Never Judge

What Cedric and his friends found was no longer a man, but a shadow of a man. 

For someone who had once been so respected as a politician, the man before them now was practically an animal.

"This is inhumane." Mae said with a frown.

"Mr. Reyes you are the only CEO that I know of that would allow their employee to speak so freely." Seth said as he shook his head. 

"We all run our kingdoms differently." Ray said as he responded for Cedric. "Who is this man?" Ray asked as he crouched down.

The man was in a cage that rose only until Ray's waist. It was wide enough for the man to lie down, but not tall enough for him to stand. 

It seemed that he had once been quite good looking, even in his dirty and rugged appearance now his features still shined through. His tall nose and high cheekbones showed that he was a child of mixed races. 

His onced dyed hair was now back to its original blonde color. 

"His name was Brian Santos - Schnider." Ian said as he tapped on the cage making the man move back, deeper into the shadows. "He used to be a popular politician in the north."

"Hmmmm, I see why." Cedric said as he crouched down next to Ray.

"Of course, to run he dropped his father's last name and stuck with his mother's. He was quite good looking and the women loved to vote for him, it's funny how democracy can be the best and worst thing." Ian said with a laugh.

"I've heard of him." Alexi said as he looked at the cage. "My people said he was a rising star in politics and could become a threat to me someday." 

"Clearly now, he can't be a threat." Ray added with a laugh.

"What did he do?" Ram asked.

"He was the politician that hid Aiden Ortiz from us. He and his men." Cedric said in a bitter tone as he stood back up.

"Ugh, it stinks." Katerina complained. "Couldn't you have at least changed his cage before we arrived? Why did you even keep him? Just send him to one of the jails or have him killed, that would have been a lot cleaner."

"Wow, you weren't kidding about her." Seth whispered to Ian as he was still taken by surprise about how brutal Katerina could be.

"I can hear you." Katerina said as she rolled her eyes at the mafia boss. 

"We kept him because we believed that Cedric might want to deal with this one himself someday." Ian told the group, completely ignoring the banter between Katerina and Seth. If he had noticed either of them their conversation would have gotten derailed. 

"And why would you think I would want to deal with him myself?" Cedric asked as he continued to observe the man who was currently hiding in a corner. 

"Because this man is the last living person to have helped Aiden Ortiz after he murdered your mother." Ian explained. 

"Well, technically Benedict is still around." Miguel said with a cheeky grin.

"We all know that Benedict doesn't count. He left his brother to help us." Cedric told Miguel as he rolled his eyes.

"What do you have planned for this one?" Alexi asked. "Does he have anything to do with the Barons?"

"He has a lot to do with the Baron family." Cedric told his friends. "He and the Barons are so intertwined that his death sent their niece and son into mourning." 

"What? Are they related?" Alexi asked.

"No." Cedric said as he shook his head. "He was the best friend of Rodrigo Baron, the mayor's son, and he was engaged to Jean Baron, the mayor's niece."

Kateria gasped at the news, she had an idea that this man, Brian Schnider, was in some way connected to the Baron family, but she didn't expect this.

"On top of that, this man, Brian, was also their connection to Sapphire Mining. He comes from one of the Raja families, so he introduced the Barons to the ones operating the corrupt political system." Cedric added.

Everyone was shocked at how much this man was involved.

"It's a good thing he isn't dead yet." Alexi said with a grin.

"Do they think you had him killed?" Miguel asked Cedric.

"No, not really." Cedric said as he shook his head. "They think that he was picked up by members of the Mafia whom he owed money to. He was then supposedly murdered for his inability to pay back the debt."

"He did owe us money." Seth said with an amused laugh. "But I wouldn't kill a man over that. What use is a dead man, he can't pay me back. I prefer it when they are scared, I can impose interest."

"You mafia people have become too much like businessmen." Ray complained. "You think so much about money now."

"We need money to operate." Seth said with a shrug.

"So what do you plan to do with him? Drop him in front of the Barons all messed up like this?" Katerina asked as she pointed at the man in the cage.

"No, no. He is here to be an example." Cedric told his friends. "The Barons will have their own moment, one that the whole country will witness. Then after, once they are broken I want to show them what happens to those that cross me."

"Brutal Cedric is interesting." Alexi said as he scratched his chin. 

"It's reserved for the most extreme individuals." Cedric said with a shrug as he looked at the man again. 

"Make sure he is recognizable." Cedric told Seth. "I want to make sure that the Barons know who they are looking at." 

"Yes, sir." Seth said with a nod as he called one of his men over and gave some instructions.

"Sir, the Baron family has arrived." Dave said, informing Cedric in a low voice that was audible for everyone to hear.

"Let them wait a little, while they are waiting. Release the video." Cedric instructed Dave. 

Within minutes of his order the whole country knew that Cedric Reyes was innocent.

And the Baron family that was waiting for him in the meeting room, turned pale when they saw the news.