Burley flinched as though an insect had bitten him before reaching into his pocket and taking out his phone. He stared sceptically at the flashing screen before answering.
“Yeah.”
He listened carefully for a moment with a neutral expression then hung up.
“Speaking of the prize,” said Burley. “He’s just appeared on the news show ‘Kingdom Come’ with Gabby Mechtkempf. He’s about to give her an interview. I got to go.”
Burley stood up and peered toward his car parked beneath the streetlight while tucking his phone into his pocket.
“An interview?” said Stirner with a sudden high pitch in his voice, giving Burley an incredulous stare. “That can’t be true.”
“Well, it is. I need to get back. We’ll talk later,” said Burley and marched off, descending the stairs with two rapid steps then disappearing inside his car before it sped off, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake.
It was a simple yet striking room. Two mustard-coloured armchairs faced each other, with a blue and grey woven carpet beneath. A flat-screen television display was mounted in the corner. In front of Kalakia sat Gabby Mechtkempf, her dark features, angled jaw and sharp, bright gaze giving her a staunch presence. In the background facing the camera was a framed painting depicting a revolutionary fighter planting his flag in the ground as dead bodies lay all around him, while behind him his fellow combatants pointed their rifles toward their enemy. Seeing Mechtkempf in person for the first time, Kalakia decided he had chosen the right person for this moment.
“Hello, viewers,” said Mechtkempf to the camera once she was given the signal. “Welcome to ‘Kingdom Come.’ Joining me today is, and I can’t believe I’m saying this…” She looked at Kalakia for a moment before turning back to the camera, blinking multiple times. “Joining me today is… well… Kalakia, the head of The League Of Reckoning.”
Kalakia nodded his greeting to Mechtkempf.
“As you all know,” began Mechtkempf. “The League Of Reckoning is arguably the best and worst kept secret of our generation. Its existence has been felt by all, yet confirmed by very few. Like an invisible hand, wealth inequality has eased considerably over the last decades, with the odd outbreak of violence reminding us that something is going on behind the scenes. This harmonic truce between order and chaos, this ‘Pax Kalakia’ — if I may call it that — has held together since the events of The Worldwide Horror. Now, things have changed. This week’s violence has shocked us out of our slumber. The world has pressing questions, and I have the honour of asking them to the man behind it all. As already agreed, Kalakia will allow me to interview him, after which he will have the opportunity to address the audience directly.”
There was a pause while Mechtkempf turned from addressing her audience, shuffled her papers, then faced Kalakia.
“Shall we begin?” she said.
“Of course,” said Kalakia with a nod.
“So my first question is why? Why, after all these years, have you finally decided to reveal your identity?”
Kalakia was sitting back and upright in his armchair, one arm on the rest and the other supporting his head with his index finger pressed against his temple.
“Identity is a fluid concept,” he said. “As a reporter who investigates abuses of power, you know this better than most. When power fades, the corrupt person reinvents themselves to regain it. Therefore revealing my identity is not my reason for this interview. I am here because a terrible threat has emerged.”
“Which threat?”
“His name is Horst Stirner. He is a former member of my organisation who has betrayed me. The criminal underworld has banded behind him in cooperation with world elites.”
“As you already know, the American president gave a speech hours ago on behalf of world leaders declaring the emergence of a so-called ‘threat.’ What role do our governments have to play in this?”
“Your governments are acting according to what is expedient. They have constituents to please, and a political hierarchy to maintain which relies on the wealthy elites. I have no conflict with your leaders. I understand their predicament. That does not mean I will allow them to fall prey to corrupt forces.”
“When the president stated he was going to declare the antagonist in this situation, who do you think he meant?”
“Me, naturally,” said Kalakia.
“And is he right? Are you antagonising the world?”
“Ask your viewers if they feel antagonised by me.”
“Why did you choose me to speak to?”
“Because you and I share the same values and principles.”
“I can hardly espouse violence and murder as part of my value system,” said Mechtkempf.
“We merely have different ways of pursuing our values,” Kalakia shot back with a cold smirk.
“How deeply have you penetrated our governments?”
“We work with your governments to ensure that wealth is invested back into your hard-working citizens who first helped create it. We do not control or manipulate your governments. They remain an independent entity. If Horst Stirner emerges victorious, that will change.”
“But you do control the media, don’t you?”
“No,” said Kalakia, shaking his head. “We hold some influence in matters of internal security. Although we do alter or quash information which threatens the safety of our people and hinders our work, we do not involve ourselves in the propaganda of your states.”
“You mentioned the underworld before as being part of the threat against you. Don’t you also have criminals in your organisation?”
“The League Of Reckoning pays no attention to the past indiscretions of its soldiers. Loyalty, tenacity and adherence to our mission are our only concerns.”
“I see,” said Mechtkempf, pausing for a moment. “What exactly do you do with all the money you confiscate? How do we know we can trust you? And what gives you the right to police the wealthy for money they rightfully earned?”
Kalakia closed his eyes for a moment.
“Thank you, Ms. Mechtkempf,” he said. “You ask firm but fair questions. Our work has been well documented. We have provided housing for hundreds of
