Chapter 48: Trustee

16:16 PM (Japan Time), Thursday August the 29th…

"… So! There you are."

"Hmmm? My. Sakurai – san…"

"You look different."

"We've won."

"Won? How? Beating the Net Police?"

"Not really. It's not that simple."

"Let's go over to those benches: there's talk to do."

"If you say so, Andy – kun…"

Kage and Andy were standing in their favorite spot of the harbor when Meiru appeared there; Kage turned around and smiled at he ,so she began to try to guess; Kage sighed and Andy then signaled a row of three benches installed nearby; they sat down there and Kage seemed to be thinking of how to begin.

"Our victory consists on the following: our super-computer "Zero" has reached 100% functionality capacity and now it can intercept any data related to crimes… This data can be analyzed at a very fast speed to then be sent to the police and authorities… In this manner they can react ahead of time if there's the chance to or if we predict they won't make it on time we could get there and do it too…"

"So that's what you meant."

"Yeah. There's something else… I'm not the same person whom you knew back when last year… I don't mean I've changed my personality or behavior. No. I'm someone else."

"I'm not sure if I follow."

"It's not that complicated, really. Kage Miquel is my alter ego. But I'm someone you know very well."

"Alter ego…? It couldn't be!" She gasped.

"Impossible…!" Roll uttered.

"No. Not impossible."

"But please don't say the name aloud… Just in case."

"… Netto. Is that you?" She asked in a whisper.

"Yeah. That's right."

"And last year…?"

"A friend of mine did the role… His face became mine… It had to be done, Meiru. I needed something to regain the enthusiasm and energy I had before that incident… I lied to you guys back then. I said I'd had an accident, but that wasn't true. Some cowards within the Net Police hired some thugs to beat me, afraid of our abilities, but Superintendent Oda rescued me… During hospitalization, I pressed the doctor to honestly answer me one question: could I have died back there? He admitted it."

"What!" Meiru was horrified by now.

"Dying as a feared man, a rejected man… A man who saved everyone and never asked for fame, money, medals or promotions in reward… Yet the imbeciles who wouldn't try to understand why we had such high power and how we used it only saw a freak on us… Superintendent Oda always defended me… He had enough experience to bring up a whole list of counter-arguments to those baseless fears. People can be very egoistical when they want to. They'll reject change and alteration and see anything different as dangerous to their stupid lifestyle. They'll try to get rid of it or suppress it because the very existence of something different makes them be afraid… A baseless fear: a fear based on stupid egoistical and improvised arguments… The imbeciles don't have enough intelligence to realize that if there's still a planet Earth and humanity is still alive is because of me and my friends…" He exposed.

"No way…! That's what happened!? So that's why you looked so bored with life at the last of the school year!?"

"I was fed up with life. Rock Man talked me out of trying suicide: it'd be an insult to Dad's efforts to bridge the gap between both worlds so that Rock Man could be with me. That's when Kuroshiro Oriol or, rather, Kage Miquel appeared. One month later, we began our secret meetings. His offer was just what I needed! I could beat those ghosts of the past haunting me, and I couldn't be blamed for it! All blame would go to a guy who'd be totally distanced from me, who was over-imaging things…"

"I see…! So that tale of the uncle and such…?"

"A necessary back-story… It worked taking into account the current political climate over there. A good tale to explain my "disappearance" and why I would be a different guy… Why I would've been recruited by Golden Star…"

"Your acting was so convincing, I didn't doubt anything at all!"

"That's because I sometimes felt that anger of me at what had happened rising again… I had to discharge it but to not step out of the character I blamed it on that non-existent "uncle"…"

"Netto… So you've been fighting crime all year long while still managing to achieve high scores in all subjects…?"

"Yeah. I obviously wouldn't leave my studies behind. Besides, I had the tale of an "online course" which was enough to justify why I wouldn't show up during most of the mornings too."

"So… You've achieved your goal, but… It isn't over, right?"

"Of course not. It's impossible to wipe out crime. No. We just keep them a minimum level where they can be cornered and caught if they try to stick the neck out of the rabbit's hole…"

"I can understand that your Operator could disguise, but… How did you manage to pass off as another Navi? It's a disguise, too?" Roll asked "Andy" in a hushed tone.

"That? I actually become a different Navi."

"What?"

"I've got a very powerful program built on my core which alters by internal data structure and only leaves the core data untouched. I can activate it whenever I want to and the whole process only takes 10 seconds. The friend who pretended to be me, though, used a holographic disguise over his usual form…" He whispered back.

"So that's how it was! Say… As Andy – kun… Have you found any love interests?" She grinned.

"That's…" He trailed off.

"Not to be spoken aloud?"

"Yeah. You know."

"I won't complain. You're free to pick your path. I never believed in clichés anyway. As a Navi, I see no need for them." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Thanks."

"So? Is there some onboard romance?"

"Not really… One of the Operators, I – san, toys with a guy named Z. They have a two-way deal…" He whispered.

