Chapter 7: Clip
[07/21/4517]
Inside the Nirico Jail, Boss John held his shackled hands up. His fingers on the right hand twitched from the numbness after thawing.
“Fuego.” Text on the shackles glowed and the spell never cast. He could not get a little spark. He looked up at the night sky and saw a purple hue reaching out at the stars. Very little light of the moon entered his window. However, a small hook latched onto the bars of the window. Boss John stood up and heard pounding going up along the wall. A small head peeked out from a rooftop. The person wore a helmet. It had an oval shape stretching outward towards the back. The clothes were black hiding the person’s identity.
“Hello Boss John.” The voice was muffled by the helmet. There was no way to identify the person as a man or a woman. “What did you see at the warehouse?”
Boss John stared at the person.
“There isn’t much time. The guard will be walking here.”
“The information has a price.”
“Price?” The mysterious person said and Boss John smiled.
“Yes. You’re really an amateur at this eh?” Boss John sat down.
“I have money.”
“Keep it. I want the Eathtech.”
“Not negotiable.”
Boss John just sat there quietly. Outside the mysterious person leaned back and looked to the right. There were two others also hanging off the windows. They turned to Boss John’s room and the closest one spoke. “My guy won’t talk. He’s just sitting there smiling.”
“Same here.” The furthest one said.
“I’m having the same issue with Boss John.” The mysterious person turned back to Boss John and saw him lying on his side facing away. “I’m offering you freedom.”
“We’re going to get it anyway when this whole thing blows over.”
“What?” The mysterious person looked up. There was a fourth person above giving a hand signal that the guard had stopped. “What do we do?”
“I told you what I want.” Boss John scratched his belly and yawned.
“Fine.” All three mysterious people said into their respective windows. “You each get one Earthtech.”
Inside Boss John’s cell, he sat back up and turned around. He stared at the mysterious person. He raised his shackles hands up.
“So?” The mysterious person said.
“You’re not catching on to how this works.” Boss John said.
“Oh… you want to be free?”
“We have a winner.”
Outside all three mysterious people looked at each other and the furthest one spoke. “Just cast a spell on these bars and help them get out.”
The mysterious person on the roof gave a signal that the guard is near.
The person by Boss John nodded and planted a hand on the bar. “Fine let’s get them out of here so we can get our answers.”
Inside Boss John’s jail cell, he leaned along the wall and tapped. “Hey Den, tell Kin to co-operate, they’re easy.”
“Sure thing Boss.”
***
The morning sun shined on over a large slope. Maddox followed Emma up the hill over looking the beach. There were birds landing by the washing waves. Each began picking at the shells the washed ashore. The wind was rough. When they reached the end of the road, it was making a turn to go further up. At the top were small buildings with carriages and motorcycles parked. Emma pointed at the buildings.
“That was where Koba senpai and I were supposed to meet our contact at and retrieve the book.”
“Why here? Why not at the library?” Maddox led her up the hill.
“I never thought to ask Koba senpai that. I just followed his lead.”
“You really are new to this.”
“Hey.” Emma hurried to his side. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Contact your headquarters.” Maddox turned around. “You haven’t been very clear of your situation.”
“When you have a broken arm after being attacked, and you don’t know who you could trust, you don’t think of obvious things. The truth is… this is a covert operation.”
“Are you serious?” Maddox took another look at Emma. “You’re a rookie and they gave you a covert operation for your first assignment.”
“Yes.” Emma walked past him. “That’s why it was retrieval mission so I can learn how covert operations work.”
Maddox walked behind her. “So basically, I don’t even know if you’re telling me the truth.”
Emma turned back and approached him. “I don’t even know if you’re telling me the truth detective.”
“I agreed to check your situation out to make sure Yamamura is not in any danger. Since you’re retrieving a rare book, this may be a case of poachers looking to steal items to sell in the black market. If they’re interested in the Alurian book, they could be after Earthtech.”
Emma relaxed. She paced back and forth. Her ear twitched and her tail swayed. She struggled with the choice was about to make, but she knew she needed all the help she could get. “Fine. The book is called the Golden Years.”
“It’s a start.”
“The attack happened near the top.” Emma pointed at the third building. “We never made it to Slope End Café.”
