Chapter 106
Golden First Market Plaza near Fremont Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2036, Planet: Grimoire
Once they got Grifton settled on the floor of the primary area used for seating, Janus frowned when he simply passed out. "That's not a good sign." He glanced at Corley. "Keep watch on the outside, would you?" A sigh escaped Janus. "I don't think we've seen the last activity going around."
Clearly concerned, Corley inclined his head. There was banging from the very back. "Actually, I have to go see what's happening back there," he said, diverting to the storage area.
Janus sighed. "Okay, we're alone." He frowned at the sight of torn wings. "Wow, someone did a number on your wings. Yet you were still able to move?" He shook his head in admiration.
Unable to respond clearly, {I was ambushed while teleporting. I had to change shape to prevent getting fatally stabbed. I don't know which Crow's Heights member it was.} Grifton growled inaudibly.
"Well, the fact that you identified that it was a Crow's Heights member is good enough," Janus reassured him. He'd gained a good image of what the attacker looked like. With that information, Janus would relay it to rogue hunters in Lamberton's merchant association. This assault wouldn't remain unaddressed as others had in the past. "Rest now, you're safe." Janus hesitated. "The Lifter gang is actually guarding the building.
Grifton's face was shocked. His eyes closed as he sighed in relief. He finally calmed down and was able to return to his humanoid form.
Janus heard two sets of footsteps and turned to see who'd arrived.
Corley was accompanied by an older woman.
"Welcome, Madam Murray." Janus recognized her immediately. "How'd you know to come here?"
"His arrival was emblazoned on the news platforms." Madam Murray shook her head. "It was quite the entrance and showed just what kind of phenomenal control he has to maintain one size this entire time."
That's when they realized, to their shock, that he'd controlled his draconic shape to prevent the destruction of any building if he happened to land on one.
"Wow, which is incredible," Janus mumbled as he carefully examined Grifton for any injuries in his human form.
Madam Murray clicked her tongue. "I shall have to do a different exam when he is in draconic form to see what injuries he sustained."
Janus grunted. "One wing is completely shredded. I don't know if it can be used again." He frowned. "These marks came from someone slashing his left hindleg with a sharp knife or something else." He pointed to the rapidly healing cuts on Grifton's left leg, below his knee.
Madam Murray frowned. "Well, I'll see what else I can do to promote the healing on the inside and prevent scar tissue that would inhibit his movements." she glanced outside. "What on earth is happening out there?"
Much to the bemusement of Madam Murray, Corley, and Janus, the Lifter gang remained outside. They appeared wary and worried. Janus sighed. "He mentioned something about an assault by a Crow's Heights member." He shrugged. "It happened in the middle of the teleportation, which forced his shifting to draconic shape."
The other two blanched on hearing the news.
"Oh dear, that doesn't speak well of Grifton's well-being." Corley fussed. He made a note of the fact that Grifton arrived within the deadline. He sent the information to Lamberton. "Well, all we can do is wait and see now."
Janus nodded somberly. "Yes, that is indeed what we must do." He confirmed.
~*~
Corley was humbled at the effort Grifton made to arrive within the timeline. He didn't doubt that it must've been difficult to shift that many times to prevent assassins, for that was who those damn rogues were, in reality, from killing him.
What didn't make sense was why they chose to do it now. Who had found Grifton's existence so repugnant that they wanted him dead that badly? Corley couldn't fathom what enemy had locked onto Grifton so tenaciously.
A sigh escaped him when he heard banging at the back door. "Oh, good grief, now who is it?" Corley muttered. What's your purpose?" He couldn't see anything through the security glass.
"It is Madam Murray!" A female voice stated.
Madam Murray? What was she doing here? Oh, right, of course. She was someone who'd known Grifton Tinroy all his life. Still, Corley was distrustful of such coincidental timing. "Would you be so kind as to show your face to the opaque security glass?" he requested. "I'm not taking any chances because of the riffraff rampaging around rampantly right now."
There was startled silence.
She sounded rattled and apologetic. "Oh, of course I can." Rustling noises came through the audio, and then a woman's face appeared. "Can you recognize me now?"
As soon as her face appeared in the viewing glass, Corley carefully checked it. "Just one more step, if you'll be so kind and patient." He made a second check when running a facial recognition program.
The woman didn't say anything or huff at him impatiently. She remained relatively calm under the circumstances.
"Just a second," Corley sighed with relief when it verified her identity.
"I assume it verified my identity." Madam Murray sounded amused. That's when he realized she heard everything on the other side.
Flustered and apologetic, Corley winced. Yes, I will let you in now." He did so very cautiously. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but there's been so much trouble lately that it is appalling."
Madam Murray shrugged. "I can't say that I blame you." She rubbed her arms with a sigh. "It was so nice and cool inside here. It is scalding outside." She grimaced. "As for your security measures, they're top-notch and perfectly reasonable under the circumstances."