"So they're not crazy about pairings either… Speaking of which: what became of that girl who insulted Meiru – chan?"

"T – san? She was readmitted but she looked like her aunt had given her a huge scolding, which she doesn't want to experience twice. She's behaving normally by now." He admitted.

"Alright. If her aunt scolded her seriously then I guess that same thing won't come to happen twice."

"She also doesn't want to face Ms. Secretary's anger either. She can be terrible too when angered."

"That's what we need: strong discipline and make it clear where the border must be drawn at!"

"Totally." "Andy" agreed with her.

"…now claiming he's the National Japanese Middle School Champion and other vain claims… That guy needs to be hit in the head with a hammer to straighten him out!" Meiru was telling "Kage" in the meanwhile.

"Sure thing… He won't learn his place. I'm sure his parents had him devout extra hours to studying and had to get strict with him so that he could complete this year with some decent grades…"

"Anyway… What kind of crime do you usually fight?"

"Depends… Last time there was a raid it was on an illegal club in which young guys were brought to be abused of… We stormed them before their "opening time" and rounded all of them up. The police freed the hostages in another building too and then came to pick the idiots running the business up…" "Kage" described.

"Good! We need to root out those guys."

"Yeah. Abusing of minors can't be consented. At all."

"Other times we've caught guys smuggling drugs or organizing illegal rooster fights…"

"Rooster fights! That's cruel to the roosters!"

"Of course. That's why we shut their business down too."

"But you obviously can't hope to get all of them, right?"

"No. As I said before… New ones will eventually pop out… As long as there's men and women interested in that then… At least the culprits are blacklisted and any attempts to hide under another name can be detected because they will be using the same access IP addresses, which can be traced! No commercial coding can compete against Zero's sheer decoding power to begin with." "Kage" grinned.

"They'll be caught red-handed, then?"

"Obviously."

"Hullo~! Kage & company! The Comic Trio have come~! Do we need to cheer up the air, our fellow conspirers?"

"You guys? I thought you were onboard Purgatory."

"Our watch ended already. We're rehearsing for the next history: the Security Provost! Head of the SAPO or Party of Mean Popular Workers! The initials mean "TOAD" in Spanish." Video Man laughed.

"And the main party in the opposition is the RANA or Incredible Apocalyptic Nuclear Roar! Otherwise known as "FROG" for its literal spelling!" Burner Man added.

"Shah, shah, shah! They stole his trousers while in the midst of the 37th Annual Party Congress! His bodyguards went to report that their service guns had been stolen while they were enjoying some ham tacos and wine glasses in the bar…" Needle Man laughed.

"What!" Meiru was taken aback.

"New audience? Miss! Do listen to our humble radio adaptation of this magnificent comic book!" Video Man announced.

"Sit back and listen to them! They're pros."

"This can't keep like this! I've gotta get rid of this criminal herd infesting the nation and when the next elections come… I'LL BE THE PRESIDENT IN THE PRESIDENT'S PLACE!" Burner Man began.

"If he's a politician…" Meiru wasn't surprised.

"Hello? Is that the "TIA"? Connect me to Mr. Super immediately! And by the way, someone just stole his shirt's necktie from behind!" Needle man sneered.

"No way…"

"Yes, Mr. Provost… I understand, Mr. Provost. I'll immediately get to work on this topic, Mr. Provost! My respects, Mr. Provost! MORTADELO! FILEMÓN! Note! Mr. Super was laughing at Mr. Provost while replying and the reason will soon become clear."

"Command us, Mr. Super! I was testing this sales necktie disguise!"

"Sales necktie disguise?" Roll sounded skeptical.

"There's nothing Mortadelo can't disguise as!"

"Mortadelo, son… Will you make a favor and wide open your left eye?"

"But of course, Mr. Super! Like this…?"

"That's it… LIKE THIS! PTAF!"

"Jeez! This guy…! Maybe he preferred me testing out my sales boxers' disguise then! Note! Mr. Super got scared at seeing how Mortadelo had become his necktie! He punished him by hitting his right eye before storming off the room! Hey! And Filemón? Where's Filemón at?"

"I think he's "testing" a branded whisky, Mr. Superintendent."

"WHA~T? He goes to the bar during work time~?"

"Oh no! He'd be incapable of doing something like that! He drinks from that expensive imported brand you save up for the visits… Cursing aloud, he draws his right sleeve backwards as he heads into his office! Now pay attention!"

"M-Mr. Super! Yikes! What are you going to do with that bottle…? What are you….? CRASH! You tattletale! You informer! You snitch! YOU FATTY!"

"I called you because I've got an important mission for you two and…! Mortadelo! You'll test out your miniature mountain climber disguise later on! There's a guy in trouble and needs our help. His name… Mr. Security Provost!"

"Mr. Security Provost? But he's a member of the "SAPO", the current ruling party!"

"And we know from a good source that you're affiliated to the opposition party! The "RANA"!"

"Naturally… That's why I'm sending you two there to lend him a hand! Don't run into trouble! You'll head ASAP to his office and you'll submit to any of his orders! Move it!"

