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Tick! Tock!
Tick! Tock!
The cuckoo clock on the wall continues to move as the time keeps on ticking. The same goes to work. Yanyi and Luyao are currently discussing the report and cases that need to be supervised around the state.
Their legs never stop moving as they move from the shelf to their and to the couch before moving outside for more process. It's a quite normal day now and although it seems to be a bit more busy that is due to the amount of serious cases that occur.
Never had such cases as big as those that came forth and they have to deal with it quickly. So time is running.
There also has been quite a huge progress since the whole debacle with Luyao's identity and that drug case. It has been nearly 3 weeks since that day and needless to say, Luyao is now widely known as Zheng Luyao, the heir to the Earl Zheng family.
Not only that, after legally changing his name — Yanyi provided him with his birth certificate from the Emperor — the Emperor decided to release some of the secret out to the world. Enough that people would not question the legality and the disappearance of the family while keeping the method and real identity of the family tight behind his lips.
Most of the people in Volenix didn't seem upset.
Heck, they all seem to be quite happy that such an honest and capable person is someone loyal to the empire. This certainly caught the attention of one certain man and father of the High Elite.
Xenzi has been reading the newspaper before him for the nth time. Rereading and rereading the exact headline. "The revival of the 6th founders". He was not alien to the myth and certainly knew that it is not at all a myth.
However, he never knew that those couples have a surviving child. For all they knew, the news that was brought back is that all family members perished during the rescue mission. Thus, to hide and honor their sacrifice they had done all of their best to hide the bad history of the family from the public and academy.
Knock! Knock!
The door to his office was pushed open before a head slid in. "Knock Knock. Ari to Xenzi." Ariani talked with a playful tone, hoping that her husband would look over to her for a second. Unlike her expectation, Xenzi didn't budge from the newspaper.
Pouting, Ariani entered without much resistance and stood in front of his office table, hoping that at least this could grab his attention. 'Surely it will.'
It didn't
"Ahem!" After hearing that slightly annoyed voice Xenzi stared up from the paper. "Ouh. My love. I didn't hear you coming in." Stating as if he is not in a trance. Normal for him to think as usual.
Ariani —"Didn't hear me? Are you serious, dear."
Xenzi —"Sorry, sorry. I was wrong to not notice you, my love."
Ariani —"..."
Xenzi —"Did you need anything?"
Ariani — "..."
Xenzi — "My love?"
Ariani didn't speak. Instead she went over to his chair and sat on his armrest. She didn't pout or sulk anymore but looked to be more interested in the newspaper in front of her. "What are you reading to not notice me earlier, dear?"
Xenzi placed the newspaper right before her eyes, particularly the headline about "him". After reading the headline alone she turned to her husband, eyes wide as a bug. Totally in disbelief. "He's alive!?"
Xenzi didn't answer as the headline and the fact that such thing is being published by the imperial journalist is proof enough. "But… I thought that no one survived… That's what Dylan told us right?"
Xenzi — "Yes. However it seems like he has more secrets that even we don't know."
Ariani — "It isn't fair then. We're all friends so why can't he just be honest?!"
Xenzi — "Calm down, my love. I'm sure he has his reason. Beside if such news were to be released when that child is still a kid, wouldn't it pose a threat to their family's credibility again?"
Ariani — "... True…"
The atmosphere turns silent for a moment. Both didn't really know how to react to such news. "Thankfully their estate is still clean and intact. We should do something to welcome him!" Her palm had already stuck together, excitement and new plans brewing in her eyes.
Xenzi drags down his wife's palm before letting out a soft chuckle. "I'm sure we need to wait for Marriane to announce that. And it will be quite a while since a man still needs to learn his lesson."
"Wait! Marriane didn't know about this?!" Xenzi shook his head, confirming his wife's disbelief. Ariani let out a satisfied "huh", her expression turned a bit more happy as she learned that someone is about to get scolded real bad. "Serve him right."
Xenzi — "Although I wouldn't be so proud to be in our position."
Ariani — "Why?"
Xenzi —"Yiyi and Lyon also have a hand in this."
Ariani — "..."
Xenzi — "I'm serious, my love."
Ariani — "... Our Yiyi?"
Xenzi — "Yes. Our Yiyi."
Ariani — "..."
Xenzi — "..."
Ariani — "She's getting her own punishment soon."
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"Achoo!"
Yanyi cleans her nose from the sudden sneeze. Weird, she knew that her body was fine and well. She hardly ever gets sick anyway so the sneeze is totally out of the blue. Maybe she needs to rest for a bit.
"You okay?" The voice of concern came from behind. She tilted her head backwards onto the couch's headrest before being eye to eye with Luyao. She gave a small weak smile to him, assuring him that she is okay.
"If you need some days off, just say so. You've been working non-stop for days already. Not only for the police station but for other work as well."
"Nyeh. I'll be fine. I'll take a break after settling these things."
She continues to sort out the citizenship request that has been sent over to her. Most of these actually came from merchants that originated from Anderil. Many of them turn to be a part of Volenix after the old history rearise to the surface.
Many of them accuse Anderil, their birthplace or ancestry, for deliberately using the citizens' life as nothing but a pawn. If they see them as expendable then they would vanish without any trace. Their words, not mine.
Speaking of Anderil, the news also spread to that kingdom and needless to say, they try to push the blame to Volenix. Stating how they had lied and stating how the war 20 years ago is because of them.
Most people don't buy their words as it has been researched many times after the war ended that Anderil can be seen as the most potential instigator. Not to mention, their corruption has long been running around the world and no one is believing their words anymore.
Especially after the Dunisia incident.
"You should go and work at the estate then. It's much easier for you to communicate with Uncle and Kazuto there. Besides, Aunt is there so she can take care of your needs for a bit."
