Beberapa langkah di depan, tatapan Ever beralih ke arah orang-orang yang sedang dilihat oleh Yuder.
"Kenapa orang-orang itu?"
Sepertinya ia tidak mengingat semua wajah yang dilihatnya selama persidangan Wangsa Apeto. Yuder terdiam sejenak sebelum berbicara.
"Mereka adalah orang-orang Wangsa Apeto. Para perwakilan yang muncul di persidangan pertama, apa kau ingat?"
"Persidangan pertama? ...Oh? Kalau dipikir-pikir, mereka memang tampak familiar?"
Baru setelah itulah senyum yang tulus merekah di wajah Ever.
"Ya ampun. Bagaimana kau bisa mengenali kalau mereka ada di sini?"
Yuder menjelaskan bahwa ia melihat mereka tiba terlambat di rumah lelang.
"Mereka pasti kabur ke Barat karena merasa bersalah. Tapi mereka masih punya keberanian untuk datang ke sini. Sungguh suatu hal yang patut disyukuri dan disyukuri."
Benar, ia setuju.
"Kita harus mengisolasi orang-orang itu di tempat khusus."
Dan jika dilakukan dengan benar, mereka mungkin bisa menangkap ekor orang-orang Wangsa Apeto lainnya yang lolos dari persidangan. Yuder membuat sedikit permintaan kepada Ever yang tampak sangat gembira.
"Sebelum itu, bisakah kau melepaskan mereka sebentar?"
"Sekarang?"
Melihat Yuder mengangguk, Ever mengangkat tangan ke arah para anggota tanpa bertanya lebih jauh. Saat aba-aba pelepasan diberikan, para anggota sempat ragu namun segera mengendurkan cengkeraman mereka, dan para buronan Wangsa Apeto dengan cepat bergegas menuju taman bagian dalam.
"Apa yang berencana kau lakukan sekarang?"
"Pindahkan yang lain ke tim manajemen keamanan dulu, tapi pura-purailah mengejar orang-orang itu dan biarkan saja sampai mereka memohon untuk ditangkap."
Kebun luas yang mengelilingi rumah lelang itu kini ibarat berada di dalam genggaman Yuder. Saat ia merogoh ke bawah secara halus, menggerakkan kekuatan bumi, suara gemuruh yang dalam menggema di bawah kaki mereka.
"Apa yang kau lakukan?"
"Aku sedikit mengubah struktur taman."
Meskipun semua jalur pelarian sudah ditutup, Yuder telah menambahkan sedikit variasi, menciptakan sebuah labirin.
Sekarang, para buronan Wangsa Apeto akan menghadapi hal-hal yang belum pernah mereka temui sebelumnya, di dalam ruang itu.
Tidak peduli seberapa jauh mereka berlari, mereka tidak akan bisa menemukan jalan yang benar, dan mereka akan kembali ke sini, dikejar sekali lagi oleh rasa teror. Berapa lama orang-orang berharga itu bisa bertahan?
Tubuh mereka, yang tidak pernah tahan kesusahan, akan berteriak, dan tidak akan ada seorang pun yang mempedulikan mereka. Pemandangan mereka yang meratap saat pakaian bagus mereka robek, berjalan terseok-seok melalui kubangan berlumpur, sudah terbayang di matanya.
Lidah mereka, yang begitu lihai di ruang sidang, tidak akan ada gunanya di taman itu.
Ever, yang mengerti bahwa mereka akan dibiarkan begitu saja sampai harga diri tinggi mereka runtuh dan memohon untuk ditangkap, meledakkan tawa renyah.
"Ya ampun! Kau ingin mereka merasakan bagaimana rasanya diburu! Itu jauh lebih baik daripada sekadar memarahi mereka!"
Ever langsung memanggil beberapa anggota dan menjelaskan situasinya, mempercayakan tugas kepada mereka untuk sedikit mengejar para buronan Wangsa Apeto. Para anggota, yang mengetahui bahwa orang-orang yang berani menghina Komandan mereka di persidangan berada di sana, langsung tersulut semangatnya.
Namun, anggota lain yang cepat menerima informasi juga berkerumun, semuanya mengangkat tangan ingin ikut serta, yang berujung pada perdebatan bahkan pertengkaran untuk menentukan giliran.
