03: CLASH II

"I apologise, Miss Judy, but we are unable to publish the piece. “It's too dangerous,” the man stated. He chatted to her from behind a desk, fumbling with a pen. Judy fixed her gaze on him, attempting to hide the disgusting expression she was unknowingly producing. The man refused to run the piece even after She explained everything to him. "You've seen the proof.  Even the police have confirmed it, and despite the overwhelming evidence, you refuse to run the story?" Judy remarked. She was doing her best to keep her emotions from coming through in her speech. The man slumped back in his chair and slid his fidgeting pen back onto the surface. He remained silent for a few moments before moving to a bottle of water near him. "Listen, miss Judy, we value you very much in this organisation," he said as he strained to open the bottle, " We really feel that you are a valuable asset to Inter Kingdom News. We cannot, however, take this chance. You must understand that even though the police have presented their tale and proof, no matter how persuasive it may be, none of the media outlets have covered the story, despite the fact that the evidence plainly implicates the monarch himself. They cherish their lives above their work, and they know that this storey is accurate since they have known the King for many years. They understand that if the article is published, it will be the end of them all. Miss Judy, I'm telling you right now that we didn't want to be affiliated with any of the information you've given us, regardless of how accurate it is. We just cannot put our lives on the line for it. 

You can now publish the storey on your own, but you must assure us that you will not claim that Inter-Kingdom News was involved in its creation or production.”

You can now publish the storey on your own, but you must assure us that you will not claim that Inter-Kingdom News was involved in its creation or production.” "So, despite hearing everything I had to say and knowing full well that the storey is 100% factual, you still refuse to run it?  You're also aware that the King has been involved in some shady dealings behind closed doors. What additional things did King Vonner do that you were aware of but didn't tell us about? Has he done anything worse than this?” Judy inquired, her voice cracking with passion. The man sank back into his seat after returning the bottle of water. 

“ Miss Judy, pay attention to what I'm saying. You must be mindful when you are engrossed in something that could jeopardise your life or the lives of those close to you. To safeguard your life, you must know when to keep your mouth shut, and that is exactly what we have done for many years and will continue to do. There's a lot more to this Kingdom than joyous holidays and celebrations. Every bright light has a gloomy shadow thrown beneath it, and this is the truth. We just choose to stay away from the Dark Shadows and stick to the light,” 

“ Well, I'm not like the vast majority of you. The people deserve to know the truth about the king's actions and identity. I'm going to run this piece regardless of whether you like it or not. If you don't want me to work for your media company, I believe it's better for both of us if I just leave. I'm going to run the storey on my own, and even if it kills me, it'll be worth it once the public knows the truth. So, sir, have a nice day,” Judy said. She stormed out of the office after rising to her feet. The man didn't appear to mind her outburst; instead, he reached for his bottle of water and reopened it.

As she marched past the hordes of people hooked to their computer displays and laptops, the hubbub subsided as they watched her rush across the room. They looked up to see her carrying a box containing her books and photographs, which she had placed on her desk. The majority of the people in the room were familiar with her and admired her. Her resignation came as a shock to many people. Others saw a chance for progression. She couldn't care less about the ramifications of her actions; all she cared about was the joy she'd get from informing the entire country of their very own King's true nature. Her van was parked outside the building when she went out. The vehicle was flanked by a cameraman and a driver.

“What happened there? " The driver had inquired. He took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed one to Judy. Judy took a moment to notice the thoughtful gesture. The driver offered her a lighter as she reached for the cigarette. "I suppose you could say that. That weak coward isn't even interested in researching my story. "He  said lots of things about how he was careful about his life and everything,  so I just quit, " Judy took a heavy draw from her cigarette while the cameraman and driver stood there observing.

"Wait, did you just say you quit?" the photographer inquired as he set his camera down.

"Didn't you just hear what I said?" Judy responded. She gently tapped the cigarette's head, shaking off the ashes of the burned tobacco.

