Chapter 1298 Realisation Of Regret

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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When the time came participants would be given colored vests that represent the groups they fall under.

Handler One went on to add that only one out of the four groups would win the next challenge and that one group would be the last participants left. Other participants under losing colors would be disqualified. 

He mentioned a few things more without going into heavy detail before the briefing finally came to an end. The participants were not completely aware of what the next challenge was about but at the very least Handler One had given them a bit of information. 

The IYSOP was truly coming to a finish since the next challenge was going to be the second to the last before the challenge that would finalise everything... The champions of IYSOP would be crowned soon.

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The next couple of days were fraught with mourning and gloom as the group tried to recuperate after the loss of a loved one.

As mentioned previously, the Handlers went on to investigate Teemee's death so as to determine if it was done intentionally or accidentally. 

The MBO leaders let out their complaints and stated that even if it was done accidentally, it was an attack that killed not two but three of their representatives, Gustav included. 

They advocated that should the Xionsis be given strikes, they must be given three which should also lead to their disqualification.

The Xionsis on the other hand were also not willing to throw in the towel and claimed it was just a single accidental attack and their representative didn't think it would be capable of taking the lives of three participants in one go.

It had turned into a court case of sorts with either side not willing to back down. The investigation was taking longer than expected since the Handlers claimed they couldn't find a reason for Orimon's sudden spike in strength at that moment. 

A lot of things weren't adding up and Gustav was of course not going to let this slide so he began personal investigations.

One thing that had been concluded from the onset was the fact that Orimon was not powerful enough to conjure up such an attack on a regular bases.

Sure the Xionsis were strong since they managed to become top two hundred but their strength wasn't close to that of the Mixedblood participants. Earth was currently first place afterall.

Now since he wasn't powerful enough where did the energy come from? Gustav already drew a bunch of speculations but arriving at a definite answer would require proof.

"Investigate this ring... I have a feeling it has something to do with his energy buff,"

Gustav reported to one of the handlers while displaying an holographic image of a trinket with a beast shaped mouth on its surface and chain like necklace dangling from the sides.

"It is our jobs to decide what we deserves to be investigated and what doesn't," Handler 128 stated with slight tone of arrogance.

It felt like he was insulted that Gustav thought he had figured out something they hadn't. 

"You seem to be doing a poor job," Gustav stated without a hint of intimidation.

"This discussion is over, only come back when you have a statement about things you remember during the incident or proof of your claim," Handler 128 showed Gustav out of their building afterwards.

Gustav didn't get mad or triggered in the slightest. Instead he had an entire outlook on the whole issue.

'Being unable to take the suggestion of a party involved means either of two things... pride or he's receiving bribes from the Xionsis...' Gustav didn't want to hinge on the latter but he couldn't entirely put it off.

Not all the Handlers could be incorrigible.

'Since proof is needed, I just need to bring back one,' Gustav decided while walking away.

There was a lot on Gustav's plate at the moment. Falco's transitioning, Teemee's death and investigating the Indulus Prime.

He had moved Indulus Prime aside in the meantime due to Teemee's death but he would have to make room for that soon enough.

He just wanted to make sure Teemee gets the justice he deserved. Internally Gustav didn't wish to get the Xionsis disqualified, he just wanted to get down to the crux of the matter.

The moment he was able to prove it wasn't an accidental murder and the Handlers still chose not to disqualify the Xionsis, then he would truly take matters into his own hand. Internally he wished they wouldn't do the right thing so he could deal with the Xionsis in the worst way possible.

On Falco's situation, Miss Aimee had confirmed the answer of the person she contacted and claimed they would arrive on Planet Ozious in a few days time.

Gustav headed back to their residential quarters and began making a new string of plans.

SJ projected the holographic image of the trinket that was on one of Orimon fingers when he conjured the spear attack during the confrontation. 

'The color adds up... I just need to find out more information on the source of the jewelry and how it was acquired,' Gustav thought while staring at the magenta colored glow the trinket emitted.

Koh! Koh! 

Two knocks on the door brought Gustav out of his reverie. Gustav was already aware of the identity of the person knocking so he immediately answered. 

"You can come in now,"

Tssshhh~

The door slid open and Stark walked in. 

"Hey man," He voiced while moving to sit beside Gustav.

Gustav returned the greeting and asked what brought Stark here.

"Just checking up on you," Stark stated.

"A much appreciated gesture but I have my hands full at the moment," Gustav replied while analysing the holographic image before him.

"Oh... Wait..." Stark eyes squinted as he stared at the holographic projection suspiciously.

"I recognise this..." He stated.

Gustav's attention was immediately drawn after hearing that.

"You do? Where have you seen it prior to this?" Gustav questioned with an extremely curious tone.

"It was that night..." Stark's face displayed a reminiscing look as he spoke.

Gustav listened attentively with an intrigued expression.

"The night we went for Axiler... I saw this in the hand of the person sitting across him in the restaurant before we got there," Stark pointed out.

Gustav also recalled that night, "It was one of the Xionsis but not a participant if I recall correctly... most likely one of their higher ups with authority," 

Gustav had no issues with his memory in fact, he remembered that night like it was playing out before him. The only issue was, that trinket didn't exist in his memory. 

The reason for this was because the Xionsi higher up had already kept the trinket away before they arrived there. Stark could see everything and anything even if he wasn't physically present in the location so he had witnessed the whole transaction. 

This was why he instantly recognised it. Gustav's face contorted as he began to piece things together. Axiler was a famous collector after all. There was no doubt he had lot of powerful items in his collection and this was one of them.

"That night... I should have truly gone after that person..." Gustav eyes shone with realisation. 

"...what does this mean? why are you concerned about that piece of jewellery?" Stark questioned. 

"Because that piece of jewelery is most likely responsible for the death of my friend... and to think that night..." Gustav face was immediately laced with an expression of regret.

He recalled wanting to go after the person who he was unaware at the time had purchased this trinket. Stark had told him it was unnecessary since it was just a customer and he felt that made sense too.

If he had chosen to listen to his insticts and do so... maybe... just maybe Teemee would still be alive now.

"How could that... are you sure?" Stark asked.

"There's only one way to properly confirm that this... Axiler needs to tell me the function of that Jewellery and why the Xionsi higher up purchased it," Gustav stated. 

"But he is off planet," Gustav realised this might be more difficult to clear up with proof than he expected. 

Silence reigned for a few seconds as Gustav thought of a way out of this. 

"I might be able to contact Axiler," Stark voiced from the side.

"Are you sure?" Gustav's voice was laced with a shimmer of hope.

"I have the means to do so but it might take some time... it just depends on if he is in the position to accept dual interdimensional  communication or not," Stark explained. 

"Thank you Stark... let's try contacting him right away," Gustav voiced.

So long as Gustav was able to get a statement from Axiler about selling the trinket and confirming its uses, he could use this against the Xionsis.

----ss

Without a doubt, these planets were automatically disqualified while the battle challenge went on.

Gustav had only fought a single battle today since no one challenged him. After he won the battle, he took note of the fact that he had acquired enough points to challenge a certain opponent without having to worry about them declining. 

"Tomorrow is the day," Gustav muttered underneath his breath as the image of a participant with multiple limbs appeared in his mind.

At the end of the day, Handler One addressed the entire arena again.

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