The Right Path

Once Or Twice

The Right Path

Volume 1

Takano Masamune

Chapter 1: Once or Twice

***

“I believe people that have committed financial fraud shouldn’t be thrown into prison.” Those unreasonably brave words were spoken by a mysterious man. He looked to be in his early forties and yet the air about him and his voice gave youth to his mannerisms.

“That’s ridiculous! We cannot have such a man representing this case, the public will think the police force is a farce!” The opposition was the chief of the police department, in V city, the VPD. He had grown tired and red in the face of this constant back and forth discussion that never seemed to conclude to anything.

“If only you were smart enough to listen to me maybe you’d get ahead.” The mysterious man spoke yet again, he was a representative of a law firm but he was by no means a lawyer nor a prosecutor nor any man of such authority. And yet he had the guts to stand in a room full of the V city’s police force and speak such nonsense?

“I’m just saying its such a waste of talent, isn’t it? Throwing them in jail in what? Hopes of redemption? We all know the second they get out they will do the same thing but better, they won’t get caught a second time.” The man continued, he frazzled those around him, commanded their attention, whenever he spoke, everyone else simply listened.

“Why you–! Disgusting piece of–!!!” Before the officer could utter another word his colleague pulled him aside. “We need to understand your stance better if you care to explain, why should we allow you to take this dangerous criminal?” The second police officer’s name was Jeremiah, a very saintly character, he tried to understand those around him even the criminals.

“It’s simple, really~” The older man spoke with a tune in his voice almost like a soft hum. He smiled as he spread out his arms as if doing a grand theatrical performance to the police officers present. “If criminals like the one you’re currently holding holed up here can be re-integrated on the correct side of the law, the game will change!” His voice became stronger as he spoke. Like a magician preparing to show his trick he commanded the attention, all eyes were on him.

“That’s ridiculous, allowing criminals to roam around, you said it yourself they will just end up doing the same thing as before.” The chief of the VPD spoke again, this time in a low grumbling voice as to not be left behind.

“Why are they criminals in the first place? Can anyone answer that?” The man’s theatrics made everyone pause. No one answered for a while…

That was the nature of Noah Shcobs, a man that practiced law for many years and then suddenly started this strange pursuit of his own form of justice…

After a long pause of silence someone dared speak to answer the question… “Because they committed a crime.”

“Not exactly… because of a need…. They obviously have the intelligence for more, but they turned to crime. It’s simple… money, recognition, a thrill… If we can fulfill those and motivate these people to work for us, wouldn’t that make our justice seeking job much simpler?” Noah’s words sounded rough around the edges and yet everyone was so enthralled that it was impossible to look away or not hear him out.

“We can’t trust a criminal to manage finances that’s as if we’re begging to be tricked.” The chief spoke again, he grumbled angrily all the more.

Noah smiled as he responded ever so casually to the man. “Maybe but you do have to take a leap of faith if you want the world to become a better place… You know I dream about it sometimes… what if the world didn’t have to fall into ruin the way it is at the moment? Wouldn’t it be beautiful?”

“You’re speaking nonsense!” The chief stood up in anger.

“Let’s hear him out… it’s an interesting concept, almost like out of a movie.” The second police officer suggested while holding the chief back.

“Right! We’ve seen it before in shows how the bad guy becomes good because he was misunderstood. I offer the same. Let’s use these lowlife criminals to make the world a brighter place, a place where the good thrive and the bad are caught by ex-bad guys. Brilliant, right?” Noah placed his hand behind his back like a politician waiting for a response from congress.

“Where do we come in all this? We can’t let you do this without someone of the higher ups causing a scene.” The chief spoke all the more rudely while walking towards the man. He stood face to face with him and glared daggers while the other simply smiled back softly.

“Fear not! I have already spoken with a few people, you’re the last hurdle I need to overcome to do this… How about it, trust me this once and I will show you results like you’ve never seen before!” Noah extended his hand for a handshake. He stood still.

“It seems like you won’t take no for an answer…” The chief sighed heavily, knowing this wasn’t just a random old man he was seeing but someone quite more higher standing than he was, or at least he had the connections to be above him but for some reason decided not to pursue it…

A man like Noah that didn’t seek out status, nor power nor riches were the worst most difficult to control…

“Haha, you are a very quick man… you understand…” Noah smiled as he lowered his hand slightly, the man finally accepted it and the shook hands.

“And still the criminal you’re trying to use for your first guinea pig, isn’t someone so easy to control as you might think he is.” The chief spoke as he let o of the man’s arm. He whispered it in a low breath almost like a warning.

“As I said I’m not trying to control them, but simply… to motivate them~” Noah continued trying to make his more noble motives known.

“Call it whatever you’d like, it sounds like you have your hands full, so I will give you some advice. That person is very dangerous, don’t let yourself be fooled by him.” The chief gave up and turned his back to the man, walking away Noah seemed very intrigued.

“Leave it to me.” Were the last words he spoke to that man, byt the time the chief had left the room, and Noah had followed suit, everyone else in the police department stood still almost breathless. Just what kind of exchange had they seen happen in front of their eyes? And were they allowed to talk about it as casually as it happened?