Leyra's words seemed to lodge themselves deep within Ron's throat. The pupils of his cerulean eyes contracted sharply, a faint tremor rippling through his fingers.
Why on earth did both Nox and Lady Leyra say the exact same thing about Rhax and me? Ron questioned silently, his mind racing.
Leyra remained silent, her gaze cutting through the space between them, anchoring onto Ron's face. "Ron Eosvile? Are you alright?"
Taking a measured, stabilizing breath, Ron composed himself. "Of course, Lady Leyra."
"What do you reckon Zigh will do with these perpetrators?" Leyra asked, her eyes shifting coldly toward Asley's unconscious figure.
Ron took a few slow steps closer to Asley, his posture upright yet tense. "Zigh will undoubtedly follow the letter of the law..."
Vivid memories of the Vellion Crater flickered through his mind. What a hypocrite I am. He focused back on her, his voice low. "Their punishment will be severe, to say the least, My Lady."
"Why the hesitation?"
A faint smile graced Ron's lips. "Matters of legal judgment can only be finalized in a court of law, My Lady. Anything done before that is merely vigilantism."
"Even when caught red-handed?"
"Indeed, Lady Leyra. May I ask what prompts the curiosity?"
"They brought their malice into a hotel bearing the Estogazt name," she replied, her voice dripping with her signature, profound apathy.
"In that case, you have every right to press defamation charges against them."
"Oh? You possess a remarkably quick wit."
"Nothing extraordinary, I assure you."
Leyra scrutinized the blonde man's features once more. Sensing the weight of her stare, Ron averted his gaze, turning his attention to inspecting the state of each incapacitated culprit.
Before long, the rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor. Rhax burst into the room first, closely trailed by a squad of eight hotel security guards.
"Lady Leyra, I have already notified both the local authorities and the medical team," Rhax reported, beads of sweat glistening across his brow.
Folding her arms across her chest, Leyra nodded slightly. "Excellent work, Rhax."
Rhax bowed, his usual abrasive demeanor softening instantly. "Always a pleasure to be of service, My Lady."
Rising from her position, Leyra signaled the end of the matter. "Ron, Rhax, accompany me. As for the rest of you, secure this perimeter. Do not allow these four to slip away under any circumstance."
"Understood, My Lady!" the guards barked in unison.
With a heavy sigh, Ron reluctantly trailed behind Leyra. Meanwhile, Rhax let out a sharp grunt, promptly taking his place right at her side, his fierce devotion to her on full display.
"If the police arrive, instruct them to meet me directly in Office Virgo 01."
"Right away, Lady Leyra," one of the guards replied.
While the rest of the security detail efficiently bound and secured the four unconscious men strewn across the floor, Leyra, Rhax, and Ron left Room Scorpio 07. They walked with wide, purposeful strides toward the elevator.
Why did Lady Leyra insist that Zigh's subordinate and me come along to her private office? Rhax thought, his eyes fixed on Ron's reflection cast against the elevator's glass pane.
Ron tilted his head upward, watching the glowing floor indicator above the doors. The sixth floor... Why do I feel this sudden, ominous pit in my stomach? Nox... please, stay safe.
Ting!
The crisp chime signaled their arrival, and the doors glided open. The trio stepped out into a sprawling corridor beautifully adorned with pristine lilies, delicate baby's breath, and elegant carnations.
"It's entirely white..." Ron murmured under his breath.
"Quiet," Rhax snapped in a low, sharp whisper.
Ron paused for a second and sighed, clenching his fists before resuming his stride. Rhax clicked his tongue in annoyance, while Leyra stared straight ahead until they reached her office door.
Pushing the door open, Leyra walked over and sat down at her desk. Rhax followed, remaining by her side. Ron stood directly across from them, facing the seated young lady and her silent bodyguard.
"Ron. Can Zigh handle the explosives or not?"
"I certainly hope so. However..."
"Is time against them?"
Ron glanced toward the expansive glass window overlooking the city. "I'm afraid so."
