Weirdos IV: The Emerald Heart

Chapter 34: Countermeasures

The National Magical Law Enforcement Agency is the heart of agent activity in the country. Located right at the capital city, it serves as the headquarters and main office of the country's biggest law enforcement group. At the same time, it also serves as a prison for weirdo criminals, with a massive complex of cells and holding rooms situated several meters underground. Protected by physical barriers and powerful Shield Charms, these prisons are only eclipsed by the Time Citadel when it comes to security and impregnability.

This institution is known for their valiant agents who are more than willing to sacrifice their lives to keep the nation's peace and order. Considered to be one of the best law enforcement groups in the world, their agents are a cut above the rest when it comes to skill, technique, and combating ability. They are indeed the main reason why the country is one of the safest and most peaceful places in the world.

However, the past few months had been turbulent for the agents of the NMLEA. Several months ago, the entire national government was beheaded with the loss of the president. The deaths of the secretary of the Department of Magic and director general of the NMLEA also served as the deathblow for the national defense. As if things couldn't get worse, the headmistress of the Emerald School of Magic, an enduring symbol of peace and justice for both the agents and common people, was killed by the leader of the group that took over the entire country literally overnight.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, drastic changes suddenly happened not just in the government but in the entire society as well. As true allegiances were finally unveiled, it became clear to the people of the NMLEA who among them were the traitors from the very start.

Tyrone Judeus, along with a circle of people from both the Department of Magic and NMLEA, took over the two institutions and combined them into one. Prisoners of the agency were suddenly cleared of charges and freed. Some of them even found their way up the hierarchy of power in the two institutions. On the other hand, people who dared to show their opposition with these changes were imprisoned under accusations of sedition and insubordination. The most drastic change of all was perhaps the abolishment of the ranking system for agents. Judeus said that his goal was to "clean the agency free of useless stardom and showmanship."

With the sudden disappearance of the usual agents that serve as the face of the NMLEA, fear and apprehension rose among the common people. Despite the best efforts of the government to cover up all traces of the uprising that took place several months ago, people are not dumb to realize that a stronger, darker power caused these changes in the society. The increasing crime rate all over the country courtesy of villains suddenly running loose everywhere didn't help at all to alleviate the tension suffocating everyone.

Even inside the NMLEA itself, agents just can't seem to trust anyone that easily. Afraid of being wrongly imprisoned or killed, the protectors of peace and order kept their mouths shut and turned a blind eye to the blaring injustices and corruption plaguing the institution and the country. They know very well who Tyrone Judeus' boss is, and they don't have the courage or power to go up against a leviathan whose influence has reached the deepest recesses of the society.

These sudden and negative changes are bound to attract attention from international organizations. Over the past few months, all attempts of independent investigations of the country's current situation had been denied by the national government. The Agents International, one of the main foreign bodies calling for transparency in the current administration, is still trying their best to coordinate with the government. Even other countries have tried extending their help, but their efforts so far had been futile and fruitless.

Thankfully, despite all the negativity and darkness enveloping everyone, there are still people trying to restore peace and order to the society. With the collaborative effort of a few people in the government and international bodies, they were able to provide support for the rebellion. Today, two of their supporters are currently walking in the halls of the NMLEA while discussing their recent interaction with the members of the resistance.