Chapter 9: Annoying

Jerome was dressed in a black cloak and black suit, which is flexible for wider movements. He was also wearing a scarf to hide his face, wanting to avoid being recognized if ever he was caught.

He has two goals at the moment:

To help the taken women and children escape;

And to find evidences against Lord Hardwicke.

From what Dynila wrote in the paper, there were over 50 women and children hidden in the manufacturing sight as test subjects for Lord Hardwicke's products. Their disappearance were mostly ignored since they all lived in the slums and everyone knows that the Royal Family never cared for that area.

Another one was the evidence, he needs something that could take Lord Hardwicke down. Some kind of document, probably about Hardwicke's purchase of lead. Jerome also needs to find something that could tie all the ones involved with Lord Hardwicke which Dynila said that there was a list of.

At the moment, he was looking around the area to avoid the guards and to look for clues on where to go. He do have a 'kind of' map given by Dynila, however, deciphering it would also take quite some time since he couldn't tell from her drawing which building is which.

From what Jerome could tell from the drawing, there's a warehouse where the office is located as well as where the trapdoor to the basement is. It is where most of the captives are located.

The young man was hiding by the bushes while looking around, from what he could tell and from he studied, the larger building in his right is for the manufacturing of the makeups and the smaller building on his left is the warehouse where the resources are placed.

Now that he knows where to go, he looked around for guards this time. So far there are no guards but it would be quite difficult to jump over the gate since it has pointed designs on the top.

Jerome assessed what he needs to do, he looked around again to see where he could hide once he jumped over. There's a box by the side of the warehouse which is large enough to hide.

Now that the young man was assured of his actions. He prepared himself to climb and jump over the fence, feeling nervous.

However, he felt a hand on his shoulder and pinned him on the ground. He almost screamed but he managed to cover his mouth before he could utter a sound.

"Who are you?" The larger man asked, he was wearing a mask over his eyes which are golden.

Jerome didn't want to assume, but this golden eyes could only mean one thing. This is Rowan, the main character of the story.

He was stunned and frozen, staring at the man's golden eyes but it was interrupted by the question again.

"I'm asking you, who are you?" He sound firm and the way he pinned Jerome by his shoulder made him wince.

"I-I'm here to take down Lord Hardwicke..."

The alleged Rowan was a bit shocked, he knew that Lord Hardwicke is a well-known businessman who would have no enemy since he has allies all over, or some would say, 'business partners'. He also has the image of a well-respected man who is well-mannered with proper etiquette and everyone seemed to like him.

Unless some of Lord Hardwicke's allies decided to betray him, then the unknown man hiding behind the bushes has the same goal as him.

"What do you know? Who sent you?" He asked Jerome, still keeping the smaller pinned.

"I know... That there are women and children captured and are experimented with lead mixed in makeups... Despite the Kingdom's ban of it and no one sent me... I came here... because a friend of mine asked me to help her." Jerome half-lied as he don't know how he'll explain that he was only doing this for his own sake.

The alleged Rowan stared at him for a moment before he pulled away, "We have the same goal then."

Jerome sat up and took a deep breath, "I suppose..."

The taller man looked around as if not knowing where to start looking. The shorter took notice of this and gave him his notes, he has no reason to gatekeep them after all.

"That friend of mine gave me the insights of the kidnapped people... I assume that this warehouse is where they were kept. She said that there's a trapdoor leading to where they are... I also need to look for some evidence that Lord Hardwicke was doing something shady, hency why I need to infiltrate his office as well." Jerome explained.

The latter looked at the incomprehensible drawing of the map that Dynila made, tilting his head before looking at the other notes. He nodded after listening to the shorter man.

"Then let me save them... A friend also asked me to help them." The alleged Rowan told him, looking down as he spoke.

"Then I'll look for the evidence."

The taller nodded and was about to move when Jerome was hesitating, he looked at the shorter and asked, "Do you not know how to climb?"