"Can Nox really be of any help to Zigh?"
"Nox can help, but with all these restrictions, it's going to be an uphill battle."
Leyra leaned back into the plush leather of her office chair, her gaze momentarily drifting toward Rhax.
Rhax remained tight-lipped, offering nothing more than a faint, knowing smirk.
Closing her eyes for a brief moment, Leyra opened them to lock onto Ron once more.
"Ron, do you mind parting your hair to the right?"
Ron jolted, his eyes widening in sheer bewilderment. "Pardon? Whatever for?"
"Just checking," Leyra replied.
"Lady Leyra…" Rhax muttered.
"Very well," Ron relented. He raised his hand, smoothly sweeping his blonde locks over to the right side of his face.
"Rhax, what do you think?" Leyra asked.
Rhax stared without blinking, taking in Ron's altered appearance. A moment later, he averted his eyes in stoic silence, though the subtle shift in his expression spoke volumes.
Leyra tilted her head. "As I thought. The resemblance is uncanny."
Offering a strained smile, Ron combed his hair back to its original style. "Is there anything else, Lady Leyra?"
"That will be all. Now, we wait for the authorities and updates from Zigh."
Ron nodded. "Of course."
Rhax's attention gravitated back toward Ron. How can a simple haircut make him look exactly the same?
"Ron, Rhax, please take a seat on the left side, near the painting of the white flowers," Leyra instructed.
Without sparing Ron a single glance, Rhax marched over and sat down. Ron followed suit, taking the seat opposite him. Once more, silence enveloped Office Virgo 01, plunging the room back into the quiet they had interrupted.
***
The tranquil silence that gripped Office Virgo 01 was nowhere to be found within the confines of Zigh's vehicle.
Having hastily evacuated the hotel, Nox and the ethereal entity known as Outer had crammed into the car with Zigh. With the autopilot engaged, the vehicle tore down the asphalt, its speed far exceeding the limits dictated by traffic regulations.
From the passenger seat, Nox's eyes remained glued to the digital speedometer. One hundred kilometers per hour...
Zigh wasted no time dialing Devin's number. The tense ringing echoed inside the car until a voice finally answered.
"Hello, Sir."
"Dev, initiate an immediate evacuation of the entire Begepe Pier!"
"But Sir—"
"Do it now!"
"Sir, with all due respect, aren't we supposed to just be staking out the smuggled contraband?"
"That is no longer the priority! The situation has escalated—there are active explosives planted across four separate sectors of the pier! You have roughly fifty minutes left, if not less!"
"U-Understood, Sir! Right away!"
Nox clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. "Are we truly going to make it in time?"
"We have to."
"But the evacuation window is far too narrow, Colonel..."
"I had already deployed a security detachment to the pier beforehand as a contingency."
"Even so, panic will inevitably ensue. It's going to devolve into absolute chaos."
Zigh bit his lower lip. "Do you happen to have a better alternative, Champ?"
Nox looked away, clicking his tongue.
"Champ, what exactly is Outer doing in the backseat?"
Nox turned around, only to be met with the wide, unsettling grin of the pitch-black entity. "Outer is just... sitting there, smiling like a lunatic."
Zigh swiped across his phone screen, selecting Lian's contact info. The line rang continuously, but it eventually went dead without an answer. Damn it.
"Lian's phone is dead," Outer chimed in, its voice echoing with a chilling.
"Huh!? His phone is dead." Nox barked.
"I see..." Zigh muttered, his expression darkening.
Nox glanced at the dashboard clock. "Colonel, we've already burned through ten precious minutes."
Zigh slammed his palm against the steering wheel. "That damn Orleander!"
He took the helm once more.
Outer let out a little chuckle, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
"Stop laughing, Outer!" Nox snapped, his eyes flashing.
"Champ, what is it laughing at?" Zigh questioned, keeping his eyes on the road.
"I have no idea, Colonel. The creature just—"
"Champ, Lian has the solution," Outer whispered, cutting off Nox.
