ALL NOVEL Chapter 203 – Mayor Joseph Perez
Floyd's frown deepened as he observed Hu Tianyi. He sensed something amiss but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Deciding to investigate further, he quietly followed Hu Tianyi from a distance, his intuition telling him there was more to this situation than met the eye.
Hu Tianyi, acutely aware of Floyd's presence trailing him, decided to act more honestly. He retraced his steps, returning to the spot where he had left his other Pokémon. One by one, he began to carry the unconscious Pokémon he had previously abandoned, his actions tinged with a hint of regret under Floyd's watchful gaze.
Floyd, observing Hu Tianyi's weary Pokémon, shook his head in disappointment. It was clear to him that these Pokémon had been pushed beyond their limits in harsh training.
Unable to remain silent at the sight, Floyd commented, "Your Pokémon couldn't learn the move because they lack proper nutrition and care. No wonder they couldn't perform well, leading to your failure in making it to the top 16." With a tone of disdain, he turned away, resuming his training session without waiting for Hu Tianyi's response. Floyd was indifferent to whether his words would provoke Hu Tianyi.
Hu Tianyi, hearing Floyd's blunt assessment, felt a surge of anger and frustration. The mention of his failure to reach the top 16 was a harsh reminder of his shortcomings, a stain on his record that he knew would haunt him.
…
October 1, 2005
Malibo City, Carpenter Town
In Carpenter Town, a middle-aged man in his fifties, exuding a solemn demeanor, walked through the hall where people lined the sides, looking at him with admiration and flattery.
"Congratulations, Mr. Perez, on winning the election!" voices chimed in.
"Vice Mayor, no, I suppose it's Mayor now. Mayor Perez, congratulations!"
"Mayor Joseph Perez, congratulations," came another voice.
Joseph Perez, the newly elected Mayor, responded with calm nods as he shook hands with his well-wishers. He then made a brief announcement expressing his gratitude to the citizens for their support before heading home.
Upon arriving at his residence, assisted by his servants, Joseph settled into his chair, reflecting on the day's events. As his butler and servant prepared coffee for him, he inquired, "Is there an appointment for me?"
"Master, there were five important individuals who came seeking an audience with you," the butler reported with a bow.
"Who were they?" Joseph inquired.
"The visitors included sir Nathaniel from the Sanchez family, Captain Mildred from the AMM, sir Alvin from the Tolentino Family along with NPA General Louis, and lastly, your cousin, sir Francis from the Perez family," the butler detailed.
Joseph absorbed this information, contemplating the significance of each visitor. The list of names indicated that his new role as Mayor was already drawing significant attention from influential figures. He took a sip of his coffee, his mind analyzing the potential implications of these requested meetings.
"Alvin with General Louis?" Joseph Perez furrowed his brow, his concern deepening, especially upon hearing about a guest from the influential Tolentino Family accompanied by NPA General Louis. He was well aware of the Tolentino family's robust political connections within the Maharlika Government, prompting him to prioritize this matter.
"Yes, Master, they arrived together," the butler confirmed with a nod, noting Joseph's particular interest in these guests.
Joseph's mind then shifted to another matter. He reached for a photograph on his desk, which depicted Jonathan, Kanraku, Floyd, and two other individuals he didn't recognize. The picture puzzled him; he couldn't fathom why Jonathan would associate with known criminals. Initially, Joseph had assumed Jonathan might have been coerced, but Jonathan's expression in the photo suggested otherwise.
"Master, since their departure from MeiDao, there's been no further news. They vanished without a trace, much like a bubble popping. We've been unable to find any leads," the butler reported with a hint of frustration in his voice.
Joseph nodded slowly, his grip tightening on the photograph, causing it to crease. He was still grappling with unanswered questions about his son's actions and motives.
"Do we have any information about the other two individuals in this photograph?" he inquired, referring to the man and woman in the picture whom he didn't recognize.
The butler responded, "We have some leads on the man. He appears to be associated with the hunters. We've checked the records of missing hunters, but there are many, and the list is extensive. The day that Japanese professor escaped coincides with several disappearances, making it difficult to pinpoint."
