69

Chapter 69

Flange Orphanage, City: Three Prongs Fork, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, the Year 2030, Planet: Grimoire

What had gone wrong this time? Disbelief made Director Moline scowl as he pondered the alert that had gone out to everyone. I could've sworn there were treaties in place where the Empires and kingdoms bordering the republic should step in right now. A sigh escaped him because he should've received word about this before the announcement was broadcast. If the aggressors haven't already crossed our borders, then we shouldn't need to muster the military like this.

If that was the case, then it meant they were dealing with bandits or rogue mercenaries that held no affiliation with any country at all. Moline mulled over the notion and found that it fit with what he saw on the screens projecting in real-time.

Moline sighed because this wasn't good at all. "Damnit, why now of all times?" He muttered in frustration.

It would turn into a free-for-all, which would spark a multi-border war with different countries. What an annoying possibility. That would also mean mandatory conscription of mages who were females and males, regardless of age, straight to the battlelines on multiple fronts.

Moline swore in disgust. "Why didn't the governance and ministers have anyone planning for this possibility?" Could they have had peace for too long in the past two hundred or more years? They'd borrowed their calendar from another kingdom that parallelled their borders.

"Hmm, what else can I pull from all this data?" Moline blinked when he realized his mind wandered elsewhere, and he grimaced. Yes, yes, the calendar was important, he reflected. It was the only way to keep track of their centuries and millennia.

"Ugh, I'm getting distracted at the wrong time." That went totally off into another tangent, and Moline exhaled slowly. "Huh, I found an anomaly. These aren't targeting different bases at all." He calmed his pounding pulse as he considered different options and finally shook his head.

Moline tapped his jaw. "At least this time, I can delay contacting the military for answers." He'd found a differentiation that had nothing to do with official military borders and their fortresses. No, this had everything to do with merchant routes.

"Err, well, this is unexpected." This would turn into even more of a headache if his speculation was correct. Well, there was really only one way to truly find out. Finally, Moline contacted Lamberton, a merchant. "Do you know anything about this?" he inquired.

Lamberton grunted. "I got it the same time as you." He heaved a sigh. "No official reports are coming out. I haven't heard anything about scheduled or unscheduled drills either." His arms were folded. "I'm as dark about this as you appear to be."

Well, that avenue was worthless to investigate. "All right, sorry to have bothered you," Moline sighed. "I thought I should ask since it seemed we're somewhere in the middle where we can't evacuate."

Lamberton finished. "But will be put on the spot because we've available warehouse space that can be utilized for overflow capacity." He rolled his eyes. "I've already been approached about that and told them no."

Moline admired his guts in telling the administrators no. "I wish I could say no." He really didn't have a good reason to refuse, though."

Lamberton grunted. "Do you have any crops being harvested?"

Where was that coming from? Moline blinked. "Yes, but they weren't slated for storage in the empty warehouses." He recalled what he'd planned to do differently this time around for them. "I set aside those warehouses primarily for portable goods."

However, since none of those goods had been completed yet, Moline sighed. "Unfortunately, that progress may be delayed because of everything going on." Well, there were other things he could use. "Fortunately, there are other items that I can populate them with." He would simply fill them up to prevent confiscation.

Lamberton hemmed and hawed in this throat. "Can you tell me what their purpose was again?"

Huh? Moline frowned in confusion. "I set them aside specifically for goods traded through merchant venues." He exhaled. "My orphans are all very proficient in creating artisan quality goods that're highly prized for their unique additions."

Lamberton cleared his throat. "Yes, I know. I've made use of them lately." He surprised Moline. "I can provide a solution, so the warehouses aren't confiscated."

"I'm listening," Moline was curious about what Lamberton had in mind.

Lamberton outlined what he had in mind. "I have three frost-ranked merchant groups coming through the area where the orphanage is located."

Moline was thoughtful because he could see where Lamberton was going with his suggestion. He stayed quiet until Lamberton finished talking.

Lamberton concluded, "They need to take a three-day break before joining the military unit they're assigned to." He paused. This way, the warehouses are occupied, and there's a place for the merchants to rough camp until they're rested sufficiently to continue on with their journey."

Well, that did seem possible. "Whose unit where they headed toward?" Moline would need to coordinate with the military leader.

Lamberton surprised him with his answer. "Commander Darmono's unit." He sighed when Moline grunted in annoyance. "They're watching the situation while not actively engaging the hostile entities."

Moline rolled his eyes and sighed in disgust. Of course, it would be Darmono's unit. He grumbled silently. "Can you give me an estimated time of arrival so that I can prepare them for utilization?" As far as Moline knew, Darmono was the only one capable of keeping track of hostile entities while simultaneously conducting sweeps for illegal activity.

"Sure thing," Lamberton hesitated. "Has anyone else aggressed on that youngster Tinroy and his cousins lately?"

That was random but Moline sort of saw where it was coming from. "There was another incident again, yes." He shook his head when Lamberton stiffened and added. "However, it seems that Tinroy is finding new ways of defending himself."

Lamberton blinked. "Really, so did it have to do with elementals?"

Moline was baffled at his quick understanding of the situation.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Moline informed him very calmly. "We now have three instructors that specialize in elemental magics, basic, intermediate and advanced."

Lamberton exhaled. "I'm glad to hear it." He smiled faintly. "Someday, I would like to watch a mock battle or spar amongst the students."

Huh, Moline was thoughtful. "There is one that was scheduled for tomorrow." He informed Lamberton. "Though it might be scuttled because of today's events."

Lamberton tapped his jaw. "I have another suggestion if you don't mind listening."

Moline perked up. "I'll hear you out." Usually when Lamberton offered advice, it was sound and would better increase his charges' experiences in a positive manner.