Raid: The Blacksmith-Chapter 101: Beatrice: Part One

He stands in his office, between his chair and his desk. His toned, well built physique towering over them proudly. The culmination of years upon years of battle experience. Wearing his usual attire, a predominantly white tuxedo, he casually crosses his arms after pressing a few flat glowing buttons on top of his desk. As if in response, the desk emits a holographic screen the size of an average flat screen tv. The screen shows a man. An old man, with short blonde hair. Seemingly around the same age as the man in the suit. Much like him, he also has a full beard garmenting his face. However his, unlike that of the man in the suit, is a mixture of white and blonde in color, rather than light greyish. And unlike the man in the suit, who is black, he is, however, an old looking white man. The holographic screen only shows his face and about half of his upper body. He’s wearing a loose golden long sleeved shirt of a very stylish design. A testament to his wealth.

"Well, hello there, Andy. Long time no see, ey?" Chadwick utters casually as soon as Andrew appears on the holographic screen in front of him.

"Chadwick... can I help you with an something?" Andrew queries. However, it isn’t genuine. His tone... that nonchalant tone, does very little in hiding that. He, himself, cares very little about hiding that.

It’s obvious. From the condescending tone in Chadwick’s voice, and the nonchalant, meager expression on Andrew’s face. It’s obvious. While there may not be any considerable bad blood between these two, they’re definitely, without a doubt, the furthest thing from what people would classify as ’friends’. They both know, that, that "can I help you with something?", was really more of a "what the fuck do you want?". In response, Chadwick chuckles a bit before speaking. "Not really..." He utters. "I just wanted to get a few things across. First I’d like to offer my condolences on the loss of your son, Zeke. I’ve never had little ones of my own. I’ve always wanted one or two. Maybe ten even." He jokes briefly, causing the only other person in the room with him to flinch slightly, a small whimper escaping her lips. With a smirk, Chadwick ignores it and continues. "But it just didn’t work out that way. Even so, I can imagine what you must be going through. I know how much you love your kids."

"Hm..." Andrew pauses, his eyes narrowing as if trying to study Chadwick through the holographic screen. "Well... thank you, I guess..." He finally speaks. "Never expected you of all people to be the one to say those kinds of things. But I know that can’t be the only reason you called. So out with it." He utters, his patience wearing thin, though his nonchalant expression does well in masking the fact.

"Heh." Chadwick lets out a weak laugh. "Of course, it’s not all. The second thing I wanted to make clear, is based on your son’s killer, Raid." Andrew’s eyebrows twitch briefly in furious abandon, immediately at the mention of Raid’s name from Chadwick’s mouth. Chadwick expertly ignores it to continue. "I’m sure you’ve seen the news by now. And if you have then that means you’ve also seen his attire. So you should know by now, that Raid works for the Warriors Association, and as a result, is under my protection." His smile fades, face changing immediately. His expression turning dark, eyes narrowing thin. "So I’ll ask you to refrain from trying to kill him every goddamn twenty-four hours." He adds with a piercing gaze that sends a shiver down the spine of the only other person in the room with him.

And of course, Andrew Reinhardt himself as well. Yet slightly, allowing him to quickly regain his composure, as if he never lost it to begin with. "Chadwick..." He utters in a calm, yet challenging tone. "Is that a threat? Do you even realize the weight of what you’re supposedly ’’asking’’ me to do?" He asks rhetorically, making sure to emphasize his sarcasm around the word ’asking’. "You’re telling me to leave the brat who murdered my son alone. What? Just because you said so? Just because he’s your employee?"

"Listen to yourself, Andy." Chadwick shoots back. " You make it sound like your son was innocent. What do you mean by ’’murdered’’? We both know the chances of your son having started the confrontation that lead to his death in the first place, are exceedingly high. Not to make light on your loss, but your son was no saint. If Raid had been the one to die, instead of Zeke, after being provoked first at that, you wouldn’t have even batted an eye. This is the Great Age of Warriors Andy, where the simple rule, most of the time, unfair as it is, is that, might makes right. And much like every existing Warrior in the world, your son isn’t exempt from this rule. My duty as a Branch Manager is to make sure that these types of confrontations among Warriors, have some level of fairness, however fragile. And from where I’m standing, Raid isn’t in the wrong." Chadwick finishes with a commanding tone, as if to make a point. One that can’t be refuted.

Andrew grits his teeth, underneath his closed shut mouth, anger clearly starting to be visible on his face. "Is that it, then? You really call that fairness? Because from where I’m standing, all I’m seeing is bias." He retorts, veins forming along his forehead. "Shall I take this to The Council? So we can see just how ’’fair’’ your judgements truly are?" He threatens.

"Really now, Andrew?" Chadwick’s expression twists, looking at Andrew almost as if something to pity, in response to the desperate measures he seemingly is willing to take. To the point of even addressing him formally now. "The Council? Are you sure you wanna go there? Sure you’re ready to ride down that road? If so, then go ahead. As long as you’re prepared to let everyone know about your Twelve Guardian Shadows. But if not, then please... leave the Country Leaders alone, alright? They’re busy enough as it is." He sighs in genuine exhaustion. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"What?" Andrew’s eyes go wide at the nonchalant mention of the Twelve Guardian Shadows from Chadwick’s mouth. As if they’re but a casual everyday topic one would have with friends at a cafe or the like. Whereas he thought was a secret only a handful of people in the entire world knew about. "How do you know about-"

"You’re underestimating me a little too much, don’t you think? I’m a Branch Manager of the Warriors Association. Our information gathering skills are second to none. And you’re surprised that I know about your little secret team of assassins? Being a Family Head sure did well in inflating your ego, I see." Chadwick palms his face as he sighs weakly. "You can have as many secrets as you want Andrew, frankly I don’t care as long as they aren’t hurting the innocent. And since I haven’t confirmed anything of the sort, no other Branch Manager but me knows about them. Your Shadows, I mean. ’Cause if they did, your family would be done for. But understand that I’m keeping my eye on you. One wrong move and it’s over for you, kid. So leave Raid be, and call off the Shadows, he’s already killed three of them, anyway, including number one. So at this rate, you’ll just be sending them to their deaths."

"He what!?" Andrews eyes widen once again as he exclaims in response to Chadwick’s words, unable to process the idea of an F-Rank killing three high level A-Ranks.

"You heard me." Chadwick’s expression turns smug, as if proud of an achievement not even of his own. "So unless you want to significantly decrease your ranks, I suggest you act smart, and take my advice. That’s all. Later, kid." Without a second to spare, he taps a button on his desk, ending the call, as the hologram disappears as if sucked back in by the desk itself.

"Is it just me, or did he flinch when you mentioned him possibly having more secrets?" The only other person in the room with Chadwick, who had been silent the whole time, speaks as she slightly steps forward towards Chadwick, pushing her back off the left side wall that she was leaning against. A pink haired beauty. Curves in all the right places. Her emerald eyes gleam slightly each time she blinks. Clad in the usual uniform of the Warriors Association, a black and white suit. Yet unlike most, she wears no coat. The woman is none other than, Sakura. Sakura Suzuki.

"He flinched even harder when I told him I was keeping my eye on him." Chadwick responds as he turns his head to look at Sakura.

"What? He did? I didn’t see that, though." Sakura places her hand on her chin while tilted her head to slightly look up as if trying to playback the sight of Andrew in her head.