Rewriters [Completed]

The Mayor of Vale

The mayor of Vale sauntered towards the crime scene, unbothered by the shocked faces of the officers on duty.

"S-sir, this is a crime scene-"

"I am aware," he said, staring icily at the officer who had spoken. It was times like this that rumours were useful, for it kept nosy people out of his way.

Intimidated, the officer did not say another word and simply kept an eye on him as he stopped just before the police tape.

The scorched walls of the building loomed over him. Even after hours since the incident, the acrid smell of smoke lingered in the air.

A well dressed man walked up to him. "Fancy seeing you here, Mayor Stoic."

"Likewise, Inspector Hollins," Reynard responded evenly. "I don't recall that you were assigned to this case."

Hollins crossed his arms. "I believe interrogation is my job," he spoke gruffly.

The mayor simply gave him a smile in return as the two faced each other with silent hostility. Even after decades, they had never seen eye to eye with each other.

"I did not come here to antagonise you, or your coworkers, however appealing it does sound," Reynard told him, never once faltering in his smile. "Instead, I wish to make a deal of cooperation. The Harbinger case has went on for long enough. I'm sure you want to end it as well."

"I will not deny that," Hollins conceded, his eyes sharp with suspicion, "but what's in it for you? Regaining the confidence of the people? More power to conduct your schemes?"

He let out a chuckle. "Have you noticed, Hollins? Vale is in chaos. It's silent, unspoken, but the town reeks of it. The people are paralysed with fear and has grown weak and shortsighted, believing that Harbinger is the only threat. They cannot be more wrong."

"So you want to eliminate those threats you speak of," the inspector concluded.

"That is correct."

"Why me?"

To this, Reynard moved away from the police tape and led him to a more secluded area. His expression no longer had any trace of arrogance, instead, it become heavy and solemn.

"Tell me this. What do you think of the superheroes?" he asked.

His question was met with a deep frown. "I don't see how this is relevant."

The mayor opted not to explain, simply crossing his arms while waiting for his answer.

"I will be blunt," Hollins began. "Even if the superheroes are morally right, they still broke the law, and it makes them just as dangerous as the villains."

As he spoke, he looked upon the ruined, soot covered building in disapproval. "In the past month, the number of fire cases has increased, majority of which were caused by the Vanguards of Vale's pursuit of Harbinger. By taking justice into their own hands, they have endangered the lives of others and set back a police investigation of the greatest urgency."

He turned back to face the mayor. "I accept that superheroes exist, that they are necessary in this era, but it doesn't mean that they are above the law and its consequences. There are those who are true heroes, but the Vanguards of Vale are not one of them."

"Hm," Reynard mused. It was a carefully thought out response formulated from years of experience, harsh but fair. Looks like I wasn't wrong about you.

"And what does the chief think about this?"

As expected, Inspector Hollins was silent.

"You see, I need people that I can trust. Someone unbiased and fair in the police force. You don't get that a lot these days due to the influence of a certain person," Reynard explained. "You are the only one I trust."