Chapter 268- Deception games (Patreon)

Deception games

Fole twisted through a tight alley between a pair of crooked hovels. Stepping into the littered lane, he then walked down the mossy cobbles towards the dead end. A trickling stream carried floating waste, wooden debris, and organic scraps mixed into it, towards the nearby sewer drains. Heaps of wetted rubbish piled up against the thick, rusted iron grate while under attack from an army of buzzing flies. Not far away, the looming shadow of the unnatural city wall rose in this twilight hour.

Waiting until the stench of the surroundings became unbearable, he turned around and traced his footsteps up the lane. A figure cloaked and hooded waited where he had exited while waving off two child beggars. As if in silent agreement, they both trod further up the lane before stepping into a small square, scrap filled yard. The owner of this shack pounded away while nailing a crooked board onto the groaning structure. The two visitors nodded a greeting before knocking at the unexpected solid door.

"I sent the children to the orphanage after they reported no one followed us. They will have a treat tonight since Singh said they performed admirably. The Lady Boss handed over some coins to him for preparation of a lavish meal."

"Let's wrap this up quickly then. I know an inn near the east gate which roasts a mean bird. We can head over and order a few."

The grating door silenced their conversation as the doorman bid them welcome. In keeping with the imaginary building codes of the slums, the shack opened into one room. A brawny man sat on a stool while two equally tough-looking thugs stood shirtless on either side. On the open floorboards before them, lay two men groaning while trussed like chickens.

"Boss Loggs, no need to stand up. Any news?"

Fole said as his eyes acclimatized to the light of the lamp. Because of the importance of this matter, both he and Green had come. As members of the original six, who had suffered, toiled and then rewarded on the farm, they had a vested interest. Although they sent Mr. Thomas home, it did not mean they treated this matter lightly.

The man reseated himself while speaking.

"Greetings Instructor Fole, Instructor Green. In keeping with our policy, we brought them over to Grease Lane. The rest of the boys have returned on patrol or relaxing at the gambling den. We roughed them up a bit before I sent sweet, little James to play the part of a sympathetic jailer."

Boss Loggs raised his chin towards the thug-like brawn standing to his left. Nothing about the hulking man screamed the words sweet or little.

"Anyways, it happened exactly as discussed during our weekly training sessions. They tried to bribe my little James by offering coins if he aided their escape. When we heard you were coming, we had just found out that their employer belonged to House Gofart. It's a relatively big merchant family since I heard the name call even in the slums."

"I don't blame them for trying since I'm sure you didn't hold back on painting a grim future. Well done, I will be sure to mention this to our superiors. It seems some folks still take us as moneygrubbers because we live in the slums."

Fole answered as he squatted down and yanked one of the men's face upward. Staring down with disdain at the short, grizzled beard, a memory surfaced of when they ambushed Ming for the first time. The unreasonable face back then bore a beard like this. Unconsciously, his hands raised and delivered some satisfactory slaps to the captive.

Green stroked his small, straw-colored goatee. Unlike Fole who looked wiry, he and Han possessed rugged, muscular frames. The reason why Doug sent him, however, was not because of his intimidating looks. Doug referred to him as the classic example of 'don't let appearances fool you'. The blonde young man grinned while facing the captives.

"Boss Loggs, how keen are your boys? What do you think about a Double-Turning?"

The wild-bearded man narrowed his bushy brows together until the meaning of the words dawned on him. Raising his towering frame from the creaking stool, he rubbed his calloused, meaty hands.

"Well, I mean, we've run through the scenario before, but I never had the chance to put it into practice. I also don't think any of the other bosses tried it since no one mentioned it during the monthly gathering of the heads."

He raised a palm at Green while continuing

"But I don't think my division has a problem. In fact, I'm itching to try."

Chuckling, he gazed at the frightened captives.

"Little James, stand them both up. Now here is what I'll do. I'm going to release one of you. All you have to do is return to your master and have him send two silvers. We will then release his other loyal servant. Considering you stepped foot into our territory without asking, two silver coins is a cheap price for a dedicated servant."

Boss Loggs cracked his knuckles.

"If you don't return within two days, I hope you know what will happen to your companion. Little James, fetch a sack to drop it over a head, we don't want the one being released seeing where we live. So, which one of you wants to keep me company?"

***

Fole sat in silence as Green directed the small cart along the lanes to the east gate. Usually, it would take them some time to walk to the inn but luckily they borrowed a ride. Baker Rob might not be among the richest merchant living in the slums, but he held a token for this mule and cart. Traveling within the city was done by foot unless one held a token to use other means. The Military did not take to kindly in having congested roads.

