Chapter 187 The Great Betrayal (V)
Whispers echoed through the air as a group of men in dark blue jackets entered the lobby of a building. Their presence immediately drew the attention of the employees. Two security guards quickly approached them, inquiring about their purpose for visiting the Morning Star headquarters.
"We're from the FBI. Step aside," one of them said, presenting a small identification card that was enough to make the security guards lose their authority. They had no choice but to clear a path, and whispers spread throughout the lobby as the guards complied.
In a sunlit office room, Vincent had to pause his work due to a phone call. As he picked it up, the door suddenly swung open, and federal agents filled the room. Without asking for permission, they swiftly gathered all the items in his office.
Naturally, Vincent was perplexed by the situation. "What's going on? Why are you barging into my place without permission?" He couldn't help but furrow his brow.
A man who seemed to be in charge approached the guild master. "Mr. Vincent Thomsen, you are under arrest on charges of bribery and gun running."
"What nonsense is this? You have no right to search and invade my place."
"Yes, we do," the officer said, producing a piece of paper.
Vincent's eyes widened as he read his arrest warrant. Then, a menacing silence filled the room. For a moment, the agents were taken aback, sensing a strong aura of hostility emanating from Vincent.
Naturally, the agent facing Vincent trembled in fear.
"M-Mr. Vincent, it's an official order... You know the consequences if you violate the law, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
The hostile aura dissipated. Vincent was merely angry at the unexpected turn of events. He could still restrain himself. If he attacked the FBI agents, he could lose his guild license, and the Morning Star he had built since a decade ago would be in ruins.
The arrest of Vincent became sensational news. The entire country was talking about it. News portals were filled with headlines: "Morning Star's Guild Master Suspected of Bribery." Social media heated up, and his name became the number one trending topic.
People all over the country were truly shocked. They didn't expect one of the guild masters within the Five Pillars to be involved in a scandal. Not to mention, Morning Star had thousands of high-ranking awakeners. If their guild master was arrested, what would happen to them?
However, the bribery charges against Vincent were just the beginning. The USA was in turmoil as Governor Richard Dickson of New York made a public statement.
In front of dozens of reporters, Richard stood on a podium, holding an open press conference. Millions of citizens watched it on television and via internet streams.
"People of New York, the arrest of Vincent Thomsen is controversial. Various reactions have come from different quarters. Some say it's slander, and others claim it's a diversion. But in reality, it's a pure violation of the law. In fact, the cases involving Vincent Thomsen are just the tip of the iceberg."
Richard listed dozens of cases that implicated Vincent, ranging from kidnapping syndicates, illegal arms trading, gangsters, murder, extortion, and dozens of other crimes. People dropped their jaws when they learned that Vincent Thomsen was a mafia boss. But for some New Yorkers, especially those living in Queens, they could only laugh at the news.
Over the next month, news channels continued to focus on Vincent. His case remained a controversy that wouldn't fade quickly. The media continued to monitor it as the investigation progressed.
And during that time, a miracle occurred in one of New York's boroughs. Crime rates in Queens dropped significantly. All corrupt police officers and government officials involved with Vincent were arrested. New guilds emerged as talented awakeners surfaced.
Queens underwent a profound transformation.
However, it came with a cost. With Vincent's arrest, the main power of Morning Star was gone. Despite having thousands of high-ranking awakeners, its members were like a flock of lost sheep. Morning Star lost its influence, resulting in many guild members leaving. Even after the Awakener Association temporarily took over the guild, the situation remained unchanged.
As a result, one of the Five Pillars was lost. The USA lost one of its powerhouses that protected its citizens from monster threats, especially if the Red Dungeon were to break out. The country needed another pillar to uphold peace.
At the same time as this crisis, another shocking piece of news came from New York.
Edward Lee and his guild made an extraordinary debut.
Unity of Guardian had already conquered nine yellow dungeons in its first two months. This meant completing a yellow dungeon in less than seven days, a remarkable feat. Usually, it took three to four weeks to complete the yellow dungeon. The media hailed this as an extraordinary achievement. They immediately covered Edward and Unity of Guardian.
[A Ray of Hope in the Darkness! Is Unity of Guardian Our Hope?]
