Chapter - 173


    As Rick made his way out of the interrogation room, his mind still reeling from the tense encounter, he identally collided with a man dressed in sharp ck suits.


    "Ouch..." Rick muttered, rubbing his shoulder as he tried to regain his bnce. He collided with a man.


    But Rick was quick to grab the man, preventing him from taking a tumble to the ground. Despite the pain throbbing through his body from the earlier altercation, Rick stood tall, his pride refusing to waver.


    With scars crisscrossing his body, oozing blood and dirt, Rick''s toughness was undeniable. He wore his battle wounds like badges of honor, each one a testament to his resilience.


    "Hope you''re not too banged up," Rick quipped, attempting to lighten the mood with a hint of bravado. "My college buddies used to joke that I''m made of rocks. Guess they weren''t wrong, huh?" He shed a crooked grin, determined to show his strength even in the face of adversity.


    Thewyer, unfazed by Rick''s attempt at humor, offered a reassuring nod. "I''m fine," he replied calmly, his demeanor unwavering in the midst of chaos.


    The man, a stranger to Rick, quickly identified himself. "I''m yourwyer," he stated matter-of-factly. "Miss Gloria has hired me to handle your case."


    "You can leave from here. I will see rest of the paper works,"Thewyer''s words were like music to Rick''s ears, a sweet melody he''d been longing to hear for days. With a grateful smile, he patted thewyer on the back, feeling a rush of relief flooding through him.


    "Wow, what incredible news! Thank you so much, buddy. I owe you big time," Rick eximed, his gratitude pouring out in waves as he embraced thewyer, a gesture of thanks mixed with a touch of genuine warmth, a side of him rarely seen.


    Turning to the officers in the room, Rick couldn''t resist a mischievous grin. "Hey, where''s our belovedmissioner hiding? Got some business to attend to," he teased, a yful glint in his eye.


    The officers shot him angry res, clearly not amused by Rick''s antics.


    Undeterred, Rick continued his yful banter, leaning casually against themissioner''s desk. "Well, well, looks like the big man''s not in. No worries, just let him know Rick sends his regards," he chuckled, making himselffortable in themissioner''s chair, crossing his legs with an air of nonchnt confidence.


    The atmosphere in the police station was tense, like a coiled spring ready to snap at any moment. Male and female officers alike red at Rick, their expressions etched with frustration and anger. Some clenched their fists, itching to unleash a world of hurt on him, but they knew their hands were tied.


    With grim resignation, they watched as Rick taunted them, his words dripping with mockery. He reveled in their powerlessness, relishing the moment as if it were some twisted victory.


    "Guess this is goodbye, my lovelyrades," Rick smirked, hisughter ringing out like nails on a chalkboard. "Can''t say it''s been a pleasure, but hey, you certainly know how to make a guy feel wee. Just remember, if I ever darken your doorstep again, it''ll be a bad day for all of you. No need for exnations, you''ve seen the show."


    Hisughter echoed through the room, a chilling sound that sent shivers down the spines of those present. With a final bang on the table, Rick rose to his feet, straightening his clothes with an air of superiority.


    And just like that, he strolled out of the police station, leaving a trail of chaos and frustration in his wake. The officers exchanged nces, their faces a mix of relief and lingering resentment.


    Outside, Rick walked out of the police station, and it was way past the midnight.


    As Rick watched Gloria and Qasim disappear into the night, a pang of regret gnawed at him. Despite his tough exterior, he couldn''t shake the feeling of gratitude towards Gloria for helping him escape the clutches of thew. But it was toote. She was gone, and all he could do was curse himself for not expressing his thanks sooner.


    Fishing his phone out of his pocket, Rick dialed Gloria''s number, hoping for a chance to convey his gratitude. But the phone rang unanswered, not once but twice. Frustration bubbled up inside him, but he knew he had to let it go. Gloria was already gone, and there was no way of reaching her now.


    With a heavy sigh, Rick scrolled through his call logs, searching for any sign of recent contact. His eyesnded on a familiar name: Olivia. Suddenly, memories of Emily flooded his mind, and he felt a surge of urgency to reach out.


    Dialing Olivia''s number frantically, Rick''s heart pounded in his chest as he waited for her to answer. When she picked up, her voice rushed out in a torrent of concern, bombarding him with questions about his well-being and safety. Rick couldn''t help but feel a flicker of warmth amidst the chaos, grateful for Olivia''s unwavering support in his darkest hour.


    "Are you okay? Where are you Rick and who were those boy? Is he alive? Are you fine? Is the inspectors torturing you?" She was hurriedly speaking, out of her concern for Rick.


    Rick''s mind was already a whirlwind of thoughts, and Olivia''s incessant questions only added to his confusion.


    "Hold on Olivia, I''m fine and will you stop over responding? Tell me how Emily is? Is she fine?" Rick attempted to cate her, his voice strained with the effort of keeping calm amidst the chaos.