Melihat semua orang berdebat sengit bahwa mereka bisa mengejar para buronan dengan lebih baik, tanpa ada satu pun yang mengalah, Yuder berpikir betapa banyak mereka telah berubah sejak pertama kali bergabung dengan Kavaleri.
Jujur saja, cukup menyenangkan melihat mereka yang dengan tulus mengikuti Kishiar, melangkah maju tanpa ragu untuk bekerja demi dirinya.
“Sayang sekali. Aku ingin menikmati sensasi memburu mangsa di labirin yang dibuat oleh Yuder,” kata Ever dengan tulus kecewa saat ia melangkah pergi. Mereka memasuki rumah lelang, menyusuri lorong yang berantakan dengan barang-barang pecah dan berserakan.
“Kanna berada di dekat pintu belakang tempat gudang berada.”
Para pekerja yang mengikuti para Pembangkit dari Bintang Nagran atau para pedagang Selatan yang ditangkap oleh Kanna dan Robel tidak ditempatkan bersama para tamu terhormat, demi berjaga-jaga dari bahaya tak terduga. Mereka berencana untuk mengangkut dan mengurung orang-orang itu secara terpisah.
“Kanna!”
“Ever, Yuder!”
Berdiri di depan gudang beratap biru, Kanna melambaikan tangan sambil tersenyum. Di sebelah kanannya berdiri Robel, lengan dan lehernya dibalut kain. Yuder mengamati dengan seksama belasan orang asing yang berada di bawah pengawasan para anggota Kavaleri di belakangnya sebelum berbicara.
“Aku tidak dengar kalau Robel terluka.”
“Aku cuma terkena goresan saat mencoba melindungi daftar itu dari orang-orang tadi. Daftarnya tidak rusak dan aman, jadi jangan khawatir,” ucap Robel dengan senyum canggung di wajahnya yang tampak malu. Namun, Kanna menggelengkan kepalanya seolah ingin membantah sepenuhnya dan menjelaskan apa yang terjadi.
“Keadaannya nyaris berbahaya karena orang-orang itu tidak peduli terluka saat mereka menerobos masuk, tapi Robel membantu. Begitulah caranya sampai terluka.”
Kanna dan Robel awalnya berencana untuk menemukan daftar itu terlebih dahulu dan kemudian menangkap para Pembangkit dari Bintang Nagran. Namun saat menemukan daftar tersebut, mereka berpapasan dengan Bintang Nagran yang kebingungan akibat gempa bumi tak terduga, dan kebuntuan pun terjadi di antara dua kelompok yang saling mengenali itu.
Pada saat itu, sisa kelompok mereka sempat tercerai-berai, hanya menyisakan mereka berdua yang memiliki kemampuan tempur paling lemah untuk melindungi daftar tersebut.
Robel, yang dikenali oleh mantan rekan-rekannya, ingin melawan mereka, dikuasai amarah karena ejekan bahwa ia masih hidup. Keinginannya untuk mencari keberadaan Nahan dan membalaskan dendam Marty telah mengaburkan akal sehatnya.
Mendengar Kanna meneriakkan informasi yang tidak diketahui tentang Marty dengan suara lantang, ia mendadak sadar kembali.
Melihat salah satu Pembangkit dari Bintang Nagran, yang lebih memilih menghancurkan diri sendiri daripada gagal, ia tanpa sadar teringat perkataan Yuder dan melemparkan dirinya ke depan, mengerahkan kemampuannya.
Kemampuannya yang sebelumnya dianggap biasa saja, yaitu sedikit mengendalikan angin, melakukan sesuatu yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya. Robel berhasil mengangkat Kanna dan daftar yang hampir jatuh menuruni tangga yang runtuh, bahkan Pembangkit yang mencoba meledakkan diri, ke udara dan menjatuhkan mereka jauh-jauh.
Ia terluka saat jatuh berguling, terkena reruntuhan dan serangan, tetapi Kanna berhasil melindungi daftar tersebut, bergabung kembali dengan rekan-rekannya, dan sukses menangkap sisa anggota Bintang Nagran.
“Jika Wakil Komandan Kanna tidak memberitahuku tentang Marty waktu itu, aku mungkin sudah mengacaukan tugas karena balas dendam buta, bahkan tanpa mengingat perkataan Yuder. Aku tidak akan menyadari kegunaan sejati dari kemampuanku. Aku tidak pernah merasa begitu tenang sebelumnya,” ujar Robel, tampak sangat santai meskipun mengalami luka-luka. Rasanya seolah ia telah sebagian terbebas dari beban berat yang selama ini menghimpitnya.
