Chapter 48 - Willingness To Be Bait

"Oh! Oh... What the f*ck?!"

Allure giggled when she heard Drake curse. In all honesty, his reaction was appropriate. What she proposed, and the way she did it, was at the very least confusing. However, as someone who had worked for Menoraz's Secret Service for over half of her life, she didn't find her plan problematic at all.

"Think about it. Erinster is a high-ranking officer. If I were to start a real investigation, it would take months before he had to face his punishment, if he didn't manage to slip past it with just a demotion. I've seen it happen more than once. The only reason I can even threaten him is because of the documents I brought. But, if he was to attack you without any justification, that would solidify his guilt, and make everything a lot faster."

"You are crazy as sh*t, you know that, right?"

The Null ignored Scarlet, and maintained her glare focused on Drake. She could see that he understood what she wanted. Now, it was only a matter of whether or not he was willing to use such underhanded methods.

"You want me to be a bait, so you can... So you can what? Arrest Erinster, or kill him?"

"Arrest, obviously. Killing a major, even a bad one, is trouble I don't want."

"Uhum... You are a manipulative b*tch, you know that, don't you?"

Usually, Drake would have tried to avoid saying that at all costs. He was by no means a saint, but he had been raised mostly by a woman, so he rarely cursed at one. Allure, however, had crossed the line. The fact that she was saying all that with a smile was even worse.

"People have said that before, yes. So, you in?"

He didn't want to, and even without looking, he knew Scarlet was staring at him, telling him to say no. But while it may look like the Null was giving him a choice, she wasn't. The only difference was whether he would pose as bait willingly or not.

"You are going to use me with or without my agreement, aren't you? Don't make it look like I have an option, then. At least own up to your shamelessness."

The agent wasn't simply risking his life by using him as bait. If it was only that, he wouldn't mind. Major Erinster deserved everything that was coming for him. But Allure was using him to trick the officer without letting him have a say on the matter. That disgusted him. This wasn't a fight or a battle to uphold justice for the weak. This was politics, and Drake was just a pawn at the moment.

"One day, Allure, you are going to regret this. Not by my hands, but by someone else's. People aren't toys nor tools. One day it's going to backfire, and blow up on your face, and you will deserve every last bit of it."

"Beautiful speech. I will see you tomorrow. Bye!"

Unaffected by his words, the Null smiled brightly, waved at them, and left. Scarlet looked like she would pounce onto the agent at any moment, Drake could feel Frainer's and Kniivar's hostility to her. Even Allure's Zaplin wasn't spared, fleeing after Kniivar growled at it.

"What a b*tch... To think that before I found her nice."

"Yep. Well... Tomorrow is gonna be interesting, to say the least."

"Interesting? I'm not even going to mention the fact that you could very well die, because I know you are a blockhead who doesn't give a damn about your personal safety..."

"Ouch."

"...But to let her use you as she pleases is too much!"

Scarlet pouted, unsatisfied, but Drake just shrugged with a slight smirk. He wasn't any happier than her, but there wasn't much he could do. Unless, of course, he decided not to show up, but that would not only hurt his pride, but also deny him the pleasure from seeing Major Erinster's face.

"Are you even listening to me?! F*cker..."

"Hey, no need to lash out at me! If I need to give in, I will. However, I have an idea that will, at the very least, knock off that smile from her face, even if it doesn't change anything at the end."

"Are you going to throw a tantrum? That's a stupid question, of course you are..."

Speechless by the usually serious police chief grumblings, Drake stared at her until she couldn't hold it back anymore, and let a grin creep it's way to her face. Realizing that she was joking around while he was in distress, he did the mature thing, and flicked her forehead. Cursing at him, and rubbing the spot that he had hit, she turned back to her drink.

"Just try not to go too overboard in whatever you are planning, okay? You might not fear the Nulls, but Secret Service scares the living crap out of me."

"Don't worry. I'm just going to..."

"Nah! No, nope. Don't tell me."

"What? After all that complaining, you don't want to hear it?"

"I do, but I don't want to become an accomplice. You do have a tendency of kidnapping and beating people, after all."

"You!"

Once again, Drake wondered why he decided to become friends with her. When Scarlet was drunk she was, at the very least, infuriating. Sighing, he downed his drink. This was one way to forget his anger. Not the best, but certainly not the worst. Raising his hand, he called a waiter.

"One more!"

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"Hum... How is the situation in the northeast border?"

"Bad, sir. They have at least two hundred thousand men gathered there, and our informants say that's only half their numbers. Soon we won't be able to hold the news any longer. Rumors are already starting to appear amidst the high circles."

In a large conference room, several middle-aged men and women were gathered around a table. They were all wearing the dark-blue uniform of the Menoraz Army, but the number of stripes and pins on them were too many to count. Evidently, they were all high-ranking officers, much above Major Erinster or Major Johnson. And yet, all these powerful people had deep frowns on their faces.

"I say we make a statement, and start recruitment."

"We are not prepared yet. It will only cause panic."

"Then, what do you propose, Mariner? That we sit idle and wait for them to take the first step into our kingdom before warning the populace?"

"I agree with Lilac. By making an announcement, at least we will be able to control how the news get out, and what we say. When rumors start to spread, we will have the credibility to deny them."

Several voices expressed their agreement, and the ones who were against it had no other choice but to concede. Soon, a decision was taken, and the meeting disbanded.

