Chapter 152
Lamberton Dormitory Building, Cornell Academy, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2041, Planet: Grimoire
Right then, the referee yelled out. "Time for the event to begin." Several deafening blasts from an air horn went off. However, none of the guerillas were too startled. They'd been prepared for something like this.
Even as Grifton contacted his teammates, he realized no time was left. Damn, of all the moments to run short of time. Wasn't that just typical, though?
{We all knew this would happen.} Grifton's teammates chorused simultaneously and gave him suggestions that would work throughout the scenario. It helped that they offered suggestions to protect the spirits if they didn't want to fight offensively against their brethren. That encouraged Grifton to be more hopeful of the outcome.
And now it begins. Grifton didn't rely on the spirits to warn him. It was apparent to him already. Someone in the beginners knew how to work with spirits and sent spies to seek them out.
{Be looking for predatory spirits that might intentionally hurt your companions. We're dealing with a malicious individual, and possibly more than one.} Grifton warned.
He was already under attack, but not one of his companion spirits had revealed his location. He'd already strengthened their defenses and allowed them to fight back if desired.
"Well, now, isn't this interesting?" An oily voice oozed mockery. "What are these things supposed to be? Traps? Hah, what a joke."
Grifton recognized who it was. So, Donrico Consuenos survived after all? That was disgusting, indeed. He hoped the man wasn't after him again. Hadn't he given up?
If not, Grifton was more than willing to send him into an absolute hellish nightmare if he didn't stop his pursuit.
"What do you think this is, Algon?" Another voice asked.
"These traps resemble what killed my sire, Jacks." Algon snapped. "Didn't you ever battle against Tinroy?"
"Not and won, no," Jacks replied. "If I recall, I'm only here as a guide, not an actual fighter."
His words gave Grifton some surprise. Eh, so not all of them were going to be fighting? What the hell was going on then? He didn't remember guides being in the set of rules established.
"So, you aren't going to fight after all?" Algon sounded pissed.
"You've now interpreted my role in this farce correctly." Jacks crossed his arms. "There is nothing in the rules stating that I have to fight. I'm one of the neutral members." He informed Algon curtly. "There were several of us who, as veterans, chose that role rather than come in as beginners or rank newbies."
Grifton listened with amusement. In other words, they'd refused to do anything that would go against their honor when it came to killing veterans who'd served honorably. That was a relief.
"Hah, so you're going to ditch us newbies because we'll likely kill the guerillas because they didn't hide sufficiently?" Algon sneered furiously. As he spoke, he slashed through the vines hanging around them.
SNAP! Grifton rolled his eyes. What an idiot. He didn't even recognize those were the traps. He sat on the corner of a cliff and waited for the rest to fall as he'd designed them to do so.
A trap descended upon Algon and bound him like a mummy. "@#@#!" He yelled in fury.
Of course, nothing he said was audible, which was a good thing, too, since Grifton was pretty sure it was unfit for some spectators to hear. That didn't count for those who remained uncaught as yet.
All the other newbies began cursing in disbelief as the domino effect began collapsing the terrain around them.
Only the neutrals remained unharmed.
Finally, Jacks called out to Grifton. "I'm returning to the primary gathering area, Tinroy." He motioned for the others to join him. "I suggest you find your teammates and ensure they're okay."
Grifton still needs to respond. For all he knew, one of those neutrals would turn on Jacks. Even as he thought it, one of them tried to stab Jacks. Jeez, this was ridiculous.
"Traitor, you weren't even supposed to participate. Now you're refusing to do what was ordered of you?" The player was furious.
Jacks disarmed the man and bound him with one of the spare vines still lying on the ground. It promptly twined around the man and turned him into a mummy.
"Convenient, and I thank your little spirit friends." Jacks Charro then forcibly dragged the remaining neutrals with him. This time, he'd bound them with cords that wouldn't allow them to break free. They disappeared around the remainder of the cliff from which Grifton watched them. He immediately jumped down, removing his disguise as he did so.
There were loud cheers after his successful route of those idiots.
Grifton shook his head. That was nothing to celebrate. If anything, it would only anger and humiliate the players, who had learned absolutely nothing from this exercise.
How were the others doing? Grifton glanced at the map that broadcasted what everyone was doing, at least those who were visible. The others had learned from his suggestions before the beginning of all the events. They were putting the elemental spells of disguising and blending into the background in action.
Hmm, Grifton watched in bemusement. It seemed he wouldn't have to worry about the Charros siblings interfering with anything that came to breaking their neutrality vow.
Now, all he had to do was successfully draw out the players hiding and lying in wait for guerillas who thought they were safe. This would be the real lesson for those who believed hiding in dark corners was the safest thing to do. It wasn't.
~*~
Throughout this scenario, which could end in tragedy, Darmono and Lamberton were at their wits' end in frustration because they felt utterly helpless. Not only that but in separate capacities, they were playing host to a rather large group of newcomers who were adventurers/hunters.