Nox's eyes widened in utter shock. "A solution?"
"Champ, what did Outer just say?" Zigh demanded.
"It says... Lian has a solution, Colonel..."
Zigh gripped the steering wheel tight. What? A solution?
"You've completely lost your mind, Outer!" Nox shouted, breaking Zigh's train of thought.
"Champ, speak to me! What is Outer proposing?"
"Outer claims it can entirely obliterate the pier area, Colonel..."
Zigh's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before a dark, humorless chuckle escaped his lips. "Heh, to think such an option was on the table..."
"Zigh Eosvile! Have you completely lost your sanity?!"
"Nox! Do you have a faster, foolproof way to defuse those bombs?!"
"We are not utilizing Outer's catastrophic power, Zigh!"
"Remember, Nox! We're completely out of time!"
Nox fell silent, frantically running his hands through his hair. Shifting its posture, Outer kept smiling, tilting its head from side to side in a grotesque, playful manner.
Zigh took a deep breath. "I'll handle the fallout. Leave it to me."
Nox let out a bitter scoff. Don't tell me this damn Colonel intentionally brought me along just for this...
The distant wail of sirens began to pierce the air, growing progressively louder as they rapidly approached the targeted pier.
At the entrance, chaos reigned. Crowds of people surged outward like a swarm of winged termites fleeing a collapsing nest, desperate to escape the area.
"Do not push! Maintain an orderly line!" Devin bellowed, trying to control the sea of panic.
"Watch out!"
"Out of the way!"
Lexin clenched his fists, his voice booming over the din. "Do not panic! Follow the directives of the officers!"
Devin watched in horror as civilians newly disembarked from a cargo ship scrambled haphazardly, some losing their footing and crashing hard onto the pavement. This is an absolute nightmare.
Sirens and terrified screams blended into a deafening cacophony. Guiding the panicked crowd, the police officers grew slick with sweat, their faces pale with dread.
Lexin rushed up to Devin, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Dev! We've been moving people out non-stop. Are we gonna make it out alive?"
Devin shook his head, letting his shoulders drop. "Just do what we can."
"Why hasn't the Boss dispatched a bomb squad yet?!"
"Time, Lex. We simply don't have it."
"This is completely detached from the initial briefing the Boss gave us!"
"Lex, instead of standing here venting your frustrations, get over to the cargo sector and guide the remaining civilians!"
Lexin rubbed his face. "Right."
He bolted toward the cargo docks, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Do not panic! Remain calm!"
Meanwhile, Devin sprinted toward the lighthouse, his voice hoarse from shouting. "Stop pushing! Head directly toward the main exit!"
By now, the vast majority of the staff, laborers, and visitors had successfully crossed the threshold of the primary entrance gates.
Pulling out a portable thermal scanner, Devin checked the lighthouse from the exterior. "Alright, the perimeter here is clear... Damn it, so this is where they planted it."
Without wasting a single second, he abandoned the lighthouse. On the opposite side of the pier, Lexin utilized his own thermal scanner to sweep the cargo holds. "Okay, looks empty—Tsk, found you, you piece of garbage."
Recognizing the imminent danger, Lexin turned on his heel and fled the cargo zone. The two men finally crossed paths in the central plaza of the pier.
"Hah... hah... Dev... I located the explosive..."
Devin wiped his forehead. "Same here..."
They took a fleeting look at their surroundings. The once-bustling pier was now a ghost town littered with broken wooden crates, crushed fruits scattered across the ground, abandoned clothing trampled like doormats, and shards of shattered porcelain covering the concrete.
Soon, a line of five police officers converged, standing at attention before Lexin and Devin.
"The fishing vessel sector is completely secured! Thermal scan reads clear!" reported the officer on the far right.
"The passenger transit zone has been entirely cleared! The automated locks are engaged!" the adjacent officer shouted.
"Contraband evidence has been secured, and the cruise ship grid is fully evacuated!" reported the officer in the center.
