The Industrialist

Lance was unsure of what to feel about Chester Leric. The rebels knew about the Leric's affiliation with the vicious Circle that curated the very disposition of Axe Central City. He probably had directed the sinister plots of the Government to reduce the population – the Commoners in particular.

Damian shared with him about their attack underneath the wall by the SHF. Which the same group orchestrated by the same person, Chester Leric.

Their heads turned as the door opened and came in an intimidating figure. In a black suit, fine plastic clothing, emulating silk, layered with lighter-colored clothing underneath it, clothed a tall and endomorphic body type. His eyebrows were thick and his condescending eyes.

It was Chester Leric.

He sauntered inside without uttering a word but only a deep sigh. He sat down across them so elegantly but firmly with how he moved.

"I am only interested with the bombs you used during the attack. Who can explain it to me?" Chester said with a deep, authoritative voice.

Evidently, the head of CBD did not want to waste time. He went straight to the point, even without introduction.

"Mister Leric, I am Lance Berkley, a newly promoted Mechanic Tier 3 endorsed by Doctor Zee. I can explain about the bombs." Lance responded with an unshaken voice.

He should force himself to be confident, as police officers had warned him about Mister Leric's ability to detect a lie. At least, being confident about the way he would answer, masked the lies in between his lines.

"Berkley?" Chester furrowed his eyebrows towards the kid. "Continue."

"I invented the bombs. The police suspected us to be smugglers but we never had been outside the walls."

"Aren't you part of the rebel faction that we have been hunting down?" Leric asked.

"No, Mister Leric. We despised them." Lance said and Damian nodded in agreement.

"If you are a Mechanic Tier 3, you should know the by-laws about manufacturing weapons. Especially bombs. We don't like bombs inside the walls, don't we?"

"I know about the by-laws where I failed to remember it. I was suppose to submit the designs and the request to the CBD but the attacks happened. And I found the opportunity to test them. And fortunately, it worked."

"There is no fortunate in your disposition here, Mister Berkley. You are in grave violation of GLD laws!"

"I know, Mister Leric. My friend here, also a citizen in Steelpoint just helped me dispose the bombs to the attacking creatures. I should be the only one who would answer the sanctions."

Leric stood up and took out a cigarette. There were no cigars in this age but with power and fortune, one could acquire one. Probably, his wife had formulated the genetic makeup of a cigar plant and was able to provide to the high echelons, including his husband.

Leric lighted his cigar and faced the mirror in front of them. He puffed a greenish smoke from it and wafted a little inside the room.

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"You send me in a difficult position, Mister Berkley. To the eyes of the GLD executors, you are a violator. But to the eyes of the citizens, you are their hero. Now, in my position, I tend to balance things in proportion. My decisions are always inclined toward the greater good of the public. It is supposed to be easy if not with these GLD auditors that review my decisions all the time."

He paused and puffed his cigar once again.

"GLD called me. They want you to be punished for the unsanctioned weapon you have. I, on the other hand, wanted to exploit your invention. If you say that you invented it."

He paused once again. There was silence inside the room and he faced them and sat back down. His expressionless face maintained.

"In my line of work. I am always black and white to avoid precedents. You can't be a leader if you are easily swayed by the people around you. Especially with power, like the head of GLD. Even though you are an inventor, you cannot just create things to your liking. All are for prior approval."

"Mister Leric…" Lance interjected.

"Don't interrupt me when I am talking, Mister Berkley. If you don't want to ruin my day any further than it is. This is my process of clearing my head." He sighed.

Lance nodded, his heart thumped fast this time. He had to calm himself and let his thoughts be objective to what he would say next.

"Mister Berkley. Lance Berkley. Your name sounds familiar. Something has been bugging me from the start of our conversation. Can you enlighten me?"

"Probably, you have heard my name from Jaqi, Mister Leric."

"Jaqi? My daughter." He paused for a moment, "Got it! You are Jaqi's partner. He shared about you during our dinner. Countless times, if I can recall." Leric's face brightened.

'Countless times?' Lance thought. Suddenly, he liked where the conversation was headed.

"Yes. We are working together on our in-vitro propagation project, with Miss Janet as our oversight." Lance responded.

"Hmm. My wife is involved, too." Then, the head of CBD released a subtle smile.

"We are just waiting for the seedlings to grow after a month. Then we can proceed with our hypothesis if the plants will survive using bacterial medium."

"I don't need to know about the details of your project. My nose bleeds of such matters." Leric smiled.

"Ok." Leric exhaled deeply. "This is my proposition, Mister Berkley. I don't want my daughter to disrupt his project with you in chains. And what you did saved thousands of lives. So, moving forward, here is my offer."

He distinguished his cigar against the metallic table.

"Well. I will handle the GLD. This is my only offer and you should take this. As a penalty, you will do public service. As your servitude, you will offer your designs without anything in return but this will be a Government property. Any unsanctioned manufacturing of such weapon will cause another form of violation which is probably imprisonment.

So, offer your designs to the BCD. You will be hailed a hero to the city, of course, your friend here will be awarded with a monetary value for his valiant act of being in the front lines." Leric explained.

"What say you, Mister Berkley?" Leric asked.

Lance was surprised with the offer. It was light. The mention of Jaqi, his daughter, and his wife, Janet, had brightened the conversation's mood and pushed him to offer light sanctions. It was not even considered a penalty to some.

However, he was not sure if the offer had no hidden agenda. The Vicious Circle members should have always an agenda that serves themselves selfishly.

"I accept, Mister Leric. Will I get something in return out of this?"

"You will get nothing, Mister Berkley. Only your freedom," Leric answered.

"When do I start?"

"I like your spirit. One of my agents will visit you." He started to stand up. He offered no handshakes.

"Visit where? They don't know where I live." Lance said.

"Don't worry, Mister Berkley. We know everything as long as you are in the system." Leric exited the room and the pressure on both of them subsided.

They were saved.