Chapter 7 Useless Idiots

• Jonathan presented his credentials as Aric leaned backward and crossed his legs.
• "Captain Chappel, do you honestly believe a real spy would be dumb enough to sit here and wait for you to catch them? Has your Brightvale investigation team had their heads buried in the sand? Did you bring two teams to surround a café based on a phone call? Should I call you useless idiots or piles of trash?"
• Aric frowned, knowing this was much bigger than his personal grudge with Howard as he hadn't expected such incompetence from the Brightvale investigation team. The constant research data leak from the Brightvale Research Institute had caused several top-notch research companies to consider leaving, and even the important conference venues had been bugged.
• Jonathan turned pale, as he was about to be demoted due to several mistakes and had had his team on call for twenty-four hours to avoid any repetition, yet he had not anticipated to be cursed out by the suspect after being reported.
• "The way I do things does not concern you. I have heavy suspicion about you. Stand up and come with me!" Jonathan shot a glare at Aric.
• Aric sneered. "There is no one yet born who can arrest me!"
• Howard put his hands on his hips and shot Aric a look of disdain. "Stop acting and admit to it nicely, or you'll suffer worse! I'll let Jonathan cart you off and shackle you before beating you to death! Galadriel, a night with me, and I'll ask Jonathan to release Aric. What about that?"
• Galadriel glared at Howard. "Howard, don't push it!"
• Aric laughed coldly and rose before approaching Jonathan and handing him a black document. "Captain Chappel, I was thinking of checking up on the Brightvale investigation team tomorrow but didn't think I would see you so soon."
• Jonathan confusedly took it and shot a glance at it, which made his hand tremble and nearly drop it.
• The Commander at Emberfall Front of Aetheria, Aric Thornwood!
• The Aetheria Investigation Department worked under the Emberfall Front while the Brightvale investigation team was just a minor unit within the Aetheria Investigation Department, which meant that this man was three times his superior if this credential was genuine! He had heard of the Emberfall Front's fury over the bad performance of the Brightvale investigation team and that a high-ranking official was going to supervise the investigation in Brightvale personally!
• Could it be...
• Jonathan quickly snapped to attention and saluted Aric.
• "Mr. Thornwood! My apologies!"
• A smirking Howard went still and nearly slapped himself to check if it was a dream.
• Jonathan Chappel, the leader of the Brightvale investigation team, actually saluted this guy?
• Howard swallowed. "Jonathan, are you making a mistake? He only has a hundred with him, not to mention his clothing is pitiful. Why salute him? Jonathan, you need to help me here. I'll make sure my dad puts in a word for you!"
• Jonathan struck him in the face before Howard could even finish which was forceful enough to cause half of Howard's face to swell and a nosebleed. "Shut up! Guess you're the spy infiltrating Brightvale. Cart him off for further questioning!"
• Jonathan was enraged that Howard was so much more troublesome than he thought. Why did he have to provoke the Emberfall Front commander? Had Aric not wished his identity revealed, not only Jonathan but even Umbravale Holdings could be wiped out in half an hour!
• "Wait!" Aric told Howard, who was brought before him with a swelling and teary face.
• Aric pushed his chin up. "Mr. Grant, have you forgotten about our bet?"
• Howard shook his head violently but had no other choice but to humble himself in someone's territory. He had never thought calling Jonathan would not result in Aric being captured but instead get himself jailed!
• "Come on, say hello to Miss Yeloria." Aric gestured with a nod.
• Howard respectfully addressed Galadriel after a brief conflict. "Hello, Ma'am."
• Aric nodded satisfactorily before Galadriel raised her hand to slap his head. "That's enough joking!"
• Aric laughed.
• Galadriel had plenty of cause for skepticism, but he probably had some secrets after his decade-long absence which she could not enquire into for now. She would wait until he wanted to say anything.
• Jonathan quickly peeked at Galadriel who was daring enough to attack Mr. Thornwood. It seemed they had a special connection which he had to take note of, and he should take care not to offend her.
• "Mr. Thornwood, we'll get Howard and the Brightvale investigation team back if there's no other issues." Jonathan bowed to Aric.
• Aric stopped him. "Wait. There's something else. I told your team to get some files before I came back. You have them right now?"
• Jonathan was shocked. "Documents?"
• He had received an order to obtain seventeen files in total from differing Brightvale departments spanning over twenty years which were all related to one thing. The famous Thornwood Family of Brightvale was eliminated in one night. This man, who was the Emberfall Front Commander, was only twenty-five years old and also named Thornwood.
• Was that possible?
• Jonathan patted his pocket, having never gone without the drive with the files ever since getting his orders. "Mr. Thornwood, everything is in here and encrypted with three layers of security. You should know the password."
• Aric accepted the USB drive with a nod. "Thank you for your hard work."
• Jonathan turned and departed with Howard and the Brightvale investigation team but stopped to glance at Aric again as they left, sensing that the winds were about to shift in Brightvale.
• "Why do you have to mess up a matchmaking session?" Galadriel sighed and hugged herself, not knowing what to tell Ivan about Howard's arrest when she went back.
• Aric gave a shrug. "Ivan won't dismiss you just because you won't become his daughter-in-law, right? If he does, I can introduce you to another."
• The news of his comeback was not public yet, but the exposure of his status would cause a queue all the way from Brightvale to Quinston. As such, helping her obtain work wouldn't be an issue.
• Galadriel patted Aric's shoulder. "Never mind. Ivan has always treated me well. It's getting late, and I need to return to the office. We'll have a reunion dinner with Mr. Riverhart when your sisters come back in several days."
• She sighed. After ten years, all seven sisters from the Elderglen Orphanage had built their own lives, though the only one she still had contact with in Brightvale was the fifth, Elowen.