As he sat in the spectator stands, Darmono exhaled in frustration. It didn't help that newcomers had come from Glaston Township, of all places. Darmono recalled visiting that place once, which was enough to ensure he never returned. Now that he thought about it, Darmono was curious to know if Lamberton had ever traveled there.
Lamberton caught his eye and glanced at him, puzzled. "What?"
Darmono sighed. "Did you ever travel to Glaston Township?"
Lamberton shook his head. "No, I had enough trouble leaving here when I was younger." He scowled. "My younger brother generally did all the running around and philandering." There was a displeased growl in his throat.
That's when Darmono recalled why Lamberton was potentially involved in this situation. He couldn't help but grimace when laying eyes upon the eight individuals. A sigh escaped Darmono, and he shook his head. He still couldn't help but be astonished at the sight they made with their unusual coloration. They all bore striking resemblances to Grifton, he had to admit.
Three of them were adults, and more were close to that description but still young enough that they weren't adults. Although, no one looking at them would realize that at least five of them weren't adults. That's when an unpleasant realization hit Darmono and made him groan inaudibly in horrified dismay. Sheesh, this would be like raising that crazy kid Grifton Tinroy all over again. He didn't have the energy for this.
Not after all the loss he'd suffered over the years. He muttered before realizing he should keep his mouth shut. "What have we unleashed upon this city with our agreement to help them?" Darmono rubbed his forehead.
Right then, Lamberton noticed his discomfort and horrified silence. "Darmono," Lamberton caught his attention. "Do you need a break?" He finally offered him something else to think about. "I'm still trying to track down who else is involved." His eyes silently communicated that Darmono couldn't stray off what was really important: tracking down those jerks who'd tried to ruin the arena's prestige as neutral and safe to practice.
Darmono sighed. "Yeah, I'm hitting blockages as well." This was an unusual problem that they had yet to encounter before.
As for the other topic, the new party's arrival. They sighed in discomfiture. The other man was in a similar bind. Clearly, Lamberton knew at least a couple of the escorts far more intimately than he wanted to acknowledge.
Well, they both have that problem right now.
For now, they really did have to focus on what was most important. "I hear you," Darmono realized. I'll be okay." He put his mind back on the issue at hand.
"Are you sure about not needing a break?" Lamberton studied him with lifted eyebrows. "You look like you've got a fever."
Darmono grimaced. He didn't have a fever; it was just some time since he'd experienced the summer heat in Three-Pronged Fork. "No, I don't need a break either." He frowned since Lamberton seemed to be having trouble. "Have you discovered the individual with this bright idea?" Darmono was also having problems.
Clearly, whoever was behind this was aware of the resources he and Lamberton could call upon, which meant it was someone with more power and influence than them.
Darmono had a short list of potential power-mongers, none of whom he could find a good reason to interrogate off the top of his head. "I'm stuck because I have suspects in mind but no true motive that would hold water with the higher-ups." That was Darmono's stickler at the moment.
They stared at each other in frustration. Now, they were both caught in a bind that wasn't helping them complete their duties as thoroughly as they'd like.
~*~
When all was said and done, that unofficial arena almost had several fatalities despite the precautions Grifton and his small team took. He was highly displeased with what happened. Later, Lamberton, Darmono, and a few other influential figures also took harsher measures against any high-level spectators who wanted death to occur in that arena. They also made sure that the referees wouldn't be retaliated against when they refused those unwelcome demands in the future.
As it turned out, there were a few notable exceptions for those beginners. Not only that, but because there were more neutral guides than expected. There was also the fact those individuals who sought to ruin the fun and freedom the participants exercised were eventually caught after being wounded just enough to disable them and arrested for treasonous activities.
Grifton shook his head angrily as he reviewed everything that had happened. "How are we supposed to be able to guard ourselves when we can't even trust authority figures anymore?" He knew not all of them were in that category; however, of late, too many were bribable and wholly corrupted.
Firenze glanced at Grifton. "So we'll have to revert to our past endeavors of finding trustworthy comrades for those months when formal duties separate us." He grimaced along with Grifton after saying that.
"So it is official?" Grifton exhaled slowly. You'll have to go as an emissary with the other lords who weren't excommunicated from the Galos Empire?" While he'd suspected it would happen, he'd hoped it wouldn't, and he sighed in disgruntlement.
Firenze shrugged in despondency. "Yeah, I was hoping it wouldn't happen either." He scowled. "Damn, brother just couldn't hack going there alone with the cousins." He shook his head. "This is really messing up our plans, huh?" Firenze reached out to grasp Grifton's hands. "Not to mention that we're now expecting."
Grifton nodded somberly. "Yeah, I could almost wonder about the timing." He frowned in bafflement. "Though we've told no one. I haven't even gone to a proper hospital either." A sigh escaped Grifton.
Contrary to what they displayed to the world at large. Grifton and Firenze were a committed couple. They had yet to go through the official ceremony, and that was all.
So when the word came down to Firenze, he was summoned back to the family estate right now, and for what reason? Well, the fact that he wasn't happy was an understatement. Not to mention that he'd been chosen as an emissary? That news was quite a shock to both Firenze Jesso and Grifton when they heard.