“Let’s go.” Maddox led Emma to the spot of the attack. He looked at how the road turned onto the top of the slope. “Walk me through this.”
Emma stood at the turn. “It was night. I ran right her ahead of Koba. I was focused on looking out at the beach. The moon lit the ocean.”
“Where was Mr. Komani standing?”
Emma walked past Maddox downhill. She stood in the middle of the road. “Right here.”
Maddox looked along the top of the slope. There was a stone wall along the edge of the slope. No cracks or openings were visible along the wall until it reached the road they were. The wall resumed onward past the road for as far his eyes could see. The height from the top of the slope to where Emma stood was high. He then scanned the buildings where he saw the name Slope End Tavern. “Continue.”
“I was attacked from behind. Whoever grabbed my arm twisted it behind my back. I felt it snapped, my bag was taken from me, and I was pushed off. I never got to see who attacked me.”
“I think you two were setup.”
“What?”
Maddox looked down the slope and saw crevasse before the road. There was a strange glimmer shining from it. “Did you do anything else before you fell? Like a swipe at your assailant?”
“Everything happened fast. I know my right arm was moving a lot as I fell back.”
“Come here.” Maddox waved Emma over. “I see something below.”
Emma stood next to Maddox and she saw the shiny object below. “What is that?”
“Other than your bag, did you lose anything you held or had in your pocket?”
“No.”
Maddox turned to the buildings. “Slope End is not a café.”
Emma faced the buildings and read the sign. “That can’t be. It’s supposed to be a café not a tavern.”
“Let’s get that object before we check on Slope End.”
Moments later, Maddox and Emma stood around the crevasse. Emma looked up at the top above and shivered at the realization she fell from up there. “I can’t believe I fell that high.”
“The slope broke your fall.” Maddox looked around.
“Where is it?” Emma said. “It was obvious from above.”
Maddox leaned over a large rock. “There some Arthurium laying around. Maybe that was causing the reflection.”
Maddox picked up the metal slab and found something underneath it. “What is this?”
Emma hurried over as Maddox picked it up. They both sat on the rock and looked at it. It was a binder clip. As Emma tapped it with her fingers, Maddox played with the small metal handles. “Recognize this?”
“No.” Emma said. “I don’t remember it.”
“This has to be Earthtech.” Maddox looked up the hill. “Let’s go to the tavern.”
Inside, Maddox and Emma stood at the entrance. Only a couple of customers sat around the tables drinking beers. One customer was at the bar itself receiving a drink from the female bartender.
“Welcome to Slope End.”
Maddox and Emma approached the bar. The bartender slid a bowl of nuts in front of them. “What can I get you two?”
“Beer.” Maddox said.
“Brandiberry.” Emma said.
“That’s strong.”
“I need it after everything I’m going through.”
Bartender smiled. “University students order this all the time.”
Maddox sat on the stool. “How often do they come here?”
“At nights.” The bartender pulled the spout and beer poured out. “Mainly on the weekends.”
“How about the weekdays?”
“It’s always slow on weekdays.” The bartender placed the beer before Maddox and started making the brandiberry. “Normally we get workers going home from the factory.”
Emma spoke. “Factory?”
“Well yes. Talon Company has a factory eight kilometers from here. The workers smell of Arthurium all the time.” The bartender placed the brandiberry before Emma. “Six seros please.”
Maddox handed the coins to the bartender and drank his beer. Emma looked at him wondering what his next move is. Maddox took another sip. “Drink up Ms. Rosado, we’re going back.”
“Y…Yes.”
***
At the embassy, Kenichi stood before a large tent where two guards stood by the entrance. It was closed up by buttons. Employees and Ironguard citizens walking by stared at the large structure. A child holding her mother’s hand pointed out at tent. “The circus is here.”
“I don’t think it’s the circus.”
Kenichi smiled as Ms. Torin approached him. She stood next to him and looked at the tent. “Is this satisfactory Mr. Yamamura?”
“Yes.” Kenichi crossed his arms. “I want this to end.”
“Once you get your medication and on your way back to Ironguard, all of this will be over. You are protected under International Law. Anyone who hurts you at this point will become a suspect immediately. Any country involved will be hit with sanctions.”
“The law confuses.”