"One week from now, then. Apart from those who have to control the situation at the borders, it would be ideal for all of you to be there."

"Got it."

"Uhum..."

"I will see you then, Lilac. Prepare your speech well. The Mystic Iferes know we could use some encouragement."

After saying goodbye to the others, the woman named Lilac sighed, and slumped against a wall. Only now, when she was alone, could she show weakness and tiredness.

"Oh great Ingenum, why now of all times must you test us?"

She spoke to herself, her voice a barely audible murmur. No one answered. She wasn't expecting someone to, anyway. Rubbing her temples to try and alleviate the oncoming migraine, she sighed again. It had been years since she last spoke to her. It was foolish thinking that she would do so now.

"Mystic Iferes, give me strength to fight our foes, and defend my home."

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Unaware of the meeting that had just concluded, and of the huge impact it would have on his life later on, Drake was currently watching Frainer and Kniivar engage in a game of tug-of-war. Sort of.

The furry Ifere manipulated vine-like twigs with his Wood Realm, with small balls at their ends. Frainer would then use Telekinesis on these balls, and try to pull them towards him, while Kniivar would use Wood Realm to stop him. It was at the same time a way for them to develop their skills, and also entertain themselves.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, causing Frainer to lose concentration, and allowing Kniivar to win the game. Seeing his two companions chirping and growling at each other, one happy, and the other outraged by the interference, Drake shook his head, and smiled. Getting up and stretching, he opened the door, and found, to his surprise, one of the agents that was part of the investigation team.

"Yeah? How can I help you?"

The tall woman had a cold glare on her blue eyes, and an uninterested look on her face, her lips pursed in a smirk. Seeing the nonchalant look on Drake's face, her expression got somehow even colder, although he wasn't sure what he had done to provoke her.

"Miss Allure requests your presence. Major Erinster just returned."

"Oh? Where is he? The outpost?"

"No, he is here in Ricker. Move fast, and don't waste my time."

She turned around to leave, apparently expecting him to follow her. However, after a few steps, she looked back and saw that he was still leaning on the doorway, stifling a laugh.

"What are you waiting for?!"

"Haha... Nothing. I was just wondering why you had the face of someone who just ate sh*t. Turns out you are angry because Allure made you a pageboy. Or girl."

"You!"

Her face reddened, and she seemed like she was about to explode, but Drake just chuckled, before gesturing with his head for Frainer and Kniivar to follow him. He didn't even know the name of the woman, but she deserved the mockery she was receiving. Had the Nulls not been so aggressive and arrogant towards him, and had Allure not wanted to use him as a pawn, he wouldn't have been so rude.

"Okay, okay, I'm going. I've got some interest in this matter after all. No need to be so pissed."

After that, Drake ignored the agent completely, and walked towards the police station. The woman hadn't said where Allure and Major Erinster would be, but that was the most logical place. Facts proved him right, as he saw the major himself, plus a few other officers, talking to the investigation team and Scarlet in front of the building.

"Agent Allure, why do you insist on not telling me what this is all about? I was righteously chasing after those Barbarian killers, and..."

"Oh, Drake, you are here! Good, that means we can start."

Completely ignoring the officer, the Secret Service agent turned to Drake as he was arriving, and flashed him a big smile. He held back a curse when he saw Major Erinster's head snapping in his direction, his eyes brimming with rage at being interrupted. Rage that only intensified when he recognized him.

"Why is he here?!"

Drake wasn't stupid. He knew that the Null had drawn attention to him with the objective of angering Major Erinster even more, and it worked. For a moment, he almost pitied the soldier. Of all the people gathered there, he was probably the only one who didn't know what was about to fall on his head. However, that compassion faded away quite quickly when Drake remembered how the major planned on murdering the Taurons.

"Hello again, major. Why I'm here? That's because I was the one who called the investigation team."

Without a change in his expression, Drake told the truth to Major Erinster. Allure wanted to make him go crazy and shoot Drake? There was no need, Drake would make it himself. His provoking got the desired effect, and, if states could kill, Drake would have fallen dead already.

"You! How dare you sully my name with slanderous lies!"

"You should know better than anyone that I didn't lie, Erinster. You wanted glory, and you hated Barbarians. What better way to solve both problems than to make the citizens of Ricker think the Taurons are monsters, and then proceed to slaughter defenseless people?"

"I-I... I have no idea what you are talking about..."

"You don't? Then how about we ask Broken Eagle and the survivors from the attack who paid them? Or how about I bring forth the eyewitnesses who saw you paying two criminals to kill me the day I arrived in Ricker? What do you say to that?"

The major opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. Behind him, all the military officers looked confused and horrified. Next to him, Scarlet had a deep frown on her face. Following her gaze, he saw Major Erinster's hand disturbingly close to his holster. Sighing inwardly, Drake didn't need to look at Allure to know the Null had a smile plastered on her face.

"If all that is not enough, I'm pretty sure we can uncover the truth about who poisoned Kinton Valley's river, putting every Tauron in danger of starving to..."

He felt Major Erinster move more than anything. It were the subtle changes and actions. His right arm tensing up, his breathing growing unstable, his fingers twitching, his face contorting in a frenzied expression... It was useless. Before the soldier could take his pistol out of the holster, Drake's was already on his hand, and a bullet accurately pierced through Major Erinster's wrist.