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The piercing gold eyes track slowly up from the book in his hands to the invisible person in armor in front of him. The invisible person shifts softly, uncomfortable from the angry stare.
“This is a joke, right? You are trying to lighten the mood before this battle?” Leo hisses at the spy. The spy hesitates before reluctantly shaking their head no, the helmet moving from side to side. Leo clenches the book in his hands tighter, his glare deepening.
“Leo, what’s the report?” Lettuce’s smooth voice cuts through the haze of anger surrounding the white-haired man. Leo throws up a hand in a dismissing manner, and the spy can’t get out of the room fast enough. Leo clears his throat and faces the assembled group of men.
Purpled is sprawled across his chair, a dagger teetering on its point in the table as he holds the end lightly, clearly bored of the conversation around him. SargeLAW and GodOfWar have a map of the Northern Council laid in front of them, their eyes on Leo but they had been in a heated discussion about troop placement. And finally, at the head of the table, the caracal watches Leo carefully, his ear twitching casually with his swaying tail, the reports in his paws long forgotten.
“As you know, I have a number of spies watching Spoke. Especially after the destruction of the Law Headquarters and the recruitment of Wemmbu, Flame, and Jaden. That spy and a few others had followed them back to Spoke’s castle in the Amplified. They report that a large group have assembled there, less than what is reported of Parrot’s militia, but more skilled.” Leo reports, translating the spy shorthand for the rest of the war council.
“Do they list names?” Sarge asks, narrowing his eyes.
“The obvious ones are Spoke, Wemmbu, Flame, Jumper, Jaden, and PrinceZam. They also met up with MinuteTech and Mapicc.” Leo reads from the list. Lettuce’s right ear flicks in irritation but he says nothing.
“What’s their plan of attack for the Northern Council?” GodOfWar asks, glancing down at the map in front of him.
“They aren’t goin-“ Leo began before Lettuce cut in.
“Spoke is not dumb enough to attack us without a replacement King. The rebellion is going after Parrot and Theo. Which is why I diverted a large number of our forces to the supply castle Parrot is raiding.” Lettuce says matter-of-factly, “I’m more interested in why you thought the report was a hoax.” Lettuce sits forward, leaving the reports on the table in front of him, intertwining his fingers and watching Leo carefully.
Leo clears his throat again as he approaches the chair he abandoned when the spy entered the room, “They reported on the…attitude and behaviors of the rebellion group. ‘While the group for the most part was calm and collected, re-gearing as needed, Flame was witnessed multiple times attacking Jaden forcing Wemmbu to defend him and causing the rest of the group to separate them. Wemmbu, despite that, was witnessed multiple times attempting to communicate with Flame through a sign, but PrinceZam was always looking at it as well so the signs were broken before they could read it. Wemmbu also blew two Stab Shot holes into the castle which resulted in angry yells from the calmer members of the team each time. Both times Wemmbu was attempting to hit Flame. Finally, one of Jumper’s loyal spies gave them coordinates to where Parrot is suspected to be because of the battalion approaching the area.’ My spy retreated after that as more of Jumper’s loyal spies were starting to notice them.”
The room is silent for a moment after Leo finishes the report, processing the information given to them, before Purpled chuckles just loud enough for the group to hear, “So, this group is going to blow each other up before they are even a threat to us? No big deal.”
Lettuce stands up slowly, his tail swishing out of the open part of the chair to not get caught, he leans on the table, looking down at the mini portraits of Flame, Wemmbu, Spoke, and Parrot staring up at him from their respective character profiles, “Go. Prepare your equipment and get as geared as possible. As soon as they rally what is left of Parrot’s militia they are coming here. I expect them in the next hour.” Purpled rolls his eyes but slides out of his chair, sheathing his dagger and walking out of the room with SargeLAW and GodOfWar following closely behind, the map forgotten on the table. Leo stands but hesitates. “Speak.” Lettuce hisses to the Bounty Hunter.
“You do have a plan to combat this…controlled chaos, right?” Leo asks carefully.
“Leo, I’m not stupid. I know how to handle this mess of criminals.” Lettuce states looking up at the white-haired man. Leo watches him for a moment before running a hand through his own slicked back white hair and nodding.
“Of course. I’m going to prepare my carts.” Leo states, turning and leaving. His clipped and controlled steps echo as he leaves the cat alone. Lettuce watches him leave carefully, the door slipping closed behind him, forcing Lettuce to confront the purposefully empty chair across the table from him. He stares at it for a long moment before taking in a deep breath and looking back down at the collection of papers stolen from the personal collection in one of the many hidden bases he raided with his men.
He slides Parrot’s out of the pile and sets his paw on the information, looking at the portrait of Parrot for a few more breathes, before sighing, “I hope you are ready to inherit this mess.” He collects the papers together, leaving them in a neat pile on the table before he himself walks out of the room to prepare for the final battle.
Ash’s golden signature twinkles in the torch light at the bottom of Parrot’s report.