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Lawl.
Since there was nothing he could do, Oliver returned from the other dimension and decided to finally go to see a lawyer, to know what needs to be done about WonPil.
He takes an appointment with Johnny, since he has a reputation in the field.
Johnny works by himself and has an office in Sturm city.
The appointment was set for 5 pm of a very dark and cold Thursday. He waits by his desk, till the client shows up, perfectly punctual. Being them in Heinhoss, he is not used to people being late and it would have annoyed him quite a lot. He has a tight schedule.
They exchange some basic formalities and Johnny invites Oliver to sit.
«Mind if I record the meeting for my friend? He will want to hear too and couldn't make it due to very serious issues», says the client.
He fixes his shirt, by opening one button, and snorts. «Go ahead.»
Oliver takes his phone with confidence and starts the camera to record their conversation.
«So, what are your questions, Mr Kang?»
«What we need to know is… what we should do. On Earth, we found an auriold. We don't know for sure if he was born there, if he is half human or if he ended up there in other ways. He is clueless about magic and other worlds.»
«And how are you sure he is an auriold?»
«He has the chromic disease. Both hair and eyes.»
«That's characteristic of our species, ja.»
«We have taken him here, since we didn't know what else to do. On Earth, he was in a troubled situation and it wasn't wise for him to stay among the humans.»
«To begin with, I need to ask if you are completely certain that one of you wants to take responsibility for this lost soul you found. There won't be an easy way out if you say yes. You will acquire responsibility over the person and you will be expected to fullfil your duties, you will be checked and risk to be punished in case of negligence. This is no joke, you aren't taking a hamster pet, but an auriold being who will need to learn how to live in this society.»
«For now, let's just stick with the hypothetical scheme that we decide to take responsibility. We will discuss when my friend returns and see. We won't take a foolish decision.»
Johnny nods at his words. «The protocol in these cases is very rigid. He has to be reported to the special bureau and it will start an investigation. Now, you have three options, to begin with:
1 Hand this person to the Priests of Yoryon, so that they'll simply do everything and also decide where to locate the person;
2 Hire a lawyer, to take care of all the bureaucratic documentations and preliminary encounters, plus mediation and advising for the next stages;
3 Handle the matter yourselves, fill the documents, face the bureau alone.
All optimal options, depending on your possibilities and will to deal with the matter. One thing is for sure, if you want to keep the person with you, priests might not be the best option.»
«I'd avoid the priests as much as possible, I've had enough dealing with them on Earth. Let's say we hire you as lawyer for this case, what then?»
«Then, I will have to be communicated at least one name to take responsibility, to begin with. Since the matter is delicate, I would discourage from having joint liability, unless legally married. I will need some information about the person taking responsibility, in order to fill all the papers. Legal documents will also be needed.
Done that, I will send the practice to the bureau and the fun part will begin.»
«Fun part?»
Johnny curves his lips in a slight smirk. «At that point, I will need to hear the full story of how you came across this auriold, how and why you brought him here. And I will need to know all the truth, even if there is something illegal in the middle. Because they will start an investigation, in order to rule out the possibility that you could be human traffickers. Ja, I agree it's not very logical: if human traffickers accidentally acquired an unaware auriold, they certainly wouldn't take the bother to visit a lawyer and report him. But the law is the law, we follow procedures.» He shrugs.
«After hearing your story, we will do a good, healthy session of mentoring to learn what to say and what to absolutely-not-by-the-love-of-Ashiia say. Because the bureau will interrogate the person who will take responsibility. And also the unaware auriold, but I am not allowed to do any consultation with him. In cases like these, it's for the best to follow every rule without cheating, or we literally risk to turn something completely innocent into a mess.»
«Who would have thought that human traffickers were such a big deal here.»
«Not all auriold seem to find satisfaction from pleasure houses. Some need to feel the thrill of a terrified and unwilling, defenceless victim.»
«Kinky. What happens after the interrogations?»
«If everything goes smoothly, they will ask the fateful question: will you take responsibility? Are you sure that you want? Are you sure that you fully comprehend what this choice implies?
Then… it will mostly depend on the age of the unaware auriold, that I suppose you don't know either.»
Oliver shakes his head.
«The bureau will demand a thorough alchemical test. They will also get him medically tested, probably right before the interrogations. Don't beat him up before that, please? And make sure he doesn't go to get beaten or hurt, if his body doesn't show suspiciously fresh marks, everything will be easier.»
«What about the age? Once the alchemical test will give an answer.»
