Unlimited Revamp for the Pawn

"Didn't you tell me to clear the rubbish?" I replied, already bracing myself for Markus' snarky replies. My parents and brother hurriedly covered the exposed part of the tower. Thankfully, the lights were out, and Markus hadn't noticed what lay beneath the mountain of trash.

He crossed his arms, his fingers tapping against his chin as if deep in thought. "I don't recall saying that," he said, his tone laced with suspicion. His eyes scanned us, lingering around us for any possible sack or bag we might be carrying. "Are you rummaging through garbage for something to eat?" he mocked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

I forced a smile, typical of him to be disrespectful. "Okay, then. I guess we'll just leave this for the municipal auditing team to see." I gestured to my family to leave. Our work here was done, anyway.

I remembered the company's recent failure to meet the government's hygiene standards. Since they are a long-standing business, they'd been given a second chance, a chance Markus seems to squander.

Markus's eyes widened as the memory of the upcoming sanitation inspection hit him. "Ah, yes, I remember now," he said, though his gaze shifted to my aged parents. "But why them? Aren't you supposed to be working with the other laborers? Did you really drag your own family into this?" He tried to suppress a laugh.

I clenched my fists but kept my voice steady. "I wouldn't ask my family to do this if I had a choice. But you know how it is, the others are too busy with their 'night shifts' to help." I emphasized the last part, hoping it would sink into his thick skull.

Markus frowned, his confusion evident. "Nobody works here at night, Liam. Are you stupid?" 

I almost laughed. 'Speak for yourself', I thought. It was hard to believe this man had once been revered as a leader and that we crowned him as king in the past.

"The guards and the others are processing orders at night," I said, pointing to the nearly empty shelves. "That's why no one wants to work during the day, they're too exhausted from the lack of sleep."

Markus's face paled as the realization hit him. "They've been 'stealing'?!" He flipped on the lights, revealing the glaring gaps in the inventory. His jaw tightened as he noticed several isles with few stocks. For all his partying and gaming during work hours, he'd been oblivious to the theft happening right under his nose.

He pressed a hand to his mouth, his earlier bravado crumbling. "You and the old farts finish this job," he muttered, his voice barely audible. Without another word, he stormed out, presumably to confront the guards. Typical Markus, blunt, irresponsible, and utterly ungrateful. He's better at faking to be an operation manager.

I dashed behind him, I know a single swift blow over his nape will end him. But I stopped midway, remembering that the one who killed me, was Markus from the past. If I chose to end him now when in this timeline, as annoying as he is, he hasn't done anything yet to warrant death. The Markus of the present is technically innocent.

Finally alone in the warehouse, I turned to my family. My parents and brother wore sullen expressions, their shoulders heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Does he always treat you like that?" my mom asked, her voice trembling as she rested her head on my arm. Her hand gripped mine tightly, as if she could shield me from the harshness of my workplace.

"Don't worry, Mom," I said, forcing a reassuring smile. "I've learned to tune him out most of the time."

Barry, my brother, slung an arm around my shoulders. "It's the same everywhere," he said with a sigh. "My job hasn't been easy lately, either." I nodded in sympathy. Too many companies were being run by people like Markus, entitled, bossy and clueless.

It only dawned to me that in the previous timeline, we were led by the exact same people. This time, I'll make sure that they are placed where they belong. 

AT THE BOTTOM

We weren't actually planning to clean, so I motioned for us to leave. But as we turned to go, Barry's hand brushed against the tower. For a moment, his fingers glowed faintly, a soft light that seemed to wave with energy.

Suddenly, the air around us felt different, lighter, charged with possibility. Barry looked at me, his eyes wide with wonder. "Let's try again," I said, my voice brimming with hope.

••••••••••••••••••••

We paid the truck driver a hefty sum and finally arrived at the port. After hours of traffic, Neil, Fae, and Zild made it to the island, but we haven't heard from them since. The signal is likely too weak for them to contact us. But then, they won't be able to get inside the tower, unless a favored human opens the door for them. I wonder what's wrong.

When we finally landed on our family's private island, we noticed numerous boats already lined up along the shore. Something about the sight made me uneasy. Are the terrorists back? Did they return with more people? 

As we stepped off the boat, the situation became clear. People in police uniforms were blocking my siblings' path to the tower. Behind them, the mayor was barking orders, directing his men to set up tents, camps, and even an observation tower. They had brought their own construction materials and were already working on improving the dock. Worse, they have signal jammers with them.

We reunited with Neil, Fae, and Zild. Fae was the first to speak, her voice filled with distress. "They won't let us go any further. They said they're turning this into a government site." The sense of powerlessness in the face of authority was overwhelming. I understood their frustration, but I wondered if there was a way to resolve this peacefully.

My parents and I stepped forward to address the situation. "Hello, this island belongs to our family. You have no right to set up anything her. It's rightfully ours," I said, though my voice didn't carry far enough to reach the mayor, who was still busy barking out orders.

The uniformed men exchanged glances and called over someone who appeared to be their supervisor. "Can you show us some proof of ownership?" he asked.

My mother handed over a document, which they examined briefly. After nodding, they took the document with them. Finally, the mayor took notice of us.

He approached a politician's practiced charm, shaking our hands firmly, as if his grip alone could assert his authority. "I understand there's a problem here," he said, his smile wide, displaying his veneer set of teeth. "But your family will be fairly compensated by the local government. This island is no longer yours. It will be developed for the greater good of the citizens." His tone was smooth, and rehearsed.

Behind the line of his men, I noticed a group of well-dressed civilians, there are women, children, teenagers, and others, enjoying food, wine, barbecue, and steak. It was clear this wasn't just about "the greater good."

"We were never informed, and no papers have been signed," my mother insisted, her voice sharp with frustration. She was visibly upset by the blatant misuse of political power. It was obvious the mayor had his own interests in mind, he had even brought his family to the island.

The mayor continued, his tone growing firmer. "Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we weren't able to prepare the necessary paperwork. But it will be provided in due time. In the meantime, my men will escort you back to the mainland, free of charge. Thank you for your cooperation."

"This isn't right," my mother shot back, her voice rising. "You're the ones who should be leaving!" Now that she realized the island's true value, she was determined to fight for what belonged to our family.

The mayor's smile vanished in an instant. He snatched the land title from my mother's hands and tore it to pieces. "Eminent domain," he declared coldly. "Now scram!"