Chapter 87
677 Words
"Tell me," Ethan said, his brow furrowed.
Elder's gaze was heavy with worry. "The villagers are suffering from tumors caused by polluted water. There must be a source nearby, constantly discharging waste."
He looked at Ethan earnestly. "I need your help finding it, or more people will get sick as the pollution spreads."
Ethan considered this, then bowed deeply to the old man. "Don't worry, sir. I'll find it."
Emily frowned. "But where do you even start looking for?"
Ethan walked towards the door and spoke to Cole in a low voice.
Within five minutes, three Black Hawk helicopters roared overhead, their optical and electronic surveillance pods, mounted on either side of the fuselage, scanning the vast landscape below.
Emily gaped at Ethan. "You even have helicopters at your beck and call?"
Ethan chuckled. "Don't worry, we'll find the source soon."
Elder nodded, closing his eyes to rest.
While Ethan waited quietly, Emily grew restless.
She wandered over to Cole, who stood guard by the door. "You're Ethan's bodyguard, right?" she asked with a mischievous smile. "Have you met his wife? How old is she? Is she pretty? How long have they been married?"
Cole nodded solemnly. "His wife is as beautiful as an angel."
Emily pouted. "Is she prettier than me?"
Studying her face for a long moment, "She's prettier," he said seriously.
Emily stomped on his foot and stormed off.
Cole shook his head. "What's with girls these days? So high-strung. Good thing the Boss didn't marry someone like that."
***
Two hours later, guided by the helicopters, Ethan, Emily, and Cole arrived at a wooded area about twenty miles from the Riverbend.
Ethan sniffed the air. "We're close. The air smells different here."
"Those bastards, they'd poison an entire village just to make a buck!"Emily fumed.
The stench grew stronger as they walked. Soon, they stumbled upon a sight that shocked them to the core.
"Oh my God," Emily muttered. "What have they done?"
Five large pipes discharged a constant stream of greenish wastewater into a small river. Though diluted by the flowing water, the stench was overpowering. The surrounding vegetation was withered and dead.
The river snaked through the forest for miles, mostly hidden by dense trees. If not for the aerial surveillance, finding the source of the pollution would have been near impossible.
Emily's eyes blazed with fury. "This isn't just pollution. It's murder!"
Several men emerged from a nearby cabin, shouting at them. "Hey! What are you doing here?"
The leader, a well-dressed man with a name tag that read "Tony", approached them, flanked by several workers carrying tools like wrenches and pliers .
"Nothing to see here," Tony said impatiently. "Move along."
"Don't you know it's illegal to dump toxic waste?" Emily retorted. "This river is the villagers' drinking water. You're poisoning them!"
Tony scoffed. "Toxic waste? Where? This is all treated and purified. Mind your own business and get out of here!"
"You're brazen!" Emily sputtered, outraged.
The stench and the water's color were evidence enough, no testing required.
Tony's face hardened. "This is private property. You're trespassing. Get out, or I'll throw you in the river!"
Emily whipped out her phone. "I'm calling the authorities. You're going to pay for this!"
As she began taking pictures, Tony yelled at his men, "Get her phone!"
The workers lunged at Emily.
"Cole, now." Ethan said calmly.
Cole had been itching for a fight, and he didn't hesitate. He moved with brutal efficiency, and the workers soon lay groaning on the ground.
Emily snapped a few pictures, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "I just called the Water Quality Center." she announced. "They're on their way, and then you're busted!
The Water Quality Center held the authority to conduct official tests and expose the truth.
What Emily didn't know was that the State Water Quality Center was a private institution.
She pointed an accusing finger at Tony. "Just you wait! They'll be here any minute!"
Ethan shook his head. "No need to wait." He then grabbed Tony by the collar.
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