Reboot: Mechanic

As Theobold's words hung in the air, it was clear that his intentions were far-reaching and his interest was not limited to just the surface level of the situation.

The tension in the air grew thicker as Theobold's presence seemed to set the tone for the unfolding events. His reputation as a powerful and shrewd commander was well-founded, and those present couldn't help but acknowledge his authority.

Otis, the commanding soldier, exchanged a wary glance with his subordinates before finally relenting, albeit begrudgingly. 

"Very well, Theobold. We'll cooperate, but you better have a damn good reason for meddling in this."

Theobold smiled briefly after seeing Otis know to back off. 

"You can block off the area and make sure no one leaves the premises. As for questioning the witnesses, let my subordinates do it on your behalf." Theobold said, and waved his hand, seemingly dismissing Otis as if he was a low-rank soldier.

Otis gnashed his teeth, clearly in frustration by Theobold's behavior.

What gave him the courage and right to act all high and mighty at him?

They were at best, the same military rank, so why should he let him walk over him like that? 

"Don't go too far, Theobold," Otis warned in a low but subtle tone. 

Theobold chuckled softly when he saw how agitated Otis had become. 

Walking toward him, Theobold extended his arm and placed it around Otis' shoulder, much to his displeasure. 

Otis wanted to fling his arm away, but Theobold's grip was too strong as he pulled him closer to him and whispered a few sentences. 

Soon, Otis' face turned pale as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva. 

"Just do as I have said, and I promise you won't be implicated. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude, Otis." Theobold calmly said. 

Clenching his fist tightly, Otis pondered for a few moments before releasing his fist. "You better do as you promised, Theobold." He hissed coldly.

"Heh, regarding my integrity… Do I need to say more about it?" 

"Hmph, do as you please." Otis scoffed. 

With Theobold's assurance that Otis wouldn't be implicated, the commanding soldier begrudgingly gave the orders to his subordinates. They carried out their orders with a mix of confusion and reluctance, sealing off the area and creating an illusory facade of a routine patrol.

Now that Otis was out of the picture and could not intervene with the scene, Theobold's subordinates began organizing the scene and questioning witnesses.

The patrons of the Horology Restaurant who had been witnesses to the intense battle were now being questioned by Theobold's subordinates. They recounted what they had seen, their voices tremulous with fear and awe.

At the same time, Theobold was absorbing all this information and analyzing them. 

'For such a chaotic battle to ensure, yet not a single guard or military had intervened is truly an achievement.' Theobold sneered inwardly, concluding that this matter was definitely related to the higher-ups, who believed they were the dictator of Gearits City.

Normally, he would have turned a blind eye to such a situation and kept to himself.

However, this time, they had gone too far. 

It was way past his borderline, given that innocent civilians had been embroiled in their mess, with numerous corpses laid on the surface. To make things worse, it happened in broad daylight, almost as if they didn't even care about the surroundings. 

'Just how corrupt has Gearits City become?' Theobold wondered silently, his eyes sweeping over the wreckage and the witnesses. 

With the situation seemingly under control for now, Theobold's expression grew contemplative. The incident at the Horology Restaurant had opened up a web of questions and possibilities, and Theobold was determined to untangle it all, regardless of the risks and secrets involved.

As the first commander of the Flameheart Vanguard, whose motive is to serve the citizens wholeheartedly and ensure their safety, he could not allow such an incident to be suppressed and covered. 

He knew that allowing such an incident to be suppressed and covered up would only further erode the city's integrity and contribute to its descent into corruption.

With his strong sense of duty and justice, Theobold's mind was already calculating the steps he needed to take to uncover the truth behind the incident at the Horology Restaurant. He was well aware that this incident was likely just the tip of the iceberg, a glimpse into a much larger and more complex web of power, influence, and secrets.

As Theobold moved closer to the scene, he began to gather the information they had received, piecing together the sequence of events and the identities of those involved. 

He was determined to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or connections.

Theobold's actions were not driven by personal gain or ambition. Instead, they were a manifestation of his dedication to the principles he held dear and his commitment to ensuring that justice prevailed, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

"Go and get medical assistance for the injured. As for the deceased, make sure their identities are unveiled and payment must be ensured for their families." Theobold ordered his subordinate. 

His orders were clear and resolute, reflecting his genuine concern for the well-being of the injured and deceased, as well as his commitment to upholding justice and providing support to those affected by the tragic incident.

As his subordinates moved to carry out his instructions, Theobold began to trace the footsteps of those involved but escaped from the scene. 

Walking near the North side, Theobold could sense a faint Magicule leaking out in this path. 

"They retreated before Otis' group had arrived. It seems like they didn't care about covering their tracks, but more like they didn't want to be caught here." Theobold muttered, realizing the people that had escaped North should be the people that Robert Cook had mentioned.

There were surveillance cameras equipped in the Horology Restaurant, and Theobold had obtained the footage already. Running away from the scene in hopes of escaping punishment was pointless, which was why Theobold concluded his thought process. 

Ordering his subordinates to monitor the situation on his behalf, Theobold began following the trail, clearly determined to figure things out.