Chapter 94: 93
Chapter 93
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2031, Planet: Grimoire
That afternoon turned out to be quite an exciting adventure. "I didn't know we could have this much fun while working." Grifton found it relaxing and entertaining compared to some days.
Denby laughed. "Well, this is the first time we were able to come up with a viable solution for those waterfall areas in the northwestern boundary."
"True, it is the closest to those conflicting borders." Grifton agreed with some unease.
First, they'd finished working in the other orchards assigned to the team. "Well, now that we're headed to that distinctly controversial orchard," Denby recalled their attention to what was next. "Shall we begin planning what to do?"
Then Denby, Grifton, and the members set up small objects designed to create confusion and disorientation for intruders.
"Since people were gullible enough to purchase those maps, we might as well set up a welcome illusion for them." Morton was amused.
"I'm willing to bet the ones behind this scam will show up." Corley wasn't amused in the least. "I'd like to get my hands on them and thank them for this trouble."
Well, the pursuit of revenge was also a pastime that had to be honored. In this case, sooner rather than later, since Corley's reputation was at stake.
Denby chuckled. "We have a fairly expert individual in our ranks who can pull off some interesting variations on the typical pranks often used in these areas." They all turned to Grifton when he mentioned that.
"Mmm, yes, I can do something." After all, Grifton was somewhat notorious for pulling pranks on pursuers who were determined to kill, disable, or undermine his new ranking position. "It depends on what you want to do with them." Grifton clarified how severely he could damage the recipients depending on Corley's anger.
Corley's eyes widened.
Denby cleared his throat, "Don't overdo it."
Grifton shrugged. "I'm just offering options." There was also the range and depth of what Denby would allow him to get away with. "Do you want to keep them alive and healthy, or alive but unable to do more harm to others?"
Corley and Denby exchanged glances. Denby rolled his eyes. "Well, since this also embroils your reputation," He shrugged in resignation when speaking to Corley. "I guess you can choose what you want to do now." He frowned at both Corley and Grifton. "Just be aware that it can come back to bite you in the ass when least expected."
That was a concern, but it was not for Corley since he wasn't doing the actual casting. Grifton kept that information to himself. It wouldn't hurt to see just how far Corley wanted to go. It was a measure of how hurt and angered he was right now.
"Keep them alive and just superficially injured," Corley stated. "I don't want you to get harshly punished." He frowned when Grifton shrugged. "if they figure out, you're the one who set the traps."
Grifton thought he'd say that. "I haven't been caught yet." He admitted. "Though I know that could change at any time." That said, this might be that one occasion when he got busted.
Therefore, when Grifton set off the miniature decoys and traps, he did so with minimal damage in mind. Whether the intruders would have worse intentions later on remained to be seen.
Only after the preparations were completed, decoys set in motion, and the traps assembled and put on alert, Denby finally gave all of them the briefing he'd received that afternoon before Grifton joined them. "I think you should know why I'm allowing this to happen."
When Grifton finally heard how and why Denby got the notification when he had, he was shocked. "So, you really hadn't known what was going on?"
Denby shook his head. "No, not until Brinton notified us, and Corley showed me this when he arrived for work at dawn."
~*~
Officer Brinton was less than amused when hearing what was happening on the streets regarding a specific orchard in the Flange Orphanage's boundaries. He regarded Abel Desmond with disbelief. "So, someone is doing this right around when the competition is about to begin?"
Desmond inclined his head. "Yes, not only that but someone not even attending the school is being framed." He pointed to the signature. "I have no doubt that this is something that Tinroy will catch. However, that'll only happen if someone shows him one of these fabricated maps."
A headache began throbbing in Brinton's temples. "Just how many of these have been sold, do you think?" What a nightmare, and one he didn't want to deal with. However, since Tinroy was involved, Brinton didn't have a choice.
Desmond grimaced. "I heard word that they began circulating about a week ago." He shook his head. "The oddest part of this scheme is that none of the flyers were circulated in Central's marketplace until today."
This meant several more were already sold. "I see, so this was contained within the republic, hmm?"
