Chapter 15: Burning On stake

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Burning On stake

Meanwhile The commissioner’s office was dead silent

"Angel. What is the meaning of this?"

Commissioner Varn’s voice was low. Dangerously angry.

Angel stood in the center of the room, hands behind his back. Halo dim.

"Commissioner. Please calm down. Do you know who I brought with me?"

"Spit it out."

"Liues’ wife. And child."

He smiled. "The Starry Group’s prized family."

"So?"

"So this is our chance." Angel’s smile widened. "We burn them. Publicly. On a stake. We watched the Starry Group squirm. They mocked us. They called us dogs. Now let’s see if they come crawling."

Varn stared. Then pressed his fingers to his forehead.

"You want to start a war between the top factions."

"More like... provoke them. And you can’t stop me. You know that."

"Are you insane?!" Agnes slammed her hands on the table. "Is this 1912? Public executions? The media will eat us alive!"

Angel didn’t even look at her.

"I didn’t include you in this conversation. Heretic."

"Stop." Varn cut in. "If we do this, Angel... the consequences are on you."

"That’s exactly what I want."

Angel turned and walked out, wings dragging across the floor.

---

Meanwhile In the prison below, it was dark and cold.

Morgan stared at the screen floating in front of him. His hands were shaking.

`[Do you wish to Trade with the System?]`

"Morgan? What is it?" Liues asked softly.

"Nothing," he lied. "I just... don’t have enough mana."

"It’s okay." She moved next to him, tearing more cloth for Juda’s leg. "We’ll get out of this. Okay? Help me tie this."

But Morgan wasn’t listening.

His eyes were locked on the System prompt.

Trade. For what?

What does the system want ?

Asked Morgan as he turned and started helping his mom.

Meanwhile Above them, in the Starry Group tower sat Liues at his desk, staring down at the city. The execution platform was already being made, except, this execution feels more advanced.

"What’s that starry group up to?"

Thought Liues, but then the door burst open

"Did you do it?" Principal Lou snapped. "Did you kill Morgan like I told you to?"

Liue turned slowly. "Yes."

"Don’t lie to me."

"What makes you think I did?" asked Liues.

"Because Angel just dragged half the city into chaos!" Lou threw a tablet onto his desk. Live footage, of a reporter saying there will be an execution of a calamity,

" So?" Asked Liues not understanding what it meant.

"Care to guess who the prisoners are?" Lou hissed.

Liue’s blood went cold.

"No..."

"Yes. He’s burning them. And if we intervene, we look guilty. If we don’t, we look weak."

Lou leaned in. "Starry Group will be humiliated either way."

Liue’s fists trembled. "What... what are we going to do?"

Lou’s eyes were dead.

"We have two options. Declare them dead and cut ties.

Or..."

She paused.

"Break into the prison, kill them and dispose of their bodies. Set them free Liues.."

Liues sighed deeply, then looked at Principal Lou again.

" I’ll be noticed...and if the safety commission have taintive proof that it was me...then Starry Group will be out of commission. "

"That is why you’ll not go as a good deeder."

She then placed a small round device in his hands and smiled.

" This will change your custom, and everything, including your scent. I don’t think the commission can even tell if it’s you." Liues looked at the object, before then looking at Lou again.

"When .....do we strike.?"

" We strike when the iron is still hot. You strike tonight. Because tomorrow is going to be the execution."

" Understand."

Then Lou turned and walked out,but when she opened the door, she turned around and looked at Liues again.

"Don’t fail this time."

---

Back in the cell, Juda coughed blood.

His legs were black up to the knees now.

"Mrs. Liues..." he whispered. "Stop. It’s not gonna—"

"Shut up." Her voice cracked. "You’re not dying today."

Morgan looked at her. At El, chained and unconscious. At Juda, dying.

At his mother, pretending she wasn’t terrified.

The screen flickered again.

`[Do you wish to Trade with the System?]`

`[Warning: Trade requires equivalent value.]`

Morgan swallowed.

He looked up at the ceiling. As if searching for an answer.

He closed his eyes.

"System... what do you want?"

Outside the cell, an angel stood at the top of a tall magnificent building, staring at the dark city below. Beside him, a person with a blindfold on her eyes stood beside him.

" Master. They intend to strike tonight."

Said the lady.

" Well done Uva, your hearing ability is the best of the best."

" You flatter me master. Now, what should we do next."

" We change the time of the execution. It will be done tonight! Let’s see what the Starry Group does."

That wide and inhumane smile creeped to Angel’s face.