"Maybe… I'll go there tomorrow. I'll settle the cases today."
Before Yanyi could grab the case file on her desk, Luyao had snatched it away. Yanyi furrowed her brows, not satisfied with how she is being restricted from working. "I'm still on the clock, Luyao. I need to do my work."
"Who's your superior?" Yanyi looked directly into his eyes, her eyes squinted as she stared her displeasure at him. He didn't faze and held out his arm to the door. "Please. Go back home and rest. I'll be sending you to the estate tomorrow."
Yanyi — "Luyao-!"
Luyao — "That's an order."
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "..."
Yanyi — "Fine!"
Yanyi stomps out of the office, quite pissed at the sudden use of authority. "Stupid boss. I can take care of myself so quit butting in." She whispered to herself, making sure that it was only loud enough for her only.
"I can hear you, you know." Luyao said to himself before returning to work overtime.
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Cling!
Clang!
Cling!
The sound of metal clashing filled the courtyard as Yanyi opened the giant door and was face to face with two practicing individuals. One is smaller and the other is older. Hearing the door creak open, Eker who is currently on a defensive state looks over to Yanyi.
"Jie is back!"
"Focus, child! You won't have enough time to celebrate when your life is on the line!"
Yanyi just gave a quick smile before heading upstairs. She first entered the living room and grabbed herself a cup of water. Irene, who is chilling around, looked up from her book and saw the tired girl dragging her feet to the kitchen.
"You alright?" She receives a simple yet demotivated "Yeah…"
"Luyao sent you home early didn't he?" Disgust creeps up to her face before turning to Irene, face looking kind of angry. "Who told you that?"
"Figure it out myself." It's not like one can't see the clear distinction of how Luyao acts towards everyone and to Yanyi. The man would risk his own life for the girl if he wishes to. Look she may be single but that doesn't mean she is blind to signs of love.
"I'll be off the station's radar for a while. Need to complete these citizenship requests."
"How many?"
"3 metres tall."
"That much?! I thought there weren't many of Anderil in Volenix."
"Yeah well most of them came from people who never even set foot in Anderil. Most of them are tied to ancestry so when news comes of how they treat their citizens like meat shields, guess who comes to switch sides."
"I wish you luck. And go get your rest."
"Thank you. Call me at dinner time." Yanyi places the cup of water back to the sink before dragging her limping body to her room. Taking a quick shower and immediately falling to the mattress. Light snoring fills the room until dinner comes around.
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3 weeks later.
The cloud is turning into a fluffy pink cotton candy as the sky changes colour to orange. Luyao is still in his office, looking over the cases and documents that need to be settled. He has been working alone for the past 3 weeks but he doesn't mind.
"Ughhh…" The heavy groan came from outside of the office door before an unexpected visitor came into his view. Yanyi, who pretty much looks like a flopping fish, limps towards the couch. "I'm DONE!" Her shout of freedom laced with anger shows how much her feelings are right now.
Luyao — "You've finished with the citizenship application?"
Yanyi — "Yeah…"
Luyao — "You need to rest now?"
Yanyi — "Yeah…"
Luyao —"You are hungry?"
Yanyi — "Yeah…"
Luyao — "You want to quit?"
Yanyi — "Yeah…"
Luyao — "..."
Yanyi — "..."
Luyao — "You want to kill the Crown Prince."
Yanyi — "Yeah…"
Yeah… She doesn't seem to realize what is being asked. Saying yeah to everything as her brain continues to dysfunction. Luyao places all the leftover documents aside before opening the lower drawer and fishing out two pieces of paper.
He walked over to the couch, standing before the girl that has sprawled across the soft cushion. "Here." Yanyi didn't react but opened her palm, indicating for Luyao to place whatever it is on her hand.
He did and she took a closer look. That is when her eyes start to squit in confusion. "VIP tickets to Fairyland Themepark?" She murmured before her eyes flew towards the man before her.
"Kazuto has been working on the side with the FL Company to open the first theme park in Volenix. It just finished all the procedure and has been in full motion for about 2 weeks already. They gave us two VIP tickets if we wished to join in. Kazuto is still busy with the company, Uncle and Aunt are taking care of the new baby and I can't leave my post just after a month back to work."
"Why gave it to me?"
"Considering that Eker had finished his training and received his signia already, I figure that this is the best gift for a child of his age. Besides, you really need some time off from any sort of work. So why not go with him."
"When is this?"
"Whenever you want. I'll give you 3 days of break starting tomorrow, you can settle on what day you want to go."
"Wow… Thanks." The smile on her lips starts to elevate her pale looking skin. At least she is not lifeless anymore. Luyao then packs his stuff quickly, making sure to pack all the leftover documents for home.
He then drove off from the station with Yanyi, stopping at a nearby food stand to grab some quick dinner for the three residents in her house. Helping her from not having to cook dinner.
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The red crimson eyes of a raven peek through the window of an underground tunnel.
A group of people sitting around a table in the dark. Only a small lantern acts as their source of light. Some are standing and some are sitting on the floor.
Weapon across the side of the wall. Ammunition filled a corner of the room enough for a group of about 4 dozen of them.
A man enters the room, the door creaking while closing. The steps are silent and confident. Like a person with a full proof plan. He stopped in the middle of the room where a round table was prepared.
He then proceeded to lay out a piece of paper. A blueprint of a tower with a map of what can be seen near the artificial lake in Kinsel. "Map of Fairyland Themepark" plastered on top of that piece of paper.
The blueprints? The central tower in the middle of the themepark, belonging to the FL Company for the purpose of overseeing the themepark. How they got it, I don't know. But what I do know, something bad is about to happen.
The wings flap away from the window, across the dark sky towards the full moon.
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-~*~-