Chapter 430: More Troublesome

"So..." Katarina looked at Auric, wondering what they were going to do next.

"Let’s begin with the problem." Auric closed the store first and led them to another room. It was just an additional room that Lindwurm had prepared just for this discussion.

It was a simple room with a big table and a few seats along with a projector.

This time, the participants were Auric, Katarina, Stella, Maya, and Ellia. However, Ellia might join for a different reason.

Auric nodded to Katarina.

"Well, I guess I should begin with the briefing." Katarina nodded with a serious expression. "I’m sure that Miss Maya already knows about this, but two months ago, there’s a patient who was in a coma because of the energy from the elemental turbulence caused by the destruction of the ruins.

"The accident happened at Mildeus Apartment Complex 10 years ago." Katarina showed the picture.

It was an apartment complex with nine buildings.

Maya couldn’t help but furrow her brow. "Apartment Complex. I know this case. It was an incident of two people from two big families fighting each other. The buildings might be strong because of the energy, but they’re much easier to demolish in one go. Just destroy the right thing, and the entire building will collapse.

"The case was settled outside the court. I see. There was a woman who survived the elemental turbulence, but she was in a coma. I didn’t hear anything after that, so it might be a cover-up."

"Two big families?" Stella crossed her arms.

"They were the Kaufa and Delimore families," Maya answered.

"The fourth and the sixth biggest families in this country?" Ellia looked up before adding, "By the way, mine is fifth, while Vera’s is seventh."

"Mine is third, though I don’t know what’s with all this comparison?" Maya snapped her fingers. "However, a big family like ours usually has three things. Money is the most important thing—legitimate business and other things. The second is the number. We use the money to expand the business and raise our own people. Lastly, connection."

Ellia nodded in agreement. "That’s why a cover-up is the most likely explanation. They’re using their connections to suppress the news and pay hush money while using their own people to forcefully shut up any opposition. To be honest, I don’t like where this is going."

Maya explained, "If we end up touching their sore spot, they might retaliate against us. They will think that we’re here to dig up their past and expose them."

"So, what is this all about?" Stella asked.

Katarina just looked at Auric as she didn’t know anything about it either.

Auric tapped the table a few times, looking hesitant. After giving it some thought, he decided to tell the truth. Once they knew, he would understand if they decided not to participate.

"According to my father, what lies beneath the ruins holds the clues to understanding the avatar, the ruins, and even the barrier. It will lead us to another location."

"What kind of riddle is that?" Stella tilted her head in confusion.

Auric just shrugged.

"So, this means you want to dig it up?" Maya crossed her arms.

"I can call a few companies to dig it up, but to be honest, I don’t think they would dare to take the job. Those two families will most likely get alerted and try to stop us." Ellia revealed the problem.

"I understand that, which is why if you don’t plan to participate, I can understand."

"I’m just pointing out the risk, not saying I don’t dare take the risk." Ellia shrugged. "My position is not under threat anymore, so doing a few things here and there should be possible. But to be honest, I can’t rely too much on my family. However, if you need money, I have money."

"I don’t think it’ll be that big of a problem, though. I mean..." Maya looked around. "We can get Katarina to watch over those two families. Ellia and I have our own families. They won’t easily go into a fight with our families. It’ll be like a warning or something. You are also quite famous on your own."

"Besides, you might be able to call Arnie or Jacob to act as the middleman. After all, what we’re doing is not exactly illegal, so Arnie will probably help you in return. Meanwhile, this kind of study will probably invite a lot more discussion among the officials, so Jacob’s help will be crucial."

Auric crossed his arms, lost in thought. "Well, I want to figure out what’s going on with the ruins. I don’t care about anything else."

"Yeah, but that’s not how those people are thinking." Ellia waved her hand.

"Let me continue with the briefing for now." Katarina raised her hand and clenched it, gesturing for them to be quiet. "I have checked the situation, but gaining access to that place won’t be easy."

"Why is that?" Ellia’s expression darkened.

"After investigating the matter, those two families indeed fought there, and their relationship took a turn for the worse. However, it didn’t go to a full-scale war."

"They found something in the ruins?" Ellia asked, having figured out the situation.

