Chapter 37: Ally of Justice

Amphere Harrison

General Kyle Leviticus’s military offices. That lunatic general also commands a portion of Alterra’s military foot soldiers, airplanes, tanks, and intelligence networks. There are no dragon knights in this branch of military since dragon knights are so rare in this era. Maybe Kyle only has the Chevalier Unit as his ‘own’ dragon knight team.

I was in the office, sitting uncomfortably in front of a desk of a pretty lieutenant who is in charge of recording all my charges. Oh, right. I’ve been found out as the Black Phantom. Apparently, I have a case on homicide, murder of Alder Windstrafe, and also being a member of a terrorist group. My toes are shaking as minute goes by, but Airi has been eating her fish pancakes comfortably on the corner. We both have handcuffs on our wrist. Airi is going in jail with me too, but she seems so calm in this situation. Airi is smart, so maybe she already have a plan in mind.

Rudolf was there beside the lieutenant. He was the one questioning me as if he’s a professional prosecutor. I don’t think he still remembers that we’re still best friends. I don’t think we’ll stay friends too. Selling your best friend out is the worst act you can ever commit. Rudolf has a special place in hell.

“How long are you with Arcadia?” Rudolf gave me a burning glare. I clenched my fist. I would punch his jaw until there are no teeth left, once I got this handcuffs off.

I remembered what Airi told me when we were being arrested. “Deny all the charges, and don’t resist. Just trust me, totally!”

“No.” I made a short response. That’s not even a proper answer to his question. Actually, he’s been asking for yes/no questions like ‘did you kill Alder’ and ‘is Estoff your leader’ and also ‘are you a member of Arcadia’. That should be answered by him, since he’s the one who arrested me.

I felt that Rudolf is already tired in interrogating me. When the recording officer left, Rudolf stood in front of me with the very same stare. I gave off the same fiery eye on him in return. I think I would like to kill this guy after all. But my resolve changed when he immediately put his lips two centimeters away from my right ear.

“I’m doing this to clear your name. I’ll weaken your prosecution to make you innocent, but I will forge an evidence to have Airelina imprisoned. You can’t do anything to save her.” He whispered.

“So after all this time, you really want to get Airi?” I whispered back. My blood boils no longer, but I still keep this anger for what he’s about to do with my partner. “I’ll protect her, even if I have to step on your corpse!”

This time, Rudolf pulled away and exclaimed. “YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!” Then she pointed to the chillax Airi who was busy eating her taiyaki. “THAT GIRL IS JUST USING YOU! WHY ARE YOU SO DUMB!?”

There was a TV screen that was currently airing the Dragon Knight’s Tournament in this very office. After the last fight, the middle of the arena exploded! Dust and smoke was abundant everywhere, and it made almost all of the audiences panic.

As the blockage of the vision faded, an unbelievable show was witnessed by our eyes.

It was Estoff Wraith, now stripped out of his dragon knight stature. On his right, is the Black Phantom and his scarlet haired masked dragonoid. On his left is his trusted dragonoid, Gilliard. They were circled by about thirty Arcadians who are wearing leather armor and metal masks that looks like steampunk skull. The Arcadians are well armed with assault rifles, but they are not pointing their weapons to anyone.

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Rudolf and my eyes widened in shock. We couldn’t believe what Estoff did! Moreover, Rudolf can’t believe that the Black Phantom is there in the Arena! He switched glance with me, and the TV screen. Now who’s dumb?

“I am Estoff Wraith, the leader of the righteous movement of Arcadia.” Estoff talked in a loud voice. Just hearing the word Arcadia made most of the dukes run in terror or if not, covered by their dragon knights. But Estoff calmed the crowd.

“I am here not to spread terror, but to spread hope. We are the ally of justice, the protector of the oppressed, and the enemy of the wicked. We are the people who embrace righteousness with all our hearts. We are the voice of every man who contains goodwill in their soul.”

“What the hell is happening?” Rudolf muttered. And he clenched his fist.

I looked at Airi, and Airi smiled back at me like she’s saying ‘I told ya before that we’re getting out of here, totally!’. So this is their plan. Finding a substitute Black Phantom for that show is easy, as well as finding the Black Phantom’s masked red-haired dragonoid. Estoff and Airi should’ve planned this card from the start and will commence once we both got arrested.

Now that there is a Black Phantom in the Arena, everyone will think that I’m completely a different person. I just realized that Rudolf is just trying to frame Airi for being a terrorist, but he just has no proof. If I or Airi got a case involving Arcadia without solid evidence, the Chevalier Unit’s credibility would decrease since they have the contradictory statement. And I think that pretty convinced Rudolf that I’m really not the Black Phantom, at least in a logical sense.

After Estoff’s short speech, a lot of dragon knights activated Vesryn Pulse and charged to the ‘ally of justice terrorists’. Several projectiles like missiles, bullets, fire balls, ice spikes, electric surges and flying boulders went to their direction.  But then a glowing ring of light circled all the Arcadians, and then in a blink of an eye, they were no longer there. Just like bubble. It was certainly the work of Richard in his Portal Dragon form.

Rudolf was shaking as he turned to me. He hid his expression by blocking his eye with his bangs, unlocked our handcuffs and then made a soft statement. “You’re free to go.”

“Now who’s dumb?” I left him a message as me and my dragonoid walk away. I sensed an intense anger aura on him. Estoff is way too smart for him to deal with.

It was already night when Airi and I arrived home…or the secret hideout of Arcadia in the Guardian’s Haven; the ruined cathedral. Apparently, the ruined cathedral has an underground library, which was also discovered by Richard. Since the Arcadians usually exit using Portal Dragon’s power, we can’t be tailed here.  

My allegations have been dropped, so I don’t think that someone will still investigate us. Airi has sensors to back my statement up. Our secrets are safe…for now.

Estoff’s office was remodeled the very same manner as his Pentagram Knight Office back in the Dragon Knight Academy. And now, as we open the door to his office, he has this old fashioned glass of pint ready to be consumed on his table. Drinking again, eh? Anyway, the old white man Duke Dragunov was with him today as his drink-mate, but the Duke preferred a sassy glass of purple wine.

“We’ve been waiting for you.” Estoff said with a clean smile on his face. “How’s the interrogation and the torture?”

“No one got tortured thanks to our plan, totally!” Airi answered jollily. But then, she made a grim expression. "Now that the show cleaned Amphy’s name, are we really going to proceed with the second step of the plan?”

Second step? What are we talking about? I was about to ask some question but Estoff raised his hand, telling me to shut up.

“Amphere… I hate to tell you this…but…” Estoff gulped the last drop of his beer, leaving tubes of ice behind. “You have to take the lunatic’s offer…in joining his Chevalier Unit. If they still give you a chance, that is.”

“Why?” I asked. Finally I felt that I have a voice here in his office. Since he’s always cutting me off.

“Apparently, Airi’s life is still in danger. If what you’ve heard about them targeting Airi, then you have to do this to win their trust. They seem to want the powers of the Crimson Dragonfly.”

Estoff dragging me to join Arcadia in exchange for scholarship in Dragon Knights Academy is a drag. Estoff commanding me to become the Black Phantom is also a drag. But now it is different. I really have to join Chevalier Unit in order to know their plans for Airi.

Come to think of it, why is Rudolf trying to separate Airi from me!?

Is it because they wanted to use Airi for their own benefit?

I’ll prevent them. For Airi’s sake.