“Apa yang kau katakan padanya, Kanna? Kapan kau tahu tentang Marty?”
Kanna menyunggingkan senyum tipis menanggapi pertanyaan Ever yang diajukan dengan suara berbisik.
Chapter 421
A few paces ahead, Ever's gaze shifted toward the people Yuder was looking at.
"Why those people?"
Apparently, she didn't remember all the faces she had seen during Apeto Family's trial. Yuder kept silent for a moment before speaking.
"Those are Apeto Family's people. The representatives who appeared in the first trial, do you remember?"
"The first trial? ...Oh? Now that you mention it, they do look familiar?"
Only then did a genuinely pleased smile blossom on Ever's face.
"My goodness. How did you recognize that they were here?"
Yuder explained that he had seen them arriving late at the auction house.
"They must have fled to the West because they're so guilty. Yet they still had the audacity to come here. How grateful and joyful I am."
Indeed, he agreed.
"We must isolate those people in a special place."
And if done properly, they might be able to catch the tail of other Apeto Family people who had escaped the trial. Yuder made a small request to the very delighted Ever.
"Before that, can you release them for a moment?"
"Now?"
Seeing Yuder's nod, Ever raised her hand to the members without asking anything further. As the signal to release was given, the members hesitated but soon relaxed their grip, and Apeto Family's fugitives quickly scrambled towards the inner garden.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"Move the others to the security management team first, but just pretend to chase those people and leave them alone until they beg to be caught."
The vast garden surrounding the auction house was now as good as in Yuder's palm. As he reached down subtly, moving the power of the earth, a deep rumble echoed through their feet.
"What did you do?"
"I changed the structure of the garden a little."
Though all escape routes were already blocked, Yuder had added a touch of variation, creating a maze.
Now, Apeto Family's fugitives would face things they'd never encountered before, inside that space.
No matter how much they ran, they could not find the right path, and they would return here, chased once more by terror. How long could those precious people endure?
Their bodies, never having endured hardship, would scream, and there would be no one to heed them. The sight of them wailing as their fine clothes were torn, slogging through muddy pits, was already in his eyes.
Their tongues, so agile in the courtroom, would be of no use in that garden.
Ever, understanding that they would be left alone until they broke their high pride and begged to be caught, burst into a clear laughter.
"My goodness! You want them to taste what it feels like to be hunted! That's much better than just scolding them!"
Ever immediately called a few members and explained the situation, entrusting them with the task of chasing Apeto Family's fugitives lightly. The members, who had learned that the ones who had dared to insult their Commander at the trial were there, quickly ignited with passion.
However, other members who quickly received the inforMartyon also crowded around, all raising their hands wanting to participate, leading to debates and even fights to determine the order.
Watching everyone fiercely argue that they could chase the fugitives better, without a single person backing down, Yuder thought how much they had changed since they first joined the Cavalry.
To be honest, it was quite nice to see those who sincerely followed Kishiar, stepping forward without hesitation to work for him.
“It's a shame. I wanted to enjoy the thrill of hunting prey in the maze created by Yuder,” said Ever, genuinely disappointed as she moved on. They entered the auction house, walking down the hallway, a mess with broken and scattered items.
“Kanna is by the back door where the warehouse is.”
The workers who had followed the Awakeners from the Star of Nagran or the Southern merchants captured by Kanna and Robel were not kept with the distinguished guests, in case of unexpected dangers. They planned to transport and confine them separately.
“Kanna!”
“Ever, Yuder!”
Standing in front of the warehouse with a blue roof, Kanna waved with a smile. Next to her stood Robel, his arms and neck wrapped in cloth. Yuder carefully surveyed the dozen or so unfamiliar people under the watch of the Cavalry members behind him before speaking.
“I didn't hear that Robel was hurt.”
“I just got nicked while trying to protect the list from those guys. The list is undamaged and safe, so don't worry,” Robel said with an awkward smile on his embarrassed face. But Kanna shook her head as if to deny it completely and explained what had happened.
“Things almost got dangerous because those people didn’t care about hurting themselves as they charged in, but Robel helped. That's how he got hurt.”