“Come with me.” Ms. Torin led Kenichi inside the embassy. They enter a room with the sign reading Law Records. There walls lined up with documents, books and scrolls. In the middle are tables with young men and women writing on the paper. “This is the Law Records Room. We keep track of International and Nirico Laws here to ensure the protection of Ironguard citizens while staying here.”
“It’s very busy.”
“It’s because we have a lot of citizens going to university and we get a lot drunk students doing stupid stuff sometimes.”
Kenichi laughed a bit. “Just like back on Earth.”
“You have the same issues there.”
“My son and daughter are both attending university so.”
“Ah, I see.” Ms. Torin waved to the a young woman. She approached them. “How may I help Ms. Torin?”
“I would like a copy of the Anti-telepotation Act please.”
“Of course.” The young woman hurried over to the wall lined with scrolls.
Ms. Torin spoke. “The law is not really that complicated.”
“For me, as a person, it’s pretty clear I am victim of kidnapping. What I don’t understand is my property that came with.”
“Earthtech. Of course. Your lawyer that we will be assigning you will break down what you can and cannot keep.”
“See that is what I don’t understand. If my property is considered stolen, why are you taking my property away from, me. Isn’t that stealing legally?”
Ms. Torin was quiet for a moment. What Kenichi said baffled her. She received a copy of the law from the young woman and regained her thoughts. “It’s more complicated than you think Mr. Yamamura.”
Ms. Torin laid out the law and pointed to the Earthtech clause. “You have to understand, you’re the first Earthworlder to be teleported on this continent in over hundred years.”
“So there have been others around the world?”
“Yes, but rarely. Spanish may have standardized the language of magic, but not every country can speak Spanish? Those that can are the ones that signed onto this law except Eiberia. Only a handful of countries that can cast spells in other languages signed on as well.”
“So how do you enforce this law if Eiberia and the other countries are not signed on to the law?”
“Simple, the war clause.”
Kenichi read. “Any use of Earthtech as a means of weaponization, the manufacturing of weapons, selling for the purposes of weaponization, or the impetus of invasion or interference with growth of a nation, against a nation that signed this law would automatically be considered an act of open war on all countries that signed into this act and will be met with swift and immediate military action.”
“Whoa…” Kenichi lifted his head with eyes wide open at what is a stake. “Why didn’t Eiberia sign on to the law knowing they could go to war with the world?”
“Members of this signed agreement would go through courts if Earthworlders and Earthtech are brought here. That would mean Eiberia would have to deal with us if they want war with Borinquén. However, it isn’t just only the Earthworlder and the Earthtech, it’s also the teleportation spell itself. Historically the spell had been weaponized before resulting hundreds of dead people, not just soldiers.”
Kenichi’s knees buckled under and a young man hurried over to catch him. He grabbed a seat for Kenichi and sat him down. Kenichi leaned over. “It’s my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” Ms. Torin handed the scroll back to the young woman. She took another seat and sat next to Kenichi. “You are not responsible for the dead. That’s why this law exists. Many Earthworlders were being executed because of that spells kill rate. The more Earthworlders were brought here, the more people died.”
Kenichi faced Ms. Torin.
“The obsession with your world’s inventions became a global technology race. We’re bringing in your people’s technology with zero understanding of science. It’s why Kyoto, Borinquén and Oshura got the edge over all of us. King Elmond was wise to commit to open friendship with them. These three small countries defeated Eiberia in two wars with Earthtech and became economic powerhouses. We had to keep them in check.”
Kenichi leaned back against the wall. “So now Eiberia could start a war because of my kidnappers.”
“Yes. Even though they never signed the Anti-teleportation Act, it doesn’t mean they won’t look to an easy target and start war. Ironguard is it.”
“That’s why the king sent me out of the country.” Kenichi said and Ms. Torin nodded.
Ms. Torin stood up with a smile. “The good thing about this act is that you can choose any country to be a citizen within that countries immigration laws. So, if you want, you and be a citizen of Kyoto and join your people there with no problem.”
***
Kenichi finished his lunch in front of his tent covered truck. The afternoon sun was warm and bright above. He watched the guards at the checkpoint confirm people’s credentials. The line was long. A carriage stopped at the entrance. The driver climbed down and opened the door. Maddox and Emma climbed out. They walked through the entrance causing the people in the line to complain. Kenichi got up and he approached them.
“How did it go?” Kenichi walked alongside Maddox.
