116

Chapter 116

Lamberton Dormitory, Tri-Market Warehouse, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, Year 2036, Planet: Grimoire

Thanks to his scouts, Commander Darmono ended any shenanigans the hostile forces attempted. "You stop your troops from trying to kidnap our citizens now or face the wrath of the supreme justiciaries of the global interface."

Commander Darmono would instead not get involved. That governing board had a nasty habit of laying waste to all life. He recalled the continent that was now a habitat of monsters. Darmono was confident that was their doing, though none would admit to doing such a thing of that scale nowadays. It would be too politically incorrect now.

There were more arguments, but Darmono wouldn't hear of any further attempts at coaxing. "I'm done with the politeness." Of course, that also ended any negotiations of a truce. "Your instigators are all captured and imprisoned. So how is it you believe you're innocent?"

All of the culprits were arrested. "You can either hand over the hostages now, or we kill everyone that is in our custody. That is the only choice you have." Darmono doubted they would take back the failures from their sides. That would be openly admitting that they'd tried sabotage, among other nasty tactics, to win over the populace.

To drive home how displeased his Republic was with their behavior, Darmono included a stinging warning: "Of course, we will send back your Omega and Alpha envoys and ambassadors provided they haven't broken any of our rules." After seeing what happened to the trio of Tinroys at the hands of one of their deviant Alphas, he doubted they had behaved.

Darmono sighed. "Carlton, make sure that the Omegas and Alphas that were envoys are arrested."

Carlton gaped at him. "Err, why should I do that?" He needed clarification.

"I've just revoked their immunity." Darmono gave a quick explanation. "I have reason to believe they're the culprits." He pointed to the unbelievably high statistics of pregnancies over the last six years. "This isn't just a coincidence," Darmono said curtly.

Carlton looked revolved and furious. "Right away, sir. I fear some may have already escaped, though." He warned when Darmono grimaced. "Well, gather up those who haven't been alerted."

Darmono knew there were a few who believed they were above the law. They were about to learn the hard way that it wasn't true. Those rogues with revoked immunity had been a thorn in his side for a long time. Now, justice would finally be served.

They were likely the culprits responsible for the rash of inexplicable pregnancies occurring without warning. There were several upset men and women at the disruption of their lives. In this case, anyone who wanted abortions would be provided since the pregnancies occurred against their will.

As for all the other official hassles, Darmono ruthlessly cut through all the red tape with vindictive pleasure. The flagbearers were sent packing without any supplies.

After Darmono's subsequent warnings and vicious follow-through, the empires had no choice. The hostages were handed over without protest.

The empires finally agreed to back off. It was either that or they lost territory from their increasingly overpopulated lands, which was an ill-affordable move on their end. Instead, they simply conceded their losses, and their troops were recalled from the borders of the Shantu Republic. It was a hard-won victory, but Darmono felt no sense of triumph. There'd been too many losses of humanity and beast kin life. "What is the situation with the unnamed republic looking like?" He contacted his other people.

One of them was the former Director of Flange Orphanage, Doyle Moline. "Not good. The empires are now going after it in retaliation." Moline regarded him steadily. "More reserves and supplies will be needed to end riots and worse." A sigh escaped him. "Good luck persuading our current governing committee. They only seem focused on cleaning up the rash of dead people that have turned up after your rampage against those rogues."

Darmono merely nodded. "Get some rest. You look like hell." He hoped that Moline hadn't been one of the victims of that jerk Alpha.

~*~

Grifton watched his siblings, and their children take off in the following two weeks. While he grieved the separation, he cheered up in recollection that he'd meet them in their new home, the fledgling Republic, somewhere in the wilds of the Pacific West.

"Now I have to get my details straightened out and finalized." Grifton refused to let anything slip by him this time. It didn't hurt that he had others assisting him in this venture. He needed to memorize a complicated hierarchy to avoid antagonizing the head honchos of the caravans.

Then, it was his turn to prepare for his departure. Madam Murray, Officer Brinton, Merchant Lamberton, and Commander Darmono ensured there would be no surprises on the route he was directed to follow.

They all stood next to the warehouse from which they would be departing. Grifton surveyed them all with a small smile. "Thank you all for your assistance." He gave Madam Murray a reassuring hug. The same happened with the men he'd known all his life. "I will see you again in one month, with good news."

Grifton set off on his first caravan with all his supplies and artifacts equipped to alter his appearance to a normal human's average height of five foot ten inches. He worked with strangers who didn't particularly like him, but Grifton didn't care.

"Why are we stuck with a newbie again?" The captain was very dour.

"Oh, he'll be useful, just wait and see." A guard reassured him.

"Hmph, he'd better have some useful skills." Another merchant complained.

"I've only seen him running around the streets as an errand boy." An artisan sneered. "How is it possible that he'll be any good on the road?"

A sigh escaped another guard. "I've seen him in fights." He shrugged in the firelight of the first night.

There were low murmurs, but no one doubted because they were too tired to care. Grifton kept his mouth shut and his head down so he wouldn't misstep.

On the seventh night on the road, they encountered bandits who were experts at guerilla warfare and nearly destroyed half the caravan.

"Damn, how do we fight foes we can't see?" The captain complained. "I didn't sign on for this."

"You're in luck," one of the guards said. "We've got someone who can help us. Tinroy, you're up."

