Andrew and Clara barged into General Nuthus' office. Inside, the General was having a discussion with Captain Lent, his direct subordinate. Captain Lent is also their superior, but his position is below General Nuthus.
Actually, they couldn't just barge into the office, as there is a proper chain of commands, but Andrew insist because he's aware of the gravity of this matter.
General Nuthus frowned when the pair of officers, a man and woman, barged in without as much as a knock. Adding to that, they only offered a hasty salute before immediately running their mouth.
Perhaps it's because General Nuthus wasn't a ranking officer who puts pride ahead of competence in his department, but this is clearly pushing it.
"Report, Sir General! We apologize for our misconduct, but there is very grave news we have to share, Sir General!" Andrew shouted.
General Nuthus exchanged a glance with Captain Lent for a brief moment before the former's gaze fell on Andrew and Clara again.
"Both of you better have a damn good reason after this round of misconduct." General Nuthus scowled. His gaze alone was enough to turn Andrew's and Clara's legs into jelly, wobbling nonstop.
Still, they hardened their resolve and nodded firmly.
"Yes, Sir!" They said. Andrew then swiftly recounts his experience in the interrogation room, while Clara serves as an eyewitness as Andrew's partner.
"Are you sure it's the same boy I apprehended this evening, who is the Champion Level in disguise?" Captain Lent asked with skepticism.
"Why do you think it's not the item having a problem?" General Nuthus questioned.
"Sirs! The Probe Sphere I used was brand new and had just been tested two days ago." Andrew answered.
Hearing that reasoning, though still skeptical, General Nuthus chose caution in case their words turn out to be true.
"Captain Lent, we'll postpone our discussion another time. For now, follow me to meet that person." General Nuthus said. Turning to Andrew and Clara, he told them both to lead the way.
The four of them moved out of the office and took the stairs down to the basement level, where the interrogation room is located.
They entered, only to see nobody inside. General Nuthus raised an eyebrow toward Andrew, seeing the empty room.
"What do you have to say now?" Hearing this, Andrew's thoughts spin.
"He must have run away," Andrew answered.
"A detained individual escaping, but there is no commotion at all?" Captain Lent cuts in.
"We…. Leave him unattended because of panic!" Clara stutteringly clarified.
"That's a mistake even amateurs don't make!" Captain Lent barked, rightfully so.
"No use letting them know that now. Send orders to track that person immediately." General Nuthus interjected.
"Yes." Captain Lent said, saluting the retreating figure.
"You two. Go and announce the General's order this instant. Your penalty will be decided tomorrow." Captain Lent said before walking away as well.
Andrew and Clara gave a salute and hurriedly ran to the upper floors to inform other personnel.
At this moment, Zachary had not yet exited the department grounds and was exploring the areas.
It's already nighttime now, but the lamps along the pavement offer visibility in the dark.
Captain Lent was on his way home when he saw a vague silhouette in the dark, walking to a distant building to his right.
Curious, Captain Lent followed the man, and his plan to head back home was canceled for the moment.
As far as he knows, the building ahead was meant to store additional weapons and equipment, and there are no recent tasks requiring any personnel to fetch anything from there.
According to Andrew and Clara, there's a rogue Champion unaffiliated to the empire currently on the loose. Haste should have been their move, but Captain Lent surely had his own judgment.
To say they're exaggerating would have been more believable, as, first of all, the snack thief was too young. Secondly, he can be easily cornered and even willingly surrender.
The silhouette went to the back of the building, and Captain Lent followed.
When the latter walked past the side of the building, he saw the former standing still on his right.
With his back facing Captain Lent, Zachary had his head tilted up, gazing at the full moon above. It was beautiful.
"Hello there. What are you doing here?" Captain Lent made his presence known to the man ahead of him. By now, he could clearly see that the silhouette he saw was a man.
"Nothing, really. Just walking around. Enjoy the scenery, you know." The man answered his query casually, like he knew he was being tailed.
Captain Lent frowned because this person shouldn't be an officer because he's acting way too casually. Not even a salute was offered.
"Unauthorized personnel should not be on the Law Enforcement Ground without a valid reason. This can pass as trespassing. Leave, or you'll be detained." Captain Lent said.
"But I'm still under detainment, though? Well, not sure. The officers suddenly left the interrogation room, so I thought it'd be nice if I went out to get some fresh air for a bit." The man said as he slowly turned around.
When Captain Lent saw his front profile, he was a bit caught off guard. Not expecting it's the young snack thief he caught a while ago today.
"So am I really free to go?" Zachary asked.
"No. Young man, follow me to the interrogation room." Captain Lent ordered.
"Um… I don't like being in a small space." Zachary scratched his cheek, smiling mischievously internally.
"That's an order, not a question." Captain Lent had veins popping out on his forehead in annoyance.
"Not like you can do anything to me though…" Zachary muttered under his breath, but loud enough for Captain Lent to hear.
Captain Lent was about to spring into action when Zachary suddenly said, "Sure. I'll go back. Lead the way, please."
Captain Lent was greatly annoyed, and he wanted to do nothing but smack this vile snack thief on the head.
Anyway, since the person had chosen to comply, Captain Lent restrained himself and took the snack thief to the General's office rather than the interrogation room.
"General. This is the snack thief I caught today. The very person proclaimed to be a loose Champion Level individual by Officer Clara and Andrew." Captain Lent briefed the General after Zachary was seated across the table from the only other person in the room, aside from Captain Lent himself.
General Nuthus's gaze was on Zachary the moment both of them walked into his office. The General could sense that Zachary was not a simple snack thief. His Aura, though well concealed, was surging and powerful, like a volcano on the verge of exploding.
"I am General Nuthus. The Chief of Varcuban Capital Law Enforcement Division." He introduced himself.
"And I am Zachary. A traveler." Zachary said with a smile.
"A traveling Archivistas?" General Nuthus leaned forward.
The corner of Zachary's lips twitched hearing that, and as he leaned back on the chair, he said, "Whatever you say, that's a misunderstanding." Captain Lent's body stiffened at the mention of Archivistas.
Bam!
General Nuthus slammed a piece of paper on the table. Sketched on it is Zachary's front profile down to his chest. The resemblance was uncanny.
"Um… That's a good drawing…?" Zachary chuckled.
"It's a wanted poster. It should be distributed all over the empire by tomorrow. By coincidence, the strings of activity had actually, and unexpectedly, brought you under our nose." General Nuthus mused.
"You were responsible for the death of two commanders, one from Mardo and the other from Walts." General Nuthus said.
Though the deaths of these people don't affect anyone in the empire at all, they still put up a front, showing that they care. Because the key to this matter is the word Archivistas.
"It was self-defense, though. They attacked me first." Zachary countered.
"What are you doing on the battlefield, then? Sightseeing?" The General scoffed.
"I don't expect to fall straight on the battlefield, if you ask me." Zachary shrugged.
"Fall?" the General raised an eyebrow.
"I am not a resident of this world. How about that?" Zachary said. General Nuthus and Captain Lent were shocked by this unexpected claim.
"A crazy one, huh." Captain Lent surely doesn't believe a grain that came out of Zachary's mouth, but the General seems to be having a completely different reaction.
"Captain. Leave us." He said with gravity in his tone.
Though perplexed, Captain Lent heeded the General's words and exited the office after offering a formal salute.
"I knew it. There's no way nobody in this world doesn't know about the wider reality." Zachary laughed.
~~~~~
A/N : Hurray for the 40K words milestone! My best personal record so far for one series, and I'll strive for the 100K words milestone next. XD