[Interesting Facts About Edward Lee! An S-Class Awakener and Heir to a Conglomerate!]
[An Empty Position in the Five Pillars! Is This a Sign for Unity of Guardian?]
It didn't take long for Unity of Guardian to gain popularity. Edward Lee's name as its leader made the guild even more famous among the public. Some even began to theorize that the downfall of Morning Star was a gateway for Unity of Guardian to enter the Five Pillars.
In an interview after Unity of Guardian conquered a dungeon, Edward Lee was asked by a journalist, "With your achievements and outstanding records, Unity of Guardian has the potential to enter the top five ranks. Mr. Edward, do you plan to fill the empty position in the Five Pillars?"
"To be honest, I'd like to, but I don't have the capacity for it. Even though many of us desire it, it depends on the Awakener Association and the current members of the Five Pillars themselves. We can hope, but the decision lies with them."
Undeniably, although Unity of Guardian was beloved by New Yorker, their journey to secure a spot in the Five Pillars was still distant.
But nonetheless, Unity of Guardian was one of the guilds with the potential to become one of the pillars.
...
In the midst of a bright and warm evening, Klaus sat in a cozy corner of an elegant café. A dark brown wooden table with soft lighting in the background created the perfect atmosphere for a not-too-formal business meeting. Klaus, wearing black coat and trousers, faced his tablet while sipping a cup of black coffee.
Not far away, Sheila sat gracefully across the table. Even though it wasn't directly related to work, Sheila didn't seem to mind accompanying Klaus. She smiled broadly, not paying much attention to the latte macchiato on the table.
"You don't like your coffee, Sheila?" Klaus asked, his eyes still glued to the glowing tablet screen.
"I do like it."
"Then why are you still looking at me?"
"I rarely see my boss going out without a suit. I'll savor these moments."
Klaus sighed, while Sheila's smile widened.
Engrossed in his tablet screen, he read the latest news. The news was about "Unity of Guardian." The guild had become a hot topic among New Yorkers. Besides its guild master, some of its members had managed to capture their attention.
Klaus read an article about one of Unity of Guardian's members called "The Iron Sentinel." He was a man with the ability to transform his entire body into diamond. The article explained how this individual had thwarted a bank robbery a few days ago. When Klaus finished reading, laughter escaped from his lips.
Naturally, this piqued Sheila's curiosity. She gently addressed him, "Boss, why are you laughing? Is there something funny?"
Klaus rolled his eyes toward his secretary. "Do you want to know?"
Sheila nodded eagerly. n.,Ov.el(usb-c/o-m
"Imagine, a major guild, the most powerful one in New York, suddenly collapses overnight. Then, a newly formed guild in less than two months becomes popular. Do you think it's a mere coincidence, Sheila?"
Sheila furrowed her brow. "I'm not into conspiracy theories, but it does make sense. I mean, we lack evidence to prove Vincent guilty, but the Awakener Association hastily took over Morning Star. It's like they're stripping Vincent."
Klaus chuckled. "That's exactly what's happening. Even though Vincent is a mafia, as long as there's no evidence, he's just a scapegoat. Sooner or later, Vincent will be cleared of all charges, and the Awakener Association knows it."
Sheila nodded. "You're right, boss. The media is also blowing up the news as if Vincent is already guilty."
"Yeah, and strangely, Unity of Guardian become a favorite."
Guilty until proven innocent. That's what Vincent was facing right now. While everyone thought Vincent's career was over, Klaus didn't think so. He knew Vincent's arrest was hasty. This man was an experienced mafia, after all. He had prepared for everything if a situation like this were to occur.
Klaus was well aware of that.
His purpose in instructing Richard to arrest Vincent wasn't to bring down Morning Star but to lure out those who were trying to exploit this situation. And Klaus finally knew who the mastermind was.
"Edward, you made a mistake," Klaus murmured.
As Klaus sipped his coffee, a girl in a gray hood approached them. Her face had the complexion of a latte macchiato. Sheila looked surprised when she saw the girl. She hadn't noticed her arrival.
"It's been a while, Zee. How have you been?" Klaus asked, smiling.
No response escaped her mouth. The girl just stared at Klaus with a piercing gaze.
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