The bullet pierced the right side of the senior officer's head, exiting from the left. His right eye was left hanging out in a very disgusting manner.
Seeing this, the third guard was stunned. He completely lost his sanity. He fired at Teer, but the gun only made a clicking sound—it was empty.
Third Guard (angrily screaming): Fuck! This stupid officer betrayed me! Stay away from me!
Teer stood silently. The shadow of his hair obscured his eyes. He was trembling slightly, staring at the officer's corpse.
Teer (thinking very seriously): This really… really works. Unbelievable! What just happened has finally, after so many years, awakened my urge to find answers. It's making me tremble again. I'm getting goosebumps… this isn't a dream at all.
Teer slowly turned towards the third guard, then raised his head and looked at him with a truly terrifying, broken smile.
The guard started rolling on the ground, completely frightened.
Third Guard (screaming): Teer, detective, One Sach, and Holy Dictator—keep all this nonsense away from me! He died on your order! Who the hell are you, bastard?
Teer (with a very scary smile): Me? I might be Teer, or maybe I'm One Sach, or a detective… but right now… I am a new entity… Holy Dictator. Pick up the officer's gun… and end your life.
The third guard lost control of himself. He crawled on the ground, reached the gun, picked it up, pointed it at his head, and ended his life with a bang.
Teer (laughing unintentionally, thinking): Hah! I can feel that this time I wasn't bored. I just couldn't believe something like this was possible. How did this happen? Who created this power? And was it just a coincidence that I got it when I was drunk? Will using it cause me any harm? My curiosity has reached its peak… (gasping) Huh… huh… whatever! Now I'm eager to find answers to many more questions! I feel… so fresh!
Thinking this, Teer hid the bodies of the guard and the officer in a cupboard inside the room. Before hiding them, he found the keys to the exit and the officer's personal cabin on the officer's body. He also collected some keys from the third guard's body.
After hiding the bodies, Teer left the room and locked it. On the other side of the room was a kitchen, whose door was slightly ajar. The sound of cooking came from inside, and something came to Teer's mind.
Before leaving, he hid the officer's gun between his shirt and pants.
Teer (thinking): No one came here even after hearing the gunshot. That means either gunshots are common here… or the sound doesn't go out of this room.
Teer slowly descended, and before stepping into the corridor, he covered his face with a handkerchief. All the guards were staring at him as if he was something strange.
The guards started whispering among themselves:
"Let's see who this guy is."
"It seems he's someone new."
"How did he reach the upper floor?"
"I saw him going upstairs with a higher-ranked guard."
"His hands are covered in blood, and he's walking very strangely."
"It seems he was beaten badly, that's why he's hiding his face."
"Did he kill a senior officer?"
"Hey, fool! If it were that easy, someone would have done it long ago."
"You're right."
Teer listened to all of them carefully, but something else was troubling his mind.
Teer (thinking): Surveillance cameras are installed everywhere. Someone must be watching my activities. The interesting part is—if I'm stopped now, the mastermind will try to protect his identity. And if not, then his identity is so secure that even an investigation here won't affect him. He might simply be testing me… or preparing to challenge me in the future.
Teer arrived at the first floor and went to his locker, where the first guard was locked. Teer's expression suddenly changed, showing a slight hint of fear and tension.
The first guard, upon seeing him, spoke loudly: What man? Where is my friend?
Teer (slightly hesitating): He told me to inform you to alert all the guards.
The first guard narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
First Guard: Why? What will that do?
Teer: Your friend didn't take me to the fifth floor, but he said that what he's about to do will make things easier for me. He asked for your help.
First Guard (angry but calm): If he let you loose like that, then maybe he trusts you. But there are surveillance cameras everywhere—we can't both move freely. Just tell me, what do you actually want to do?
Teer: To be honest… the surveillance cameras are off for now.
First Guard (shocked): You didn't go to the fifth floor, so how did you do that?
Teer (thinking): I knew it… this idiot doesn't even know there's no camera control on the fifth floor. Maybe he's never been there. A complete coward.
Teer (politely): I didn't go there, but your friend did. He told me he turned the cameras off quietly.
First Guard: He was very clever. I'm not that clever… but I'm a senior guard, and the most powerful one.
Teer calmed himself and spoke firmly.
Teer: You're the senior, so you can do this. Gather all the guards and staff in one place. Make sure all prisoners' doors are locked securely.
First Guard (confused): But what will you do?
Teer crouched down, brought his face close to the guard's, and spoke very seriously.
Teer: Listen carefully. You need to gather everyone so I can tell them a story.
First Guard: What kind of nonsense is this? What will a story do?
Teer: A lot. The story I tell will be special. It will confuse them. It works on cognitive dissonance—when people can't process conflicting thoughts, they become unstable and lose control.
First Guard(worried): So I might be affected, too?
Teer: No. You're safe because you already know about it. Just stay calm. Once everyone becomes unstable, your friend will turn the cameras back on. The watchers will focus on them, and by then, we'll be gone.
First Guard (Doubting): It sounds good… but will it really work?
Teer (confident): Leave it to me. I promised to get you out.
Teer spoke with such confidence that the guard began to feel hope.
Teer opened the locker, and the first guard stepped out and went to his cabin, which was on the first floor. He took a uniform from his stock and wore it. Then he announced the microphone to every floor, including the kitchen.
Soon, all 398 guards and 56 chefs gathered in several rows on the fourth-floor corridor.
All the staff were whispering, wondering about the reason for this sudden gathering.
The sound of sharp leather boots echoed through the corridor.
Teer Jwala, along with the first guard, stood on a chair in front of everyone so he could clearly see everyone's faces from that height. His face was still covered with the handkerchief.
Whispers spread among the crowd:
"This is the same new guy."
"It seems he'll be punished in front of everyone."
"But why is he walking so gracefully?"
Teer looked at the entire crowd calmly, though his body trembled slightly.
Teer (thinking): Now the time has come to test this power on a full scale. Right now… the Holy Dictator will begin his first massacre.
[Chapter 10: Right now, I am Holy Dictator Ends]