113

Chapter 113

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

Darmono regarded Lamberton thoughtfully through the monitor. "You seem relatively calm now." It was a sight to behold.

Lamberton shrugged. "You know me, I'm not one to bewail past events." His tone was dry. "Nor do I wish to hold onto individuals when they've made it blatantly clear they don't want to stay here." He glanced at other monitors with a frown. "Besides, I have it on good authority that once that Alpha goes away, my nieces and nephews with their children will be safe from further predation and degradation."

Darmono winced now that he understood what angered Lamberton the most. It had almost happened to Lamberton, except that the degradation and predation were from a deviant Omega. Darmono understood his fury. It wasn't difficult to predict that Lamberton wanted that to happen no more. He had rules and structures in place for a reason.

"I think you've managed to do quite well in capturing that Alpha with the trap you set a week ago." Darmono reminded him.

Lamberton curled a lip. "You really think I'd allow that creep to remain free on the streets?"

Darmono shook his head. "Though I imagine quite a few royal families and empires are cursing your name right now."

Lamberton scowled. "Let them do so. See how long their influence lasts if they keep it up." He folded his arms. "Now then, I'm assuming you're wondering when Grifton will head out?"

Darmono nodded. "My units need his crafts desperately." Especially the items that, once imbued with mana, Darmono had seen in action, would provide unique effects of protection, boosts to their spells, and reduced mana depletion when casting those spells.

When Lamberton raised his eyebrows at Darmono, he admitted. "I, too, would make use of them as well." Darmono suspected that Grifton needed to know the demand for his products. "By the way, who gave the false information to the triad of Tinroys?"

Lamberton shook his head. "The informant conveniently disappeared when he learned they'd been rescued and brought into my protection." He tapped his fingers. "Let's just say that he's no longer anyone's problem now that the enemy disposed of him."

Darmono wanted more than that response. It meant he couldn't track down who else was causing rifts between the four siblings. On the other hand, Darmono acknowledged that he was getting too impatient. "Well, since we seem to be done, I'll return to my other duties."

Lamberton nodded. "I, too, must accomplish other duties before the caravans are dispatched." He shrugged with a sigh. "I was informed that it would take at least a week." His disgruntlement made Darmono chuckle. "Before Madam Murray finished reviewing the medical information and the proposed schedule." Lamberton shook his head with frustration. "That would advance Grifton's promotion through the ranks faster than originally planned."

Darmono could understand his impatience, but he also saw where Madam Murray was coming from. "I'm sure that she only has their well-being in mind." He should remind Lamberton why they had been working with her all this time.

Lamberton nodded. "I'm sure that is part of why she's being so thorough." He shrugged. "That is also why I chose my method of getting that deviant idiot off the streets."

Darmono also reminded him. "Do recall that three of them have children now and can't travel as quick as they once did."

Lamberton grimaced. "Oh, believe me, I'm well aware of that." He folded his arms. "That is also why I'm not pushing for a faster departure time. I do understand that those four want to form a stronger bond." He shook his head. "I don't want them to split further apart and become isolated." His expression pinched. "I want to find an ideal situation for them to create their own party and eventually a merchant caravan."

Darmono applauded him for that vision. Now, he saw why Lamberton was being patient, which he'd thought was unusual. It also made sense why he wasn't resisting Madam Murray's demands for patience and a longer delay before sending anyone on their way.

Lamberton eyed him. "I gather you're contemplating what would happen if they did manage to accomplish that end goal I have in mind?"

Darmono shrugged. "If it does happen, I'll be more than willing to form a contract with them in the future for supplies." Hearing what Lamberton had in mind gave Darmono a better idea of the future. Also, why he'd brought Madam Murray into the picture as well.

As for the delayed departures, it would make sense if it was Madam Murray. Darmono saw no reason to argue with Lamberton. "I believe there is a specific reason she wanted that time to ensure everyone involved is healthy."

Lamberton nodded. "Yes, now that some tentative arrangements have been completed for the beginning of their exodus." He looked over his shoulder again and frowned in exasperation at whatever he heard in the background. "We should concentrate on our separate obligations now." Lamberton signed off before Darmono could say anything further.

That man was becoming worse than Moline. Now that Darmono thought about it, he hadn't heard from Moline either. A sigh escaped him. "I guess he's busy adventuring around too. Now I want to retire and take up a different lifestyle." It wasn't close to a good time yet for that to happen. "When will these stupid border conflicts end?" Darmono shook his head in disgust.

~*~

Talk about awkwardness. "I've seen examples similar to what you'd gone through." Well, Grifton was able to agree with them in that situation. "I've also witnessed the reversal occur as well."

Amberlyn stared at him in shock. "So, there have been times when Alphas were viewed as prey rather than Omegas?" She clearly hadn't expected to hear that.

"Ah, right, I remember seeing some news accounts." Calico shook his head. "It was the female Alphas who'd gone after a few male Alphas running rampant all over the slums, though." He looked bemused.

