Chapter 44 – EVO
***Tirnanog, Mount Aerie***
***Magnus***
My next meeting with Etan came right in the morning, not even twenty-four hours after we had brought the poaching problem to his attention.
I peeked into his office, which had the door standing open. Either he had been waiting for me, or he was one of those ‘open door’ kind of office-guys though I didn’t take him to be the type.
Hi! I waved a hand in greeting. Mary told me you want to see me.
In turn, Etan looked at me as if I was an imbecile. Come in and close the door.
Right from the start?
Seriously, what had I done now? Too informal? It looked like he was determined to dislike me for some reason. I just couldn’t get him to warm up to me.
Sighing, I did as told and took the seat across from him like a good little peon. After all, the Frosts were still my best chance to influence the clan as a whole. I couldnt afford to burn my bridges with Etan.
My people investigated the poaching matter and found a ring of eight individuals who sold out our hunting schedules, Etan explained. Thankfully, it wasn’t one of the hunting supervisors, or they wouldve been able to mess with the setup of the schedules. The traitors had a guard who copied the new schedule during her nightshifts. Which is why your unannounced trip surprised them.
That was fast, I commented, almost unable to believe how quickly the investigation had gone down. Had Etan’s men swooped in and apprehended everyone with access to the roster before searching their belongings? Guilty until proven otherwise?
Well, I had to remind myself that this society didnt operate like Earth’s.
But maybe things werent so dissimilar. Wasn’t my reason for being here not an issue of men in black swooping in and abducting people?
Etan leaned back in his chair. I may not control the whole clan, but at least within the twelfth, people jump when I tell them to. For now, we’ve made sure the traitors will do as told.
You’ve… allowed them to stay on their posts? I asked, a little perplexed. How can you be sure you got them all? Or that they won’t blow the whistle?
Etan raised an eyebrow. I won’t deny the possibility of someone escaping our investigation exists… but it is extremely unlikely. We have our ways to ensure their cooperation. Additionally, my people made sure not to alert possible spies when they took in the suspects. At least for now, the investigation didn’t reveal anything which indicates the sold information was used to kill our hunters. Unless that changes I am willing to let the Patels’ poaching slide to gain some more time. For now, we’ve turned the traitors into double agents. If we take them off their duties, the Patels will know their game is over. As long as they don’t suspect anything, we can choose to feed them misinformation.
For some reason, I didnt want to ask how Etans people had ensured the traitors cooperation.
I spread my fingers, signalling I didn’t dare to question his subordinates’ competence. Okay, if you have the means to ensure this, then there is nothing to be said against such a course of action.
My father in law nodded. Your job will be easy. Find a way to use the Patels’ betrayal against them. Preferably in a way that allows us to turn the vote in our favour. You have two weeks to prove yourself.
Two weeks? Talk about an impossible task!
I pursed my lips. Etan had already forewarned me of his intentions, but this development still came a little fast.
Which resources do I have access to? I finally asked.
You can do anything you want within the twelfth strata, Etan explained. If it concerns matters outside, then you have to ask me first.
Did he intend to let me off the leash and play with all of his stratas resources? Surely, there would be someone watching my every move.
Then I need a guide who can show me around the third, I answered quickly. Oh, and could I have Winston join me?
It was the first time I managed to befuddle Etan. My in-law’s expression turned confused and he blinked. Winston? Mary’s guard? Why do you want him of all people?
Because I already managed to build some rapport with the man, I replied, slipping into my ‘earnest’ persona.
My real reason, because Winston was an incredible prude and I just loved winding him up, went undiscovered.
Fine. Whatever… Etan waved a hand, shooing me out of his office. You can ask Mary if you want to see the investigation’s report.
I got up and politely excused myself.
Dragging Winston through the clan’s rough underbelly would be so much fun!
Once I had left Etan, I went directly to Mary’s office and politely requested all the documents concerning my task. I would have to read through everything in the evening because today was reserved for getting to know the third.
Yesterday’s drive-by was far from enough to allow me to see the whole picture.
With that done, I also informed Mary of my sister’s educational deficits and wrangled a promise out of the old crone to double down on Iv’s scientific education.
Ahem, nonetheless, I finally got back on track and took a trip to the third, accompanied by Winston and two more guards. We were dressed in unflattering work clothes which allowed us to mingle with the thirds average citizen.
To my guards, it mustve felt like I had taken them on a drinking tour through the worst bars the third had to offer, combined with a sightseeing trip and idle chit chat as I tried to engage random passersby in conversations.
