Chapter 1050
If it were entirely up to Master Ellis, he would have slit their throats and been done with it. They were violent thugs, after all.
But Dominic operated under a different code. As a federal agent, his instinct was to avoid lethal force whenever possible.
Moreover, Dominic likely wanted to avoid leaving a trail of bodies that could ignite an international incident.
Mira and Owen usually fell somewhere in the middle-more ruthless than Dominic, but less bloodthirsty than the older master. However, with Master Ellis present, they rarely voiced their opinions on tactical execution unless absolutely necessary.
As dawn approached, the convoy finally reached the border checkpoint. However, the area was swarming with armed Balkanan troops in full combat gear, outnumbering the usual border patrol by a massive margin.
Dominic handed over the signed diplomatic clearance papers, but the commanding general flat-out rejected them.
“Our superiors have determined that your paperwork is invalid. You are ordered to turn back immediately p>
It was glaringly obvious that the local government had caught wind of their early departure and had mobilized the military to intercept them.
The Mavarians had decimated their lucrative black-market economy. The Balkanan authorities were furious, but unable to strike back officially, they had resorted to this aggressive bureaucratic blockade.
It was a good thing Dominic had possessed the foresight to leave the night before. If they had waited until morning, none of them would have made it this far.
“We have hundreds of Mavarian citizens on those buses who have been tortured, starved, and mentally broken on your soil. Not to mention the countless others who were slaughtered p>
If you don’t want a full-scale war on your hands, you will stand aside p>
Dominic warned, his voice hard.
He pointed toward the opposite side of the border, where the formidable Mavarian military forces were stationed, heavily armed and ready to act.
The officer visibly tensed, shooting a nervous glance across the border, but he held his ground. “My orders are absolute. You must return to the capital and renegotiate your clearance p>
The truth was, the local troops didn’t want a firefight either.
The Mavarian military severely outgunned them; if war broke out, the border guards would be the first ones reduced to ash.
But they couldn’t disobey direct orders p>
Seeing the officer’s hesitation, Dominic understood the man was just a pawn following commands.
“Let’s compromise,” Dominic offered. “You can see these victims are in critical need
of medical attention. Let the civilians cross over.
My commanding officers and I will return with you to rectify the paperwork p>
This was a fortified military border, far more dangerous than the cartel strongholds they had raided inland They had armored vehicles, snipers embedded in the surrounding hills and long-range artillery aimed right at them.
Utilizing Mira’s chemical aerosols in such an exposed environment was strategic suicide.
The general hesitated for a moment before stepping away to make a radio call.
A few minutes later, he returned to Dominic. “Our command has accepted your terms. The civilians may cross.
However, we will assign a security detail to escort you and your personnel back to the capital p>
Calling it an “escort” was just a polite term for taking them hostage to ensure the Mavarians didn’t try to pull another vanishing act.
Everyone present knew exactly what was happening.
If they went back, they would
undoubtedly be placed under house arrest, monitored around the eleK, and used as political leverage to extort Mavaria p>
But Dominic had no choice but to agree. “Fine. Let our people pass, and I will go with you p>
Putting the safety of the citizens first was Dominic’s sworn duty as a federal agent.
Looked at practically, securing the release of the civilian hostages fulfilled the primary objective of their mission.
As for his own fate, Dominic would just have to improvise.
With the terms settled, Dominic
turned to Mira and Master Ellis. “You
two cross the border with the
others We need to save as many people as possible, won’t have us all trapped here p>