Deal With A Bossy Marshal

Chapter 15

Arci stood up from the couch, "Don't use the goading strategy on me. I came back to Los Angeles just for my mother burial"

Richard stood up from the table and turned his back against her.

"Others are like a sparrow turning into a phoenix, But you? You are like crestfallen Phoenix whose life is no better than that of a chicken, how are you going to live the rest of your life under other people's roof? Even I'm worried for you". Richard said as he face her back

"I suggest you worry about yourselves instead, you will be in big trouble, if Military Governor Albert doesn't publish an open telegram". Arci said.

He walked closer to her, she stiffened immediately, she didn't dare to move because once she moved their lips would meet.

"We used to be husband and wife, you can hardly fend for yourself and still worry about me?" Richard asked as he moved closer to her.

She moved back and stared at him vigilantly.

Drey walked into the office interrupting them.

"Marshal Richard, Bremo is here" He announced.

"I'm really lucky today" He said, his eyes still on Arci.

"Bring him upstairs" He said to Drey.

"Yes," Drey said and immediately walked out of the office.

Bremo walked into the office immediately.

Arci quickly went to meet him.

Bremo held her hand "Arci" he called her worriedly.

"I'm Okay" Arci smiled at him.

"Marshal Bremo, I wonder whether you are bringing bad news or good news this time" Richard interrupted them.

Bremo walked closer to him and face, "Whether it I'll be bad or good news depends on how you choose"

"Sounds like you are going to negotiate with me".

"I'd like to talk with you alone, if we can reach an agreement that will be Good of course. If we can't, You can just hold me hostage, to pressure my father" Bremo replied.

"Bremo" Arci said as she stared at him worriedly, Bremo stared at her and smiled, he faced Richard back.

"Why? I dare come but you don't dare to talk?" 

Richard chuckled, he glanced at Drey who was still standing outside the door.

"Take miss Arci out and wait outside" 

"Yes," Drey replied as he dragged Arci out.

Richard walked and sat down on the couch that was in the office, Bremo sat down without waiting for him to tell him to.

"Marshal Bremo, What would you like to discuss? I'm all ears" 

"About your future" 

"Sounds interesting,Tell me more" Richard said as he sat down and rested his leg lazily on the table.

Bremo explained everything he and father discussed to him.

"Turns out this is the future, you said you would help me get it? It sounds plausible" Richard said as he took a sip from his tea.

"If you agree to our terms to hand over your military power and financial power and disband the Bush army's, my father will not only publish an open telegram to acknowledge you but also take you as protégé of the Latino family and recommend you to the army headquarters. When the commission arrives, you'll be the rightful commander of Los Angeles" Bremo told him.

"A fine fowl perches only fine trees, isn't it a good opportunity for you to submit to the command of the Military Governor's office now?" Bremo said, trying to entice him.

 "A fine fowl perches only on fine trees, that is a very good saying, I can't agree more. But how can I make sure whether I am a fine or stupid fat goose in your father's eyes " Richard sneered.

"What do you mean?" 

"Marshal Bremo, I do have my concern, if I take control of Los Angeles in a spur of the moment with pure guts after I agree to your terms and hand over the military and financial power. How long do you think I can hold the title of the commander of Los Angeles and your father's protégé?" Richard smiled at him.

"So you don't trust my father?" Bremo asked.

"Marshal Bremo, you can't accuse me of that, you people are trying to force me to hand over the military power because you don't trust me either, Right?" Richard said as he stood up from his seat. He walked towards his table and sat down there.

Bremo also stood up from his seat and walked towards him "You offended someone with a higher rank than yours, my father is being magnanimous, to still acknowledge you and recommend you to be the commander of Los Angeles. If you want to keep the commission, then handling your power is your only way out " He said as he stood in front of him.

They stared at each other for a few seconds in silence before Richard broke the silence, "So I didn't really have a choice, you just came here to inform me instead of negotiating with me, Right?" Richard asked.

"This is something beyond negotiations. If you hand over the powers we'll let you to the commander, if you don't how much longer you can sit in your throne all depends on your luck. When the revolutionary army retreats and my father's army returns to Los Angeles, what you will have to give up won't be your powers but your life" Bremo told him.

"It seems that I really have no choice," He chuckled.

Even though they offered him to be the commander of Los Angeles, he will only be the commander in name with no power and army. It seems Albert really thinks he is smart and he will beat him at his own game.

"Marshal Richard, you should know you got yourself into a hot mess when you led troops into Los Angeles. You and I should both make a compromise. This is the most decent way to solve this problem, you don't want to turn the metropolis of Los Angeles into a battlefield, do you?" Bremo asked him with eyes narrowed.

"Marshal Bremo, I'm not greedy for money or power, I can hand over my military and financial power, but my men in the Bush army's have been following me for ten years, I can't just abandon them without finding a means of livelihood for them first" Richard told him.