«If the unaware auriold is older than 21, the level of responsibility will be much reduced. A teacher will be sent for him, to give a base knowledge. Social services will also get involved, they'll help to insert him in the society, the work world and the terrestrial communities that could help him to adapt. As he would be old enough to be responsible for himself, the liable person would only have to ensure that he has a safe place where to stay, basically. Little more than that. If the unaware auriold goes out on his own without warning and freezes to death, it won't be your fault, but his own for acting like a dumb idiot despite being old enough to realise he shouldn't do that kind of stuff.»
«If he is underaged we'll be screwed, ain't it?»
«We don't joke over children, here, Mr Kang. If he is any younger than 20, he will need a legal guardian. Also known as an adoptive parent. At that point, the requirements for the person taking responsibility will also change, because the boy would have to be offered much more than just a room. Upon adoption, he will gain citizenship and will have to attend school. You will be fully responsible for him, like a parent for their child. Naturally, you wouldn't be forced to call him son and he won't be forced to call you father, but the legal duties of a guardian are the same as those of a biological parent.»
He takes an appointment with Johnny, since he has a reputation in the field.
Johnny works by himself and has an office in Sturm city.
The appointment was set for 5 pm of a very dark and cold Thursday. He waits by his desk, till the client shows up, perfectly punctual. Being them in Heinhoss, he is not used to people being late and it would have annoyed him quite a lot. He has a tight schedule.
They exchange some basic formalities and Johnny invites Oliver to sit.
«Mind if I record the meeting for my friend? He will want to hear too and couldn't make it due to very serious issues», says the client.
He fixes his shirt, by opening one button, and snorts. «Go ahead.»
Oliver takes his phone with confidence and starts the camera to record their conversation.
«So, what are your questions, Mr Kang?»
«What we need to know is… what we should do. On Earth, we found an auriold. We don't know for sure if he was born there, if he is half human or if he ended up there in other ways. He is clueless about magic and other worlds.»
«And how are you sure he is an auriold?»
«He has the chromic disease. Both hair and eyes.»
«That's characteristic of our species, ja.»
«We have taken him here, since we didn't know what else to do. On Earth, he was in a troubled situation and it wasn't wise for him to stay among the humans.»
«To begin with, I need to ask if you are completely certain that one of you wants to take responsibility for this lost soul you found. There won't be an easy way out if you say yes. You will acquire responsibility over the person and you will be expected to fullfil your duties, you will be checked and risk to be punished in case of negligence. This is no joke, you aren't taking a hamster pet, but an auriold being who will need to learn how to live in this society.»
«For now, let's just stick with the hypothetical scheme that we decide to take responsibility. We will discuss when my friend returns and see. We won't take a foolish decision.»
Johnny nods at his words. «The protocol in these cases is very rigid. He has to be reported to the special bureau and it will start an investigation. Now, you have three options, to begin with:
1 Hand this person to the Priests of Yoryon, so that they'll simply do everything and also decide where to locate the person;
2 Hire a lawyer, to take care of all the bureaucratic documentations and preliminary encounters, plus mediation and advising for the next stages;
3 Handle the matter yourselves, fill the documents, face the bureau alone.
All optimal options, depending on your possibilities and will to deal with the matter. One thing is for sure, if you want to keep the person with you, priests might not be the best option.»
«I'd avoid the priests as much as possible, I've had enough dealing with them on Earth. Let's say we hire you as lawyer for this case, what then?»
«Then, I will have to be communicated at least one name to take responsibility, to begin with. Since the matter is delicate, I would discourage from having joint liability, unless legally married. I will need some information about the person taking responsibility, in order to fill all the papers. Legal documents will also be needed.
Done that, I will send the practice to the bureau and the fun part will begin.»
«Fun part?»
Johnny curves his lips in a slight smirk. «At that point, I will need to hear the full story of how you came across this auriold, how and why you brought him here. And I will need to know all the truth, even if there is something illegal in the middle. Because they will start an investigation, in order to rule out the possibility that you could be human traffickers. Ja, I agree it's not very logical: if human traffickers accidentally acquired an unaware auriold, they certainly wouldn't take the bother to visit a lawyer and report him. But the law is the law, we follow procedures.» He shrugs.
«After hearing your story, we will do a good, healthy session of mentoring to learn what to say and what to absolutely-not-by-the-love-of-Ashiia say. Because the bureau will interrogate the person who will take responsibility. And also the unaware auriold, but I am not allowed to do any consultation with him. In cases like these, it's for the best to follow every rule without cheating, or we literally risk to turn something completely innocent into a mess.»
«Who would have thought that human traffickers were such a big deal here.»
