28 Argument Around the Table

"Mizuki!"

"Mizuki!"

"Mizuki!"

"Huh?!" He's woken up.

"You seem to be having a nightmare so I woke you up." Maku said.

His heart was still pounding so hard that he could hear it beating so loud. He looked at Maku's face as tears flows from his eyes. He suddenly hugged him so tight out of fear and horror.

"It's okay. It's okay. It was just a bad dream." Maku caress him in his arms.

Mizuki was relieved to see that it was all just a nightmare. What a terrible dream to have. Maku wiped the tears in Mizuki's eyes with his hands and gave him a tender smile.

"I think we should go back." He said to Mizuki.

Maku activated the teleportation crystal and it gradually sent them back outside the inn. The two sneak through the window and successfully got into their bedroom without any trouble.

Little did they know, Dave was outside, hiding in the shadows the whole time and caught them in action sneaking in and out of the inn. Assured that the two have returned safe, there was a sneer on his face. Afterwards, he walks away from the direction of the inn and headed off somewhere.

After a few hours of wandering through the coldness of the night. He stopped by a tree in the middle of nowhere. He waits there patiently for someone to show up. Not long enough, a woman wearing a shabby coat showed up. She's carrying a bag full of gold and money and gently places it on the ground.

"What's your concern?" Dave asked her.

"I… I have a child." The woman stutters as tears gradually run down her cheeks. "He was killed. My… My poor little boy." She cannot talk straight.

"Go, directly to the point." Dave told her.

"William, the theatre owner has been paying Zancrow a huge amount in bribes. Every time William commits a crime, Zancrow fabricate lies so he can frame another." The woman said. "My husband was also framed and sentence to death. They even killed my only son who did nothing wrong. Somehow… Somehow rectify this wrongdoing!" She added as she burst in tears.

"Understood. I'll send them both to hell." Dave said from the shadows.

"Thank you so much… Thank you so much!" The woman knelt on the ground as she continues to cry.

Without any further ado, Dave took the bag of money from the ground and leaves quietly from the place leaving the woman behind still kneeling on the ground. He could sense the extreme grief the woman had been feeling.

He took off to somewhere to check something before heading back to Mt. Brimlet. He got back before the sun had risen in the east and go directly towards his room to take a short nap before breakfast.

The clock had strike eight in the morning and was time for breakfast. Everyone gathers around the table as they share their meal. They had a small chitchat around the table until Balthazar open the conversation for something more serious.

"Then, Dave, let's hear your job." Balthazar said that caught everyone's attention.

"Here, we go." Dave cleared his throat and placed photos of two individuals on the table. "The targets this time were Zancrow, an imperial general assigned at the northern city of Nethilor, Yorthendon, and William Fenniken, a theatre owner. According to our client, William has been paying Zancrow a huge amount in bribes. Every time William commits a crime, Zancrow fabricate lies so he can frame another. Her husband was also framed and sentence to death and even killed her son." He stated.

"This is the payment." He pulls out the bag of money and put it above the table.

"That's quite a lot." Isidore said.

"I sensed pain. She probably sold her body many times to earn this." Dave said as he clutched his arms together.

"No way." Maku said.

"Have you verified the case?" Balthazar asked.

"I checked with my own eyes and ears. They're guilty." Dave replied.

Balthazar took out his cigar and lit it up. "All right. Midnight Justice accepts this case. We won't need any abhorrent garbage in the empire. We shall bestow divine punishment."

"The theatre owner, William, should be easy. But Zancrow will be a formidable opponent." Dave warned. "Zancrow, the demon. He's a highly skilled swordsman that even criminals fear. Normally, he's surrounded by lackeys, and is rarely alone. Additionally, he's cautious. When accepting the hush money, he invites William into his room. When he's off duty, he drinks on the main street of Metropolis. It seems when he's off duty is the only time to strike. But the guards are strict in the vicinity of the palace following the infiltration that takes place yesterday. It would be dangerous for someone like us, whose face is publicly known."

"Leave him to me!" Jeruzen took a stand.

"You? But you're very well known in Nethilor. How could you possibly be able to get close to the vicinity of the palace?" Faye asked him.

"That's why disguises exist." He replied instantly that leaves Faye in silence.

"Then, I'll go with him in case something came up during the mission." Dave suggested. Jeruzen was about to say something in oppose to what Dave had said when he interrupted him. "However, I will only be watching nearby and never lay a hand on your prey." Dave said to Jeruzen.

"Glad to hear." Jeruzen replied.

In a moment there, Mizuki sensed a rising anger in Jeruzen. Not sure what it is, he stood up and would like to give his opinion.

"I think someone should help you out in this mission." He said as soon as he got on his feet which caught the attention of everyone around the table. "If that Zancrow really is a formidable opponent then I guess you need a helping hand."

What he said opposes Jeruzen's decision. "I can handle him myself even if I'm alone. He's nothing compared to the Orions we had battled yesterday. Taking him out would be easy." Jeruzen uttered.

"You're not fully healed yet." Mizuki said. "Those burns you've got yesterday were severed. It would be difficult to move in battle."

"Like I said, I will be fine." Jeruzen said boldly. "Maybe you should be the one who needs to be accompanied by someone."

"If you insist, then let me handle the other target alone!" Mizuki said that shocked them even more.

"Hey, are you serious about this?" Maku asked Mizuki.

"If I can't kill that target alone then how can I prove that I am worthy to be a member of Midnight Justice." He said. "If Jeruzen wants to go alone, then I want to prove him that I can do it too." He boldly said. "Besides, even while we sit here, others may get framed, right? If that's so, I'll do it! Beloved people, taken away for ludicrous reason. I don't want anyone else to feel this way." His tone suddenly changed.

"You sure do have some guts, eh kid?" Faye joined the conversation with her sternly attitude.

"Then it's decided." Balthazar uttered. "Mizuki, actualize you determination, eliminate William."

"Nicely said, Mizuki!" Zhia winked at him.

"You show great resolve!" Marjorie added.

"Jeruzen, deal with Zancrow." Balthazar said. "Dave, be on watch and assist of anything did not go as planned."

"Got it!" Dave answered.

"Roger that!" Jeruzen added.

After the meeting, Jeruzen and Dave get theirselves ready for the mission and the others dispersed as well.

"Good luck, nii-chan! Chaneri secretly approached Mizuki and bid him good luck. "You can do it!" She smiled to which he smiled back.