Joseph, processing this information, offered a strategic approach, "Focus on narrowing the list to those who went missing around that specific date. We might uncover something significant that way." He then inquired about the woman in the picture, "What about the girl?"
Regretfully, the butler replied, "Regarding her, we have no information at all, not even a single lead. I apologize for my inadequacy, Master." The butler, feeling a deep sense of responsibility for the lack of information, bowed deeply in a show of remorse.
Joseph Perez sat back, his expression a mix of resignation and determination. "Stand up," he urged his butler. "There's no point in continuing to apologize. The incident has already occurred, and apologies won't change that. We need to focus on gathering information now. The silver lining in all of this is that my son is still alive." Finishing his coffee, he stood up decisively. "Let's head to the Tolentino Family first and see what they're planning."
Upon arriving at the Tolentino residence, Joseph was greeted by Alvin, a member of the Tolentino Family, and General Louis. The meeting, however, did not go as smoothly as hoped. After about half an hour of conversation, it was evident that the discussion had taken a turn for the worse. The butler and servants, observing from a distance, could see Joseph's expression tightening, a clear sign of his growing frustration and anger.
Joseph, unable to contain his outrage, burst out as soon as they went back. "BASTARDS! Do they think they can do anything just because they have political connections?" he fumed. The servants quickly left the room, sensing the intensity of his anger, while the butler, though visibly shaken, remained by Joseph's side.
"They have the audacity to ask for a percentage of funds for their private military! A private militia seeking funding from us? Unbelievable!" Joseph continued, his voice rising in fury. "And then they dare to threaten me? Who do they think they are?" In a fit of anger, he hurled a glass across the room.
CRASH!
The sound of the breaking glass echoed, sending a wave of tension through the room. The butler quickly signaled the servants to silently clean up the shards, then cautiously approached Joseph.
"What is it?" Joseph asked sharply, still simmering with anger.
The butler, trying to maintain composure despite his nervousness, stammered, "M-master, there are... some visitors still waiting to see you."
"Still waiting? After all this time?" Joseph's surprise was evident, a brief distraction from his earlier rage.
"Sir Nathaniel said he would return tomorrow, but Captain Mildred insisted on waiting until your appointment was over," the butler informed him.
Joseph exhaled deeply, attempting to calm himself after the heated exchange with the Tolentinos. "Alright, let's meet Captain Mildred then," he decided, his tone now more composed.
A few minutes later, Joseph entered the room where Captain Mildred awaited. The man, in his late thirties, stood up promptly and saluted. "Mayor, congratulations on your election victory," he greeted formally.
Joseph, already feeling agitated from the day's earlier events, dispensed with pleasantries. "Enough with the flattery. Please, take a seat and state your purpose," he said, his tone reflecting his current mood.
Captain Mildred, sensing the urgency in Joseph's voice, got straight to the point. "Mayor, I have been instructed by the general to discuss a particular matter with you," he said.
"The general?" Joseph echoed, his curiosity piqued.
Mildred reached into his pocket and produced a photograph. Joseph's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized it; it was strikingly similar to the one he had on his desk earlier.
"How do you have this?" Joseph asked, his voice laced with caution. The photograph was a closely guarded secret, as any public knowledge of Jonathan's association with known criminals could potentially bring disgrace to their family name.
"Mayor, please rest assured, this matter is confidential. Only a select few are aware of it. It's a bit of a coincidence, actually. The general has been searching for his granddaughter," Mildred's explanation was cut short by Joseph's interjection.
"You mentioned this is a secret, yet how do you, as a Company Grade Officer, know of it?" Joseph inquired, his tone skeptical.
Mildred hesitated, aware of the sensitivity of revealing family connections within the military, but he decided to be transparent. "Well, the truth is, the general is my uncle," Mildred admitted, scratching his head, somewhat embarrassed by breaking the unspoken rule of not mentioning family surnames in military matters.
Joseph's expression grew more intense as he processed this information. "And your surname?" he asked, his wariness evident.
Mildred straightened up, formally introducing himself, "I'm the Company Commander of the Hawk Division, holding the rank of Captain. My name is Mildred Jimenez, and my uncle, the general is Philip Jimenez."