"Felix Leo Griffith, this is lynching! I'm definitely going to report you for this!"
Rage surged in Siegel's eyes as he roared furiously.
As he spoke, Siegel strained, trying to break free from the ropes. Unfortunately, Baron had tied them very securely, and with Siegel's strength, there was no way for him to break loose.
With a small laugh, Felix patted Siegel's old face again and said nonchalantly, "Go ahead, report me all you want. I don't care."
A confident expression appeared on Felix's face as he continued, "Besides, I think that given my situation, even if you report me to Chairman Zala, he won't punish me."
No longer speaking to Siegel and pointedly ignoring the fury in the man's eyes, Felix ordered Baron, "Take him away!"
Hearing this, Baron looked at the men beside him and said, "Come and help!"
"Yes, Captain Nelson."
At the command, several men replied and stepped forward to help Baron lift Siegel.
Seeing that Felix and his men were about to take Siegel away, the guards moved to stop them. Felix stepped in front of Baron and the others, blocking the guards' path.
"Just tell the Chairman that I've taken Mr. Clyne," Felix said to them with a smile. "Don't worry, the Chairman won't blame you."
"Captain Griffith, please wait until we've communicated with the Chairman before you act," one of the men suggested after they exchanged glances.
Hearing this, Felix nodded in agreement. "No problem!"
Seeing this, the lead guard made the call.
The call was quickly transferred to Patrick.
Patrick's face appeared on the screen, followed by his stern inquiry. "Siegel Clyne, has something happened?"
"Chairman, nothing has happened to Mr. Clyne, but Captain Griffith came and wants to take him away. Oh, and he just punched Mr. Clyne quite hard," the lead guard reported quickly.
Hearing this, Patrick's brow furrowed in confusion. He said to the guard, "Put Felix on!"
"Yes, sir!" the guard replied. He looked up at Felix and held out the phone. "Captain Griffith, the Chairman wants to speak with you."
"I heard."
Felix smiled at him and took the phone. Looking at Patrick on the screen, he raised his hand in a salute and asked with a grin, "Chairman, you were looking for me?"
"Felix, what are you doing?" Patrick demanded, his expression grave and his voice severe.
In response, Felix smiled and explained calmly, "Chairman, I'm preparing to use Mr. Clyne to lure out Lacus Clyne!"
"And what's this about you hitting him?" Patrick asked, having understood the reason.
Felix shrugged, his voice tinged with feigned helplessness. "I originally wanted to discuss this calmly with Mr. Clyne, but he was uncooperative, so I had to resort to some extreme measures."
Hearing Felix's aggrieved and helpless tone, Siegel felt like he was about to cough up blood from anger. Forgetting everything else, he shouted to defend himself. "You little bastard, when did you ever try to discuss anything with me? You came in and had me tied up right away, with no intention of talking at all!"
At this, Siegel took a deep breath and spoke again. "So stop spouting nonsense here!"
"Is that so?" Felix looked at Siegel with a smile, feigning ignorance. Then, an apologetic look crossed his face as he continued, "It seems I did forget to discuss it. I apologize."
With that, Felix grinned broadly at Siegel. The sight only made Siegel more frustrated and furious. Just as he was about to say something, Patrick's voice came through.
"Siegel, Felix was indeed in the wrong first on this matter. I apologize to you as well."
The undertone of wanting to smooth things over reached Siegel's ears. His eyes widened as he glanced from Felix to Patrick on the screen.
In the end, he said nothing.
"Siegel, I expect you to cooperate fully with Felix's operation!"
The moment Siegel fell silent, Patrick's demand reached him. Hearing the request from his friend, Siegel gave him a calm look, remaining silent.
Not hearing a response from his friend, Patrick turned to caution Felix. "Getting Siegel to cooperate is fine, but Felix, you need to be careful not to take things too far."
"Please rest assured, Chairman. I know my limits on this matter," Felix promised, nodding emphatically.
After giving his assurance, he looked up at the guards, handed the phone back to them, and asked with a triumphant smile, "Can I take Mr. Clyne away now?"
"Captain Griffith, please, be our guest!" the men replied, saluting respectfully as they saw him off.
Felix returned their salute, then lowered his arm and led Baron and the others away.
...
Half an hour later, in a special room.
Siegel was tied to a chair. In front of him was a table, and on the other side sat Felix.
"Baron, are you done with what I told you to do?" Felix called out loudly toward the door.
From outside, Baron's voice replied in a rush, "Coming! Coming!"
As he spoke, Baron pushed the door open and walked in, accompanied by a middle-aged woman.
Approaching Felix, Baron reported, "Captain, I've found the person you asked for."
"In that case, apply makeup to Mr. Clyne as requested. Oh, and while you're at it, mess up his clothes to make him look disheveled, then douse him with a couple of basins of water," Felix instructed Baron, looking at Siegel.
After receiving his orders, Baron replied with a "Yes, sir," and began to act on Felix's command.
"You'll be applying makeup to Mr. Clyne to simulate various superficial injuries. Understood?" Baron explained again to the makeup artist he had brought.
The makeup artist, holding her kit, nodded repeatedly at Baron. "I understand, Mr. Nelson."
"Mm."
With a grunt, Baron strode over to Siegel. Looking at the bound man, Baron apologized once more. "Mr. Clyne, my apologies for what's about to happen."
