Salute To The General

Nathan was on the phone with Penny the following day in his living room when Colin appeared unannounced with Sage.

"Mr. Cross," Colin whispered urgently, "Sage has something of interest you might want to hear."

Nathan nodded. After telling Penny that something required his attention, he hung up before turning his gaze on the newcomers.

"What is it?"

Sage gave a military salute to Nathan before speaking. "Chief Military Governor, news regarding Cayden's loyalty has finally come to light last night."

Nathan perked up at once. "What is it?" he repeated, with a bite of impatience in his voice.

"A mysterious man from Ariarica entered Quillen's house last night with a briefcase and left ten minutes after. The interesting thing is that he left empty-handed, which means that the briefcase had been left behind in the Quillen residence."

Nathan froze. "That's still not conclusive proof of anything." Sage nodded in agreement. "I only suspected the origin of the foreigner at first, but upon an immediate investigation of the visitor's identity, I found out that he is actually a special agent of Ariarica. A super-soldier named Jacques with the rank of colonel."

"Did you manage to arrest him?"

Sage shook his head apologetically. "This person has been very vigilant. I did not dare give the order to act rashly. Instead, I had my scouts keep an eye on him while I came to deliver this report, sir." "Well done, Sage," Nathan said with a satisfied smile. "You did well to avoid discovery. Have the driver ready himself, I am going over personally to apprehend this Jacques guy."

"Yes, sir!" said Colin and Sage in unison.

Hoeftstadt, a well-known district in Brimmopolis, was where wealthy expatriates resided.

a place where Ariarican spies lay low when they did

push-ups in the dingy

windows and doors had

there for more than half a month with only the bare essentials, he was currently on hold

time by

footsteps came from the corridor

be the takeout. That's strange, the

slight

casually unsheathed

table. Hiding it behind him, he made his way

sounded at the exact moment he arrived

a tall, bright-eyed man dressed

stood as erect as a javelin. Even the colorful blazer had the air of a military uniform

opened the

faint

half of

JE. Click!

He

the hilt

accent that