59
Chapter 59
Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2023, Planet: Grimoire
The director did recall that he'd heard shouts in a nasty vibe that sent chills down his spine. It vaguely reminded him of when he'd found Grifton. That's when he checked the security cameras. Much to Moline's ire, he saw Grifton being chased by some individuals he'd never seen before.
"Toledo Oryx, did I give either you or your spouse permission to bring your children onto the grounds?" Moline hadn't recalled doing such a thing. "This is business, not a pleasure trip, did I not make it clear?" Nor did he approve of unauthorized wanderings either.
Just then he espied two massively large boys, and an overly rotund girl advancing on Grifton. They'd already thrown stuff into his hair. Now they appeared trying to remove his clothing? "How dare you permit your children to bully others."
"What?" For the first time that day Toledo Oryx looked dismayed and shocked.
His wife merely smirked. "Isn't this what noble children are allowed? After all, we're being charitable enough to continue letting you have this building here?" Giselle Aryx-Oryx stared at Moline malevolently. "We were supposed to have received this land as settlement of that merchant's debts." She boldly tapped him on the chest with a shut fan.
Moline sighed and pushed it aside. "Stand down, madam, I don't want to breathe in your perfume, it is too heavy a scent for this time of year." Did she think such a thing would seduce him? How very irritating.
She backed off with a scowl.
Toledo eyed Moline with a frown. "So, what is it that you want to know precisely?" He shook his head when Giselle would've opened her mouth.
He is tired of this nonsense. "I want to know what you want from this land." Moline snapped.
"Oh, that is easy enough to tell you..." Giselle was cut off by her husband who slapped the fan against her mouth.
Ouch, that would leave a mark. Moline didn't bat an eye when he watched them scuffle. This wasn't the first time he'd witnessed such actions. Considering she just backhanded her husband, before being slugged in the gut, Moline didn't doubt they'd done worse to each other.
He contemplated calling for security before Toledo snarled. "Silence wife, this behavior is why we're losing business lately." She huffed and sulked off to one side. Toledo turned to Moline and gave an apologetic smile. "There are contraband goods hidden on the property. Items that would be illegal to sell in the Republic. We simply wish to reclaim and send them back to where they were produced."
His smile faded when Moline sighed heavily. "That is the best excuse that you can come up with? Without producing the verifying documentation?" So, this was why they wanted access to the land.
Moline didn't have any doubt that there was something hidden here that they wanted to get their greedy hands on. No doubt it was live as well as illegal. Perhaps they were referring to Grifton?
Moline's eyes narrowed as he eyed the brawling couple in front of him. This was even more reason not to hand over ownership of those orchards, much less the seemingly useless boundary lands in that case. He might as well get in a few more questions before deciding what to do about them.
Moline picked up a small ball and tossed it into the air before catching it. The rhythmic action caught the attention of Toledo and Giselle. They stopped what they were doing and focused entirely on it instead of fighting further.
Excellent, just what he'd wanted them to do. "What does this have to do with Grifton Tinroy and his cousins?" He watched as they exchanged glances. Hatred exuded from Giselle, something he found very disturbing to witness.
Giselle spat. "We have reason to believe that the child's mother might've been my youngest sister, Maribella Aryx." She folded her arms. "That little slut ran away a little over a year ago. The timing fits perfectly."
Uh-huh, that wasn't something Moline was going to trust without official paperwork, which they hadn't produced. "Without evidence, I won't allow you to remove any of them from this property." He didn't care what they thought they could do, even with endless amounts of money.
The Oryx couple stared at Moline in shocked disbelief that he would ignore their demands. "So, you won't heed any of our requests?" Toledo stated after a moment of silence.
"That is correct, my answer is no." Director Moline leaned against his desk. "I'm also refusing your investment offer." He dropped the proposal into a basket where tearing noises could be heard. "That trash of a proposal you gave me isn't worth considering."
He exhaled loudly before ordering. "Guards Maximillan and Stephenson, I request that you escort this couple to the front gate." Moline shook his head wearily. "Inform the captain of the security office to dispatch a dozen more guards to haul all of their children out of this place immediately."
The Oryx couple winced. They had exactly a dozen children roaming unsupervised in the orphanage grounds. The couple had tasked them to interfere with every part of the operation and terrify any weaklings they found. Now this was going to interrupt the work they'd been detailed to accomplish while on the grounds.
Director Moline was unmoved by his decision to get rid of the entire family. If all they'd been sent here to do was terrorize his staff and the orphans, then it meant he could press formal charges of harassment and wanton destruction of property. "Leave now," He ordered the couple. "Don't ever let me see you darkening the doorstep of my property again."
As for checking on the ownership of the lands surrounding the Orphanage, Director Moline would see to it that the Oryx would never get their hands on the outer boundaries either for that matter. He would take no chances.
A sigh escaped him. This had turned into yet another complicated failure of a day. Where could he find decent investors that wouldn't exploit his charges! He fumed irately and punched a wall in his aggravation. "Ouch, dammit that hurts!" He swore in aggrieved irritation, his earlier wrath not alleviated one bit.