Two days after General Cassar’s arrest, the recovered archive records covered three long tables inside Arranguare headquarters. Police evidence labels had been attached to every contract, ledger and handwritten payment book removed from the bunker. Armed officers guarded the room, while cameras recorded everyone who entered or touched the documents.The two days had not passed quietly. Pierce obtained an emergency order stopping every tanker connected to the disputed oil wells from leaving the region. The order prevented the Marwicks from exporting more crude, but it did not give government officers immediate control of the well sites.The Marwicks still controlled the gates, machinery, workers and storage facilities. During the legal examination, their trucks had begun carrying drilling equipment towards private warehouses.Pierce closed the report in his hands. “We stopped their tankers at the export routes, but we have not stopped them from removing equipment inside the sites. Our

The following morning, Simon’s convoy approached the largest of the seven producing oil wells. Tall storage tanks stood beyond the perimeter fence, while pipes and heavy machinery covered the wide industrial field.Simon travelled in the first vehicle with Marcus and two government inspectors. Several vans carrying Arranguare engineers followed them. Pierce’s police vehicles remained farther behind.Pierce did not want the operation to resemble a military invasion. Most of his armed officers stopped at nearby road junctions, where they could prevent equipment from leaving without frightening the workers inside the field.The convoy reached the main entrance shortly after eight o’clock. A high steel gate blocked the road, and more than twenty Marwick guards stood behind it.Workers had also gathered near the fence. Some wore safety clothing, while others had left the production buildings to see why government vehicles were outside.Simon stepped out with the recovery order in his hand.

“The compliance officer dies here.”Kong’s threat carried across the central yard. The oil workers moved closer to the production buildings, while the armed guards tightened their circle around Simon and his companions.Marcus stepped forward, but Simon stopped him with one hand. “Attacking the man appointed to coordinate this recovery will be treated as armed resistance against the government,” Marcus warned. “Commissioner Pierce is standing outside that gate with enough officers to arrest everyone here.”Kong glanced towards the workers and smiled. “Pierce will not order an attack while innocent employees are trapped inside. By the time he enters, your compliance officer will already be dead.”“You assume the workers will support your story,” Simon said. He looked towards the frightened employees. “How many of them are willing to lie about a murder and spend the rest of their lives protecting Silas Marwick?”Several workers lowered their eyes. Kong’s smile weakened when none of them

The wells had not caught fire yet, but the alarms warned Simon that they were close.Thick black smoke climbed from a machinery shed near the central pumping station. Red warning lights flashed along the pipelines, while the frightened workers rushed away from the production buildings.Pierce released Kong’s collar and stood. “All workers must report to the eastern assembly area. Officers, clear every road leading away from the storage tanks.”His men responded immediately. Some began directing the workers, while others collected the weapons surrendered by the Marwick guards.The regional director remained restrained beside the security office. His earlier pride had disappeared as he stared towards the growing smoke.“This was not part of my order,” he said. “Mr Marwick only told me to keep you outside.”Marcus faced him. “You locked us inside with armed men. Do not pretend you are innocent because Silas decided to destroy the field without warning you.”An Arranguare engineer ran tow

Simon removed the pistol from his waist and placed it on the floor outside the control room. The timer above the door continued falling as he raised his empty hands.Silas watched him through the reinforced glass. “Step inside and close the door behind you. If Pierce attempts to follow, the hostages die.”Simon entered without answering. The heavy door closed behind him, leaving Pierce and the other officers outside.Six workers remained seated near the main control desk with their hands tied. One guard stood behind them with a rifle, while the second moved towards Simon.Silas held the black detonator close to his chest. His earlier fear had disappeared now that Simon was unarmed and trapped inside the room.“You carried files and served as an ordinary low-ranking compliance officer,” Silas said. “Did you truly believe one government order could make you equal to me?”Simon glanced towards the falling timer before facing him. “Every honest job I performed carried more honour than eve