Public = Sheeps

The Paris police station was surrounded by a vibrant crowd, shouting slogans and dressed in colorful costumes. The police were in full gear, with black explosion-proof shields and a row of officers.

As for the parade participants blocking the entrance, most probably haven't even thought about the consequences of their actions.

Just like in a movie novel, when the BOSS splits into multiple bodies, the protagonist, who was once unbeatable, becomes vulnerable. The same thing happens with a crowd. When there's no unified leadership, the group IQ drops dramatically.

But this situation couldn't last forever. The police chief, Laurent, finally appeared at the station's entrance with an entourage. Laurent came prepared, holding a big, black, thick object in his hand.

Of course, he wasn't crazy enough to shoot or throw a grenade at the crowd. It was a microphone connected to two huge speakers that were rolled out.

The parade crowd was too focused on their demonstration to notice Laurent's arrival. But they soon found out, as Laurent's deafening voice drowned out their shouting and abuse.

"Quiet!"

The echo of his voice vibrated everyone's eardrums, causing temporary deafness in the closest parade participants. But the police officers were protected by their noise-proof earmuffs, ensuring their efficiency wasn't affected.

Before the stunned parade participants could react, Laurent continued his "show."

"I am Laurent, Director of the Paris Police Central Bureau!"

"Tomorrow at noon, an open press conference will be held in front of the City Hall Square. The news media and the whole society will receive a strong and effective response to this incident," he announced, clear and organized, without any official jargon.

After giving his powerful speech, Laurent strode out of the room as if he had nothing left to say, leaving his voice to boom from the large speakers that had recorded his words. The effect was deafening, but the message was impactful.

The audience looked at each other in disbelief. When was the last time they heard the government deliver such a straightforward response? Had the pressure they applied finally paid off? It was all worth it!

The parade was far from over, but they no longer surrounded the police station. They had received the confirmation they sought, and the answer was just a day away.

If, by noon tomorrow, they were not satisfied with the response, they would resume their demonstration. That's what the parade leaders promised.

The press conference would finally give everyone the answers they had been seeking. And with Laurent's confident and reassuring words, the crowd slowly dispersed, eager to hear the update the next day.

For now, the people were content. Those filled with a sense of justice had achieved half of what they wanted and could wait for the rest. Meanwhile, those who were in it for the money would receive their payment tomorrow.

▪▪▪▪

The official held a private feast, celebrating their victory. The Minister of Radio, Film, and Television, Patrick, was especially proud.

"I told you guys not to underestimate these people. With a little control over public opinion, they can easily create a storm! It's that simple. Just a bung of sheep that follow our every command," Patrick boasted with a sly smile.

"It's too bad we can't always do this. It takes everyone's cooperation." Patrick added.

Laurent and Sam shared a private smile, both satisfied with the outcome.

"Minister Patrick truly has a gift of controlling the public," Laurent complimented, hoping to keep Patrick from noticing any flaws.

"Thanks to everyone's hard work, this plan is guaranteed to be a huge success," Sam added, smiling.

"A huge success? I see it as more than that. Our lord will be pleased when the time comes, and we will have a bright future!" Patrick declared as if he could already see the future.

"Yes, a very 'pleasing' future," Laurent chuckled.

"A brighter future indeed," Sam agreed.

Patrick was none the wiser to the hidden meaning in their words. He was unaware that the plan they discussed differed greatly from his envisioned plan.

The room was filled with energy and excitement.

▪▪▪▪

Alexander was a lone wolf in the city, worried sick about Alex's safety. Despite being surrounded by a storm of public opinion, he held firm in his belief and refused to be swayed. Every time he thought of Alex's heart filled with courage and justice, he felt a surge of determination.

But on the night Laurent announced the press conference, his worries got the better of him, but they reduced a lot when he got a call from Alex.

"I've been looking for you," Alex said with a hint of mischief.

"Well, what do you want from little old me?" Alexander replied with a smirk, his worries dissipating.

"Well, I came to collect a little old debt," Alex said back, with a hint of a laugh in his voice.

Alexander rolled his eyes but decided to play along. "Oh, which debt?" he asked, eager to know the reason behind Alex's call.

"I want to remind you of our bet," Alex replied seriously. "You haven't fulfilled your end of the bargain yet. Remember, you promised to become the police chief?"

Alexander groaned, "Ugh, why did I agree to that?" he thought.

But deep down, he was excited to see if he could make it happen. The bet added a fun element to their already exciting friendship. After all, there's nothing like a little friendly competition to keep things interesting!

But little did he know about what Alex had in stock for him.