the judge refocused the emperor.

“Let’s take a few minutes’ break,” he proclaimed, thus the court paused at around 15:34. Everyone knew there was no further debate, Raide and Bleu won by a large margin. Judge and juries shuffled silently, head low and morale down, a thud, and they were gone.

Igna and party shortly found themselves back at the cottage. Celebratory drinks were ordered, “-what just happened?” said Kul swallowing her beverage, “-we were going to lose, I think.”

“Emphasis on think,” said Asmodeus, “-it all worked as planned.”

“Not necessary,” returned a sober Igna, “-the battle isn’t won.”

“I think it’s won,” commented a new face amidst the ground, a reporter by the name of Parker Jren. Suspicious looks crashed over the messy-haired gentleman. “-Igna,” added a familiar voice from the reporter’s shadow, “-no need to give him the death stare.”

.....

“Odgar,” rose the king, “-long time no see, friend.’

“Long time, friend,” returned the private investigator, “-meet Parker Jren, a renowned journalist in Melmark,” the bespectacled frightened visage nodded, “-it’s nice to meet you,” escaped faint murmurs.

The king took a few steps and eyed the Parker, “-care to elaborate on, ‘its won?”

“They can’t fake the ruling,” he explained, “-everything’s taped and on record. My agency is known for being anti-imperial. Odgar pushed for me to get invited.”

“So, he’s the one,” nodded Igna, “-the one who spread the word, yes?”

“Yes, sire.”

“What are you waiting for, go on, have a drink, we’ve got guests.”

Opposite them arrived armed guards the prosecutor, Dhenrie Milo, “-there you are,” he gritted, “-Raide and Bleu Aizo!”

“Milo,” returned the duo, “-you’re rusty,” they laughed, “-always too quick and passionate. What is it, have thee come to settle?”

“One better,” he narrowed, “-the nobles have decided they want no part in the trial, therefore are pulling back. No part means no trial, the victory counted for nothing.”

“No, no, no,” Bleu shook his finger, “-this isn’t how it works. In or not, our clients have been harassed and went through much scrutiny. Chief of Police had her reputation slandered for why, trying to clean up the city of dreams?”

“Tis how we voiced,” resumed Raide, “-we’re counter suing for damages. The nobles will be extradited to Hidros per agreement of the Alrosian Alliance. There’s no escape, and even if they managed to be freed,” he smirked, “-you know what awaits next.”

“Should have thought more,” commented Medusa, “-don’t throw rocks when thy house is made of glass.” Her analogy rang true, perfect words for said instant.

“No,” cut across the crowd, “-don’t you even dare.”

All watched, perplexed as to why Igna suddenly spoke, Dhenrie’s heart sank, “-how?”

“I know everything,” returned the devil, “-raise an arm and I swear, there won’t be a soul left. Take this,” a note summoned, “-take this to the nobles, the Patek’s,” heaviness in the cottage eased, leaving the patrons space to breathe.

Milo hurried across the street, doors clacked until the judge and jury sat before a council of representatives, “-here,” said the lawyer sliding the note over.

“What is this?” narrowed a masked figure, “-I made it clear, either bring their heads or a settlement.”

Milo shrugged, rifle rose for his head, “-I don’t care anymore,” he exclaimed, “-what I saw was far worse than thy guns. Go ahead,” he grabbed a guard’s raised gun and pressed it against his temple, “-give the order, it’s your responsibility, we did the best we could, greasing palms of those who came and went as far as compromising the emperor. I tell you, there’s nothing we can do – we’ve pushed-” *BANG,* brain matter splattered across the walls.

“He was talking too much. Have someone clean up the mess,” cigar lit, “-let’s see this letter,” juries were akin to hostages, emperor Markus had no say and kept silent. The note unfolded over the table, “-dear ringleader, or should I say, Jula Valentino,” the cigar dropped, “-Been a while since we spoke, yes? I admit the plan was great – who would have known Valentino was related to the Patek, a relation kept hidden so as to not raise attention. I’m sure you’re sweating bullets; as wife to my friend, Odgar Codd, I issue the two simple options... HA, HA, HA, HA. You thought it’d be so easy? No, my friend, I’ve seen far worse from people closer to me. Don’t reach for your gun or look around suspiciously,” the note predicted her move, “-I’ll take my time, death’s too easy. What I have in mind is far worse. Now, who’s the traitor, the one who spilled the beans as they say? Secret of Valentino and Cimier is one unknown to most of the world save those directly related. Remember the incident a few years ago when an entity pushed for my assassination, it happened then, I met him, the heir to the Patek dynasty, a shell of a corpse. Necromancy is one of my many talents, wasn’t hard to extract his memories, and would you look at it, I’ve known, yes, I’ve known for a long while. The wise are patient, might have taken years – still, here I am, the one who holds your very fate. Chief of Police, Jula Valentino, on my title of Devil, you’ll serve the remainder of thy life as my slave,” a small inscription resembling a blue orb shot out and burnt into her neck, “-think hi.”

‘Hi?’

‘How goes it,’ thundered across her mind, ‘-do you enjoy my gift, of course, you do. None can go against a slave pact, especially when the signer is me. From this very second, Jula Valentino, I own you, and I’ll do as I please.’

She slowly reached for her gun, ‘-good idea,’ he said, ‘-take the gun,’ her arms subconsciously snapped at the weapon, ‘-and point it at the judge,’ her body reacted, ‘-treason, would be a poetic end, killing the emperor and forced to live a life of a run-away dog. Too bad the blood in thy vein’s worth something to Odgar. I feel bad for the little ones – how could a mother fall so low. Are you a victim or the assailant, who honestly cares.’

