Chapter 95
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2031, Planet: Grimoire
What exactly was he witnessing now? Brinton gawked in shock. "I look away for five seconds and return only to view...what?" He briefly considered that someone had opened a portal and sent him to some weird visionary world of the future.
Desmond coughed and snorted before whistling in shock. "That is a new way of exposing desires and fetishes." He remarked before averting his gaze. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to view some of my coworkers the same after this."
Commander Darmono overhears Desmond's description of what was happening in the orchard. "What a way to desecrate what was a sacred blessing ground." He folded his arms and grimaced at the sight. "Well, compared to what their original plan,"
Brinton listened to what he was saying with mixed emotions.
Darmono was analyzing what he noticed about the variety of traps and spells cast throughout the orchard's designated boundaries. "I have to say the creativity of both a curse that draws out deepest desires mixed with a multi-layered illusion mist." He exhaled with a sigh. "Something like this was bound to happen." The group of them stood watching the sight before recalling the purpose of their arrival.
Brinton was the first to regain an ounce of common sense. "Should one of us don protective gear and begin searching for the items they would use to poison the water?" He didn't care to remain there longer than he had to.
Desmond grimaced. "Dunno if what we have on hand will be effective against that peculiar combination." He shuddered. "I, for one, don't want to get mixed up in that orgy going on in there."
Darmono stared at Desmond for a long time. He sighed and turned his attention to Brinton. "None of us are going to move." He folded his arms. "I think Merchant Lamberton needs to see this." A faint smile quirked his mouth. "It isn't often that someone who employs mages gets to see a creative derivation of curses happening in action."
"My worst nightmare is happening right in front of me." Brinton didn't want to be the one to explain what happened to all these citizens who were supposedly good people to their erstwhile employers. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to be his choice.
Right then, Lamberton arrived on the scene. He took one look at the orchard and sighed in disbelief. "Let me guess, Tinroy is behind this?" His lips twitched with amusement.
Darmono and Brinton nodded because they were shocked at the ingeniousness of what was happening before them. "I would have to say that this won't be a sacred blessing ground after this," Darmono exhaled. I'm not sure what Moline will have to say if he hears about this."
Lamberton rubbed his jaw. "I finally managed to get in touch with that rascal." He glanced at Brinton and Darmono, who waited to see the former director's excuse regarding the land.
Lamberton shook his head and rolled his eyes. "He only claimed that was what the land was considered to be to drive off any opportunistic miners." He sighed. "He told me that this was actually a very infamous place that was used for lovers who wanted to avoid prying eyes."
Brinton snorted. "So, some curses and illusions probably pulled lingering emotions and activities from pastimes?" This was the first he heard of someone being able to do that.
Darmono nodded. "Okay, that does make sense." He rubbed his jaw. "Eventually, someone will stop caring about what it takes to eliminate a certain creative young soul."
"Considering just how outrageous this scene is, I must agree." Lamberton nodded wearily. "As for how to deal with the ingredients and the items they were carrying with them." He produced very odd-looking items. "These masks can hold up to an hour of clean air." Lamberton passed them to Darmono, Brinton, Desmond, and the three others, who hurriedly went to the center of the orchard and avoided the writhing bodies.
That's when they saw the results of other traps. Those individuals were too dazed to scream, much less join the frenzy. They passed out as soon as they saw the masked group.
"Ugh, what a mess." Brinton was careful and conscientious as he worked around the fallen bodies. After a few minutes, all activity ceased, and the intruders were down for the count. The group of men stood utterly still. Now, what was going to happen? They tensed in expectation of further attacks.
Instead, the illusion of mist and curses dispersed when a delicate breeze swished through the orchard. "You can remove the masks." Grifton stood on the other end of the orchard. His entire team stood watching cautiously in case something untoward occurred.
Lamberton walked in and retrieved the masks. "Time is ticking," he warned with an aggravated sigh. "We need to move quickly and retrieve everything."
Brinton frowned. So, there was another layer of complexity going on.
Lamberton clarified. "before the real culprits that ordered this arrive to inspect their work." He stared toward the Orphanage. "I'm guessing they had eyes on this place through other means."
The entire team and Grifton exchanged weary glances. Grifton, in particular, looked haunted and resigned.
"All right, let's get this cleaned up." Brinton gauged his condition and frowned. "I didn't bring enough people."
Brinton was definitely concerned because Grifton was showing unusual signs of strain for someone who had almost unlimited mana usage at his disposal.
~*~
While the scene had been unbelievably raunchy even for Grifton. In the past, he'd been forced to endure unpleasant dream scenarios from unguarded foundlings and adults in various rooms; this was extremely uncomfortable to witness. He wasn't amused even if the others were laughing their heads off over it. "Note to self, don't use that combination of illusion and curse again," Grifton muttered grimly. "Not even as a prank," He shuddered in disgust.
Right then, Brinton addressed them with a sigh. "Team manager Denby, I must ask that you and your members accompany me to the station." He didn't even glance at Grifton when he spoke.
"May I ask why?" Denby looked upset.
"This is for your protection," Darmono stated when Brinton remained silent.
"We have reason to believe that officials in the Orphanage are involved with this plot," Lamberton murmured. "They're planning to frame you for whatever destruction takes place here."
Grifton gave the three men a long look, not to mention whatever else was going on with the unknown plans. He recognized quite a few individuals who showed up. Not a single one of them had friendly relations with the Orphanage or the foundlings, for that matter. So, it stood to reason that sinister motives might've been uncovered in the investigation that must've been going on this entire time.
Grifton cleared his throat, capturing the attention of Denby and the others. "We should go along with them this time, boss." As much as he didn't want to admit it, there would be consequences for this night's events.
"What's up, Grifton? Spit it out." Denby inquired.
Grifton pondered briefly. How should he say this so that they'd believe him? "It's just that..." He tilted his head at the supine bodies. "Most of them won't remember what happened tonight other than a dream or nightmare."
Morton grunted. "Yeah, we kinda figured that out already." He folded his arms. "So, what else should we know." He frowned when Corley prodded him with anxiety on his face. "Now what?" He walked away with the Corley, displeasure on his face.
Grifton figured Corley must've gotten a signal from someone within the Orphanage or an affiliated business owner. Time was running out for all of them. "As for those who weren't part of the illusion because of those traps that laid them flat."
Denby shook his head. "Yeah, I thought they might leak something."
That wasn't the only problem Grifton saw. "Now they will remember something, and it won't be good for their mental health if they remain here."
"Cutting it short," Darmono interrupted. "If we don't want to lose all the tools of the real culprits, we need to take them away."
"Yes," Grifton doubted they would make it out of the orchard alive if still found lying around by others who'd come to inspect. "Well, who knows what will befall them later."
Denby grunted. "Okay, so we'll be splitting into two groups." He glanced at where Morton and Corley were arguing. "Mark, Jason, Leon, stay with me." He directed them. "Stan, Nocturne, Zac, return to headquarters with the two quarrelers so that they're nowhere near here."
Once that was settled, the team broke up, and Denby, with Grifton, began moving the intruders out. Darmono, Brinton, Lamberton, and the others did the same. Soon, there was no sign of evidence of an intrusion, curses, illusions, or anything else.
Grifton knew how to erase magic traces and did so, although he left original remnants in place. If that was disturbed, then sensitives would know something had happened here, and all their hard work would go to waste. "All clear," he murmured before joining Denby to watch the other half of the night's drama play out. Grifton was curious to see who else would show their faces now.