Chapter 287- Testing and Prodding

Testing and Prodding

Chong passed a tired hand across his face and then forced open his bloodshot eyes. Last night, when Doug chose him to tag along to the meeting of the Bloodnight Society today, he hardly slept a wink. Rising from his bunk, he first washed with a basin of cold water before donning his leather armor. Throwing over a thin robe to hide his protective gear and easily accessible short-bladed sword, he unbolted the room and descended the creaking stairs.

At the kitchen table sat the rest of his long-time companions save one. Chong unceremoniously nodded and pulled a stool while reaching for the plate of steaming bread. He listened to the ongoing conversations before joining in.

"I still think this a bad idea even after sleeping on it. During the night I have been tossing and turning while running through different scenarios. Why should I expose myself to this meeting? Don't you think it's best for me to remain in the shadows?"

"Ideally, what you say is right. The leaders in the Society know Singh and me, so they can easily place a tail on us. Likewise, we can also do the same for them. Exposing you is like them exposing their hidden supporters. With Singh bedridden with the cold, I take it you think I should attend the meeting alone, right?"

"Yes, you sum it up nicely. It's better for them to think you appear weak without an escort, rather than expose another face to them."

Chong said while nodding to Doug. Since arriving and settling in Frost City, he always tried to keep himself away from the limelight. Even in interacting with the subordinates of their Behemoth Gang, he presented himself as one of the hired thugs.

Accompanying Doug as an escort would certainly cause the other leaders to think he held a high position in the gang. Deadly skirmishes might not bode well in the eyes of the elders of the Bloodnight Society, but that did not say plotting against the subordinates could never occur. A classic example fresh in their minds was the treatment and death of Lin.

By now, every leader would have known Lord Arash masterminded this event but without solid proof, accusations proved baseless. Exposed to countless examples of trickery, lies, and deceit on the farm from certain individuals, and also experienced gained from travels on the road to the Capital, Doug became aware of this from the moment he witnessed Lin's cold body lying at the foot of the Sersen escort of Lord Arash. He sighed at Chong.

"Daisy sent a message this morning with one of the orphans. She says his fever is high and he can't move about. Little Fluer from the information network kept them company last night. She said he tried to stand up this morning but nearly fainted. He said he can't make it."

"If Singh says that, then it's serious. What a hassle for him to fall ill when winter ends."

"Bugger must be milking this opportunity to spend time with Miss Daisy. I tell you, I saw him secretly smile when she said he needed to stay overnight. It's been three days since then."

"I don't think he can do much wooing with his sore throat. The bastard has mastered the pitiful face. It didn't save him when sister Daisy forced him to chug down a mug of bitter, foul-smelling brew. She can be pretty tough when dealing with stubborn patients."

Doug laughed at the retorts from Dan and Fole before turning to Chong.

"Yesterday, the network reported more than a dozen groups of what appeared to be small gangs hanging around the fringes of our territory. The local gangs have no idea of their origins. All they know is that they seem keen on disrupting the little gambling dens or harassing the small merchants. Apart from them, the older residents who spy for us say new faces have been shuffling deep inside the slums while inquiring about the Behemoth Gang."

"Testing and prodding?"

"Exactly. I dare say its obviously Lord Arash together with a few of his close cohorts from the society. To maintain the status quo, they cannot engage in open war with us. Nothing prevents them, or us, however, from using the small unsuspecting gangs to whittle away at the others. Weakening us makes it easy for rival gangs in our territory to defeat us. Luckily, no one gang can own all of the marked territories or else chaos would reign in the underworld."

Doug said while sipping on his mug of hot tea. Chong raised an eyebrow at him.

"You know all this and yet want me to escort you? That one-eyed mountain called Boss Krall and the short fatty named Jink are both in cahoots with Arash. I dare say I might skewer fat Jink with my sword after seeing what he did to Lin's hand. If I ever gain the chance to kill that pet Jaga of his, I'll chop off its paw and stuff it up his..."

"This is why I think now is the time for rookie mistakes. We are newbies who rose to power unexpectedly and landed in a crisis. Lord Arash probably think we escaped serious punishment by luck since we claimed our Boss had yet to arrive. I want to continue festering that idea in his head."

"Sloppy mistakes?"

