Masterbuilder’s stern visage had transford into an expression of barely contained rage as he glared at Ron and Lila, the couple who had presented work they hadn’t created in a bid to succeed in the upcoming competition.
"Why, in the na of God, would you steal Shinon’s creations?" Masterbuilder bellowed, unable to contain his anger any longer.
The couple exchanged anxious glances, their faces drained of colour. They knew what they had done was wrong, but they hadn’t expected the Masterbuilder to lash out at them so violently.
"We didn’t steal anything from anyone, sir! I swear on my future children’s nas!" Ron stamred. "We bought those devices from Jara!"
Lila nodded vigorously, trying her best to get out of the ss. "Yes, it’s true. We purchased them from Jara! We didn’t steal Shinon’s work."
"What do you make of this, Miro?" Masterbuilder’s brows furrowed in confusion. He turned to Miro, seeking an explanation. "I don’t think I can believe anything that cos out of their mouths anymore."
Miro nodded and stepped forward, a stern look on his face as he questioned Ron and Lila.
"Let’s say you bought it off Jara," Miro said. "but why would you do such a thing? Why resort to deception instead of proving your worth?"
"Our creations were barely noteworthy," Ron remarked, knowing he no longer had anything to lose. "We were struggling to make a living and thought that by presenting sothing extraordinary, we could have a better life. When we saw a chance to purchase exceptional work, we took it."
"We didn’t know it was Shinon’s work," Lila chid in with tears in her eyes. "Jara assured us he was the creator, and we believed him. Had we known he was lying, we wouldn’t have given him our entire savings to buy the gadgets."
As Lila said that, Shinon was reminded of how the two acted when he noticed they were carrying his stuff. So far, they hadn’t offered any explanation about it, making them seem even more suspicious.
After a mont, Shinon couldn’t remain silent any longer. He stepped forward and addressed the couple, his tone asured and calm.
"If that’s the case, then why were you so intent on hiding the gear from ?" he asked. "Especially you, Lila, you hid them as if I was going to kill you."
Lila’s cheeks flushed as she heard her na from Shinon’s lips, but she quickly composed herself.
"It’s because Jara told us sothing else," Lila admitted. "He said you wanted to buy the designs from him, but he refused. According to him, you turned violent and attacked him, even though he didn’t want any trouble."
"That was why he said he wanted to sell the gear to us so that you won’t trouble him any more," Ron concluded. "I was afraid you would attack us too, so we hid them behind us."
Shinon nodded as their explanation made sense. Jara’s deceit had created a web of misunderstanding that had ensnared everyone, not just Ron and Lila. If there was a culprit, it was Jara and his goons.
"Very well, I get it," Shinon responded, deactivating the electric net and releasing the couple. "I apologise for the severity of my actions."
"N-No," Ron imdiately took the bla on himself while Lila nodded from behind. "If anyone needs to apologise, it’s us!"
After a brief silence, Masterbuilder turned to Miro and instructed, "Find Jara and his underlings. I want to speak with them imdiately."
"I’m on it," Miro replied and got to work.
He even brought so guards to help with his search. However, the news that followed was far from reassuring. Despite an intensive search by Miro and the guards, Jara and his crew were nowhere to be found.
It appeared they had made a hasty escape from the city or were hiding within Heaven’s Refuge. Either way, their whereabouts remained elusive.
"I want them found, and I want them brought here," he asserted. "I don’t care what you must do, but bring them to ! I’ll teach those bastards a lesson they’ll rember forever."
Miro left to work once again, and in the anti, the discussions continued. It beca clear that the stolen goods had to be returned, and the rightful owner, Shinon, deserved recognition for his work.
But for Ron and Lila, the situation grew dire. Masterbuilder seed unwilling to look past their discretion and announced their expulsion from the factory, which, in Heaven’s Refuge, was a sentence to the harsh life of the slums.
The couple, desperation in their voices, fell to their knees, pleading for rcy.
"Please, Masterbuilder, we had no other choice," Ron’s voice broke into a hundred pieces as he begged for rcy. "Don’t condemn us to a life in the slums. Please! We’ll do anything else! We beg you!"
"We made a terrible mistake. Please forgive us," Lila, tears streaming down her face, echoed Ron’s plea. "We’ll do anything to make ands. Anything!"
But the Masterbuilder remained unmoved. Their transgression was severe to him, as they had presented another’s work as their own. It was unfair to the other candidates and could not be overlooked.
Moreover, if he didn’t punish them, the other workers might think it’s okay to be lazy and dishonest.
The Masterbuilder needed hardworking and honest workers in the factory, and he couldn’t allow the wrong ssage to spread. However, it was Shinon who ca to the couple’s rescue.
"I understand the seriousness of what Ron and Lila did, sir," Shinon said, his voice steady as he addressed Masterbuilder. "But they weren’t the ones who stole my work. They were victims of deception by Jara, just like ."
Masterbuilder’s stern gaze softened as he regarded Shinon, his expression changing from one of anger to curiosity.
"Are you certain, Shinon? You’re the one they tried to deceive."
"Yes, I am. Ron and Lila’s actions were wrong, but they weren’t the ones who took my work," Shinon nodded, resolute in his stance. "They found a shortcut and didn’t think twice about taking it. Their carelessness and desire is their only mistake here."
Masterbuilder sighed, torn between justice and rcy. After a mont of reflection, he delivered his verdict.
"Very well, I shall take your request into consideration. Ron and Lila, you will not be expelled from the factory," Masterbuilder said dismissively. "But you will receive a severe punishnt and be assigned extra work to make ands."
Ron and Lila’s faces brightened with relief as they thanked Masterbuilder. But he instead told them to thank Shinon as if it hadn’t been for him, they’d be on their way to the slums.
The couple took Masterbuilder’s words to heart and thanked Shinon, who accepted their words without a second thought.
"You have a kind heart, Shinon," Masterbuilder said as the order was restored. "Few in Heaven’s Refuge would be as forgiving as you."
"Maybe that’s what this city needs?" Shinon said with a smile, knowing he didn’t an a word of what he said.
After all, Jara and the jackasses following him won’t be forgiven for their cri... at least not by Shinon. He had already found them using his retinal map and was looking for an excuse to visit them for the first and last ti.
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