Despite making myself look like a fool, I learned a lot that day.
The thirds average citizen was a hard-working, if not very educated or law-abiding person. There was a general sentiment of diggers having to look out for themselves in a world of exploitation by other stratas.
I spent a lot of time listening to the people who held speeches in the streets and found them to be a part of the Patels propaganda machine. They spouted different slogans, but the core message was the same wherever I went. Stick to your strata and trust in the Patels to see to your best interests.
It took some time, but I eventually realized the difference in how the Patels ran their strata compared to the others. Or at least why there were signs of discontent everywhere I looked.
The graffiti and badly maintained public areas weren’t there without reason.
The third sucked up the undesirables was probably too strong of an expression. Lets call them outcasts who didnt play well with the rest of the clan. Every society had those kinds of people, and the Patels had given them a place to come together.
The news of a possible war had made it out of the councils halls and was a big topic on the streets, and the propaganda messengers didnt like it all, pointing out all the ways it would likely make life harder for the poor.
Only, the thirds people werent really poor. They were well off compared to those who scratched together a living in the Old Camp.
I didnt even disagree with the public reluctance against war. Most wars in human history had been fought on the average persons back while the old and wise leaders hid behind their population. As I saw it, the only reason why humanity had never fought a serious nuclear war was because the people who called for war knew they would have ended up in the crossfire.
But sending countless young men and women to fight for law and order on the other side of the world? No problem, as long as it brought in cash.
Four days passed in my quest for understanding.
I visited the public bars which served the average miner Jack after a hard day of excavating the mountains riches. Good people who sought nought but to make an honest living from day to day. People who didnt care much for war one way or another, but would be very disappointed if change made their lives harder.
A stroll in the better living areas allowed me to meet the thirds middle class, best represented by a certain Marlene Pierre, a better-off woman who always bought her starfish from the same vendor. She had hit it big when she bought the mining rights for a dead-end tunnel and found an almost pure iron ore vein, ensuring her pension.
Her disposition towards war was indifferent. Not because she was a bad person, but more so a pragmatic one. War would see a lot of people killed, which was bad, but it also always increased the prices of the necessary resources to make war, like her iron.
My favourite people from the thirds higher society were Krystian and Mikayla Bonner, a paired couple who ran a refinery for the stratas ore before it was shipped off to the other stratas, or directly sold to other clans via the fourteenths trading hub.
They were absolutely against war, mainly because their leaders, the Patels, were against war, and they should know what was best. Since they were the elders…
Talking to them just gave me that feeling of conversing with this good-natured, if a little naive elderly couple that was totally on board with their political partys agenda. Mainly because said political party ensured they would keep their haven in the world.
Sometimes, there was nothing to be said against a good dose of blind trust. At least as long as everything didnt come crashing down.
Each night, I returned to the mansion and shared my insights with my wife and listened to her advice.
In the evenings and early mornings, I studied what Etans people managed to gather from our traitors and Ginevra, the poacher we caught.
It was on the sixth day when things got a little awkward.
I had just managed to convince my guards, including Winston, to pay a visit to one of the thirds less savoury areas, when we were suddenly surrounded by what I could only call a group of thugs.
Particularly well-equipped thugs.
The boss wants to see you, the lead thug intoned.
The line was so clich, I couldnt help but lean over to Winston who was standing next to me. I knew he would say that. No matter which planet, the grunts always come up with the same line.
My guardians winced collectively and Winston leaned away from me. You know, its never a good thing to be taken in by the Patels? We should walk away.
The thug raised a metal warhammer large enough to brain a changeling broodmother with one hand. A normal human wouldnt have been able to swing it with both arms. I wasnt asking.
I blinked, feigning my unawareness of our situation while I made sure to speak loud enough so everyone in the vicinity would hear. Why? We havent done anything illegal. Ive explicitly asked about it. And everyone knows where we are. I bet the council would leave no stone untouched if an elders family member went missing in another strata. That would be very bad publicity. I am sure Bruce and Travis Patel just want a nice chat?
It helped that these people generally had good hearing. Vocalizing myself like this ensured there would be at least a few dozen witnesses.
The thug smiled and gestured politely down a side tunnel. I am sure they just want to get to know the nosy person. After you.
Before my companions could say something, I followed the thugs invitation.
Back at the organisation, one of my old teachers mottos was, no risk, no fun.