Meurisen, a costal city in Ariane
Jace looked around, Meurisen was the same as ever. The coast had few people during the winter months. Most of them were in their homes huddled under their blankets with their families to escape the biting cold. Naturally, the rich would be different.
Many things changed when the first satellite was launched 45 years ago. A number of useful and practical machines and tools flooded the markets of all nations of the silver belt. One of them was the radiator, which was commonly known as a 'heater'.
But upon further research,one would find out that the rich had been using the heater and many such practical technological for decades while the commoners weren't even aware of their existence. This was not uncommon. Most of the nobles only cared about their own comforts and could not care less if a famine ravaged the empire or not—unless it brought them some sort of benefit.
Unfortunately, the rich man before him was different—or, more accurately, Jace had forced him to be.
Jace poked the middle aged man's cheek," Are you going to confess now, Director? We don't have all day, do we?"
The Director of the Bureau of Imperial Security glared at him. Even in all the cold and snow, he resisted, knowing fully well that his resistance will only reward him with more misery.
He was worthy to be the head of the Dianair family. Looking at him reminds Jace of the arrogant and pompous peacock back at the Academy. Truly, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Jace looked at the man evenly. A slow smile formed on his lips.
"Tell me, does your son know that you are here? Does he care? Do you even know which son I am talking about?"
The Director's expression remained unchanged. He evidently knew which son Jace was talking about but he didn't want to let Jace know that it was affecting him in any way.
Jace continued, "I heard he was gravely injured by your youngest son. Imagine my surprise! Your youngest son? And you didn't even visit, nor did you send anything to him. I mean, I do hate him but even I have to admit that he is pitiful."
The Director looked at him and for the first time that day, he opened his mouth to speak. "Your mom was a criminal, boy. At the very least, Vincent knew that his father is an honorable citizen."
For a few long minutes, there was complete silence. The dozen men behind Jace, all muscularly build and armed, stiffened. They warily glanced at Jace, as if they were afraid he would explode.
Jace smiled eerily. His hands went to his pockets, clutching the soft fabric of a blue handkerchief—a gift from someone on his last birthday. It was a coping mechanism. "You truly don't see who holds the power now, do you?"
"Let's avoid wasting anymore time. Tell me Director Dianair. Why did you come to Meurisen?"
Jace wasn't a fool. He knew that it was impossible for a man in the Director's position to reveal everything just because of a few threats.
But he must obey his boss's orders. He would not break this rich fool—not yet,not until this rich fool has served his purposes.
Needless to say, there are and always will be many ways to deal with fools who would keep their mouths tightly shut—without harming them. Jace was willing to try them out.
But it was like the Director had completely lost his sense of self-preservation. "Oh, why I came to see an old acquaintance. A friend of our dearest Professor Vanderwaal. You may know him. He is very good in his field. I heard he is the youngest Professor in the Academy. Can you imagine that...."
The man went on.
The men behind Jace were awed. They mentally applauded the man. Wow! This man is really done for, to piss off their boss twice in just twenty minutes—he must be really brave.
Jace's hand wrapped around his handkerchief in a vice like grip. 'Calm down Jace. This man has nothing better to do. Think about his family. It is like a battlefield. Good Gods, he must have a lot of enemies ,' he thought to himself.
Jace soon felt better. Right, at the very least he has someone who cares for him, the same couldn't be said for the old fool before him.
While Jace was busy calming down, the Director watched him carefully.
The Director had a feeling about this man—he seemed powerful. The Director had tried his best not to draw attention, so he only brought six of his men, even though they were all specially trained. But, this man just jumped out of nowhere with his minons even before he entered Vanderwaal's mansion. Even his men were quickly defeated by this brat's minions.
He was then separated from his bodyguards and brought to this snow field in the middle of nowhere with nobody except his abductor and his abductor's men.
He definitely felt that he would die of cold but he won't admit it. He is the Director of the Bureau of Imperial security. He could handle one or two arrogant brats.
"Sir, how about you let us handle him? He talks too much."
Jace shook his head and advised the subordinate who offered to help.
"This is a high profile junk, Nile. Oh, by the way, has the news reached the Emperor?"
"Yes. " Nile replied.
"This Director is so stupid. The Emperor has been suspecting him for a long time. Instead of just standing obediently like a decoration and obeying the Emperor's commands until his doubts disappeared, this Director actually waltzed into a coastal city known to be visited by people from all nations of the Silver Belt. If that wasn't enough, the Director even went incognito. He was last spotted near the Professor's house. What do you think went through the Emperor's mind?"
Nile thought hard. "That the Director was going to poach a budding talent?"
"Does Professor Vanderwall only look like a 'budding talent' to you?"
Nile's eyebrows shot up. He glanced at the Director with pity.