-~*~-
The Marquess and the Marchioness is currently talking with said suspects. They are giggling in delight just as the four young lads and ladies came up the stairs. "Ah~ Kazuto, Luyao. So good for you lads to join us." Luyao and Kazuto tried to keep the conversation flowing while Irene and Yanyi talk a bit with the Marchioness while paying attention to the suspects.
Yanyi felt as if a pair of eye had been watching her closely. She reckon that it would be one of the suspects. She discreetly change her position to stand facing the be by the Marchioness side and semi whispering about what the latest gossip is around the state. In the corner of her eyes she saw a man in dirty blonde hair with dim colored pink pupils stare in her direction with a smirk.
"This man is weird." She thought to herself. As if mocking her, the man take something out of his breast pocket and proceed to hand them over his tie. Luyao and Kazuto did notice but proceed to ignore it. Luyao did gaze towards the back of where the girls are and saw Yanyi's eyes turn into a slither of snakes.
"Ah, Inspector Chen. I heard that you had recently found a compatible partner for all the big cases in Kinsel. How are they?" The suspect who Yanyi seem to recognized as Eduard Choffard. Luyao didn't pay much attention to his question and answer in a rather calm manor without giving hints of any sort of emotions. "They work fine with me."
Eduoard — "Really? I heard that they are quite the character. Rebellious even."
Luyao — "What their characters in their private life is of no concern to me. As long as it doesn't affect the safety of Kinsel and the system of justice then I have no obligation to comment on them."
Eduoard — "True, true. Though, Inspector Chen, I have a scenario that I would like to have your insight in."
Luyao — "Proceed."
Eduoard — "If someone you knew was from a family that has a record for brutal punishments ways and let say your love one is a part of their victim, what would you do?"
Yanyi can't help but be frozen in a spot for a while. The descriptions seem to match what her father or rather her family had done since the start of the empire. The Xue had been the most profound members of the High Noble to actually ruthlessly punish wrongdoers without any remorse. Though some people had their own judgement about their methods, the family make sure to publish all their findings to tilt the public to see that it is a suitable punishment.
No one in the empire is more known to have such brutal punishment methods aside from the Xue. Some may not know but for him to describe it like what the haters would shows that he is pointing fingers to that family. Yanyi didn't dare move nor do anything except waiting for Luyao's response.
"I won't judge a person just because of their family. A person is different from their background. It is up to time and fate to see what I view them as. Same rule applies. If they pose to help, I'll be more than glad to see them as friend. If they pose to be trouble..."
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"Then I will vanquish them from Yucoria entirely."
Yanyi don't know of what to make from that response. On one hand, she felt reassured to find her boss not having such constrain mind about such topic. On the other, she felt fear running through her veins. If there's a chance for which she is painted in a dark view would he execute her without a second thought?
Yanyi's quiet self attract the attention of Irene and Marchioness. Looking at each other, the Marchioness touch her shoulder to get her back to reality. "My dear, are you okay?" Her question get the attention of other attendee on the area, specifically Luyao.
Moving away from the crowd, Luyao gets a hold of Yanyi and held her face close to his hands. He touch her cheeks, forehead and neck trying to figure out if she had any sort of fever. "Do you have a fever from the garden?" His voice sounds concern lacing with caution.
Not wanting to drop her mask of perfect capability, the young lady smile in delight. Denying everything that Luyao had asked her about her condition. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just feel like going back early. If that's okay?" Luyao try to ask for further inquiries but receive only words lace with comfort.
"If my lady is tried perhaps having a rest over in this hall's bedroom would be better." One of the suspects, the only lady among them. Coral Smit. Commented with a fan and a look of concern on her face. She is a medical researcher which makes her an expert in anything concerning body health.
Luyao turn to look at his two adoptive guardian and both nodded in approval. Thus he took Yanyi's hand and lead her to the gate behind them where all the bedroom are located. Passing by to the door, Eduoard Choffard for a brief moment stand by Yanyi side. In a quick moment he whisper something that brought the girl to pick on her shoulder shawl closer.
Arriving at one of the bedroom that is located near a few big bedroom which she figure to be the owners', Luyao place her on the bed while getting in the bathroom and getting a warm bath ready. Yanyi sat at the bed drowning in whatever is on her mind. "Yanyi?" Luyao called to her while kneeling to her eye level.
Luyao — "Are you okay?"
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "Did something in the conversation trigger you?"
Yanyi — "... What you said about... a person like that... do you mean it?"
Luyao — "What's the matter?"
"What Eduoard said... all of it has been pointing towards me. To be precise, my family." Luyao then take a chair nearby and sat facing Yanyi while she tells more about what her ancestor stands for. Luyao may have known but most of these judgement methods usually stays away from the public's eyes. "I felt some reassurance with your words, but at the same time... If I will ever done something that could tater your view of me in a horrible and gruesome way... I'm afraid of the day where the trust would break."