‘Drop the weapon,’ she fought, ‘-my arms, they won’t move, and this voice,’ her face clenched, ‘-I can’t, it’s too loud.’

‘Point upwards and fire,’ *bang,* rattled the room, guards and representatives alike watched, “-Hey, are you alright?” inquired a member of her entourage.

“Yeah, I felt like shooting,” Igna synced and spoke through her, “-we might have to lose this battle.”

“Come on, you’re RIie, spokesperson for Patek. Surely the conglomerates would allow us, the nobles, to fall?”

“We could settle,” she suggested.

“With what, they already have everything.”

“Authority,” suggested Markus, “-we give them control over the Duchy of Owan, it’ll include Odgawoan and the surrounding region. United Nations of Alrosia is one of the same, they already run the place from the shadows, why not make it official?”

“Absurd,” echoed the nobles, “-grant them land and it’s an indirect loss.”

“We have too,” added Rlie, “-either they have the Duchy or everyone here is at risk of being extradited to Hidros, many share the asset with Rotherham who I remind is under Queen Courtney’s direct control. King Igna could easily freeze our assets and systematically force us into poverty.”

Markus sighed, “-the lawyer was right, we’ve abused Hidros for too long, you’ve abused them. I always stood by to save my family... what now, there’s no credibility in what the Conglomerates have to say. We’re disunited and on the verge of collapse.”

“Give them Owan,” suggested one noble, “-if it appeases their thirst then we’re fine.”

‘Look at the house of card crumble,’ whispered through her mind, ‘-a soft breeze and it comes crashing down. Alphia’s capitalist stain will never be fully wiped, and I can’t blame the empire for the leaders who’ve allowed the land to be so corrupt. We’ll speak very soon, Jula. I don’t take betrayal lightly, etch this in thy heart – the Devil owns thy soul.’

Odgar gave a few taps, “-Igna, you there?”

“My apologies,” he rose from a comfy seat, “-my mind drifted. Just look at the way everyone’s celebrating. Brings warmth to thy heart, does it not?”

“I know the warmth,” he said, “-last time I felt it was when we closed the case on who murdered my father. We all worked together, Jula helped greatly in the investigation, never thought I’d land a lady like her, she’s amazing.”

“I’m sure she is,” smiled Igna, “-I’m sure she is.”

“Right, I should leave,” Parker waved in the distance, “-I’ll see you around, friend.”

Odgar held a massive smile whilst leaving the cottage. Starix slipped onto Igna’s seat and stared, “-master, what was written in the note?”

“What note?”

“One you gave to the lawyer?”

“A greeting card. We should get ready; trial resumes in a few minutes.” Asmodeus, Kul, Medusa, Mammon, and Diamon left first, leaving Bleu and Raide to settle on the next plan of action.

“Mind if I join?”

“Please, master, we were finishing the details, why?”

“Raide, Bleu, heed my words carefully. The trial’s over, the nobles will agree to settle.”

“Pardon?”

“When the request of a settlement eventually arrives, listen carefully for they might offer land.”

“Why would they?” both exchanged looks and turned to Igna who vanished, leaving a bat-shaped mist.

Buckets toppled, Igna rematerialized inside a dark storage room, “-come forth, Vengeance,” he arrived with one knee on the ground, “-how may I serve, master?”

“Attend the trial in my stead, we’ll swap places if the emperor asks for us to join the deliberations.”

“Understood, master,” the mist vanished, ‘-this place is dusty,’ he observed, *-knowledge known to only the watcher, I, master and inheritor of Origin, beckon thee; Mantia, Library of the all-knowing: Partial Realm Expansion,* a close space swallowed the furniture into a simple square of white and gray. *Clop,* footsteps arrived outside the door,

‘-why am I here?’ blinked Jula, ‘-my head hurts bad, did I dream the whole ordeal?’ Shuffles gripped her attention; warped palms rushed and pulled the confused lass into a realm of emptiness and dread. A simple chair rose in the middle, one on which sat Igna – teeth sharped, long nails – emotionless eyes and a bloodied halo over the head, “-take a seat,” he said, she ragdolled over and sat on a sudden materialization of a completely white chair, “-welcome to my domain, o’ vixen.”

Fear gripped her heart, the legs locked, “-I-I-I-IGN”

“DON’T!” thundered, raw power exploded at her face, “-take my name,” lowered the voice, “-with your mouth.”

“I C-C-C”

“Shut up,” the eyes widened, a humanoid figure from the ground and slammed her head on a conjured table, “-tell me,” he rose from his seat, “-people are afraid of a lot of things, some more than others, ultimately, everyone’s scared of something. Scripture says, ‘-hell is but one’s fear and guilt,’ the concept is very interesting. Hell does exist, not as a judgment cell but as another world,” he leaned over her petrified expression, “-Jula Valentino, I applaud the act. Hat’s off,” he reached over and tipped a top hat that summoned just for the expression, “-alas, the ploy grew into a lie thee couldn’t escape. Enough talk,” he moved closer, “-look into my eyes and tell me, what’s your greatest fear?”

“C-C-Casting c-couch.”

“I see,” he smiled, “-lady Valentino has a strong sense of dignity,” the room stretched, carrying Igna further, *clap,* countless men and demon-like creatures rose, “-when they smell fresh meat,” he cackled, “-there’s no satiating their lust,” *snap.”

“MERCYYYY”