«Not all auriold seem to find satisfaction from pleasure houses. Some need to feel the thrill of a terrified and unwilling, defenceless victim.»
«Kinky. What happens after the interrogations?»
«If everything goes smoothly, they will ask the fateful question: will you take responsibility? Are you sure that you want? Are you sure that you fully comprehend what this choice implies?
Then… it will mostly depend on the age of the unaware auriold, that I suppose you don't know either.»
Oliver shakes his head.
«The bureau will demand a thorough alchemical test. They will also get him medically tested, probably right before the interrogations. Don't beat him up before that, please? And make sure he doesn't go to get beaten or hurt, if his body doesn't show suspiciously fresh marks, everything will be easier.»
«What about the age? Once the alchemical test will give an answer.»
«If the unaware auriold is older than 21, the level of responsibility will be much reduced. A teacher will be sent for him, to give a base knowledge. Social services will also get involved, they'll help to insert him in the society, the work world and the terrestrial communities that could help him to adapt. As he would be old enough to be responsible for himself, the liable person would only have to ensure that he has a safe place where to stay, basically. Little more than that. If the unaware auriold goes out on his own without warning and freezes to death, it won't be your fault, but his own for acting like a dumb idiot despite being old enough to realise he shouldn't do that kind of stuff.»
«If he is underaged we'll be screwed, ain't it?»
«We don't joke over children, here, Mr Kang. If he is any younger than 20, he will need a legal guardian. Also known as an adoptive parent. At that point, the requirements for the person taking responsibility will also change, because the boy would have to be offered much more than just a room. Upon adoption, he will gain citizenship and will have to attend school. You will be fully responsible for him, like a parent for their child. Naturally, you wouldn't be forced to call him son and he won't be forced to call you father, but the legal duties of a guardian are the same as those of a biological parent.»
Salt.
After he calms down, he leaves TiShan's room and goes to check the living room, assuming that the guests might have left already. He knows that the party wasn't exactly a success, with that final drama, but he didn't manage to contain himself. He feels totally unappreciated and ignored, so he couldn't stand that situation any further.
He starts to take away the dirty dishes from the table, not yet realising that someone didn't leave.
He starts to take away the dirty dishes from the table, not yet realising that someone didn't leave.
Regroup.
It takes them many hours and in a far from welcoming and easy place to travel through, to finally find WanDo.
The hermit had just stopped by a stream to get some water, when the reach him.
They interrogate him, but it's more complicated than they would have expected. The man knows little, it's like it was a huge net of people asking people. WanDo was asked to do that by another tribesman, but of that one there is not even a name. He did not know him, he just knew that he had contact with a savage in the Empire, KaiYi, and asked him for a favour.
The soporific powder utilised by the aggressors was clearly not an alchemical product but a compound of various plants, some of which totally.unidenfiable even for the tribesmen. Even BangSul himself, who joined the searches of course, had no answer about some of the unknown plants used for that powder.
On the other side, Francis saw that vision and eventually gives them a detailed description of what he saw, although he couldn't find out where the captors brought WonPil and TiShan nor who they exactly are.
The hermit had just stopped by a stream to get some water, when the reach him.
They interrogate him, but it's more complicated than they would have expected. The man knows little, it's like it was a huge net of people asking people. WanDo was asked to do that by another tribesman, but of that one there is not even a name. He did not know him, he just knew that he had contact with a savage in the Empire, KaiYi, and asked him for a favour.
The soporific powder utilised by the aggressors was clearly not an alchemical product but a compound of various plants, some of which totally.unidenfiable even for the tribesmen. Even BangSul himself, who joined the searches of course, had no answer about some of the unknown plants used for that powder.
On the other side, Francis saw that vision and eventually gives them a detailed description of what he saw, although he couldn't find out where the captors brought WonPil and TiShan nor who they exactly are.
Worry.
Seeing that LaNi, and probably QinShi too, are involved in this dangerous matter makes his heart skip a beat. He can't help but keep feeling sorry and somewhat protective towards them, because of the events of the future, and he really doesn't want something bad to happen to them. To any of them.
He doesn't like war, he too wants it to end and understands why they did what they did. He can behave like a total d*ck sometimes, but he is a good person.
He secretly starts to look for them, but after some days he realises that there is absolutely no track of them anywhere.
While thinking about possibilities, something comes to his mind: that curious place where QinShi brought Song after freeing him from the Palace. He never knew anything about that place and never even investigated about it. His mind was simply too busy with the mess happening in his family, to focus on that.
Now that the idea came to his mind, he decides to give it a try, maybe QinShi of this time too know of that place and brought his people to hide there, in this moment of terror.
