The night of the transaction came and fog covered the entire area of Aferna river where the Duane smuggling is held. Ten carriages are prepared by the Venalis side and six boats — five of them containing the drugs -- are arranged by the second party.
At the same time, the third party who came to spoil the rendezvous already successfully infiltrated the area. They took advantage of the concealment property of the fog and hid themselves on top of the trees, overlooking the whole transaction after installing the recording devices on the area.
They waited until the transaction was completed before making their next move. Peony collected the recording devices while the two, Koiren and Kayne followed the carriages.
When the carriages got out of the fogged area, the group split into two, forcing the two pursuers to also split their team. Koiren went after the carriages heading to south where the Venalis Mansion is located and Kayne chose to go after the five carriages heading to the underground auction house located at slums.
"Peony, can you hear me?" Kayne asked using a telepathic message.
"Yes, young master."
"After you finished the task, go south and assist Koiren. I can handle myself."
"Ah."
Kayne cut the message after hearing Peony's reply and improved his speed. When he passed the group, he jumped down and blocked their path, causing the horse to neigh by the sudden stop.
"Who are you?"
No words came out from Kayne's lips, he silently walked towards the carriages and opened it up to confirm that they have the Duane with them.
"Bad news, you have it," he declared upon seeing the large amount of Duane inside.
"My bad, but I need this whole area completely untouched until authorities come. You don't mind being frozen for a few hours, right? Don't worry, no one will die."
"What bullshit are you spouting, boy?," a man in mid-forties asked him.
"A mercenary, I guess? Because you're not Knight Commander Genovia."
"You--"
"Let's continue the talk later, I am in a rush 'cause someone is trying to slip away."
The rear guard who is slowly making his distance away from the good froze on his feet when he heard Kayne. He looked back and saw the devil's smiling face directed to him.
"Right?" Kayne confirmed.
The guard tried to shake his head to deny the accusation but Kayne did not see it as he literally froze the whole scene. He also covered the area with a lighting barrier that would instantly kill anyone who will come close to it.
He stretched his arms and headed to the direction where he split up with Koiren. From afar, he saw a glimpse of Peony dashing her way to Koiren's rescue. Kayne stopped on his tracks and tried to evaluate the both of them in sidelines by climbing up the highest building in the area to observe. To his disappointment, the whole group is already halted on their advance.
How did it happen with Koiren's frail body?
Enchant? That will only affect one person at a time.
Peony came too late since the people involved in the smuggling are already lining up on the side of the road like harmless chickens. Koiren, too, had this stern look on his face as he saw his brother and father go down the carriage.
"Peony, is everything all right?"
Peony, who received the message rather abruptly, lost confidence in her voice.
"Ah, Y-young master. There are no problems here. Sir Koiren apprehended them without fail."
Peony came closer to Koiren to inquire what happened but Koiren just pointed at the carriage and gave several directions. Although Kayne has no way to know what they are talking about given their large distance, he took it as Koiren telling Peony to inspect the carriages.
He jumped off the tower's roof that served as his vantage point and went back to his original position.
"Everything's secured here," he messaged Koiren.
Hearing that, Koiren lit up his prepared flare to signal the waiting officials to catch the criminals red handed.
The fourth party included in the whole play, responded quickly to do their part and arrested the two guilty Venalis and their guards. When they arrived at the scene Kayne dealt with, the sight of frozen statues shook them more.
"How did this happen?!"
All of them tried to find an answer on how everything there became covered by unmeltable ice that's more frigid than their known tundra.
"Can you cancel your magic now?," Koiren whispered to him.
Subsequent to his family's arrest, Koiren moved to the second location to handle the formalities regarding the incident.
Kayne flicked his fingers and the ice melted quickly. He also casted over a quick healing spell to them when he saw signs of hypothermia.
The soldiers surrounded the mercenaries posthaste and restrained their movements upon the cancellation of magic.
"Well... That was quick. But still you haven't found their specific location where the trades are happening."
Kayne and Koiren looked at the viceroy who was appointed in this case.
"That's quite rude, Governor-General Charles Galvez."
Kayne smirked after hearing the familiar voice behind them. Luckily, 'he's' the one who cleans up after the operations of Regulus.
"S-sir Lucian Regulus!" Governor-General Galvez stuttered.
The soldiers who saw Lucian's arrival bent down their knees and greeted the infamous Regulus.
"At least they have sense," Lucian commented before shifting his attention to the rude viceroy. "You made us point out the dirt in your ass. Now, you want us to wipe your asses extremely clean? Aren't you rude?," he added.
"I-I only have loyalty to his majesty and the palace. You don't have the rank to order me around. You're not even a noble."
Rather than answering the viceroy, Lucian threw a glance at Kayne and lectured him.
"You'll encounter people like this from time to time. People who exaggerate their little titles and won't cooperate with us. In times like this, rather than blowing the situation on legal courts, you deal with them by yourself. It's easier and more efficient. Don't worry, I'll always clean after you."
Before the viceroy could do anything, Lucian broke his arm with ease and crushed his legs using his foot. Blood splattered from the shock yet the night remained quiet. You can see the viceroy shouting from the pain inflicted on him but no sounds come out of his throat.
The soldiers also chose to remain standing at the back and watched the cruelty silently, closing their eyes firmly and clenching their fists.
In the continent, several kingdoms are established and they are ruled by the empire. However, the existence of Regulus puts the empire only second to them. And years ago, there was a problematic Regulus who caused chaos in the empire's economy and public relationships. Lucian Regulus, the Dragon.