The Industrialist

Chapter 107 SHF Visit

Two SHF officers were at the door. He was expecting CBD executives or even staff that would collect his designs. However, two SHF officers visiting him was an overkill.

They stood so firmly. They snappily stood outside the door as if a commanding officer was with them. Both of them wore black-clad long tuxes that covered up to their shins, however, exposing their chest with their vest and an ensign of SHF in bold letters printed on the vests.

They were clearly military. Both of them were square-faced as if they were born twins. Broad shoulders and protruding chests. The other though, was an inch higher in height.

The first thought upon pondering them dumbfounded the kid. Why are they sending two trained killers just to retrieve the specifications for the poison bomb? Are they secretly observing Lance as one of the rebel members?

Being a rebel gave him the chills. What struck inside his thoughts was the possibility that they knew about his smuggling activities with the Outsiders.

Despite the menacing thoughts, he calmed his emotions and acted like he had nothing to hide.

"Mister Berkley," the SHF officer said. "I am Officer Kent and my comrade here is Officer Karl. We are here as instructed by Mister Leric of CBD. I believe you had a prior conversation two days ago."

Lance almost choked before he could speak. "Come in, officers."

They sauntered inside, with their heavy boots evident against the tiled floor. Lance was not used to accommodate visitors in his pad. He was never a sociable person. He wanted the two officers to give them what they needed and exit the pad hastily, without further words of entertainment.

"Let me just get the schematic diagrams and the CBD can have my designs. If needed my explanation, I can explain to the board."

The officers seemed to scan the place. Lance was unsure what they were looking for, they were observant even only by standing at the center of his living room.

"You have so much to do here, Mister Berkley. Aren't you gonna monetize the scraps?" One officer said.

Perhaps, they were not looking for clues. They were just admiring how messy his pad could be.

"In due time, officers," Lance said as he took out the schematics printed by his fabrication table. He rolled it and placed it in a hard plastic tube.

"Outside the walls? Where do you think the rebels are hiding now?" Lance asked.

"We are scanning every possibility. We are looking first at the Trench Hill, just beyond the Dead Forest. Others are scouting to the Eastward, outside Gerald's View. We are looking everywhere, Mister Berkley. So, worry not."

"If you find them? Are you going to capture them?"

"Capture? That is not in our vocabulary. We are formed to operate outside the norms of police work. Even military work. We are given the authority to kill on sight without prejudice. So, the rebel problems that we have for a decade, we can say we have a shot on eliminating all of them, once and for all."

Lance was now worried. Not to his comrades in the rebel faction but also to himself. What they were disclosing was highly confidential information. Disclosing them probably was sending a message to the rebels through him. Perhaps, the SHF already had an educated hunch that Lance was one of the rebel factions.

The bell rang once again.

"More colleagues?" Lance asked.

"No." Now, the officers' faces were agitated. One officer took out his gun from his holster. It was a laser gun, a masterwork-level firearm.

He slowly paced himself towards the door. The bell rang once again.

'What are they suspecting?' Lance thought. His pulse rate increased. He could not have known it but judging the way his heart hammered against his chest, he was nervous. The SHF officers probably were suspecting more ominous than the rebels.

'Don't worry, Lance. You are in good hands,' He convinced himself.

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The other officer who was still beside Lance signaled with the former's finger on his lips.

As the door opened, the gun was drawn outwardly by the SHF officer. Lance had not seen the people outside the door yet, but he knew that they were not SHF officers.

"Put your hands up!" The officer said.