The news of Jade's mysterious appearance at Johji Inn arrived even before her, and the royal family were already waiting for her when she arrived inside the palace's main parlour. Seating on the throne is El Ramon, and beside him is Andrea and the mafias were standing far off. "Hello, Jade. Your face is a remedy for a sour heart. How are the seven beasts?" "Hi, Andrea. You look stunning. And yes, the seven beasts were as strong as a fiddle." "Hello, Jade. I thought I won't be seeing you again. You gave us a fright when Johji Inn was burnt down," El Ramon smirked and let out. "Haha. Be at ease, I won't die until the foreigners were completely wiped off." "We have received your payment for Johji Inn and the documents are in the table over there. Please fill them, take a copy and give the other copy to the palace secretary for record purposes." "It will be done. Any news of Priest and his allies?" "None so far. Probably they were dead, and their remains were already eaten by the
As soon as lady Amona left Andrea's presence, her majesty was seen soliloquising alone in her seat."Why is lady Amona protecting Libra, when it was apparent that he visited the palace on the morning of that fateful day?" She asked as she place her fingers on her lips and gazed lost in thought. Having no one to answer her unasked question. Andrea stood up with a groan, walked towards the statue of King El Guje and peered at the fixed smile on the king's face."We are getting closer to finding your murderer. So far, Priest is the main culprit and I believe others will be found out soon," Andrea stooped in front of the statue and muttered in a whisper."Are you conversing with the king's sculpture?" El Ramon's voice made the lost-in-thought lady to whirled back, smile at the sight of her husband, and then let out, " I was reminding his spirit not to forsake us now."El Ramon nodded in understanding, stepped closer to his throne, sat and signal to his wife to come to her seat."Did you
The guards at the wharf were surprised when the man who had been friendly and meek during his prior visit suddenly became hostile. And the presence of hundreds of mafias with weapons at his back made them surrender without firing a bullet. After handcuffing the guards at the gate and cramming them into the awaiting truck, some mafias were ordered to drive them to the palace, while the rest scattered into the foreigners' ships in search of the sailors and the sailing crews."Go in a group of twenty and be careful. Most of the sailors had weapons and were uncultured to know when to shoot or not," Zuma informed the mafias with him, watched as forty among them divided themselves into two, then signals to some to spread all around the wharf environment and intercept anyone who may try to escape through the sea."No one must escape. Dead or alive, I want all the sailors and the ship crews arrested and sent to the palace."It was a command. One that the mafias had no intention of breaking,
Despite the change of ownership in Johji Inn, the place was humming as a bee hive as soon as the stars appeared for their night duty. And the music blaring from the speakers made the customers smile with contentment as they swallow their liquor.Hundred of ladies of service were dressed in their usual outfits and calling out to their prospective customers when four mafias strolled into the fence of the Inn, peeked at the scantily dressed ladies, and then walked towards the managerial section."Where is the new owner of this inn? We have a message for her from the royal palace," one among the mafia asked from the gawking ladies close by."She is in her office over there."A moment later, they knocked on the new iron door, and then stepped inside when they were permitted to."We have a message from the palace.""Speak up. Am busy right now.""We were asked to inform you that the object is inside the bout of the bus outside.""How many are you?""Four here and six were standing with the
Jade and the mafias with her sailed through the night and arrived at their destination when the sun was blazing in the sky. After being cleared out of the wharf, the lady and her watchdogs were met by two men in black suits and sunglasses, and their overgrown beards made them look weird to the gawking mafias."We would have informed you not to bother coming anymore," one among the men opened the bout of a black jeep, collected the bag of dollars from the mafia hand, then dumped it inside the bout and signalled to them to hop inside."The prince's money is no longer needed, and the foreigners ship it's on its way to Greenwich wharf as we are speaking.""I don't understand. Where did you see the money to pay for it?""Third, fourth and fifth beasts pretend to the sailors and sailed the ship back to Greenwich island.""How did they have access to the sailor's clothing and the keys to enter the ship?""They called us as soon as they were aboard and narrated how it all happened.""Am curi
Most troubles always come in double, but some do come in triple. The first bad news in the palace was the death of Libra and four members of the treasury committee, and the sad news was followed by the sudden discovery of Lady Amona's death, and then the death of all the foreigners inside the palace.The palace was as sour as vinegar after these discoveries, and as soon as the sun glared in the sky, the whole compounds were filled to the brim with the families of the bereaved, sympathizers, and busybodies who came to confirm the authenticity of the rumours. "These are not natural deaths and we demand the presence of Prince El Ramon to come and explain how five royal treasury top officials can die in a night."."Aye. The prince had some explanation to make. After all, he was the one that placed them on house arrest.""To think my brother was as strong as a bull before his house arrest.""Unbelievable. My friend was hale and healthy. And his death was the greatest shock of my life."
The five mafias were silent through the drive towards their destination, and their minds were rioted with the thought that their mates had killed the big bearded man and disappeared with the money. Since they have no option but to wait, the sadly looking men put their palms on their chins and peered out of the truck window."Here we are, at last," Jade announced, pressed the brake and then drive into the parkway beside the main road."It's been a long time of driving. Let's get down."The mafias descended, close the truck's back door and stepped after Jade and the second bearded man."Ouch!""Be careful over there. Watch your leg, the road is slippery.""Thank you.""I forgot my pills inside the truck. Please excuse me," Jade announced, turn about and raced back to the truck.Even though her comrade knew Jade can never forget any important thing, he squawk at her and shouted after her. "Keep forgetting that damned pills and it will put you in trouble one day." The rest of the party
Priest and the mobs with him had fully recovered and their faces were colourful as they sat around the campfire, wrapped in long clothing and warming their palms from the heat. Today is their third day here and Priest's mind was filled with the thought of the way out of this place. Close by, the conversation between Augur and Sheila filtered into ears, and he quickly looked sharply towards them, then listened attentively as she resume her speech."Where are you working before?"Johji Inn.""So what happened and why are you here?""I was ordered by prince El Ramon to represent the lady that stole your document.""Now I remember where I had seen your face before. You are the lady that collected some opium from my maid.""Yes. Your memory was poor, otherwise, you ought to have recognised me at first sight.""I have a lot on my mind, and the face of a lady of service is the last thing to think of.""I understand.""Why did you agree to the prince's request?""Because two ladies were fou