Her fingers that are laying on the hem of her dress starts to tighten and grip on those beautiful fabric that Irene tailor's has made. From the front of her body a hand reach out and sat on top of hers. She knew that looking at his eyes is the right decision to do at this moment, but she felt both guilty and afraid.
"Can you look at me?" His voice tries to persuade her to turn up. She stayed still for 5 minutes before embracing her heart to see him eye to eye. What she find in front of her is something she never thought she would see in a lifetime. The infamous cold, stoic and emotionless Inspector shows a small smile that makes him looks... mesmerizing.
"As I said, I don't care what your background is. You have shown to me that what you want is not only the better for the empire, but for those you love too. Even if in the future, you shown to be a threat. I will try my best to change you. To make you turn to who you used to be. I believe that I'm not the only one who would do the same."
"..."
"There's no need to fear. Sure I only knew you for less than two months, and your attitude can sometimes collide with mine. But I have heard your side of the story. I have made my own research to who you are. I believe that what you are showing to me when we are at work, is the true Xue Yanyi."
"...Thanks..." Is all Yanyi could muster. Her eyes felt stinging from the possible tear that could fall. But she holds herself high and store them back. Luyao then walked over to the door trying to give Yanyi a night to herself. Before he could stand up from his seat, Yanyi grab a tiny hold of his sleeve.
Her eyes that was nearing to become a waterfall filled once again with determination. "I have an intel on our case." It's nice to see her becoming herself once again but Luyao think that she had enough for the night of emotional rollercoaster. He let her hand go and place them back on her lap.
"Let's leave that information for tomorrow morning, For now, get yourself a warm bath and take a rest. We'll make sure that whoever dare to cause your love ones harm will pay the price. " He let go or her palms and make his way to the door. Closing it behind and making sure to lock them from the outside knowing well that Yanyi can open from the inside if she ever feel like wanting a glass of water.
Needless to say, Yanyi went to sleep in a better mood and certainly, a warm heart.
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-~*~-
When morning came, Yanyi wasn't woken up by the yelling of her best friend, normally. Instead a bright ;light pierce through the window of her room which then followed by the sound of them being open. Her hands move to cover her face from the sudden blindness.
"Wake up, sleeping princess. It's time for breakfast and then work." The sound of the man that had been by her side last night reach her eardrums. Still having that early morning tired eyes, she didn't realize who is it inside the room.
"Five more minute..." She beg and protest to wake up from the bed. Before Luyao could give a green light to her inquiry, the door burst open with her dear friend with a face full of energy. She walked over to the lump of blanket on the bed which Yanyi had covered herself in to get away from the light and legit just drag the said blanket all the way to the floor
Yanyi — "Oww!!! What the FUCK Irene!!!"
Irene — "You are not to get anymore sleep in until this freaking case is completed!! Luyao, go out and wake up that other boy."
Luyao — "Roger, miss."
Irene went to the bathroom and get a cold bath ready while Yanyi tries her best to concentrate in picking an outfit for today. Just as she put everything on the bed she was dragged over to the bathroom and felt the cold water turning her spine into an icicle.
Holding her arms in hoping to keep the warmth of her body in tact she glare at Irene before getting another splash of cold water on herself. She figure that there's no point of being amd at her and accepted her fate today to be bath by her friend.
After washing her body inside of the tub, Irene went over to get the shampoo and conditioner to wash her head when she speak. "You notice that necklace to didn't you?" Figuring that she is talking about last night, Yanyi confirm her question with a "Yes."
"Isn't that necklace also on one of the culprit that your father had executed like 4 years ago?" Yanyi squit her eyes in anger, she confirm Irene's idea by furthering her founding. She then tell how that necklace came to her mind.
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Xue Xenzi, the renowed Marquess of Xue, Ruthless Grim Reaper, The Executioner. That is all the nickname that the man able to achieve for himself. It was told that during his early years of taking over the XUe's household, he got a promotion to be a duke but refuse as to protect the conection between the Imperial and the Xue.
One of his most infamous case is where he captured a smugglers of human traffickers from the south boarder of Ashrin that connected to the coast shore of Kinsel. Apparently there's an underground stream inside a cave by the shore that allows for trafficking victims to go in and out.
This tunnel directly interlink with a hidden underwater stream in Ashrin which allows for human trafficking to be exercise. After many attempts by the Kinsel security to find catch the culprit it turns to be working only when the Marquess Xue and Ryuichi joined in for a catch.