"Yes, sir." Fortunately, Grifton, who was used to that type of fighting, could give tips to the captains, guards, and mages hired to escort the caravan. "We need to kick up a dust storm that'll reduce their visibility." His first suggestion: "Knock down some of those unstable cliffs. That should flush out any snipers that might be hiding among them."

"Well, now, isn't he clever." The captains were in shock.

The guards shrugged. "It looks like his life as a homeless street kid was very educational." None of them smiled, though. They were horrified when they saw what he could do.

"Now it's my turn." When he joined the fighting, he proved he could provide buffs. "Restore stamina and strength," Grifton muttered with a flick of his fingers at the others.

Grifton turned his attention to the bandits that were in the open. "Now, we must deal with these idiots to move on." His innovative style of retaliation against the hidden foes also scared them.

His wings came out as Grifton levitated high enough to present a clear target. He could sling arrows shot at him right back to their shooters. Then, others who swung various chains, maces, and whips were soon entangled within their vicious-tipped weaponry. None of them were able to move.

Units came to tow them back to the Republic, and their work was done. Grifton's caravan successfully moved to the next leg of its journey.

~*~

Reports of the first successful section of the journey reached Lamberton and Darmono simultaneously. Someone captured the entire fight on video. What shocked the two men was the sight of Grifton with wings but levitating rather than actually flying. However, when he began darting and drawing the fighters' fire, Darmono was stunned. "Wow, this is unbelievable."

Lamberton nodded. "This is more refined than when he competed while living in the Orphanage."

It just showed how much Grifton learned to get creative when he was on the streets. Now Lamberton understood how he'd escaped various traps the enemy gang set to catch him off guard between his psychic talents, the spells, and the elementals hanging around him. Grifton had quite the arsenal on hand when necessary.

"Yet, he won't kill unless it is to defend his party." Darmono shook his head in admiration. "So that is how we have bandits to interrogate, unlike other times."

Lamberton grunted. "A few of those caravans were in cahoots with the bandits." He was going over some of the statistics from past years. "The captains handed over a third of the cargo and kept a third for their private sales." He found the common factor of their survival. "It was the only way they survived, and that's probably how the two sisters and Calico wound up in that Alpha's control." Anger seared through him. "I think it is fortunate we found out what happened before worse occurred."

Darmono frowned. "So, is it that caravan that Grifton is with that is one of the culprits?"

Lamberton shook his head. "No, it was some other caravans that had suspicious origins." A sigh escaped him. "The elitist families retaliated after the Tinroy siblings managed to raise their rankings so high the first time."

Darmono was disgusted. "Huh, well, I think half those families were so thoroughly disgraced in the last confrontation that they were banished from the Republic. I never did learn where they wound up."

Lamberton grunted. "The majority wound up running to Galos Empire. The remainder blended into Bellonia Empire." He shrugged. "What happened after that? I don't know."

Darmono speculated on what occurred: " I suppose they reported our numbers of Omegas and Alphas and then planned a way to subvert the deviant ones to their usage." His gaze met Lamberton's, and they just shook their heads in annoyance at how the Alpha and Omega sustained damage to their reputations.

"So now we have to rebuild our good standing in society step by step." Lamberton reflected. "That is going to take some time." He frowned. "What can you tell me about this young Alpha?" He nudged a file toward Darmono.

"Why are you asking me?" Darmono looked it over and sighed. "Oh, good grief. He's trying to join one of my units." There was nothing truly remarkable about him. "Why would a Cornelle Institute student want to do this right now?" He wasn't even of age, ripe for the mandatory conscription. He had at least one year of freedom to go.

Lamberton grunted. "Observe the timing, doofus." He frowned at Darmono. "Who is projected to become a frost tier rank by that date?" It was too evident to Lamberton what was going on.

Was there a potentially lovesick Alpha after Grifton already? Darmono grimaced. "I don't believe this." He shook his head in bemusement. "No wonder Grifton was skittish around them."

"Not only that, but Firenze Jesso overheard what Grifton mentioned about being glad he hadn't confessed any feelings," Lamberton mentioned. "He'd run into them before when on the streets."

Darmono heaved an exasperated sigh. Oh great. Did the Alpha take Grifton's lack of declaration as a challenge? Just great. What a hella annoying mess at the worst timing to occur. "I won't let him in without a special test." He decided after some consideration. True, he needed new blood in his ranks, but having a lovesick Alpha? That would spell disaster the first time someone got hurt or aggressed on Grifton. Nope, Darmono wanted to avoid that happening in his territory.

Lamberton laughed. "Err, yeah, I had similar concerns too." He shrugged with a frustrated sigh.

This was even worse than Darmono had thought. "The same goes for other Omegas and Alphas that were there that day." He shook his head. "The military isn't a parade ground for courting males and females."

Lamberton shrugged. "Well, that's why I brought this potential complication to your attention, Darmono." He spread his hands in frustration. "He originally wanted to join my caravans as a guard but didn't have the qualifications, so I denied his request."

Darmono shook his head. "Well, let's just wait and see what happens. After, this was only the first week." There was always room for improvement. Besides, there was more to being in the caravan than simply fighting bandits." There are three more weeks for him to get through to see how successful this journey is."

Lamberton agreed with a smile. "Fine with me." He shrugged.

They went back to their subsequent paperwork.