Chapter 222: Chapter 222 - Airport Nuts
"Alright, everything you said checks out. You're free to go," a Royal Officer declared as he scrutinized the documents before him.
Another officer quickly removed the cuffs from Adam, Carl, and the driver, who were still processing the events that had just transpired.
Earlier, after the chaotic gang assassination incident had concluded, the group had rushed to the airport, eager to board their flight. Unfortunately, the authorities caught up with them and swiftly detained them on suspicion of multiple homicides within the kingdom and without giving them a moment to actually tell them what had really happened there.
However, after a thorough and meticulous investigation, the royal forces concluded that the killings were in self-defense—a determination corroborated by several of the kingdom's subjects who had witnessed the events firsthand.
Without any evidence and with the kingdom's own subjects being ready to testify, The Royal Officer couldn't detain them any longer.
Now, they found themselves in one of the airport's holding cells, typically reserved for criminals attempting to flee the country. As they stood up, another officer entered the room and returned their belongings—watches, money, phones, and a few other items, which they hastily reclaimed.
Adam sifted through his possessions but grew increasingly concerned when he couldn't locate his sword. "Where is my sword?" he demanded looking at the officer who brought in their belongings. The officer in question shook his head and gave a brief glance towards his superior.
The lead officer, still fixated on the paperwork, responded without lifting his gaze. "What are you talking about?"
"The sword I had with me when you wrongfully apprehended us," Adam clarified, his tone hardening. He knew that this guy was going to give them a hard time. He had been giving them the hard time since the first moment they met as if they had some personal enmity.
But Adam was not in the mood to entertain the whims of some Royal Officer.
"We didn't find any sword on you. So stop wasting our time and get out of here," the officer retorted, his voice laced with irritation.
Adam's temper flared as he advanced toward the officer. With each step, a palpable tension filled the room, causing the air to thicken. The lead officer, sensing Adam's approach, felt a primal fear, as though he were being stalked by a predator ready to pounce.
BANG
Adam slammed his hands down on the officer's desk, leaning in until their faces were inches apart. "I'm going to ask you one last time: WHERE IS THE SWORD?"
The lead officer, who had been instructed by his superior to delay their release and confiscate the sword on behalf of some powerful and wealthy individuals, felt his resolve crumble under Adam's menacing presence. Trembling, he stammered, "G—Get the sword for them." The other officer, already on edge, bolted from the room as soon as he received the order.
Adam didn't move, his gaze locked on the lead officer. The silence in the room was suffocating, amplifying the officer's discomfort with each passing second.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. The officer who had fled returned, carrying a wrapped item in his hands. He quickly offered it to Adam, who continued to glare at the lead officer.
After a tense pause, Adam finally stepped back. "Was that so difficult?" he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. The lead officer shook his head vigorously, eager to appease him.
Carl and the driver, who had been silent observers throughout the ordeal, remained passive, neither willing nor inclined to intervene.
With his sword and other belongings now in hand, Adam led the way out of the holding cell, with Carl and the driver following closely behind. The officers remained where they were, visibly shaken by the encounter.
Once they were out of sight, the lead officer, still trembling uncontrollably, collapsed into his chair, overwhelmed by the experience. His hands shook as he tried to light a cigarette, but his fingers were too unsteady to manage it.
Seeing his distress, his subordinate stepped forward and lit the cigarette for him. The lead officer took a deep drag, leaning back in his chair in a futile attempt to calm his nerves.
"Sir, are you alright?" the subordinate asked cautiously.
"Y—Yeah… Whoever thought it was a good idea to provoke that b*stard clearly didn't know what they were dealing with," the lead officer replied, wiping the sweat from his brow.
The subordinate nodded in agreement, glancing nervously at the now-empty doorway.
Meanwhile, Adam and the others stood in front of an airport agent, who was shaking her head for the third time. "I'm sorry, sir, but all flights to the Wiseburn Kingdom have already departed. If you need another flight, you'll have to wait eight to nine hours for the next available plane."
Carl frowned, frustration evident in his voice. "Are you serious? You're the ones who held us up for so long, and now you're telling us we can't even catch our flight? What are we supposed to do now? We bought Third-Class tickets, which weren't cheap, and now you're saying they're worthless?"
The agent offered a nervous smile. "I apologize, sir, but the airline isn't responsible for the police delay."
Seeing that Carl was about to continue his tirade, she quickly added, "However, regarding your Third-Class tickets, we can convert them into coins, which you can use to purchase anything within the airport."
Carl's interest was piqued. "Like what?"
"Uh… perhaps some nuts and chocolates," the agent suggested hesitantly.
Carl's expression darkened, and he was about to vent his frustration when Adam intervened, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We'll take the coins," Adam said calmly. The agent, visibly relieved, hurried off to make the exchange.
Once she was gone, Carl turned to Adam. "Why the hell did you do that?"
"Why were you yelling at the girl?" Adam countered.
"Why shouldn't I? She was saying things that only made me angrier," Carl shot back.
"It wasn't her fault. We were delayed by… unpleasant forces," Adam replied, his tone measured.
Carl crossed his arms, begrudgingly accepting Adam's reasoning. He glanced around, searching for someone. "Where's the driver?"
"He said he went to find another way for us to get home," Adam replied.
"Any idea when he'll be back?"
"Nope."
They didn't have to wait long. The driver soon returned, joining them with a look of mild satisfaction. "Did you find anything useful?" he asked as he approached.
"No. They keep telling us we missed our flight and have to wait at least ten hours for the next one," Carl grumbled.
"So, what about the tickets?" the driver inquired.
"We're trading them for airport coins," Carl replied.
"Well, at least you'll have some nuts to snack on," the driver quipped, eliciting a half-hearted chuckle from Carl.
"But on the bright side, I found another way for you guys to get home. Here, take these," the driver said, handing them two train tickets.
"We're not flying anymore?" Adam asked.
"No. The airport's compromised, so we're changing plans… again," the driver explained.
Before they could respond, the airport agent returned, beaming. "Good news, gentlemen! I spoke with my superiors, and they've agreed to grant you lifetime free access to our nuts."