Desmond nodded. "So far as I can tell, yes. The circulation began in the south, then the west, and the north, before ending up here in the northeast." He shrugged with bafflement. "The eastern part wasn't even covered, but the other three were."
Brinton grunted when he looked at the map. "I have an idea of why certain areas weren't reached." Maybe because they weren't separated by as many mountain ranges as the eastern portion was? "It could have to do with the geographical barriers."
Desmond shrugged. "I suppose that might have something to do with it." He recited a list of speculated reasons that others came up with once the information had come to his peers. "All the disgraced and ruined noble families came from those far-flung directions." Desmond spread his hands. "From what I recall, there hadn't been any from the east." He made a sour face. "Then again, we've got that conflict eating away at our northeastern boundary that no one wants to support any longer."
Yet another reason why there hadn't been any activity either, Brinton conceded. "Who knows the reasoning for that exclusion in this case?"
Desmond frowned at Brinton's observation. "Actually, I can come up with one." He snorted in disgust. "Bah, everyone knows that Commander Darmono is active in everything that may inconvenience his units that're holding the frontlines together." He shrugged. "It might be because of them that we got delayed information about this problem."
Good grief, he was right about that. "Oh, right, there was that angle I'd almost forgotten." Brinton grimaced. "I should refrain from involving them further in this situation." He wasn't sure it was worth involving the military because that branch was already up to its ears in other cases.
Desmond nodded wearily. "I agree; I think they're filled with more than enough complications as it is." He tilted his head. So, who is going to infiltrate this group of fifty-plus idiots?"
That was too simple a question to answer, and Brinton told Desmond who he had in mind to bring along. "We are, among others, who don't want Tinroy or Corley Rufus to get into trouble." He shrugged when Desmond gaped at him.
Desmond grinned. "Cool, this'll be fun." There was malicious amusement in his eyes. "Knowing Tinroy, he'll have set up some ingenious decoys and traps."
Brinton grimaced because he didn't want to get caught in any of those. "Would you be able to recognize them if you saw the signs of traps and decoys?"
Desmond nodded. "It would be best if we were the last to enter the boundary sector in which that orchard is located though." He rubbed his jaw as he offered that suggestion. "Less likelihood of us getting caught in something nasty."
"Okay, that sounds good." Brinton sent a coded call to anyone who wanted to join. In doing that, he made sure that none of the planted spies would catch onto what he was going to do that evening. After all, it wouldn't have been as fun if someone leaked the information that he sent, and no one got caught in the net.
~*~
The team camped that night in a small copse of trees nearby, where they could watch the activity from afar. Denby didn't do anything but hope someone would show up.
Grifton was surprised at the number of ignorant idiots who showed up. "I wasn't thinking this many would come." There had to be close to fifty. What were they planning to do? Blow up the entire area?
If so, his little traps and decoys wouldn't be enough to disperse the potential damage that he foresaw happening now.
Denby frowned. "No, they aren't going to blow it up." There was an angry growl in his throat. "I think they're coming up with something more insidious."
Hmm, there might be someone in their ranks with the dark element. If they could change Grifton's traps and decoys into something sinister and vicious, that could lead to nasty disadvantages.
"Darn, didn't think that far ahead." Grifton frowned. "Well, even this far away, I can reset most traps."
On the other hand, the decoys, now that they'd been created, he couldn't change. The best he could do was deactivate and remove the cores when they'd finished their tasks—that is, if they weren't discovered to be decoys in the first place.
Denby smiled. "No need for that much effort." He'd seen something that gave him confidence. "I recognize a few faces in that crowd." There were murmurs of relief from the team members at that information.
Denby gave them more good news. "Some security officers and informants infiltrated them." He glanced at Grifton. "You don't need to worry about deactivation." A smile curved his mouth once more. "It seems they're curious about what form the traps and decoys will take."
Oh, well, that did make a difference. Grifton shrugged. "Okay, I'll let them do their thing then." He still had some qualms but didn't voice them. It wasn't often that he could show off his pranks and not get punished. This was definitely a rare occurrence for Grifton, so he might as well enjoy it for the time he was allowed to really let loose. He had done exactly that.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone