The Industrialist

Chapter 103 The Offer

Lance was unsure of what to feel about Chester Leric. The rebels knew about the Leric's affiliation with the vicious Circle that curated the very disposition of Axe Central City. He probably had directed the sinister plots of the Government to reduce the population – the Commoners in particular.

Damian shared with him about their attack underneath the wall by the SHF. Which the same group orchestrated by the same person, Chester Leric.

Their heads turned as the door opened and came in an intimidating figure. In a black suit, fine plastic clothing, emulating silk, layered with lighter-colored clothing underneath it, clothed a tall and endomorphic body type. His eyebrows were thick and his condescending eyes.

It was Chester Leric.

He sauntered inside without uttering a word but only a deep sigh. He sat down across them so elegantly but firmly with how he moved.

"I am only interested with the bombs you used during the attack. Who can explain it to me?" Chester said with a deep, authoritative voice.

Evidently, the head of CBD did not want to waste time. He went straight to the point, even without introduction.

"Mister Leric, I am Lance Berkley, a newly promoted Mechanic Tier 3 endorsed by Doctor Zee. I can explain about the bombs." Lance responded with an unshaken voice.

He should force himself to be confident, as police officers had warned him about Mister Leric's ability to detect a lie. At least, being confident about the way he would answer, masked the lies in between his lines.

"Berkley?" Chester furrowed his eyebrows towards the kid. "Continue."

"I invented the bombs. The police suspected us to be smugglers but we never had been outside the walls."

"Aren't you part of the rebel faction that we have been hunting down?" Leric asked.

"No, Mister Leric. We despised them." Lance said and Damian nodded in agreement.

"If you are a Mechanic Tier 3, you should know the by-laws about manufacturing weapons. Especially bombs. We don't like bombs inside the walls, don't we?"

"I know about the by-laws where I failed to remember it. I was suppose to submit the designs and the request to the CBD but the attacks happened. And I found the opportunity to test them. And fortunately, it worked."

"There is no fortunate in your disposition here, Mister Berkley. You are in grave violation of GLD laws!"

"Hmm. My wife is involved, too." Then, the head of CBD released a subtle smile.

"We are just waiting for the seedlings to grow after a month. Then we can proceed with our hypothesis if the plants will survive using bacterial medium."

"I don't need to know about the details of your project. My nose bleeds of such matters." Leric smiled.

"Ok." Leric exhaled deeply. "This is my proposition, Mister Berkley. I don't want my daughter to disrupt his project with you in chains. And what you did saved thousands of lives. So, moving forward, here is my offer."

He distinguished his cigar against the metallic table.

"Well. I will handle the GLD. This is my only offer and you should take this. As a penalty, you will do public service. As your servitude, you will offer your designs without anything in return but this will be a Government property. Any unsanctioned manufacturing of such weapon will cause another form of violation which is probably imprisonment.

So, offer your designs to the BCD. You will be hailed a hero to the city, of course, your friend here will be awarded with a monetary value for his valiant act of being in the front lines." Leric explained.

"What say you, Mister Berkley?" Leric asked.

Lance was surprised with the offer. It was light. The mention of Jaqi, his daughter, and his wife, Janet, had brightened the conversation's mood and pushed him to offer light sanctions. It was not even considered a penalty to some.

However, he was not sure if the offer had no hidden agenda. The Vicious Circle members should have always an agenda that serves themselves selfishly.

"I accept, Mister Leric. Will I get something in return out of this?"

"You will get nothing, Mister Berkley. Only your freedom," Leric answered.

"When do I start?"

"I like your spirit. One of my agents will visit you." He started to stand up. He offered no handshakes.

"Visit where? They don't know where I live." Lance said.

"Don't worry, Mister Berkley. We know everything as long as you are in the system." Leric exited the room and the pressure on both of them subsided.

They were saved.