"Does that imply we'll lose our jobs as well because I believe we were working for you?" the cameraman asked, his voice wavering. Judy inhaled another puff of smoke before turning to the building's entrance and watching a crowd of people leaving. They came to a halt at the stairwell, where they observed her van and three of them leaning against it.

Judy dropped the cigarette and crushed it with the heel of her shoe, saying, "Let's go, Jimmy, we'll speak about this later." The three climbed into the van, and the engine roared to life, spewing a cloud of exhaust as it sped away.

COMPLEX OF OLYMPUS SPORTS

Norval's bed was surrounded by nurses. Jalon sat alongside it on another bed. With bandages around his chest, a doctor stood alongside him.

“ The discomfort will last about a day and a half. You'll be as good as new after that. The only thing you need to do now is to get lots of rest and drink enough of water, as the potion is quite potent. Do all of that, and you'll be OK by tomorrow evening,” the doctor stated, handing Jalon a Vial.

As he took the vial from his palm, Jalon replied, "Thank you, doctor." The nurses at Norval's bedside completed their treatments and packed their belongings. They left Norval and Jalon alone as they followed the doctor out of the room. Jalon walked to Norval's bed after rising to his feet. There was also a nightstand next to it, which was decked with fruits and bottled drinks. Jalon reached up and grabbed an apple and a can of Soda off the nightstand. While conversing with Norval, he opened the can and began to drink.

“ I must say, I didn't expect a life of injury to be so satisfying. What more could you ask for? "The food is amazing, the nurses are hot, what more could you ask for?"

“Well, you are one to talk,” Norval said as he adjusted the cushion under his head.

"You merely have aching abs; you won't have to cope with being a cripple for two weeks,” said Norval.

"Well, I did warn you that guy was a complete lunatic." You wouldn't be sitting here eating apples and drinking water through a straw if you'd just taken my advice. But, on the other hand, the hot nurses are quite a consolation,” Jalon added, tossing the apple core into the trash pail. Norval shifted on his bed, taking a few moments to get into a comfortable position.

"Wasn't Luciana's match due to start in about three minutes?" Norval was the one who inquired. Before responding, Jalon double-checked that he had consumed all of the Soda in the can. “That's right, I almost forgot about it. What happened to the TV remote control? I think the match will be broadcast on national television," Jalon stated. He threw the can into the garbage can after crashing it under his hands. Norval rummaged through his bed sheets until he unearthed the remote, which was tucked away under his blanket. Jalon received it after he tossed it to him. Jalon turned on the television and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the match to begin.

Inside her room, Luciana was piling vials in the utility belt around her waist. She tried hard to keep her cool by controlling her breathing. The crowd's roar did not appear to assist. She had no idea why she was so nervous, but she had more faith in herself and her ability than anybody else in the tournament. She promised herself that she would never lose to a toddler, much less a foreign child who had no idea what she was capable of. She was confident that she would defeat Todd; all she had to do was be at her best and not let anything else get in the way of her objective. She needed to show herself and everyone else that she had won the Champion's seat fairly and squarely.

"Miss Vonner, the match is about to start. We'll be waiting for you in your corner,”  With a clipboard in hand, a young lady murmured as she passed Luciana's door. Before tightening the laces on her boots, Luciana let out one more sigh. She took the elevator to the bottom floor and was there in no time. As she approached her corner, she could hear the mob becoming louder and louder with each step she made.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the long awaited moment has here. The last match's participants have arrived. As they approach the platform, let us offer them a hand of applause,” the announcer remarked. The crowd erupted in a tremendous chorus in response to his voice. They had been looking forward to the match for nearly two hours. It was a brawl that would make headlines the next day, and probably for the rest of the month.  The crowd felt honoured to be in the presence of two of the finest fighters of their generation, they were about to Clash. Todd's technical team climbed onto the platform. As they approached the platform, they were carrying massive crates and titanium suitcases. Todd remained idling in the corridor. Over the jumpsuit he was wearing, they appeared

to be donning protective gear. From the other side, Luciana reached the platform.