Fraction-11

Certainly, here's a revised version:

**Location: Santarum City**

The sounds of rain were overtaking the place. Rain flowed all over, but thanks to the water management system, all the rainwater was sucked down into holes. Windy hair was dazzling, trees branches leaned around. Lightning continued. All the guards took shelter in a nearby government office.

"What heavy rain," a local guard blocking Charles' way back then said while drying his uniform. "Today is an awful day. One problem after another is popping out. Tsk!"

Guards were complaining in the government office while drying their clothes. "Here's some hot towel, wipe out your faces," a government official lady in uniform provided the local guards with hot towels and tea. Even though the situation outside was horrible, people were still trying to maintain their composure.

"Oh! Thanks, miss," the guard replied. "No problem," she said, moving away while serving hot towels and tea to others.

They both placed their towels on their faces, took a sip of tea, and started talking.

"What are they talking to that man? Any guess, Fill?"

"How do I know?"

"Aren't you with him?"

"Well, I was, but they only ordered me to bring him. It looks like he was a friend to that dead person."

"So, that's why he was screaming. What do you think they were asking him? Are they going to strip his skin or maybe burn his skin with molten lava or something?"

"Okay, okay, shut up your mouth for a moment, will ya!"

"If you get a topic, you won't stop for God's sake."

"I don't think that's the case. Let me enjoy this tea; it's freezing out there. I am completely soaked," he said, looking out from the window.

The officials were discussing some matter in that tent, surprisingly steady even against the forces of the wind. The wind made all the trees kneel down, but the tent stood sturdily. Brock was waiting for somebody at that tent, others doing their jobs.

Charles arrived at the tent. When he set foot inside, his attire and hair instantly dried, but his expression didn't flicker.

The tent was slightly bigger than others, big enough to accommodate most of his men. Including some doctors, and near the medical equipment on a big wooden table, they had placed that body covered with a white cloth.

Brock sat on a chair in front, a table surrounded by his men standing behind him. He was patiently waiting, placing both elbows on the table, fingers clenched, and his chin located in those clenched hands.

"Hmm! So, how did you know him?" he asked.

"We were friends," Charles said, his words heavier this time.

"Friends, huh? How long have you known him?"

"We've known each other for quite a long time."

Brock placed a file in front of the table and started reading aloud. "Charles Felix, served as a general of Western military troops for twenty years. Excellent in close combat. Won almost every battle in his career, also won the memorial battle of an army with fifteen thousand against five hundred."

"He was called Dual Blade Deathrider by his enemies, huh? Retired at half age due to some confidential reason." Brock threw the file towards Charles.

Charles took a deep breath. "You've dug out my life from scratch, huh?"

"We have to; otherwise, what are we here for then? So, let me ask a question. Why was such a figure out here hiding his identity? And also claimed to be friends with a person who has been brutally murdered."

Brock was trying to provoke Charles, but Charles didn't provide any answer. Brock stood up, roaming around the table.

"Hmm, then let me ask this. Who is that person? What kind of crime did he do that his enemy not only took his life but also left him in this condition?"

Brock was still trying to provoke with his sharp words. "You could spare us time to let us roam here and there to search about him while the culprit is freely walking out. Won't you? Maybe we could find out the culprit who did such a hideous thing."

Charles still wasn't saying anything, sitting still with grief and anger in his eyes. Bloodlust overflowed from his aura.

"I know this is hard for you when your friends die in such a horrible way, but we need to go according to the rules. You know this more than anybody who is present in this room. I know you imperial people and your way of doing things. You don't give a damn about the body; you were only here because it was found near a statue. You may be afraid this is an act of rebellion against the empire."

When Charles said those words, his head was surrounded by blades from every corner. Brock turned around, watching him with bloodthirsty eyes. His eyes were red, as if they were about to explode any time. He walked near Charles while placing both hands back.

"Then you must know where your place is. And if this has to do with any rebellion, then I assure you that I will hunt down every last one of them who dares even to look at the empire." He said in a grumpy voice, intimidating with his power and appearance.

While they were arguing, a guard with dark clothes covering him appeared out of nowhere. He kneeled with one leg down, head down, right hand towards the back, and folded left hand towards his right chest.

"Sir, we got info regarding that body," he said, and both Brock and Charles looked toward him.

"Tell me then," Brock said while glaring at him.

"His name was Raymion Jones. He was a professor of history and ancient artifacts at St. Thetford Royal Academy. No record of children biologically, only adopted. There was also no record of other relatives. And one more thing, he has no record before the establishment of the new empire. He seems like a ghost."

"Hmm, before the establishment of the new empire. Isn't that twenty years ago?" Brock was thinking, while Charles was still surrounded by those blades, seemingly unbothered.

But while Brock was thinking something, the sound of blades dropping on the ground was heard. When Brock directed toward that sound, it was the place where Charles was surrounded by swords. But now all the swords were chopped in half cleanly. Few men's hands were also cut off, and Charles had vanished from that place.

The guards screamed loudly; they were Brock's men. "Get them to medics, quick!" Brock said.

Brock's men were stunned by that situation. Even he was also stunned. He murmured while straightening his head up.

The silent guard who brought information said another word. "There's one more thing, sir."

Brock looked back at that guard. "What is it?"

"Well, you see sir, our intel suggested that recently his absence in the academy rose in a few months more than usual. Through the staff, we get to know that he has been going to the Santarum church more lavishly than usual."

"Lavish church, huh! Shall we investigate there too?" the masked man asked.

"No, not now. We can't just barge into the church like that. They have more support from the public than we ever did. If we make any unnecessary move, then they will be on their guard. Well, I will report this to the commander then, let's see. For now, dig up all the history of our professor's life. There must be somebody who knows about him."

"Yes, sir." The masked man vanished after saying that in thin air. Brock turned around, placing both hands back near his waist and hip.

"Sir, what about Charles? He went off. Shall we search for him and finish his story?"

"Yes, about that. Announce that Charles Felix has joined the rebellion and place a bounty on him. Distribute his picture all over the place and also inform not to let a suspicious person pass the border. Don't let him get away."

"Yes, sir."

"Rebellion, murder, and now the ex-military Charles. I don't like this. Something big is coming. No, more than that, it's like a storm is coming," he said while watching through the window while the rain was still pouring all over the place.

Charles was running in that rain desperately. He was running on a road surrounded by forests on both sides. The road was messy, and the rain made it worse. He was running while splashing the muddy water in incredible speed.

"Fuck damn it. I didn't suspect that things would go this messy. If I didn't use my last resort, this Daminat flower potion, then I'm afraid I won't be able to get out from there. This is such a worse situation; I can't even retrieve his body. Damn it. If they were searching for his history, then things were going to be a lot messier than this. It's a good thing that I have let Jessica handle that job. I didn't think that this day would even come. After all these years, I have tried my best to ensure that this day won't arrive. That kid, I don't know what will happen if he finds out about his past. Ahhh!" He screamed in desperation.

"But one thing's for sure. I will take your revenge, Ray," he said, making a sad face.

When he was running in that alley, someone from behind approached him directly.