"I know how to climb, just..." Jerome defended, a bit annoyed. If this is really Rowan, he cannot believe so. This man is quite annoying.

The said man sighed and positioned to help boost him up, "Go on." The shorter man took a deep breath before stepping on the latter's hands which boost him up, actually throwing him on the pile of hay making him yelp quietly. The alleged Rowan followed after while Jerome glared at him, "You threw me."

"I gave you a boost."

Jerome just huffed and stood up, looking around for guards, "So, where will I meet you?"

"You'll miss me already?" The shorter man looked at him in disbelief as the taller ask that.

"I called the Royal Guards here, so I'll meet you by the gates." The alleged Rowan stated, as if he didn't just ask that question.

Jerome nodded, 'Oh? We both have the same thought...' He also had Liao call the Royal Guards to the location, but he assumed it would take a bit longer since the manufacturing facility was hidden at the outskirts of town and near the sea.

He also had the Eastern man act as a decoy and had him meet Lord Hardwicke in disguise of talking business. Since there's a possibility that the old man won't be in the area at the time they infiltrate and could deny his inclusion in the illegal business. All Liao need to do is act as if he wants to see the facility and how the products are produced to bring Lord Hardwicke to the area.

They'll be able to save the captives, get evidences and capture the old man all at the same time.

"Let's go." The taller sneaked in ahead, expecting the latter to follow which he did.

Just as the two were about to go inside, the alleged Rowan stopped as he saw a guard nearby, making patrols. Jerome was confused and was about to walk past the taller man but he was grabbed and hidden by him.

"W-" Before the smaller could speak, his mouth was covered and the alleged Rowan pointed at the guard, he even placed a finger on his own masked mouth to imply that they should quiet.

Jerome just nodded even though he was flustered deep inside. 'If this really was Rowan I would flip out.' He thought to himself.

Once the guard was gone, they slipped inside the warehouse and looked around, "Where could the trapdoor possibly be?" The taller asked but the latter could only shrug.

"My friend didn't really described the trapdoor." He answered while looking around.

As they walked and stayed vigilant, Jerome happened to spot an incoming guard from the end of the hall and so, he pulled the alleged Rowan in a nearby vintage cabinet to hide.

"What is it?" The taller whispered, making the the smaller one flustered at how close they are together, "Someone's coming." He whispered back.

While they were waiting for the guard to walk past the cabinet by the sound of the shoes tapping, Jerome felt something poking his back.

"Something's poking me."

"It's not me."

"Of course it's not!" The smaller whispered when he felt his blush beneath the mask.

"Of course it's not you, you're in front of me..." Jerome tried to maneuver through the dark behind him and felt a rod which he assumed is somewhat of a lever.

'Man, this man is annoying...' He thought as he pulled down the lever and yelped when they suddenly fell.

The taller man held the shorter by his waist and thought quickly, pulling his dagger out to stab the wall and halt their fall. It strained him a little though.

Jerome who felt his heart drop at the sight of the floor pat his companion's arm, "We're here..."

The alleged Rowan let go of him and jumped down as well, massaging his arms. The shorter looked up at him, "Are you alright?"

"Peachy... I should've trained more if I knew I'll carry a grown man."

Jerome felt annoyed but he just kept his annoyance inside, "Well, thank you..."

"You should be..." The taller sighed, "Did you really came here by yourself and a bit of plan? You might not be scrawny but I bet you're not skilled in defending yourself. How would you even save the others if you can't defend yourself?"

The shorter felt annoyed but he knows that the latter was right, he might've trusted his main character syndrome too much and bit more than he could chew but it was too late to back out now.

"We wouldn't even find this place without me." Jerome defended.

"You found it by coincidence."

"It is still my luck that helped us find this place."

"Luck won't save you if you were to be in danger." The alleged Rowan walked on ahead while the shorter followed, still annoyed.

"I can protect myself."

"Sure."

'This can't be Rowan, he's so annoying.' Jerome just thought to himself as they continued to walk through the underground hall.