Not having anything to lose, he goes to the place, hoping it's still there. He tries to teleport and since he has good intentions and could help the Knights, Shii lets him arrive to Shiinden.
Of course he is totally shocked at the sight of the place, that looks nothing like what he remembered.
He is almost overwhelmed by the sight of all that, it's nothing he was expecting, he feels confused and surprised.
He starts to search the place, but doesn't go inside the houses, he just decides to follow the path that leads to the Grand Temple, like mesmerized by it.
He doesn't like war, he too wants it to end and understands why they did what they did. He can behave like a total d*ck sometimes, but he is a good person.
He secretly starts to look for them, but after some days he realises that there is absolutely no track of them anywhere.
While thinking about possibilities, something comes to his mind: that curious place where QinShi brought Song after freeing him from the Palace. He never knew anything about that place and never even investigated about it. His mind was simply too busy with the mess happening in his family, to focus on that.
Now that the idea came to his mind, he decides to give it a try, maybe QinShi of this time too know of that place and brought his people to hide there, in this moment of terror.
Not having anything to lose, he goes to the place, hoping it's still there. He tries to teleport and since he has good intentions and could help the Knights, Shii lets him arrive to Shiinden.
Of course he is totally shocked at the sight of the place, that looks nothing like what he remembered.
He is almost overwhelmed by the sight of all that, it's nothing he was expecting, he feels confused and surprised.
He starts to search the place, but doesn't go inside the houses, he just decides to follow the path that leads to the Grand Temple, like mesmerized by it.
What's he doing here?!
The next day, as punctual as a swiss clock, he returns to the garden where he met the mysterious girl the previous day, a bit earlier, in hope to catch her there, eating.
Needless to say how disappointed he get to find the garden totally empty. He is not one who gives up easily though, so he heads to the building of the archive to see if she is there.
As he walks in, though, he comes across someone whom he definitely wasn't expecting to find there nor he was hoping to meet again.
He is still pissed off at WonPil for almost ruining their plan against Hori and he is also quite hateful towards TiHao to this day, although he doesn't know they they are in a relationship, he thinks they are just friends.
Anyhow, he gives a hateful glare at WonPil, working at the archive. "What are YOU doing here?" he asks so suddenly he makes the other jump in surprise.
WonPil gives him a baffled look and then kneels and prostrates himself. "Shiix Xu, mama... I-I am just... doing my work", he murmurs.
"You work here? You?!" It makes him so angry for some reason, especially because WonPil is not who he was wanting to meet there.
No answer, but there is no need for one, since it's clear.
YiXing pours all the documents in the box over WonPil. "Why aren't you working then?! Are you paid to slack?" he growls and throws also the wooden box on his back.
Ryuke arrives right in that moment. "Is there any problem, mama?"
YiXing approaches the sangseon and points his finger at him. "Is this how you manage the personnel? Hiring a slacker and paying him for doing nothing? Why is he here?!"
"I deserve to be punished, mama."
"Consider himself fired! Send him away now! He is fired. I want him to disappear and he better never appear in front of my eyes again!" he shouts angrily.
"Ye, mama." Ryuke bows his head.
Needless to say how disappointed he get to find the garden totally empty. He is not one who gives up easily though, so he heads to the building of the archive to see if she is there.
As he walks in, though, he comes across someone whom he definitely wasn't expecting to find there nor he was hoping to meet again.
He is still pissed off at WonPil for almost ruining their plan against Hori and he is also quite hateful towards TiHao to this day, although he doesn't know they they are in a relationship, he thinks they are just friends.
Anyhow, he gives a hateful glare at WonPil, working at the archive. "What are YOU doing here?" he asks so suddenly he makes the other jump in surprise.
WonPil gives him a baffled look and then kneels and prostrates himself. "Shiix Xu, mama... I-I am just... doing my work", he murmurs.
"You work here? You?!" It makes him so angry for some reason, especially because WonPil is not who he was wanting to meet there.
No answer, but there is no need for one, since it's clear.
YiXing pours all the documents in the box over WonPil. "Why aren't you working then?! Are you paid to slack?" he growls and throws also the wooden box on his back.
Ryuke arrives right in that moment. "Is there any problem, mama?"
YiXing approaches the sangseon and points his finger at him. "Is this how you manage the personnel? Hiring a slacker and paying him for doing nothing? Why is he here?!"
"I deserve to be punished, mama."
"Consider himself fired! Send him away now! He is fired. I want him to disappear and he better never appear in front of my eyes again!" he shouts angrily.
"Ye, mama." Ryuke bows his head.