"Do you know who I am?! Do you know what you're doing?!!"
Garcia struggled like a wild boar pinned down during the new year; he flailed and rolled around madly.
He tried to break free from the staff suppressing him, while continuously cursing: "You're all rebelling! How dare you lay hands on me, you bastards, are you all trying to…"
"Trying to do what?"
That steady, deep, and incredibly reliable voice came, making Garcia freeze while in mid-struggle.
Garcia: "..."
Garcia stared fixedly at the broad figure that stepped into his room.
Even without looking, just by hearing the voice, he already knew who it was.
Botobai, this member of the Zodiac Twelve, was the one whose reputation and strength were closest to Chairman Netero.
He was someone every senior executive within the association was familiar with.
And without a doubt, this operation was clearly led by Botobai; otherwise, he wouldn't be here.
Realizing this, Garcia's heart couldn't help but gradually fill with panic.
But he still forced himself to hold on, stubbornly keeping up a tough front as he said: "You brought this group of people here, what exactly do you want to do?!!"
"Arrest you."
Botobai's words were concise. The black-white-red mask painted on his face emanated an intimidating aura that inspired fear.
"Why are you arresting me!?!"
Panic surged within Garcia, but he still stiffened his neck and snapped back at Botobai: "I am the leader of the Hunter Association's examination department!!"
"I have also made tremendous contributions to the Hunter Association!!"
"You, Botobai, are just someone who only joined the recently established Zodiac Twelve and became a high-ranking professional hunter!!"
"What qualifications do you have to come here and arrest me, a meritorious elder?!!"
Botobai didn't humor him in the slightest and directly threw the evidence Beans had given him right onto Garcia's face: "Just because of this!!"
"This is..."
Hit squarely in the face, Garcia completely ignored the pain.
He freed one hand, grabbed the sheet of evidence, and immediately began reading it.
And the more he read, the more frightened he became. The more he read, the paler his face turned, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Th-this is impossible, th-this..."
Large beads of sweat began appearing on Garcia's forehead.
"This wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me!!"
His expression was full of terror, his eyes bulging while his mouth muttered incoherent phrases over and over.
And Garcia's performance left Botobai with not a shred of doubt.
According to normal logic, if Garcia truly hadn't done these things, then first he would be shocked, then furious!!
He would be roaring: "This is framing!" and "Who is setting me up?!"
Screaming in outrage, fueled by the confidence of someone genuinely wronged.
But someone like Garcia, now looking completely lost, pale, and disoriented, that was clearly the posture of someone whose crimes had been exposed and pierced through.
Botobai had seen far too many high officials and nobles fall from power because of political failure or their own misdeeds.
Their devastated expressions were identical to the one Garcia wore now.
"Take him away!"
Seeing this pathetic display, Botobai didn't bother speaking another word to him, not even willing to acknowledge him further.
He simply waved his hand and signaled the association staff to lift up the now-collapsed Garcia, who was already so weak he couldn't even stand, much less resist.
Garcia's heart was filled with despair, his gaze hollow as he stared ahead.
He now understood that if it had been someone else coming to arrest him, there might still have been room for negotiation.
He might even have had hope of turning things around.
But the one arresting him was Botobai, a decisive, incorruptible top-tier hunter who hated evil and tolerated no filth.
Then his fate was already sealed.
And for someone like Botobai to personally take action, it wasn't only because of Garcia's extreme violations; there was undoubtedly someone else's silent permission behind it.
And that permission… There was only one person in the entire Hunter Association who could make Botobai willingly act.
"Does this mean I've been completely abandoned..."
Garcia felt bitter sorrow rising within him. He couldn't even walk properly anymore, his body dangling between the staff who carried him, his feet barely grazing the ground.
"And how... How was I exposed..."
Even in despair, he couldn't help wondering.
He had handled every loose end with absolute care. There should not have been a single trace left behind.
Many things he had even personally erased.
Garcia couldn't understand it; he had done everything right.
Even if not absolutely foolproof, it should have been impossible to gather such complete evidence against him.
Yet reality had slapped him mercilessly.
As he was dragged out of his own office, his empty eyes swept across the other staff in the building, who were whispering among themselves.
His ears buzzed endlessly.
Until… he subconsciously lifted his head and saw someone standing in a certain direction, his eyes instantly lit up, as though regaining life.
But then, that person merely shook their head, making Garcia's eyes go completely dim again.
His head drooped, and he said nothing further.
"Hm?"
Noticing something, Botobai lifted his gaze.
And there, on the second-floor railing, Pariston stood with his usual smile.
After meeting Botobai's line of sight, Pariston even waved at him cheerfully.
Botobai's eyes narrowed slightly, then he withdrew his gaze.
He did not look at Pariston again and continued to escort Garcia out.
"You trust so much that fool Garcia won't sell us out?"
From a dark corner came the low voice of Saiyu.
"... Don't worry, he hasn't lost his reason. He knows what is most beneficial for him."
Pariston still wore his smile.
"He himself has fallen, but behind him, he still has a family."
"I remember he has a beautiful daughter, and two sons who are still in school..."
Pariston said lightly, "He cannot even protect himself now. If he drags too many others down with him, there will be no one left who can take care of his children..."
The blatant meaning within his words left Saiyu silent for a moment.
Pariston never did anything unprepared.
Even cooperating with Garcia in a seemingly risk-free venture, he had still prepared leverage: Garcia's daughter and sons.
One could only say, that was Pariston for you…
"But speaking of which..."