Chapter 18: Ruga

I walked out of the Cackling Crow's building and started to walk down the road to the food business district. When I arrived, I saw the road was crowded with a bunch of people walking here and there looking at the stalls, cafe and restaurants. This place has also become prosperous unlike 15 years ago.

I walked slowly through the crowd to a place with lesser people. There are dessert shops around this place but people were rarely here because this was like the end of the street. I sat on a park bench under a big tree. The sun has already past my head marking the dusk is coming.

"It's beautiful isn't it. The street, the people and even this tree."

"Yeah , they are beautiful. It will be even more beautiful if Central didn't try to stick their dirty hands here."

As I said that, the big man with a black trench coat sitting beside me turned his head towards me.

"Am I wrong in saying that, Ruga or should I call you Quake now?"

"Please call me Quake, I'm afraid someone is watching me."

"It must be hard huh being a Chief Commander of the Border Patrol Unit. Constantly being watched and observed because you are both an asset and a liability."

"Yeah pretty much. Let me get straight to the point. The Executives want me to kill you."

"Then why are we still here talking to each other."

"Because I don't want to. I told them I don't want to kill any people without some sort of justifications. Instead they opt by hiring Mercenary to kill you."

"Mercenary? Really? They must have a lot of free time on their hand."

"You know the Administrator you indirectly mess with, that guy is the golden boy of the Executives. He is one of the son of the Executive so he get preferential treatment while he is working at Central."

"Wow so his backing really is quite huge. Sophia dream is getting further and further away."

"You actually already know about this right."

Ruga smiled meekly.

"Yeah pretty much. If I don't know this much then my information agency can file for bankruptcy by now. Can I ask you for a favor Ruga? For old time sakes."

Ruga looked like he was thinking really deeply about my request. He was contemplating quite hard. Then he raise his right index finger.

"I can do you one favor."

When I heard that I was so happy that I started beaming with a really big smile.

"Yeah, can you turn a blind eye when something happened to the golden boy. Just this one time. You only need to turn a blind eye one time. What happen to him after that, it's all up to you."

"Yeah but don't kill him. If you kill him I'll be stuck between a rock and a hard place."

"Don't worry. That thing is not enough to kill him anyway."

"Wha-"

Beep! Beep! Beep! Ruga's watch started beeping.

"It look like you are quite busy. I will be going first then. There will be a ton of works to do at my office. It was fun talking to you after a long time Ruga. Bye bye then~"

I stood up from the bench, stretched for a bit and then walked away. Ruga sat there absent mindedly. Beep! Beep! Beep! He woke up from his stupor when his watch started beeping again. He tap his watch once and a holographic image of his secretary pop out.

"Sir you finally picked up. It is an emergency sir. T-T-T-There is there there-"

"Calm down and tell me what happened."

His secretary took a deep breath. Gulp.

"There is an explosion at the Administrator building sir."

"What?! An explosion. That stupid guy! Is it big? Where is really the explosion happen? How many people injured?"

"U-Um... the scale is not that big but one of the Administrator office and bedroom got blown away. There are no severely injured people found and no death. The Administrator involved only have light burn and light cut here and there."

"Have you guys found the cause of the explosion?"

"Yes, from the video footage we got. An old music box inside the office suddenly started glowing and emit intense heat. Due to that, it cause a few sparks and then it explode."

"The music box must be an Artifact. Secure the building and don,t let people in or out. Put out the fire and secure the Artifact. Try to find the courier who send that music box to the office. Wait for me there and for further order."

"Yes sir."

The holographic image turned off.

"Bombing? Really? You really are extreme sometime Faust. This is really hard for me to turn a blind eye to. Sigh~"

Quake leaned on the park bench and stared helplessly at the blue sky. His face showed sign of resignations.