Kitanna
Chapter 191: CHECKMATE

Chapter 191: CHECKMATE

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: BUTTERFLY~ (G)I-DLE]

Few hours before the fireworks.....

Cortez leaned on a carriage, taking a drag from his cigar. The weather was cold, yet the girl was running around at the shore, laughing like the whole world and their problems did not bother her. Cortez had his eyes glued to Axilla, who was trying to throw sand on her friend.

His eyes had always been on Axilla, watching all her actions. Who she met with, who she greeted, and even who she stared at. And it was during this time he noticed how her eyes were always on him. Taking another drag from his cigarette, he puffed the smoke in the air, enjoying the innocence and warmth the girl brought to people around her effortlessly.

"You always have your eyes on her, like a mother hen." Cortez’s solitude was disrupted by an annoying voice which he was familiar with and, at the same time, disgusted by.

Abigail took out her own smoke, stretching out her hand for Cortez’s lighter, but she was ignored.

"What are you doing here, Abigail?" Cortez asked, his eyes not leaving Axilla for a moment.

Abigail cleared her throat, "Trying to get your attention, but it’s always on that girl. Is it because of her royal connection? If I don’t know you too well, I would say you like the girl." The young woman scoffed, taking a drag of her cigar as she looked in the direction Cortez was staring at. There was nothing special about the girl, and this made Abigail wonder why Cortez was so interested in her.

Cortez didn’t reply to the woman beside him; he continued to watch Axilla. When she threw sand on the Chief of Ipolo, his eyes narrowed because he knew what the man was capable of doing.

"Oops! Looks like she attracts the big figures. Your little chick pricked the beehive." Abigail chuckled, enjoying the way the girl now trembled as she bowed her head deeply.

Cortez started walking towards there to step in for Axilla, when Abigail held his arm.

"Cortez, don’t. You know Theo very well; once he knows you have your eyes on her, he will want her." The woman advised, discarding her cigar.

"Abigail, I didn’t know you cared about Axilla so much; it makes me wonder." Cortez finally replied, using his other hand to push Abigail’s hand away. He started walking towards where Axilla was apologizing, but before he got there, he was amused by the girl’s next reaction. She bolted.

Cortez smiled as he watched the girl running away with all her might. He turned to also see that Axilla had finally caught the attention of the Chief of Ipolo.

"Trouble magnet," Cortez murmured, his eyes now on the Chief of Ipolo who also sensed someone’s intense gaze on him. The two of them shared a look as they bowed slightly before walking away from there.

As evening arrived, Cortez was making his way inside the gathering when he stumbled on the conversation between Abigail and Chief Theo. He listened from start to finish to their evil plan, and Abigail’s request to burn down his goods. Cortez was not surprised; he never expected less from someone like Abigail, and the rumors about her being involved in slave trading had been going around. Without being noticed by either the Chief of Ipolo or Abigail, Cortez left the gathering.

He summoned his most trusted assistants, "Is everyone here?" He asked when they had all gathered.

"Yes, Chief Cortez," the men bowed.

"I have something for you to do. Nobody outside of anyone here should hear it. Not even Abigail." Cortez ordered, and the men bowed.

Cortez knew moving his own goods would only raise suspicion, and that was not what he wanted. Instead of saving his own goods, he made a different plan.

"Sneak into the Ipolo ship. By now, most of the merchants are having fun at the gathering. Replace their goods with any rubbish you lay your hands on. Move it into our goods carriage; once any is full, leave the port."

"This night?" One of Cortez’s merchants asked, looking surprised.

"Yes, this night; your efficiency determines if we can retain our livelihood." Cortez addressed his men, making them understand his reason. After giving them his order, he went to join the party, while his men discreetly moved the goods in Ipolo ship. As soon as a carriage was filled, it left the port.

Cortez stayed in the gathering, watching over Axilla while not acting suspiciously. He acted like he was unaware of the plans and he conversed with other merchants leisurely. Cortez was going to stay discreet, until he saw Chief Theo offering Axilla a drink. He knew he had to step in. After the exchange of words he had with the man, he walked out of the party, watching as Abigail lured Axilla out of the party.

Cortez motioned to one of his men to come over, "Follow the girl," he ordered. The man bowed and left the gathering, watching where Axilla entered.

Cortez continued to enjoy the gathering; he was the first to notice the smoke from his goods, but he didn’t panic or act up. He continued to greet his acquaintances.

"Chief Cortez!! Chief Cortez!! Our goods are burning." When Cortez heard this, he smirked subtly, rushing outside to where his goods were burning to the ground.

People gathered to see the fire that was consuming the goods; they felt bad for the merchant, but Cortez remained calm, waiting for a signal from the man he had sent to watch over Axilla.

"Cortez, won’t you stop the fire?" Cortez smirked when Abigail asked him, but he didn’t reply as it was not necessary. Not waiting around, he walked out of the crowd before he left, he was stopped by the Chief of Ipolo.

"Cortez, your goods are all gone." The man said to Cortez, his lips tugging at the side.

Cortez sighed, tucking his hands in his trouser pocket. "So it seems, is it me or do you look happy about it? Should I call you a suspect?" The young man asked, tilting his head to the side.

Chief Theo chuckled, "That is one thing about you, my friend; your accusations are always too straightforward; that is why you are being punished."

Cortez shook his head, "My instincts never lie though." He sighed, "If you don’t mind, I should go and mourn my goods alone." Cortez remarked walking away from the place, leaving behind people who were still watching his goods.

With everyone’s attention still on the fire outside, Cortez joined the ship of Ipolo, using a piece of cloth to cover his face while he waited for the man who abducted Axilla. Taking Axilla in his arms, he smiled, leaving the place.

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