The Final Capture (Vanasagheray Trilogy Part II)

Chapter Nine: I'm not Principal Christan

Ankit stares at the screen, his eyes narrowing as the realization sinks in. "But what is the actual truth that Varden—Jean Thomas—wants to expose?"

Vanasagheray exhales, his gaze darkening as files continue to fill the screen, displaying rows of data, hidden memos, and financial transactions. "It's corruption, Ankit. High-level corruption that's been running for over forty years, woven deep into the fabric of Northgate's government. And it's still happening."

Ankit and Lyra lean in closer as the screen flashes again, now revealing names, amounts of money, and evidence of deals made in the shadows.

Ankit gasps as he reads the names. "General Smith... Senior Agent Stadford... District Attorney Caldwell... Retired Judge Harrock... and the Mayor, Jamie Quince. They're all involved?"

Lyra's eyes widen in disbelief. "No... not the mayor..."

Vanasagheray nods grimly. "Yes. They've all been part of it. For decades, they've abused their positions, siphoning money from city development projects, using their influence to cover up crimes, and framing innocent people to protect themselves."

The screen starts to show specifics of their involvement, layer by layer, scandal after scandal:

    1.    The Defense Contract Scandal: General Smith and Senior Agent Stadford had been funneling millions from Northgate's defense budget into private accounts. They had signed inflated contracts with weapons manufacturers who provided substandard equipment for Northgate's defense forces. The rest of the money was redirected into offshore accounts, leaving the city's defense infrastructure weakened and corrupt.
    2.    The False Convictions: District Attorney Caldwell had been overseeing the conviction of innocent citizens, particularly those who posed a threat to the corrupt officials or who got too close to uncovering the truth. Many of these convictions were based on fabricated evidence. Elias and Amelia Thomas were among those falsely accused, sentenced to death for "high treason" after they attempted to expose the corruption within Northgate's leadership.
    3.    The Cinderholt Construction Embezzlement: Retired Judge Harrock had manipulated legal rulings in favor of corrupt developers. These developers were granted contracts to "rebuild" the disaster stricken areas in the vicinity of Irivo Mountains, but instead, they pocketed most of the funds. The Cinderholt construction project was supposed to create affordable housing for the homeless, but the government went complete silent. They turned down the protests and began to convince the people to abandon the disaster prone area. The rest of the money disappeared into private accounts, and the homeless population skyrocketed.
    4.    Bribery and Corporate Favoritism: Mayor Jamie Quince had accepted millions in bribes from corporate interests. He used his influence to pass laws that favored large corporations while ignoring the needs of the citizens. Environmental regulations were disregarded, workers were exploited, and small businesses were crushed, all to enrich a few elites.

Ankit, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the corruption, runs a hand through his hair. "This... this is insane. They've been bleeding the city dry for decades. How could no one have seen this?"

Lyra stares at the screen, her expression a mixture of anger and disbelief. She is shocked. It feels as if the world around her shatters in slow motion. Her breath catches in her throat, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes lock onto the screen, refusing to believe what they are telling her. For a moment, she hopes it's a mistake, but the weight of the truth presses down on her like a lead blanket.

Vanasagheray points to another document flashing on the screen. "They didn't just manipulate justice—they controlled it. Every branch of the government was in their pocket. The police, the courts, the media. It's why Jean Thomas—Varden—has been working in the shadows. If he tried to go public, they'd destroy him like they did his parents."