"So that's why he laughed? Because he actually wished to boycoot the current ruling party, huh?"

"Hey! Mr. Super! When walking in front of your desk Mortadelo picked one of your cigars and… RI~P! You brute! You glassy scarecrow! You owl-face! You bald broom!" Needle Man cursed.

"Stop acting like an idiot: we're going to visit a provost! Take out that disguise and don't be so lizard-like!" Burner Man grumbled.

"What disguise?" Meiru asked.

"Crab! He ripped a whole patch of Ms. Ofelia's red dress from behind and carried a cigar in the other pincer! It's gotta be the "TIA" agents who have been sent here… Good after…A~H!"

"By all the… What happened…? What…? You absolute idiot! I said don't be so lizard-like! I didn't say "be wizard-like"!"

"Boss! You know! Ever since that day in which I tried to listen if the bomb's mechanism was working and it did work my hearing has been bad… CALM DOWN!"

"So he disguised as some horrific wizard, eh?" Meiru giggled.

"The chase involves Filemón carrying a traffic light and Mortadelo running away disguised as some kind of crawling green alien! Come in: Mr. Provost is waiting for you. He can't stand tobacco smell so put that bloody cigarette elsewhere! In one of Mr. Secretary's nose nostrils!"

"What a barbarian!" Roll cursed.

"Good afternoon. So you two are the "TIA" agents?"

"Yes, little boy. Where's daddy? Note! Mr. Prevost isn't what we'd call average height. He was a meter tall at the best."

"No daddy and no crap! I'm the City Security Prevost!"

"You gotta handle the small towns, right? And the little villages and so…"

"I'm in charge of ALL security! It turns out that the bad guys know our systems better than any TV show! There! You two, with your cutting-edge systems, will infiltrate the world of those rascals, those playboys, those shameless…!"

"Wait a min: we don't get involved in politics! Ya know?"

"GRFTJX! I mean the assaulters, terrorists, drug smugglers, knife-users, writers and such! I want you to reach the core of their gangs and destroy them! You'll double as my bodyguards too! I take it you're skilled at marksmanship, right? Note: Mr. Secretary is listening into the chat by leaning his right ear into the door."

"Imagine! Do you see that fly roaming around that! Well! Eat bullet, you!"

"The door! You've ruined the high-class mahogany door!"

"Did you see how I scared it away? Did you see it?"

"Yes, I saw it! BRRR! Alright! Work time is over. Escort me to my home and keep your eyes open!"

"Why! You got a cold in the ear? What happened to you?"

"Nothing! Nothing has happened to me! Nothing! Note: the bullet got past the door and harmed Mr. Secretary's right ear. Hey you! You don't remember what I told you about that bloody tobacco? Place that cigarette where I can't see it! Mortadelo stuffed in on his neck area from behind!"

"What a brute, really!" Roll muttered.

"Coming from a village in the middle of nowhere…"

"I parked the car there… Keep your eyes open!"

"Like this, you mean?"

"What next?" Meiru asked.

"We're starting to drag, so… A safe fell from atop and buried the Prevost into the ground while both of them kept on looking at the sides and walking towards the car before noticing his absence. M used an elephant disguise to remove it and they dug him out."

"Quick, let's get to the car! We gotta drive him to the hospital! You drive!"

"He's gotta be the type who falls asleep while driving… Listen, listen! He's got an alarm clock inside of the portfolio!"

"An alarm clock…? A BOMB! I'TS A BOMB! It's set to explode in a few seconds from now! I'm gonna toss it somewhere!"

"What are you doing with Mr. Prevost's portfolio? Hand this over, you! Mr. Prevost, that guy was taking the portfolio with him and… Mr. Prevost! What happened…to…? BOOM!"

"The bomb went off inside of the car!" Roll realized.

"Take into account that no – one dies in this comic! No matter how much they're electrocuted, bombed or anything… Don't deny it! You tried to do me in taking advantage of my KO status! You're a paid assassin sent by the "RANA"! Wait until I catch you, you miserable grunt!"

"B-but I say that… that those guys… that… that you scratch your back, bloody it all!"

"What's going on? I don't understand, hey! I just being bagpiper at England's, Her Majesty's, Queen Feliciana's, service! Bye, bye!"

"Shut up and walk you moron!"

"A bagpiper disguise? That's not impossible."

"The Prevost hit the secretary with a pipe having a faucet on it while Filemón hid in the bagpipe!"

"Talk about madness, dear me." Meiru sighed.

"But it works to shake off tension, no?" "Kage" chuckled.

"Boys will be boys!" Roll sighed.

"Guess that!" "Andy" shrugged, too.

"Beware! The flying donuts haunting Gorilla Man!" Video Man laughed.

"Gorilla Man will chase after them and fall into the trap!"

"Shah, shah, shah! That's what happens to glutton types!"

"They left. OK. Guess I should get moving, too. Take care."

"Alright. You take care too… Netto. I'll be here to support you, too!"