Kanna and Robel originally planned to find the list first and then capture the Awakeners from the Star of Nagran. But as they found the list, they encountered the Star of Nagran, who were confused due to an unexpected earthquake, and a standoff ensued between the two recognized groups.
At that moment, the rest of their party was momentarily scattered, leaving only the two with the weakest combat abilities to protect the list.
Robel, recognized by his former colleagues, wanted to fight them, enraged by their mocking that he was still alive. His desire to find out Nahan's whereabouts and avenge Marty had clouded his mind.
But hearing Kanna loudly calling out unknown information about Marty, he suddenly snapped out of it.
Seeing one of the Star of Nagran's Awakeners, who would rather self-destruct than fail, he inadvertently recalled Yuder's words and threw himself in, exerting his ability.
His previously considered modest ability, which was to slightly control the wind, did something unprecedented. Robel managed to lift Kanna and the list, who almost fell down the collapsing stairs, and even the Awakener trying to explode, into the air and drop them far away.
He was injured as he tumbled down, hit by debris and attacks, but Kanna safely protected the list, regrouped with her fellow members, and successfully captured the remaining the Star of Nagran.
“If Deputy Commander Kanna hadn't told me about Marty back then, I would have probably messed up the job in blind revenge, not even recalling Yuder's words. I wouldn't have realized the true use of my ability. I never felt so at ease before,” Robel said, looking extremely relaxed despite his wounds. It seemed as if he had partially escaped from the heavy burden that had been weighing him down.
“What did you tell him, Kanna? When did you learn about Marty?”
Kanna grinned slightly in response to Ever's question, asked in a hushed voice.
"That short tie that Robel was carrying was given to me in advance by a person named Marty. When I touched it by chance, the information was somewhat readable. Marty... she was really worried about him."
More than any good advice, it was ultimately emotions that best move a person's heart. Kanna had succeeded in stopping Robel, releasing the information she had read with an expertise incomparable to before.
In some respects, it was a power far stronger than a fearsome weapon or the ability to blow up an entire building.
"Our captives are almost unconscious, but you can wake them and ask questions if you want."
"That's okay. I'd like to see inside the warehouse."
Yuder turned his gaze to the closed warehouse door.
"Oh, because of the secret passage?"
Kanna guided him, seemingly knowing why he wanted to see it.
"Here it is. Be careful following me; things have spilled everywhere. Uh... see below that shelf?"
Among the counterfeit items that had been scattered and tangled, a small hole was visible below the twisted shelf. It was a passage just big enough for one person to get through.
"It's a tunnel dug through the floor, and when the lid is closed, it just looks like the floor. Luckily, I got my hands on it and figured it out quickly.”
After realizing that those who should have been inside had disappeared, Kanna immediately used her abilities. No matter how stealthy the passage, as long as the thoughts of those who had used it remained strong, there was no way to avoid her ability.
"Did you go inside?"
"Yes. The exit is near the north gate, a little away from the auction house. I came back because it looked like they'd already escaped. I want to read a bit more before their information gets erased. Sorry, I couldn't catch them."
Kanna had no reason to be sorry in Yuder's eyes. She had been busy participating in the mission as soon as she returned, yet she performed more reliable actions than anyone else. What could she possibly be sorry for?
Ever seemed to think the same way and comforted Kanna by holding her.
"What are you talking about? It was my job, but since I was late, it's my fault. If it weren't for you, Kanna, we wouldn't have known about that passage for a long time. Why do you say that? I can't tell you how grateful I am to you."
"It was my job to stop those inside from getting out. If we must find fault, I would bear the most blame."
Upon hearing Yuder's response, Kanna's eyebrows dropped, and she tightened her lips. Even though she hadn't shown it, she seemed quite frustrated for having missed the southern merchants.
"Thank you. But neither of us is at fault, so please don't say that."
In truth, since they knew where the southern merchants came from and where they were headed, there was no major issue this time. Moreover, even the Calanesa powder they had taken was not real.
Kanna knew this fact too, but she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed and smiled faintly.
"I wanted to show our Commander that I did better when reporting my return."
It wasn't fear of making a mistake or worry about getting scolded. It was a statement that showed how much Kanna respected and trusted Kishiar as her leader.
That trust and confidence, entirely different from her previous life, settled Yuder's heart more securely than ever before.
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