Return of the Fallen Volume 1 Chapter 59
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch59
After a chaotic day of soldiers and mages rampaging throughout the city in search of Rust, the night was a great reprieve for the citizens of Tresta. After making no progress whatsoever, there was little else they could do except patrol and keep a lookout. One such group of soldiers had not moved from their positions all day. Guarding the outside of a large mansion just outside the palace was extremely boring, to say the least, and the amount of action they saw, in reality, was zero.
“Captain, how much longer do we have to guard here, I mean, Master Garn doesn’t have any magic tools or anything else so why do so many of us have to sit here waiting for what.”
A large man wearing full armor with a spear in his left hand smacked his underling on the ass with the end of his spear.
*Yaowch*
“Captain, why?”
The so-called captain lifted his face plate. Staring down at his underling, the captain waved his spear threateningly.
“You dumbass, it doesn’t matter whether Garn has a magic tool or not. We were ordered to stay put and that’s exactly what we’ll do and without any complaints, GOT IT!”
The underling nodded his head and complained no more lest he gets struck by his captain’s spear again.
A few men snickered at their comrade’s idiocy and enjoyed a small chuckle when a small shadow appeared out of the corner of their collective eyes. The captain spun his spear and pointed at the shadowed figure ready to strike.
“Who goes there?”
Itsu slowly walked out from the darkness and revealed his face in the dim moonlight.
The soldiers released a small sigh of relief while the captain just seemed annoyed. With a slight spin of his spear, the captain stabbed it into the ground where it stayed before he crossed his arms and spoke.
” Information Officer Itsu, at what time do you think it is, hmm? Do you think it’s wise to drift around the city at night, sneaking around in the shadows? Some might mistake you for a shifty-eyed little rat and crush you underfoot.”
Itsu felt some heat in those words and retorted back.
“Are you still upset about the past? Like I said then, it ain’t my fault you messed up and got found out and it was my duty to report any impropriety to Master Garn. The fact that you lost your marriage as a result of demotion, again I’m not the one at fault.”
The captain pulled his spear from the ground and pointed its tip at Itsu face.
“Then who’s fault is it?”
Itsu carefully touched the tip of the spear and slowly pushed it away from his face.
“If memory serves me correct, it’s the one who committed the deed, no.”
The captain gnashed his teeth in anger.
“Damn you, old man. Have you come here only to upset me so I finally snap and kill you or do you actually have some business with me?”
Itsu rolled his eyes.
“Business, yes, with you, however, I’m afraid not. I’ve come to see Master Garn, do you mind?”
“Do I mind, hahaha, of course, I don’t. Simply show me an official decree and you can pass, otherwise, fuck off!”
Itsu paused for a moment.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve come to see Garn without it being official. That would mean you’re not following the rules and we all know how that’s something you absolutely cannot stand for. That you absolutely cannot look past. I’m afraid I’ll have to report this and then you’ll be the one demoted and mocked.”
“I don’t need a decree or anything official.”
Itsu pulled out a golden medallion and flashed it at the captain.
“I am the god damn Information Officer and if I think there is valuable information, with this medallion I am permitted to go anywhere but the Throne Room and the King’s personal quarters. So do I need to report you blocking my path or will you shut the fuck up and move?”
The soldiers stood there stunned in silence. With eyes between their captain and Itsu, they felt pity for their captain. The captain though felt even more indignation and embarrassment. To be talked down to and ordered about in front of his men and by someone who wasn’t even in the military.
Still, with that medallion shining under the pale moonlight, the captain could only back off.
“Fine, but if it comes to my attention that you abused that medallion and gathered no info, It won’t be me with a rolling head.”
Itsu snorted and was just about to walk past when the captain again pointed a spear at Itsu. Itsu was now pissed.
“Just what in the hell do you think you’re doing? So you really do plan on blocking me, huh?”
The captain shook his head.
“I ain’t blocking shit, but you can’t go in until I’m sure that you are not armed in any way.”
The captain called a soldier over and ordered him to check Itsu for anything that could be considered problematic.
The first thing to go was Itsu’s staff then all of his rings, an amulet around his neck, and two small bags tied at his waist. Opening one, it was quickly flagged for having extra magic tools, mana crystals and several thousand gold Zeni sitting inside. Itsu grumbled seeing his personal wealth being fondled so but he knew he wouldn’t be allowed forward if he kept it.
Opening the last bag, the soldier became surprised seeing a beast core.
“Captain, look at this.”
The captain looked over curiously and his eyes went wide. Grabbing Itsu by the collar he lifted the small old man off the ground and barked in his face.
“Are you fucking crazy? What the hell are you doing with a beast core especially in the middle of the city? You of all people know how illegal it is, not to mention the danger.”
Itsu then gave a brief explanation of how he acquired the illegal goods and told them that that was one of the main reasons he had come over to see Garn. He did leave out the fact that he had taken it from one of the heroes though and just said it was from an illegal organization, which was actually true.
The captain slowly lowered Itsu but still, the captain didn’t see why Garn had to see the beast core and couldn’t just be told about it. Why bring it all the way here, he thought.
Itsu was fast in his response and told the captain that the beast core was suspected to be the Scron cub’s from the Mirian Swamp and that Garn was the person most capable of telling if it did indeed come from the Scron cub. If it was truly from the Scron cub then that would mean that there could be more traitors in Treia.
This part was actually just Itsu’s theory. He had found that it was just too big of a coincidence that the day that Garn was set up and accused of causing a beast core to go off in the Mirian Swamp, that on the exact same day a hero that was already under suspicion, would then go and obtain a Beast core. For what purpose, Itsu didn’t know but the fact that all this happened so close together, it caused incorrect theories to form in his head.
He was putting pieces together where they didn’t belong and because of this, the picture that formed in his mind was way off. Still, he wouldn’t be doing his due diligence if he didn’t at least consult with Master Garn about all these dots that seemed to be connecting.
The captain, though, still didn’t seem willing to let Itsu take the Beast core inside. Itsu then signaled for the captain to get closer and Itsu whispered into his ear.
“You and I both know that the misdeeds you committed were not all fully reported. We know about the man you killed and we also know why you killed him.”
The captain’s eyes went wide and he gripped his spear tighter.
Itsu smiled inwardly as he continued.
“Do you know why I didn’t report this to the higher-ups? Do you know why you were only demoted to captain instead of being dishonorably discharged and forced into prison? I was ready to spill everything. I was ready to see you locked away for the rest of your days as you rotted in a cell. In the end though, it was Master Garn who stopped me. He forbid me from reporting the full truth and he also recommended that you only be demoted. When I asked why, do you know what Master Garn… Do you know what he told me? He said that you were a good man. Tell me…was Master Garn wrong about you?”
The captain’s eyes spun as he thought about what was just said.
(All this time…All this time they could have buried me with what they have, yet they didn’t. Garn…You…You actually helped me, protected me.)
The captain looked back into the small bag. Looking at the Beast core and the Stazar Void Rock, the captain closed the bag and pushed it into Itsu’s hands. Moving his spear out of the way he said.
“You can pass.”
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