"Well, it was an apartment complex, so they had a lot of things that had the potential to become. Excavating artifacts will be quite easy, and such resources couldn’t be ignored. Those two could make up if they agreed to a joint excavation," explained Maya.

"That’s true, but there might be more to it than that. They might have found something else." Katarina raised one finger. "I don’t know what it is, but there is a high level of security over there."

"They might have found the one we’re looking for on this trip..." Maya crossed her arms. "It’s not something they want to share."

"If they have found it, they shouldn’t be able to use it or fully excavate it. Or else, there would be some visible changes." Ellia disagreed with Maya.

"Or it might be something that wouldn’t change their power..." Stella tilted her head in confusion.

"No." Both Ellia and Maya turned to her and answered with the same tone.

Katarina continued, "If you wish to enter, I have some information about their security, but is there any other way?"

Ellia looked down, contemplating.

Maya snapped her fingers. "I think I know how to get there. Do you remember the Aheron family?"

"Oh." Auric nodded.

"The Aheron family is in the top ten, but they are quite lacking in terms of strength and influence. However, it won’t be weird to say that they’re the ones with the most money in this country. We can use them."

"That annoying guy..." Ellia frowned. "Because the Aheron family’s focus is purely on business, those two families might have no need to worry about the Aheron family trying to oppose them or something. What they want is money. The Aheron family doesn’t have the power to retaliate against them."

"Exactly. If they think the Aheron family comes with pure intentions, they will let them in." Maya winked.

"That’s a clever idea. Then, if we can use either Mr. Jacob or Mr. Arnie..." Ellia contemplated.

"I think it’s better to use Arnie for the time being." Maya thought that she had just lectured Supervisor Jacob, so he might need time to think about it before he was willing to do something. "Arnie can make sure that they’re not engaging in any illegal activities. In addition, he has just taken over the case of the girl who was injured here."

"Will he be safe?" Stella was concerned about his safety. If the two families really wanted to cover it up, they might try to kill Arnie.

Maya chuckled and said, "Worrying about Arnie is the last thing we need to do. That man is stronger than even my grandfather and Jacob was in his prime. His family was ruined because of a gang, so he destroyed that fucking gang, killing all the leaders and executives. There were two Rank 6 humans and dozens of Rank 5 humans among the hundreds of bodies he buried that day."

"He is that strong?" Stella was startled.

"Don’t you know about the top strongest list for this country?"

"No."

"At the top, it’s obviously Joker, no question. Arnie is third. Jacob was fourth in his prime, while my grandfather is currently sixth. His skill hasn’t gotten rusty, but his body is aging. Ellia..."

"My grandfather is ninth in terms of strength." Ellia nodded.

"So, you don’t have to worry about Arnie. In fact, we can use him to ensure that there is no illegal activity. After all, Arnie hates criminals with every cell in his body. Those two families definitely don’t want to fight him either."

Katarina concluded, "So, we will first ask the Aheron family to infiltrate them normally, then ask Arnie to do the inspection. Then, we will sweep in?"

"Hopefully, there are some illegal activities. Arnie might end up building a case against them."

"Won’t Arnie get shut down? I mean, these people have connections, right? I heard it’s easy to shut down a law enforcement investigation if you just know the right people."

"Yes. That won’t work with Arnie. He’s just that crazy. If he gets shut down or removed from active duty, he will simply quit his job and go after the criminals. Then, he will threaten the officials to reinstate him, or he will blow everything out of proportion." Maya chuckled.

"Won’t that make him a criminal as well?"

"Not really. He will probably get it done before he even becomes a criminal. Knowing Arnie, they will most likely try to hide everything illegal or suspicious and make everything squeaky clean."

Stella nodded in understanding. "So, we still need to infiltrate that place, right?"

"For Auric, yes." Katarina nodded.

"Indeed. I have also left my job since I joined Grand Magica College to lie low during my probation period. Now that I don’t have that on me anymore, I’m free." Maya shrugged.

"The problem is whether we can get the Aheron family involved. Do you think they owe you enough for something like this?" Katarina asked.

Auric tapped the table a few times before sighing.