Apparently as the story goes, they get a hold of one of the runaway handler of this operation and convince them that Xue have had enough of following the Imperial order and wish to gain more money to conduct a coup. Seeing that there hadn't been any news, good news, between the relationship of Xue and Imperial they believe in what Xenzi and give them a schedeul of their operation.
This is all a hoax as when the reach the other end of the stream to the shore, Ryuichi's soldiers are stationed and ready for combat. Of course, the Xue family join in and together they take down the operation and bring in all the handler of the operation before the Emperor.
Some try to reason that Marquess Xue had instigated a coup in order to get him fall. Unfortunately for them, the Emperor laugh so hard he could fall off his throne. Apparently, Xenzi had tell the Emperor about his plan and ask his permission to use such sedition. He had also instigated that no good news between their family relationship can be out for the period of half a year.
The Emperor gives him the green light and he proceed with the plan. The leader of human the operation was brought to light and she had cursed Xenzi, the Emperor and the Empire just for petty. All of her dirty and gruesome works come to fruition which allows the Emperor to make a judgement beyond reasonable doubt.
With such cases involving an immense amount of human life from outside and inside the empire to be lost, Xenzi was given the responsibility to conduct the execution. A normal execution by the crowd won't do enough justice for those who had lost their life.
Thus, Xenzi prompt for a more gruesome execution that could be the representation to those who wish to ruin or endangered the life of the people in Volparine. The execution that he had done is where he would amputee the handlers hands and legs. Then he would hang them upside down on each of the gate boarder of Volparine.
They would be given a tiny amount of poison that would slowly erode their inside and with enough time they would be dead. They were not given any water and food. Therefore they would either die by the lack of water and food or by the poison.
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"The leader of the operation... I remembered that she also had the exact silver locket as Eduoard Choffard. It soon was taken by the empire to be stored inside the guilty vault where they put in all the belongings of those who had committed great sin." Yanyi finish her story just as Irene collect a bucket of cold water to be poured on her head, washing away all the bubbles from the shampoo.
*Spalsh*
"Do you think that they could be related? I mean to have an exact replica of the locket. They must have at least know each other." She put on the conditioner on top of her palm and ready to clean Yanyi's hair while she tought of what could be the key.
She didn't have to think long as she had tell Irene what had happened yesterday night. To be more accurate, what he had said to her in taht brief moment. "He said something to me while I went away to rest for the night." Irene stop her and crane her neck to Yanyi's side to see what she will say.
"A child shall pay for their parents' misdeeds."
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After 30 minutes they both reach the small dinning room in the center of the house where there only seem to have two other male by the table. If according to Irene's memory, the Marquess and the Marchioness had also taken a rest in this house which mean that they should also be here for breakfast.
"Where's your parents?" Irene inquire while taking a seat for herself and getting some toast and jam for her tummy. Kazuto who is yawning answered simply with "They went away to have breakfast for themselves in their room."
"Why? We aren't intruding or anything, right?" She place a piece of toast with a glaze of chocolate jam on Yanyi's plate as she stock up on her berry pancakes. The red blazing male didn't seem to realize that he had been directed a question, thus Luyao answered on his behalf. "They reason that intruding on our investigation is not appropriate."
When speaking of investigation, Kazuto immediately plop his chin on his palms before munching on his toast covered fruit. "By the way, about last night. I'm guessing that we all saw it, right?" They all nodded which prompt Yanyi to talk more about what she had on her hands.
She told them about all she had received last night and the story of how she might see that his original target might be the Xue family with Kinsel becoming a side target due to the collaboration between the main house.
"So what you mean is that this is a mean of revenge of our father from their prime years?" Kazuto said while waving his fork that has stab into a berry pancake piece. Yanyi affirm his suspicion and told that she might have a mail ready for her in her house or the police station.
Luyao — "Why is it that they wanted to expose themselves, knowing well that they will be punish for it? It doesn't really add up."
Yanyi — "It doesn't need to add up. The purpose of this case is revenge. They had already got what they want by causing a ruckus and... killing my Professor."
Kazuto — "True. There's really nothing he will be able to live for if he had only his late daughter to think. Thus, the ultimatum would be to either run away or..."
Irene — "Or what?"
Yanyi — "Killing me. Xue Yanyi."
'What?!" Irene stand from her seat which cause the plates holding the food to move slightly off their chart. Yanyi holds her sleeve and gesture for her to sit back down. Seeing Yanyi's eyes that is filled with the word "I'm fine." makes her a little bit skeptical but trust her nonetheless.
After her friend sat herself down Yanyi begin to digest that the threat letter is the last part of his revenge. "My father is the one person that had ultimately cause the death of his daughter. For him to have his revenge by going after me is merely paying back his debt."