She regarded Corley with a smile. "You've become a very reliable and stable young man in the past six years."
Corley bowed. "Thank you, I will lead the way to the front." He did so after glancing outside cautiously and securing the door.
Madam Murray watched him curiously. "So, you're doing this why?"
Corley shrugged. "Everyone is going to be gawking over the pool of blood outside." As a last measure, he lowered permanent closure gates so no one could break through his other doors. "Not only that, but the Lifter gang is guarding the front and sides."
Corley knew when to avoid unnecessary trouble. He was shutting down for now because there was no point in expecting more customers or deliveries. "I would prefer not to invite trouble to the back, left, or right external doors." His calm explanation seemed to reassure Madam Murray.
Corley exhaled wearily. "Besides, who wants to come to an area where a potential hostage circumstance is taking place?" He spread his hands as he spoke. "After all, that is why they're here. They wish to prevent that very scenario from occurring." He frowned when hearing something on the roof. Had he put any security measures up there? Corley couldn't remember.
Grifton's dramatic arrival had definitely put an end to any such occurrences.
"Well, in that case, we should head toward the front." Madam Murray tilted her head and stared up as well. Then she smiled. "The merchant guards have arrived. They're guarding the rooftop to enhance the security." She nodded to Corley.
Corley sighed with relief. He trusted the merchant guards but wasn't as sure about the Lifter gang. This was entirely out of their usual echelon of activity.
~*~
When the first news broke about what had happened, Madam Murray had been sitting in her office. She'd been making notes for a lecture she'd be giving at a local academy.
However, as soon as she heard the news. Takesha took up her belongings to administer rough surgery if needed. However, she hadn't arrived fast enough to the scene.
By the time she reached his side, Grifton had already returned to his humanoid form. What Takesha saw of him now horrified her. It brought back nasty memories of when she'd last seen him at the Orphanage. He really needs to get into a more civilized line of work.
To her surprise, Takesha looked outside and blinked. "My goodness, who are they?" She watched the colorful array of men standing solidly in front of Corley's business. He hadn't been kidding when he told her that there was no point in expecting deliveries or customers.
"That would be the elite of the Lifter gang," Janus informed her. "Jameson Brier, the leader, is the one with the white and black hair with black and pearlescent eyes. He is the hardest to actually see in this kind of environment."
That was true, depending on which direction she looked. Right now, Brier more or less resembled an afterimage, more than a real person. He also looked familiar. Where had she seen him before?
Well, no matter, Takesha has dismissed him for now. "So, the shadowy black figures perched on rooftops scowling at them would be from the Crow's Heights gang?" She had a bone to pick with those damn rogues.
"Yes," Janus confirmed. "Though they're being exceptionally wary right now."
Takesha was amused. She espied small sparks of light flickering from one or two members.
She sucked in her breath. "Oh my, now what's going on?"
That's when the gang members began falling off the rooftops. It appeared that someone wasn't taking any chances with their escape.
Janus observed with distinct disinterest. "Hmm, it looks as if some others approached while the Crow's Heights members were distracted." He rolled his eyes. "Lamberton should be arriving any minute now."
"Mmmhmm, if you say so." The way those lights flickered reminded Takesha of guerilla tactics. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that some of Darmono's unit might have joined the fray."
Janus blinked. "Well, it might be possible." He shrugged. "I did hear that they'd come in for some desperately needed rest and relaxation to recuperate from a fierce battle."
Takesha's shoulders hunched. "There doesn't seem to be an end to those stalemates happening." She exhaled slowly. "You'd think there would be a ceasefire negotiated by now."
Janus shrugged. "I don't have any knowledge about that, I'm afraid." He grunted. I just do my duty as a guard. I stopped caring about the military after I lost my left hand." He held up a gloved hand. "This is a prosthetic."
Ouch, a veteran who'd likely been lost in the shuffle. Takesha sighed. "I'm sorry that you were probably neglected."
Janus shook his head. "I was one of the lucky ones who survived and received immediate attention." He swallowed hard as grief put a harsh note to his voice.
Madam Murray frowned. "So, you weren't in one of Commander Darmono's units?" That was unfortunate indeed.
"No, as I said, I was one of the lucky ones." Janus shook his head. "It was my comrades who weren't so lucky." His left hand clenched at his side. "If we'd been in one of Darmono's units, I doubt we would've lost so many men and women."
She was at a loss for words. "So, who found you?"
His smile was sour. "None other than Commander Darmono." Janus shook his head wearily. "The worst part was, he was told point blank to abandon me, and he refused."
Wow, what a horrible thing to hear on the battlefront. Takesha sighed in disgust. "We had assholes for high command." She muttered in rank contempt.