Project LOKI ③

INTERLUDE: Editor and Chief

A/N: This special chapter is written in a slightly different format so I hope you will follow the conversation.

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This is a recorded conversation between Stein Alberts and Augustus Moran, taken at 06:18 p.m.

"Is this the editorial office of Clark Clarion or a huge oven? Bakit sobrang init dito? What's wrong with your electric fan? Bakit parang apoy ang ibinubuga instead na hangin? Didn't you pay your electric bills?"

"Sorry for the unpleasant atmosphere here, Stein. Nagkaroon ng problem sa ventilation. May mga naipong feather sa taas kaya kinailangang linisin muna."

"Oh, really? The timing is suspicious, don't you think?"

"Baka oras na talaga para linisin ang ventilation. It's been two years since the last time they cleaned it."

"Ah, yes. Two years ago, you were just a news writer who happened to be at the perfect time and at the perfect place to cover some mysterious event. Now, here you are, seated in the throne of chief editorship."

"I owe a part of my success to our group. That's why, as a token of gratitude... here."

"Our share from the magazine production? Quite a lot, huh? Oh, speaking of the magazine, I love the photos you chose for my feature page. You made me look like as if I was God's gift to Clark High when it comes to academic competition."

"You're going to represent our school in the national competition. You should have been on the cover, if it weren't for the QED Club—sorry, the now defunct QED Club."

"Such a shame, right?"

"Yeah, they only solve cases in this campus while you solve problems on the national stage."

"No, I wasn't talking about them being on the cover page. Medyo nalungkot ako nang malaman na na-dissolve ang kanilang detective group. Loki loved the club more than anything or anyone in this world... maybe except that dead girl."

"You had nothing to do with it? With them being evicted from their home at Room 315?"

"Why would I? I can take them out any time that I want. There's no need for me to take away their home."

"Or was it the vice president? You know the Mendez brothers don't get along that well. He's the real power in the student government. In a snap of fingers, he could have requested for the dissolution of the QED Club to spite his younger brother."

"I don't think so. The veep never takes things personally. It must be someone who can wield so much influence in the school administration."

"Nothing has changed, if you look at it. Oo, wala na nga ang QED Club, pero in-adopt naman sila ng executive committee. They have joined forces to take us down. Shouldn't we be worried?"

"There's nothing to be worried about, Augustus. As long as they have nothing on us, we are untouchable."

"Well, they are starting to kick over some rocks. You know Loki that well, don't you? Even if someone takes away his beloved club, he would stop at nothing to hunt us down."

"Mukhang may nasagap ang mga source mo, ah? Care to share?"

"My source at the accounting office told me that the executive committee requested for Clark Clarion's liquidation reports for the past two years. Gusto nilang makita kung tama ba naming ginastos ang aming budget."

"May power to audit ang executive committee. That's their mandate. Is there any reason for us to be worried about the reports?"

"None. They will find nothing once they review them. No suspicious paper trails. No loose ends. No loud mouths. We are clean."

"As expected from you, Augustus. You always make sure that your latest issues are free of errors. I assume that you would do the same in our secret transactions. That only confirms that we have nothing to be worried about."

"I'm not worried about what they might find out in the audit. I'm worried about what I will do in retaliation to your detective friend."

"You're going for a Round 2 against Loki and company? Sa pagkakatanda ko, the first round didn't end well for you. You lost an editor and a writer. Clarion's credibility sank to its lowest. The QED Club members emerged as heroes."

"I wasn't the one directly playing back then. I was only moving my pawns."

"Hmm... I will let you do as you please, as long as you do not go against my golden rule."

"Not to hurt Loki Mendez, huh? What is he to you exactly? Why do you care so much about him? He isn't your brother. He isn't your lover either, unless you prefer—"

"I believe I do not need to defend any of my decisions to you. Nakataga na sa bato ang batas kong 'yon. Ang kailangan n'yong gawin ay sumunod."

"What if I don't? What if I hurt him? What will you do to me?"

"You're going to get physical now? Wow, I never thought you have a knack for violence, Augustus!"

"Not physical. Of all people, you should know that there are a number of ways we can hurt a person. I do not need to graze his cheek or break his bones. Just words. And you know very well that words are my ultimate weapon. Words can make a person bleed. Figuratively, of course."

"... Augustus, did you know that I have thought many times of having you removed? I only had to be creative on how to end your life. Car accident? Mercury poisoning? You falling down the stairs?"

"But you can't. Because if you do, everyone will know that you are a su---"

"Shush! Don't be so loud. Someone might be listening to our conversation."

"If something untoward happens to me, the secret that you have been keeping since two years ago will be revealed. You don't want that to happen, do you? So my unsolicited advice to you is... do not get in my way."

"Okay! Do your worst. But the moment you become a liability to the organization in your attempt at retaliation, you know what fate awaits you. Be careful playing with fire, Augustus. Don't let yourself be burnt by it."

"I know. No need to remind me."

q.e.d.