Kazuto stir in his coffee and take a sip before saying that it is the way that them as the offspring of the High Noble to prepare for themselves. "My father had already receive his revenge by the him causing chaos to the state. Though with your guys help, the news of the incident are able to be kept low."
"Seeing that the house you guys are living in is under Irene's name, I figure that he might send a letter to the police station." Kazuto continue as he finish his coffee. Placing the plates and cup of their breakfast to easy cleaning, he stands up and fix his jacket.
Luyao who is taking his last sip of coffee stand up and went over to Yanyi who is taking her last bite of berry pancakes. He gesture for his hand, "Ready to go and see what we are dealing with?" Yanyi clap her hand together to clean the food particles.
They all parted ways to their respective jobs. Luyao and Yanyi take a car to the police station while Irene goes to her newspaper station with Kazuto sending her and then going to his father's company to help out.
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They didn't have much to do today and much to their expectations, the sought out letter of threat didn't came. Yet. They didn't really have anything to do since they had already had the suspects at hand. They had a brief call from Kazuto which Luyao explain that they will freeze all of their assets in Kinsel.
Not only that they will also freeze in all the incoming and outgoing transactions going into any of his related accounts. Luyao also explain that by lunch he will go to the military command centre and request for a wanted and immediate arrest of anyone who works for Eduoard Choffard personally.
"It's time for lunch. What do you want for lunch?" Luyao ask as he grab onto his coat. He figure that since it is lunchtime, he might as well getting a bite for both of them. "Ouh. Can we have dumplings and spicy noodles for lunch?"
Luyao — "Still quite hungry from last night?"
Yanyi — "Yup! Thank you Luyao!"
She scream while the man is going out of the office door. She is still cross-legged on the sofa while reviewing the tiny minor complaint received from the citizens around the main police station. Suddenly a knock came through the door.
"Come in." She said while setting down the already read case and complaint to the pile beside her. Max came in with a confuse look on his face. His next question really had been anticipated by yanyi.
"Lady Yanyi, did you perhaps ask someone to send a letter to the police station?" She shakes her head in denial yet her mouth quirk up to a smirk. She ask for Max to give her the mail and she open it quickly. In the letter it read:-
~*~
A lovely night isn't it, Young Lady.
Perhaps a little dance under the moonlight would be perfect for our chat. Please keep in mind that anyone else reading this letter means the downfall of Kinsel. I have my people getting ready for an attack you see.
See you tonight at the South-West Liopil Port. 11 in the night sharp.
Farewell, My Lady.
~*~
In this situation when you receive a threat letter you're supposed to be scared and fear for you life. Well not Yanyi apparently. She can help herself but cover her mouth with her hand to prevent any chuckles or laugh coming out. "Geez~ To think that he thought i would be scared of this little threat? I have seen far worse than this."
Max who has no clue on what she is talking about stand in confusion. He ahd only respond when she called out her name. "How many on ground police arsenal do we have around Liopil city station?" He affirmly answer with "Around 70. Though there are 30 more that wanted to join the arsenal team there."
"Would you be a dear and ready a pen, paper and an approval seal of emergency right now. I wanted to make a command immediately." He nodded and give a salute before running to where the supposed items were being stored.
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By the time Luyao came back with their lunch, Yanyi had already just finished writing her letter and gesture for him to come over quickly. The smile on her face looks so creepy that you might as weel view her as mentally ill person.
"What is it? i just got the approval and straight operation of getting the boarder control to apprehand them." Yanyi wave that off as nothing important and instead ask him to read the letter both on the table while she head over to the phone on Luyao's desk.
He read the first letter which is the anticipated threat letter. hHe figure that it might have come when he was out doing the errands. the second letter is much more serious as it was written with the paper and pen for immediate order only. Seeing the seal on the desk he figure that it is what he had thought.
"Did you read them?" Yanyi ask after putting her call away. She explain how she had contacted Kazuto and ask him to work with Irene to get the silent chaos operation to a close. Preferably before 5 pm.
Luyao — "Did you ask Max to explain the items you are using as well as the situation within the Liopil police station?"
Yanyi — "Yup! I ask him to explain it to me while I was doing the battle plan and writing the letter."
Luyao — "You want to request for immediate preparation of 30 soldiers by 9:30 tonight? What is you battle plan exactly?"
She explain in detail what she had plan for her confrontation. Luyao heard her words and comment that it might work but it would risk herself getting injured badly or wore died. She hadn't thought that through but had already decided to see what she can muster up from there.
"For the time being, let us search for the possible location of this chaos. Most of it I reckon would be at the city center while others might happen in other cities. We gave them a call and told them to bombard the area at 11 o'clock. Sharp!" Only nodding his head, Luyao and Yanyi went to work. Waiting for the moment tonight.
-~*~-