"System confirms no civilian presence remaining in the cargo ship sector!" the fourth officer declared.
"Sensors confirm the administrative offices have been entirely vacated!" the final officer reported.
"Thank you, officers. Let us reinforce the main gates," Devin commanded.
"Understood, Sir!" they responded in unison.
Devin instinctively clutched his throat, his vocal cords burning.
"Dev, are you holding up alright?"
"Just incredibly parched."
Lexin clapped a reassuring hand onto Devin's shoulder. "Don't push yourself past your limits."
"I don't have a choice. The circumstances are pushing for me."
Lexin offered a weary smile. "Come on. Let's head to the gates."
Devin nodded in agreement. The two turned and sprinted alongside the five officers, racing toward the pier's main exit.
***
With a violent jerk of the wheel, Zigh whipped the car into a sharp turn, parking with a piercing screech that left scorched rubber tracks on the hot asphalt.
"We have arrived, Champ," Zigh announced.
"Yeah... Colonel..."
The trio stepped out of the vehicle.
Zigh ran a hand through his hair. "Ten minutes remaining..."
Nox's gaze swept across the sprawling, empty expanse of the Begepe Pier. "Are you absolutely certain about this, Zigh?"
"If you've got a better solution, Nox, go ahead and tell me."
From the moment they stepped out of the car, Outer had done nothing but silently observe the two humans, its presence radiating an eerie stillness.
Zigh pulled out his phone and dialed Lexin. "Report, Lexin... hah... hah..."
"Is the zone clear?"
"Almost there, Sir. Just a little more."
Zigh clenched his fist. "How much longer do you need?"
"Roughly... five to seven minutes..."
"Understood. Exceptional work."
Without another word, Zigh ended the call. He stood frozen, staring into the distance.
"What's the status, Colonel?" Nox asked.
"They still need seven minutes, Champ."
"When exactly do you plan to do it?"
"Right before the clock strikes."
"That's dangerous!"
"Trust me."
Nox tilted his head backward, staring up at the vast, cloudless azure sky. "How long have you known that Lian and Outer share a telepathic connection?"
Zigh ran his fingers through his hair once more, a smirk playing on his lips. "Perhaps..." he mused, his voice dropping to a murmur, "it all started back with that carrot soup incident."
"Carrot? Huh… If this fails, there won't even be any corpses left to bury."
"We have Outer, do we not?"
Nox cast a glance behind him. "Yeah. It's standing right behind us."
Zigh checked his phone display one final time. "Two minutes until the evacuation is fully completed..." he muttered under his breath.
"For the last time, Zigh... why?"
"This pier is just infrastructure, Champ... It can be rebuilt. Human lives, however, cannot."
Nox advanced until the iron guardrail cut off his path, his hands clamping down on the bars. "Colonel..."
The distant wail of sirens continued to reverberate through the air, but Zigh's hollow, hyper-focused gaze remained locked onto the pier. He dialed Lexin one last time.
"Lex, status?"
"Hah... the perimeter is secure... Sir."
"Lex, your bonuses will triple. Inform Devin as well."
"Sir? What do you—"
Zigh cut the line. He closed his eyes, beginning the final countdown. "10... 9... 8..."
Nox inhaled deeply. This place… it's going to disappear soon.
Zigh's eyes shot open. "7... 6... Outer, please."
The distant, low chime of the clock tower began to toll. In that exact fraction of a second, the entirety of the harbor area—the docked ships, the towering lighthouse, the administrative buildings, the reinforced entrance gates, and the massive concrete boundary walls—simply... vanished.
There was no deafening explosion, no scattering of fiery debris, and no smoke.
The crowd of evacuated civilians and officers stood frozen in absolute silence. Their eyes strained to comprehend the incomprehensible: an invisible force had erased the entire pier from existence, leaving behind nothing but a vacant void, completely devoid of rubble.
The world seemed to stand still, suspended in the fading rhythm of the clock tower's toll.
To be continued...