The Industrialist

Two SHF officers were at the door. He was expecting CBD executives or even staff that would collect his designs. However, two SHF officers visiting him was an overkill.

They stood so firmly. They snappily stood outside the door as if a commanding officer was with them. Both of them wore black-clad long tuxes that covered up to their shins, however, exposing their chest with their vest and an ensign of SHF in bold letters printed on the vests.

They were clearly military. Both of them were square-faced as if they were born twins. Broad shoulders and protruding chests. The other though, was an inch higher in height.

The first thought upon pondering them dumbfounded the kid. Why are they sending two trained killers just to retrieve the specifications for the poison bomb? Are they secretly observing Lance as one of the rebel members?

Being a rebel gave him the chills. What struck inside his thoughts was the possibility that they knew about his smuggling activities with the Outsiders.

Despite the menacing thoughts, he calmed his emotions and acted like he had nothing to hide.

"Mister Berkley," the SHF officer said. "I am Officer Kent and my comrade here is Officer Karl. We are here as instructed by Mister Leric of CBD. I believe you had a prior conversation two days ago."

Lance almost choked before he could speak. "Come in, officers."

They sauntered inside, with their heavy boots evident against the tiled floor. Lance was not used to accommodate visitors in his pad. He was never a sociable person. He wanted the two officers to give them what they needed and exit the pad hastily, without further words of entertainment.

"Let me just get the schematic diagrams and the CBD can have my designs. If needed my explanation, I can explain to the board."

The officers seemed to scan the place. Lance was unsure what they were looking for, they were observant even only by standing at the center of his living room.

"You have so much to do here, Mister Berkley. Aren't you gonna monetize the scraps?" One officer said.

Perhaps, they were not looking for clues. They were just admiring how messy his pad could be.

"In due time, officers," Lance said as he took out the schematics printed by his fabrication table. He rolled it and placed it in a hard plastic tube.

"Funny," Lance said.

"What's funny?" The officer replied.

"Why did Mister Leric send two SHFs instead of his staff?" Lance asked as he handed the schematics to the officer.

"Maybe you haven't heard about us. We are called to function during a crisis like this. We are still under attack, Mister Berkley. And probably, you are the target."

'Target? The way they spoke as if they knew about the Abominated humans.' Lance thought.

"How can they target me? Those are just mindless monsters," Lance said.

"It's confidential, Mister Berkley. We believe that you are in grave danger still. Probably, not from the monsters that attacked us, maybe from the rebels. The rebels needed a weapon like that to battle against the monsters when they traveled outside the walls. It will be a game changer for them. So, they are probably targeting you and going after your designs."

"So, you are saying that my designs now are your topmost priority?" Lance asked.

"Yes, Mister Berkley. And you are, too. Of course. We are here also to protect you. We will be watching you for any potential threats that come your way. One SHF officer will be your guardian angel."

The last time he needed was to be watched by his enemies, to monitor his whereabouts. This would pose a predicament to his clandestine illegal activities with the rebels.

"It won't be necessary, officer. I can handle it on my own. And besides, I am a Commoner, so I am used to handling petty crimes from the rebels."

"We don't like it either, Mister Berkley. Even so, this is a mandate directive from Mister Chester himself. So, defying him is a grave violation of our code."

"It is better to just eliminate the rebels than to wait for them to attack me," Lance said. His conversation had led to nowhere. Despite that, he wanted to gather as much information as possible from the black operations agency.

"We are flushing them out, Mister Berkley. Do not worry about them. They are on the run as we speak. We are hunting them even outside the walls."

'Outside the walls? Are they still operating beyond the walls? This is dangerous.' Lance thought. His friends might be in grave danger. The SHF doesn't just capture the rebels. They were licensed to kill on sight.

"Outside the walls? Where do you think the rebels are hiding now?" Lance asked.

"We are scanning every possibility. We are looking first at the Trench Hill, just beyond the Dead Forest. Others are scouting to the Eastward, outside Gerald's View. We are looking everywhere, Mister Berkley. So, worry not."

"If you find them? Are you going to capture them?"

"Capture? That is not in our vocabulary. We are formed to operate outside the norms of police work. Even military work. We are given the authority to kill on sight without prejudice. So, the rebel problems that we have for a decade, we can say we have a shot on eliminating all of them, once and for all."

Lance was now worried. Not to his comrades in the rebel faction but also to himself. What they were disclosing was highly confidential information. Disclosing them probably was sending a message to the rebels through him. Perhaps, the SHF already had an educated hunch that Lance was one of the rebel factions.

The bell rang once again.

"More colleagues?" Lance asked.

"No." Now, the officers' faces were agitated. One officer took out his gun from his holster. It was a laser gun, a masterwork-level firearm.

He slowly paced himself towards the door. The bell rang once again.

'What are they suspecting?' Lance thought. His pulse rate increased. He could not have known it but judging the way his heart hammered against his chest, he was nervous. The SHF officers probably were suspecting more ominous than the rebels.

'Don't worry, Lance. You are in good hands,' He convinced himself.
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The other officer who was still beside Lance signaled with the former's finger on his lips.

As the door opened, the gun was drawn outwardly by the SHF officer. Lance had not seen the people outside the door yet, but he knew that they were not SHF officers.

"Put your hands up!" The officer said.