"Is there anything you haven't offended me with yet?" Siegel retorted unkindly, looking at Baron's apologetic expression.
Baron was taken aback for a moment, then thought, 'That's right! I have offended him quite a bit already.'
With that in mind, Baron comforted himself. 'In that case, one more thing won't make a difference.'
Having consoled himself, Baron proceeded according to Felix's instructions.
A minute or two later.
Baron admired his handiwork with a satisfied expression, then turned to ask Felix, "Captain Griffith, what do you think? Is this good enough?"
Felix looked up. Seeing Siegel's tattered and torn appearance, he nodded in great satisfaction. "Not bad!" he said, then continued, "Go prepare two basins of cold water."
"Yes, Captain Griffith." Baron saluted and replied.
A few minutes later.
Baron returned carrying two basins of cold water.
Felix took a basin from Baron and, without the slightest hesitation, splashed the cold water all over Siegel.
The icy water was bone-chilling, making Siegel shudder violently.
"Start with the makeup," Felix ordered, casually tossing the basin to the floor and turning to the makeup artist.
The makeup artist nodded in response. "Yes!"
Over two hours later.
With all preparations complete, Felix started a live broadcast, showing Siegel's current miserable state to the world.
In the Chairman's office.
Patrick watched the live broadcast. Seeing the wretched state of his old friend, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. At the same time, his suspicions about Felix began to dissipate.
Looking at his friend's miserable condition, Patrick activated his communicator.
"Chairman, is there something you need?"
"The injuries on Siegel...?" Patrick asked as soon as he heard Felix's voice.
The question had barely left his lips when Felix's reply came. "Chairman, Mr. Clyne's injuries were created by a professional makeup artist we hired. I didn't dare do anything too excessive to Mr. Clyne."
"Makeup?" Patrick murmured, slightly stunned.
Just then, Felix's voice came through again. "Chairman, I originally wanted to inflict these injuries for real, but then I remembered your warning, so I could only keep those thoughts to myself."
As he spoke, a sigh of great regret came from Felix over the communicator. Hearing this, Patrick quickly shut down the idea. "This is good enough. There's no need to actually hit him."
"I understand, Chairman."
"Mm."
With a grunt, Patrick ended the call.
After the communication ended, Patrick sat in his chair, pondering. 'Could this be a ruse involving self-inflicted injury?'
Soon after, he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. 'Whether it's a ruse or not will depend on what happens next.'
...
Meanwhile, in Junius City's Sector Five.
In the hideout where Lacus and the others were concealed.
"Miss Clyne, look!" Vania exclaimed upon seeing Siegel's miserable state on the live broadcast. She rushed over to Lacus and showed her the phone.
Seeing her father's tragic condition, Lacus's pretty face instantly turned deathly pale. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out in grief, "Father!"
"Miss Clyne, you have to be strong!" Seeing the sorrow on Lacus's face, Vania wrapped her arms around her, patting her back and comforting her gently.
While comforting Lacus, Vania continued to watch the live stream on her phone. Just then, Felix's figure appeared on the screen.
The moment she saw Felix, Vania patted Lacus and said, "Miss Clyne, it's Captain Griffith."
Hearing the name "Griffith," Lacus looked up and focused on the phone screen again.
That familiar figure, that familiar face—Lacus knew them all too well. She raised a hand to wipe away the tears from her eyes, shedding the sorrowful and fragile demeanor from just a moment ago.
"Since Felix is there, my father's miserable injuries and bruises must be fake."
"Fake?" Vania looked at Lacus, puzzled.
Lacus nodded and continued, "He must be doing this to find a justifiable reason for us to expose our location."
At this, a hint of annoyance crept into Lacus's voice as she added, "And also to get back at me for the little trick I pulled on him with Kira."
"So that's how it is!" Vania murmured, understanding dawning on her after Lacus's explanation. Her gaze returned to Lacus as she asked, "Miss Clyne, what should we do next?"
"Play along with his performance. Intentionally leak some information about our whereabouts," Lacus said, her expression calm and her voice serious.
Vania nodded, put her phone away, and replied, "I understand."
With that, Vania turned and left to carry out the task.
After watching Vania leave, Lacus picked up the tablet from the table and found the corresponding live stream online. Looking at her father's miserable state and at Felix in the broadcast, Lacus ground her teeth in frustration, pouting as she said, "I only plotted against you a little! Did you really have to put on such a big show?!"
...
Two days later.
"Captain Griffith, according to the intelligence we've received, Lacus Clyne is currently hiding in Sector Five of Junius City."
In the room, Baron burst in with a joyful expression, reporting the news.
Seeing Baron's report, Felix set his coffee cup on the table and said with a smile, "In that case, act on the intelligence. Let's try to capture Lacus Clyne this time!"
"Yes, sir!" Baron replied, saluting with a booming voice.
Lowering his arm, Baron turned and walked out of the room. Watching his departing figure, Felix's gaze shifted to the window, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
'She's cooperating quite well.'
With that thought, Felix wiped the smile from his face, stood up, and straightened his uniform.
"Time to move out!" he said, striding out of the room.
...
Junius City, Sector Five.
"Meer, are you clear on the facts?" Amy asked Meer, her expression serious.
Meer nodded at Amy. "Amy, I'm very clear on what needs to be done next. I will do what I'm supposed to do according to the plan."
Hearing this, Amy nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll protect you. And with the Captain here, nothing will happen to you."