"Why the Double-Turning? I don't remember it too well."

Green scrunched his brows in thought before turning to his questioning companion.

"Remember when we discussed spying and scouting on the farm? The Boss once said he should have watched movies for their plots instead of the mind-blowing actions. I don't know what he meant by it but his procedures, when given different scenarios, made sense."

Grinning at Fole, he continued.

"Loggs had them roughed up under his status as a gang leader. Living in this city, the two of them know there is nothing keeping him from killing them. Did you notice their eyes when Loggs offered them a chance?"

"I did. The shifty glances they hid from each other reminded me of when we were ambushed that one time on the road to the Capital with Merchant Kim. Remember the guard who chatted and drank with us. He was the first to drop his sword and surrender when he witnessed us being surrounded. Too bad he didn't know Merchant Kim already paid the road taxes."

"Exactly, people will turn on each other once their life is in danger. The Double-Turning plan of the Boss makes use of this. We escort one of them as if we are freeing him. Halfway out of the slums, Loggs will send someone to tell the escort to hold and imprison him. We then make sure he overhears that his friend says their merchant boss secretly gave him some coins or the other."

Green guided the mule into another lane while continuing.

"Now we have the two of them imprisoned in different locations while each holding onto the thought the other betrayed them or left them to die. Knowing Loggs and his wily ways, I am sure he will fill their heads with lies while torturing their mind and body. I give them a week to break before we whisper words of freedom and revenge against their Merchant Boss who left them to die."

"Ah, I see. We will have a spy fueled by hate within the Gofart House. But what will we do with the other one?"

Fole asked. This burly brother-in-arms really had a deceptive mind. Worse yet, he could throw out a plan this evil without displaying a shred of emotion on that blank face. Fole didn't wait for Green to answer before blurting out his thoughts.

"The little Boss really warped your mind, didn't she? You have a look like when she fibs with a straight face."

"Haha, no one can lie better than our little Boss. Anyway, why should we waste an opportunity by keeping one of them imprisoned or killed? This city is a big place and don't forget that the merchant has accomplices and owns villas outside the city. No, we use them both while keeping them ignorant of each other. Little Boss always said if wild beasts can change, then so can humans. Who knows, with the right balance between the carrot and the stick, they can work for us..."

Fole raised his head to view the stars beyond the rooftops and wispy clouds. Who could have imagined he once dreamed of the lofty goal of becoming a village bandit. His standards were so low back then considering the adventures he experienced.

"So true..."

***

The Capital.

The large burly man walked down the broad street until he arrived at his waiting carriage. Unlike the other guest leaving the social gathering who wore white cloaks of fur, he wore a cape of grey. Somehow he felt much more comfortable since it reminded him of the village. Waving goodbye to the other guests who boarded their transports, he signaled the driver. The clopping of the horses led him away from this banquet towards his home.

"Is something on your mind, Master Griz?"

The words of the coachman sitting opposite him broke into his thoughts. The two of them occupied the large carriage. To outsiders, this person dressed as a servant assumed the role but everyone in his household knew better. This servant lived in a house within the compound of the Master's family while his young daughter enjoyed the privilege handed to young nobles in the Capital.

Griz sighed while raising his head to the ceiling of the carriage. His companion was not versed in etiquette or intelligence but Griz always found it easy to mutter his thoughts out loud.

"It's just that recently I've been having the feeling that things are not all they seem. There is a lot of shifty eyes and forced laughter that places me on edge. Don't get me wrong, it may all be in my head, but my merchant blood says otherwise."

"Master Griz comes from a merchant family so he knows how to read people. Now that you mention it, remember the last meeting you had with those large houses and clans? There was one man there who gave me the chills."

"Oh? You mean the one meeting I held at the house? Those people represent the largest and most powerful clans in the Empire you know."

Griz remarked. His companion nodded.

"That was the one, the man in the red robe that day. He had the eyes like when a wolf stalks its prey in the forest before attacking. It took me back to my days as a woodsman. His smiles and movement also appeared too sly."

Griz scratched his beard and then rubbed his broad shoulders.

"I think he belongs to the main household of Clan Wu. They have a reputation of being forceful in their dealings but have since settled down. Fellows like those tend to look down on people with lower status."

Griz explained. A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

"Now that I think about it, most of the nobles who have dealings or are really cozy to that guy are the ones acting strange..."

****