    "Yeah, she''s alright, but..." Olivia hesitated, a weighty pause hanging in the air like a thick fog.


    "But what? You know you can tell me anything," Rick reassured her, his tone softening with genuine concern. Olivia was like family, and he needed to know everything about Emily.


    "Her body took a beating. She''s in the middle of a blood transfusion right now," Olivia finally disclosed, her words heavy with worry.


    Rick''s heart sank at the news of his childhood friend''s condition. The tension in the room seemed to double as he processed the gravity of the situation.


    "But she''s gonna pull through, right?" Rick asked, a note of desperation creeping into his voice.


    "Yeah, Rick, she''ll be okay. You can go see her tomorrow. For now, just try to get some rest," Olivia reassured him, her voice a soothing balm amidst the storm raging in Rick''s mind.


    As Olivia''s words sank in, Rick felt a small measure of relief wash over him. But beneath the surface, the tension still simmered, his thoughts a tangled web of worry and uncertainty.


    [


    Quest:Now it has been dragged for long. Save Emily. And you can''t save her from something bought from the system.


    Time Duration: 15-Days (Time Emily has left)


    Quest Reward: 1 pair of Boots of Swift Travel; 1 Vial of Memory Upgrade


    Penalty: If you can''t even save your friend, Is there a point of any love in your life? Amanda will forget about you.


    ]


    ''What the fuck? Can''t even use the system?'' Rick was bbergasted to see the quest that had suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.


    ''And what''s with the penalty? Amanda will forget me? How can you be so cruel to me. Aren''t I your master you fucking parasite?''


    "Rick?" Rick''s thoughts were interrupted when he heard Olivia from the other side of the phone.


    "Yeah... I am here... Don''t worry about Emily. Everything will be okay. Don''t worry." Rick consoled Olivia.


    "Umm...Olivia, please, don''t breathe a word of this to my old man," he murmured, his tone heavy with a weight she couldn''t quite decipher.


    "I know. You know you can count on me," Olivia replied, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves.


    "Thank you," and with a sigh, Rick ended the call, the thought of flirting with her feeling hollow and distant amidst the turmoil swirling in his mind.


    Deciding to seek sce in the simple joys of life, Rick made a detour to a nearby children''s park. As he entered, the sounds ofughter and y enveloped him like a warm embrace, momentarily easing the burden on his shoulders.


    Finding a quiet bench overlooking the bustling yground, Rick sank down, Rick whispered to himself, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I wish I could go back to those simpler times."


    ~~~~~


    Meanwhile, in the dimly lit halls of the police station, a tense atmosphere hung heavy in the air, like the calm before a raging storm.


    Seated at their desks, the female police officers exchanged worried nces, their murmurs filling the otherwise quiet room. The unexpected turn of events from a few minutes ago had left them on edge, their minds racing with unanswered questions.


    Suddenly, the heavy wooden door creaked open, and themissioner strode in, his presencemanding attention. With a thud, he dropped his bag on the front desk before making his way over to the group of female officers.


    "Where are the guys? Off for a lunch break en masse?" Themissioner''s voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone as he surveyed the room.


    The officers exchanged nervous nces, their hearts pounding against their ribcages like trapped birds. They knew themissioner was unaware of the unfolding situation, and the thought of facing his wrath sent shivers down their spines.


    With a lump in her throat, one of the officers finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "Um, sir, there''s been a... uh, development. We''re still sorting things out."


    Themissioner raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on each officer in turn. He could sense the tension in the air, the unease radiating from the women before him. But for now, he remained in the dark about the impending storm that threatened to engulf them all.


    "I asked where are they?" Themissioner''s voice boomed through the station, a thunderous warning that something had gone seriously wrong. The air crackled with tension as thedy officers exchanged worried nces, their gestures directing themissioner''s attention toward the interrogation room.


    With a sense of urgency, themissioner quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat of dread. As he burst into the room, his worst fears were confirmed in a horrifying tableau.


    Linday sprawled on the table, stripped bare and unconscious, a vulnerable figure in the midst of a den of wolves. The male officers, supposed guardians of thew, surrounded her like predators, their eyes gleaming with sinister intent.


    All the male officers surrounding her , were staring at her and one of them was touching her private parts. They were enjoying themselves, taking advantage of the opportunity they got by chance.


    A sickening rage boiled within themissioner as he took in the scene before him. These men, entrusted with upholding justice, had be monsters, reveling in their abuse of power.


    "What the hell do you think you are doing, you sick bastards?" Themissioner''s voice cracked with fury, his words a thunderous, "You motherfuckers."


    *****


    [A/N: Try my new story: A Tale Of Retribution: Will Make Everyone Beg For Forgiveness. It is a magic-fantasy story]