Ben went outside and made his way to his hotel. On the way he stopped near a street food stall. There was a person with fire based powers and a small android helping that person. The food was quite good. The person was making quite the show of his cooking. And he was standing straight opposite to a large restaurant under a powerful conglomerate. As he was eating the food he went back to his conversation with Malcen.
' Well this stall is actually an example of private innovation and role of government. This person has innovated and is making good food and is putting a performance, something which this restaurant is too classy to perform. If not for being afraid of government and the laws, this restaurant or the company backing it would have done something to this stand owner. Now they can only do it covertly.'
Before he could delve into deeper thoughts of societal norms, economic paradigms and how to create an ideal society, he saw a person. He had a scar running through his right eye. He had a handlebar mustache. He had a sinister face. Beside him was a woman. She had an alluring sensual beauty. She was caressing the man and her hand was running over his pants over his crotch area.
Ben moved to a cover, slowly. He recognized both of them. He had dealt with them in Aatva. They were a smuggling couple. Or so they thought. It was more like a mutually beneficial relationship. Hiram and Zera were two difficult opponents he had fought in Aatva and in fact he had helped jailed them.
But here they were in the city of Keli, where the Central Martial Repository was located. In the middle of so many securities detail. Ben was stunned. The crimes they committed were serious enough to put them in prison for a long time.
Ben called Malcen and informed him of what was happening. Malcen came to where Ben was and saw both of them. He looked at his access points in the police department. He found out that that Hiram and Zera were both cleared of their crimes. There were clear signs of manipulation and forging of evidence. But nothing happened and they were smoothly prevented from being imprisoned for a long time.
" The fact that these two are here when an important mission is happening is alarming. We need to inform the commanders about this. For the time being we will observe and follow them for the time being." Malcen said.
Ben agreed and asked, " Will they be alone? I don't think only two people will be here to sabotage a mission of this large scale. There should be higher level martials in this group. We should take that into account that factor when we are observing and following them." Malcen said, " I think so too. We need to be careful when following them. But if they are here to sabotage this mission, what are they doing out in the open without any care in the world. How is it that the department did not know of two criminals in the city."
Ben wanted to say something about his blind trust. But he decided against it. He said, " Let us observe them for some time." Both of them moved to a location that was not really apparent. They also used the darkness of night to their advantage and observed them.
Soon both the criminals began to move. Both Ben and Malcen began to follow them at a distance. Malcen was more familiar with this sort of things and Ben followed his instructions. Malcen had informed the commanders regarding this and both of them had their masked with them.
Hiram and Zera were walking in each others embraces. They were kissing and talking dirty. They were a bit intoxicated from the beer that they had and was a bit tipsy as well. Soon a not so crowded street. From then on, their entire demeanour changed. They removed their arms from each other and used their aura to free themselves from the intoxication of the booze they had and began to actively look for anyone following them. Ben and Malcen looked at each other and split. Ben stuck more to the darkness and followed them really behind. Malcen followed them more closely by blending with the crowd and darkness.
Hiram and Zera took many twists and turns for about an hour. After walking they reached an alley. It was really dirty and anyone who saw it knew that it was the place for criminal activities. They looked in the vicinity again and dived into the alley. Malcen and Ben were observing from a 2 storeyed building nearby.
"What are we going to do?" Ben asked. Malcen said, " It would be ideal to wait. That alley is their territory. They will have various measures to sense and block any attempt to infiltrate that place. But we can't let them escape either. We will try another approach."
Saying that Malcen moved. They both came down and Malcen asked Ben to wait in a corner. On the side of the alley there was a person. Malcen went and started talking to him. The conversation lasted for about a minute and Malcen gestured Ben to come over.
Ben walked over to the two of them. That person looked at Ben and then said in a raspy voice, " Is this the boy? He seems to be shy." Then he turned to Ben and said, " The girls will like shy boys like you. The question is are you capable of enjoying their love."
Ben blushed a bit and looked at Malcen., who was smiling ear to ear. The person started to walk into the alley. Both Ben and Malcen followed. On the way that guy was describing all the prostitutes he knew and which one was good. He even showed some photos. When they could see that no one was observing them, Malcen struck him. A short pulse of electricity struck the man behind his neck and fell unconscious. He was moved and placed in a corner.
" Why? Are you disappointed you cannot see the girls?" Malcen asked. Ben glared at him. Malcen chuckled. But they did not linger more and went to find the smuggler pair. It did not take them long. But the problem was that Malcen could sense at least 10 people inside. All had a similar power level to them.