"Why not? First I want to make a slip of the tongue during the meeting and say our Boss might not arrive for the Villa Gathering at the end of summer. Later, we will search for the most promising gang who we know is backed by them. I want them to slowly cede a few businesses under the impression we lost them. Green, you'll have to liaise with the merchants to recompense them for their assistance during this deception."

Doug explained. His finger pointed to the table as if reinforcing his plan.

"By exposing you, I want Lord Arash to think we really are a bunch of imbeciles. We can stage a little skirmish outside our territory or at the Silk Flower House. Spreading how easy you ate the dirt during a brawl can grow the idea that we don't possess skilled fighters, much less, Sersens."

"Great, now you want me to take a fall?"

"Haha, don't you want to return into the shadows? What better way but to spread the rumor that you became a cripple. With Sakura now handling our finances, let's play for the upcoming summer with these old crows. I want us to appear in dire straits when the villa gathering comes around. You know as well I, that when the Boss sets a foot in this city, chaos will begin."

Chong nodded in agreement on hearing the last few words. Listening to Doug, he understood the thoughts of his shrewd companion. If the Behemoth Gang seemed thrown into chaos, those foxes would not think twice in grabbing a few more bites. never would they suspect the terrifying wolves hovering over them.

As for the arrival of the Boss, it was obvious he would not make the journey alone. The Boss might conjure up some schemes using the foundation built by them and Sakura to crush Lord Arash and the others, but the true danger came from those volatile companions of his. Woe is to the ones who foolishly crossed their path. Chong sighed while looking at his companions in the kitchen.

"What will we tell the little Boss when she asks about what happened to Lin?"

"I don't care what anyone says, I will tell her the truth. During the last few weeks, he acted as if he was some type of boss. We all know he got himself killed in the end by his own actions."

"Green is right, He always kept harping about how we should forget the Boss and strike it rich by ourselves. He forgot the hardship we faced before we came here. If not for the Boss and Mr. Thomas we would all be collecting firewood in the village slums."

"What firewood, Dan? Did you forget the Bitzer Raids? By now we would be dead. We cannot shirk our responsibility to the little Boss, but I think we need to speak the truth. Yes, I say we should have reigned him in as soon as he began to spout his rebellious ideas. Maybe he would not gain the opportunity to spend so much time on the street."

Chong listened to the younger members of his group voice their opinions before turning to Doug. His long-haired leader shook his head and then spoke.

"You guys don't get it. The little Boss won't dwell on what happened or shed tears because of Lin in front of us. What is important to her is how it occurred, who did it, and where they live. After that, well..."

"Chaos..."

"Disaster..."

"Retribution..."

***

Chu ended his return trip without incident. He camped in the grasslands and timed his return at night when the majority of workers departed for the village. Upon entering inside the familiar gates, he briefly explained the nature of the cargo to Clod. Soon, the stacks of crates and barrels made their way to a secure storeroom.

"The spices can be carried to the food stockroom. I want to use some the next time we smoke meat for storage. As for the incense keep it hidden. When we build our keep, we can then burn it without fear."

"It really has a potent fragrance. The one we burned on the road, messed with my scent skills. Up until now, my nose is useless."

Lucy replied while sniffling.

Chu turned to the culprit.

"Shake those stones out your pockets before you leave. If you mistakenly show it in Frost City, it might expose us all to quickly. The probability is slim on us meeting up face to face with the travelers from the road among the thousands in the city."

"Okay, but in return, you have to advise Pine to construct my very own poison lab. You yourself cant argue about my skills in creating mass destruction."

"Are you crazy? You're lucky I'm turning a blind eye towards this hobby of yours. One wrong concoction by you, and you might kill us all."

Chu laid down the law. Who knows if this idiot might release poison gasses during his experimentation and cut their lives short.

After a welcome hot bath and a hearty late-night meal, Chu climbed the stairs of the barn towards his familiar desk. Unlike previous nights, the lamp at his desk flickered on the face of a person sitting on his chair. The small but firm fingers trembled slightly while gripping a scroll. He recognized it to be one of the first deciphered letters he received from Doug after establishing contact following the Bitzer Raid.

"I came to see if Sakura wrote any letter while we were away."

The eye of the redhead glazed as she spoke. Chu noticed her lip tremor slightly.

"Why didn't you tell me about Lin?"

****