Grifton shrugged. "Well, that's just a small portion of what happened."

Marlayne grimaced sourly. "To be honest, I know there are Omegas who're just as horrible deviants as that Alpha that tried stripping us of our memories and identities." She shivered. "It was a bunch of those jealous Omegas that sent us into that hellhole to begin with." Marlayne shook her head briefly.

Grifton frowned because this was the first time they'd opened up about what happened. "I see." He'd seen similar circumstances occur all around him on the streets. "That had to hurt." The worst was when Omegas were hunted down by some lawless Alphas who couldn't rise through the ranks unless they proved their dominance.

His siblings shrugged. "We heard that those Omegas wound up dead, even before they could admit to their crimes."

In other words, they were silenced because they could leak the information of the others involved in the trafficking and enslavement, eh? Hmm, Grifton rubbed one ear. "You weren't the only ones who had a narrow escape." He made a sour face. "I learned very quickly."

Even now, Grifton still has difficulty accepting his secondary gender. Maybe it was because he had had different experiences than they had. He just didn't know anymore.

Marlayne tsked at him. "Don't ruin your chance of having good relationships with different people just because of our bad experiences." She shrugged. "What happened with us was just bad luck." Marlayne shook her head. "I would like to believe that not all Alphas are assholes." She made a face. "Believe it or not, there are Omegas who're just as bad if not worse than them."

The others nodded.

Now, that type of situation he was well aware of. While he'd met a few good ones, the rotten apples tended to outnumber them by a good two dozen or so. Resigned to that reality, Grifton shrugged. "Yes, I've run across those as well."

They laughed because he was being honest, and they appreciated that. "So, what did you come by for?" Amberlyn studied his face. "Surely, did you not just see our cute faces and those of the children?"

Grifton hadn't missed a single gathering while they were there. "No," He shook his head. "That isn't why I wanted to meet up with you." How should he go about doing this?

"Just spit it out," Calico told him. "Better to get it off your chest before time runs out." His children were dozing around him on the pillows he'd piled in a circle. A few of them were lying across his legs and arms. None of them wanted Calico to budge.

Grifton couldn't help but smile at the sight. His sisters were slightly more decorous in how they'd managed to settle their children down. He finally took Calico's advice. "It was more about that I'll be leaving in a week for my first journey."

They exchanged startled glances before smiling ruefully.

A sigh escaped Grifton. "I also know you and your kids will take off before then." He was going to miss them quite a bit.

The trio glanced at one another as they listened to him patiently.

"So, I wanted to spend as much time with you as possible," Grifton added awkwardly. "Preferably without being a hindrance." He knew they needed their private time to heal from the wounds dealt to them.

Therefore, Grifton avoided hanging around them twenty-four/seven if he could help. He knew how annoying it could be when someone clung to them like glue. It was disgusting and showed how insecure some people could be. As a result, he gave them the space they needed.

Amberlyn, Marlayne, and Calico gaped at him in shock.

Marlayne murmured. "Wow, we hadn't even thought about it in those terms. Thanks." Her eyebrows furrowed. "Well, that explains why the older kiddos were so grouchy when meeting you at first."

Grifton nodded slightly.

Calico grunted. "Huh, they were jealous of the time we spent with you because it meant they weren't getting any attention." He shook his head. "Now I feel like an inconsiderate, selfish jerk."

Grifton was silent before he smiled. "Yes, well, now that you're aware of why I scaled down the time spent with you all," He glanced at the oldest and clearly bright-eyed kids, who looked shocked and embarrassed when they listened to what was being said.

They flushed when Grifton added mildly. "It'll be easy to rectify any misunderstandings that occurred in the past, right?"

Subdued, the relatively large group of six-year-olds nodded with some chagrin. Now that they did understand, they weren't going to act so squirrelly around their uncle in the future, Grifton hoped.

~*~

Once arrangements were made, Darmono figured all four siblings would be on the road within two weeks. He stood at a window, seeing many tents with small fires burning. His last sojourn back to Three-Pronged Fork hadn't given him any rest. Instead, the opposite made Darmono wonder if anything would change soon. His gut told him nothing would, and they would remain stalemate for the next few years.

That was a future Darmono didn't care for in the least. So now, something would have to change. Quite possibly, anything would only alter if he did something sneaky and underhanded. While he didn't care for doing that, he did want to end this conflict.

A sigh escaped him. "What to do?" It was a definite quandary Darmono didn't care for.

"Commander, you need to come outside. Someone has arrived with a truce flag." His aide, Carlton, poked his head into the tent where Darmono stood idly staring outside.

"All right, here I come." Darmono was surprised. Something good could come from this situation.

He briefly reflected on the earlier arrangements and shook his head wistfully. True, it meant separation would happen, but it couldn't be helped. The fact that Grifton was finally beginning his journey as a merchant artisan apprentice pleased Darmono.

It meant that he'd accomplished the problematic tasks of surviving on the streets and gaining practical experience that would allow him to endure future hardship.