“We found something we need you to see.”
“Okay.” He continued inside with them as Emma explained what happened.
They approached the receptionist and Maddox spoke. “Is telegraph room available?”
“Yes. Third floor.”
“Thank you.” Maddox led everyone to the third floor. They entered a hallway. Each door was labeled ‘Secured Telegraph Room’. He went the far end of the hall and knocked on the door.
A woman inside spoke. “Come in.”
Maddox opened the door. Inside was a young woman sitting in front of the telegraph. There were wires plugged into sockets. The young woman spoke. “How may I help you?”
“Ms. Rosado would like to send a message to the Library of Alexandria in Borinquén.”
“Of course.”
Maddox looked at Emma. “This is a lot more secured than going to the library.”
Emma nodded. “Thank you.”
“Come Yamamura, let’s give her privacy.”
“Sure.” Kenichi stepped outside with Maddox. They stood beside the doors like guards. Kenichi looked down the empty hallway. “Well it’s secured.”
“Good.”
“I’m surprised the brat survived that fall.”
“She’s lucky they didn’t go down the slope and killed her. Whatever the kidnappers wanted, they’ll get it from Mr. Komani.”
“It’s strange that they kidnapped Mr. Komani instead of their contact. Doesn’t that person have the book their looking for?”
“That’s what I am struggling to answer Yamamura.” Maddox reached into his pocket and took out the Arthurium and binder clip. “Here.”
“Huh?” Kenichi saw the binder clip and picked it up. “Well now this is interesting.”
“You recognize it.” Maddox said as Emma stepped out.
“I sent the message. It’s going to take a day since Borinquén is on the other side of the continent. I asked her to give it to Ms. Torin like you said.”
“Excellent. Hopefully you’ll get more help.”
“Thank you Detective Maddox.”
“Maddox is fine.”
“Oh.” Emma was at a loss for words for moment and thought of her response. “Okay… I’m Emma.”
“Emma.”
Kenichi flicked the binder clip in the air. It landed on the palm of his hands. “Let me demonstrate what this binder clip can do.”
“Binder…” Maddox said.
“…Clip” Emma said.
“Come.”
***
At Ms. Torin’s office, she stared at the binder clip holding a stack of papers together. She pressed down on the handles and paperwork fell all over her desk. As she gathered up the paperwork, Kenichi took the binder clip and put it in his pocket. “Mr. Yamamura that is evidence. Please hand that to Maddox so he can log it in.”
“Sorry.” Kenichi handed the binder clip to Maddox.
Maddox spoke. “I’m going to the factory to ask questions. I’ll need a horse to get there. I’ll take a guard with me for backup. In the meantime, I want to assign one guard each to both Yamamura and Emma.”
“Of course.”
Kenichi turned to Maddox. “Wait a second I don’t need protection.”
“Same with me.”
Maddox pointed at both of them. “Weak lungs. Broken arm. Now, Yamamura, let me see your Chartmap. I need to know where this factory is at before I leave.”
“Sure.” As Kenichi was about to take his smartphone out of his pocket, a guard barged through the door without knocking.
Ms. Torin gave a frightening glare. “Knock on the door!”
“I’m sorry ma’am, but we got a message from the Nirico Jail.” He handed the slip to her and looked at Kenichi with his hand in his pocket.
Ms. Torin spoke. “Leave.”
“Yes ma’am.” The guard left and Kenichi took his smartphone out of his pocket.
Ms. Torin handed Maddox the slip and he read. “The bandits that attacked you in the warehouse escaped.”
Kenichi stepped back. “What?”
Emma spoke. “How?”
Maddox crushed the paper. “Someone broke them out from the roof.”
Kenichi took the paper from Maddox. “Why did they wait this long to tell us?”
“Because they screwed up and know Ironguard is going pull diplomacy on the mayor.”
Ms. Torin crossed her arms. “That’s for the ambassador to worry about. You go out to the Talon Company factory as planned and find out if there is connection between Ms. Rosado and Mr. Yamamura’s situation.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“I will assign guards for these two.” Ms. Torin looked at Kenichi. “Your guard will follow you everywhere, even to your appointment. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Ms. Torin.”
“As for you Ms. Rosado, you’re with me.”
“Yes, Ms. Torin.”
To Be Continued...
