[Arknights] A Guide to Make Money In Terra

Part 2: Courts and Oranges

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

By the way, this chapter is more than 4 thousand words long, it's pretty short if compared to my novel, which averages about 6 thousand to 10 thousand words per chapter.

And going back to wattpad makes me realize HOW MUCH I HATE IT. I had italics, bold letters, it didn't copy into wattpad! I had to rewrite them by hand, I'm no fan of that, so didn't bother to be detailed.

==+==

They say violence is the supreme authority from which all authority is derived.

I couldn’t help but confirm that statement as I was forcefully pushed into a cell, then forcefully pulled and dragged into an interrogation room surrounded by two police officers with one of my hand cuffed to the metal table.

The police officers, two women, had their arms crossed. One was standing by the door with her… one horn? I’ve met a bunch of people but it’s the first time I saw her kind. The other stood just in front of me, the girl who is very clearly a Draco, or the Yan version of them. What were they called? Oh right, a Lung.

They looked like they were gearing up for a good-cop, bad-cop routine. Two could play at that game.

The Lung officer leaned in, snapping open a thick folder in her hands. “Ivan Romanov, you are charged with multiple counts of tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, fraudulent investment schemes, bribery, corruption, insider trading, fraudulent charities, forgery, embezzlement, identity theft, insurance fraud, evading arrest, evading arrest in other countries, and escaping arrest.” She paused, tapping a finger on the folder with a faint smirk. “Shall I continue?”

I raised an eyebrow, cracking a small smile. “Oranges. I just sell oranges. Is that really such a crime?”

Her narrowed eyes showed no sign of humor. “Mr. Romanov, you’re facing over 500 years of prison time for your actions.”

I shrugged, leaning back as best I could with one hand cuffed. “I’d like to see you try.” They can’t arrest a foreign national, especially an Ursine from Ursus. They have ways of protecting their kind.

Her partner let out a laugh. “Captain Ivan Romanov of the Ursus Imperial Army, charged with desertion and mutiny? I’m sure the Ursus consulate would love to hear that.” She leaned forward, arching an eyebrow. “Shall we give them a call?”

“Hold on!”

The room seemed to close in, the air suddenly became thick with the realization that my own homeland might be even less forgiving than Lungmen’s justice system. If they extradited me, it wouldn’t just be prison—it’d be a military tribunal.

And no amount of money could magically transform that into a slap on the wrist.

They exchanged knowing glances, having seen the momentary slip in my composure. My eyes scanned the Lung’s uniform, catching her name—Ch’en.

“Look, Officer Ch’en,” I said, regaining my composure as best I could. “I want to contact my lawyer.”

She raised an eyebrow. “A lawyer?”

I shrugged, settling back in the metal chair as best I could. “Yes, a lawyer. Standard procedure, right? Even Lungmen has to respect basic rights.”