Clark had some collections to do. Thankfully he didn't have to ask his father to use a piece of their wealth since he was head of the family now. Of course, Clark was going to speak to his father after everything was finished to get his opinion on his performance.
The council leader had given him all the information including the pirates nearby that needed payment. Clark had already started drafting the messages to each captain along with a taste of what they would get paid if they agreed. This plan needed to go off without any issues. His family's future depended on it.
He had returned home to gather the funds after which they would meet up again at the council chamber to discuss the rest of the plan. Clark didn't plan to stay home a moment more than he had to. The next phase needed to be handled quickly and delicately. Making his way to the basement he descended down the stairs.
Each council member's wealth was always kept underneath their house. The lock to the door also had three methods of security to ensure safety. First was a key passed down from a founding member in their family. Second was a voice lock that was constantly changed so that intruders couldn't use recordings or force someone to speak into it. Finally, a blood extraction test that had to be taken from a living subject.
Clark opened the vault door and walked inside. He shook his hand wrinkling his nose. “I hate that damn blood extraction test.” His voice echoed around the vault as he spotted the chest he was looking for. It was much and the treasure was mostly acquired from his ancestors killing and looting pirate treasure ships along with their island vaults. Essentially, he was just giving back to the original owners.
Walking over to it he picked it up quickly opening the lid. A creaking sound echoed around the room as he coughed waving his hand in front of his face to bat away the dust that had built up on the chest. Of course, inside the treasure was immaculate and even though it didn't look like a lot it would be worth everything to those captains.
Clark closed the lid, picking up the chest and carrying it out of the vault. Now that the treasure was acquired it was time to pick the scapegoat and after that they were going to release the information on the location of the facility. He had already thought of a few high-ranking military officials that they could pin the blame on. However, he wanted to know what the council leader thought since even after their conversation he had not divulged who he would put at the executioner's block.
He decided to go to the council chamber however when he made his way back up to his living room a hard knock at the door echoed through the house. Clark raised an eyebrow wondering who the hell that could be. He walked over to the side table and placed the chest on it, going to the door and looking through the people. His eyes widened to see the council leader standing there as if he had summoned him there with his thoughts.
Opening the door Clark let out an exasperated sigh. “What are you doing out here sir? I thought we were going to meet in the council chamber. Did something accelerate the plans that I'm not aware of?”
The council leader raised an eyebrow walking into Clark's home and sitting down in the nearest chair. “If I wasn't putting everything, I had into making you my successor I would punch you for talking to me like that. I believe that I've found our scapegoat.” He stopped for a moment realizing what he just said. The council leader couldn't remember if the two of them had that discussion yet or not. It was too late now since that was his plan, but he wasn't going to tell Clark until after everything was finished.
Clark was still standing at the door; it was wide open along with his mouth. They did not have this conversation and now that the decision was out there, he could feel his shoulders slump a bit. There was no room for failure now especially if he was supposed to become the council leader after the current one retired. He shook his head, closing the door. There was no time to talk about this successor business. Right now, all that was important was the scapegoat and then leaking the information, so he was just going to focus on that.
“That's right you did say you had a short list. Of course, we didn't talk about it before we went our separate ways. I have one or two names in mind however you have been connected to the upper echelon for longer than I have so you know who's more expendable. Who are we putting on the chopping block?” Clark moved away from the door and sat down in the chair nearest the treasure chest. Once he had the location of the facility, he could send this chest to the main captain of the area and that captain would spread the word. After that there should be no problems and all they had to do was set the trap.
Letting out a sigh of relief the council leader pulled out a small piece of paper. He waved it in front of him for a moment and extended his hand forward. “This piece of paper has the name of the general we are going to frame. It also has the location of the facility on it. I'm guessing the chest next to you is the treasure you spoke of that we are going to use to bribe the pirate captains in the area to help us out?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Clark leaned forward grasping the piece of paper trying to pull back. The council leader's grip intensified as he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head down staring right into Clark's eyes. “Now before you answer Clark and before I let go. You need to be one hundred percent sure because if you start down this path there is no going back. You will get my job in the future, and you will have plenty of enemies.” The council leader didn't avert his gaze and kept his vice lock grip on the paper waiting.
Cracking his neck a bit as he locked eyes with the council leader. A prideful smile crossed his lips. “I have no issues and if I wasn't ready this chest would be down in the vault. So let go so we can move forward unless you're the one that has doubts, reservations, or fears?”
The vice lock grip loosed, and Clark was able to take possession of the paper. He pulled it close, opening it up and peering down at the information. There wasn't anything on the paper that Clark recognized from the general's name to the coordinates. This must be someone the council leader wanted to get rid of for personal reasons.
A hearty chuckle escaped the council leader's lips. “You have a lot of nerve asking questions like that. I could have you killed on the spot for that. Besides, having reservation or second-guessing can be part of being a leader. If you're unsure of something, then you could be going down the wrong path. The reason I came here was to make sure things went smoothly but it seems aside from what I just handed you everything else ready to go.”
Clark hadn't looked up yet. He was still fixated on the paper. The coordinates for the facility were actually in a place where many shipping routes along with travel routes. It was a miracle that no one else had found the place. However, on most maps he was deemed a volcanic area and those tended to be high in virus activity. Of course, most people would just ignore a place that they didn't believe had any strategic or monetary value.
“That is a good reason to stop by. I'm curious as to why you chose this general to be our scapegoat. I've never heard of him and as far as military officials go there were plenty that we could have sacrificed. Can you tell me why you chose him or is that something you want to take to your grave?” He needed to be careful with the way he spoke to the council leader. However, at this point it wasn't going to matter since they needed each other there was no turning back as the council leader had so eloquently stated.
The council leader let out an exasperated sigh shaking his head a bit. “This was one of the generals that failed at the facility that Lorelei was locked up in. Even though he didn't directly oversee all operations, the facility placement construction layout and security were all set up by him. Losing her was one of the biggest blows we took and now she is reunited with her daughter to wreak havoc on the world. He must pay for that but since the guards on duty were already killed and the lieutenant assigned to the facility has resigned and been in prison, punishing the general would be overkill. However, if this leak is linked to him then I can finally take him out and install someone I trust in his place." He may have gone a little overboard however the general was actually falling out of touch with the world at large. That wasn't a reason to kill him however the council leader wasn't the only one who noticed his out of touch nature and even if they didn't believe he was the one who leaked the information others would believe it just to advance in rank or eliminate a potential rival.
Clark wasn't aware of all that. However, it didn't matter the scapegoat was chosen and now it's time to figure out how to leak the information and connect it to the general. “So, do we have a plan on how the information is going to be leaked? If this place is in such an area to where anyone can discover it, but yet only top military officials and council leaders know if it's existence. How do we then get it into Alexandria's hands?” That was of course the most important question at the moment. Such a highly guarded secret in an area where if you were clever enough you could find it. How do you leak highly classified information to fall into the hands of a fairly new pirate captain?
“There is a very simple answer to that question. One of our cities is close to the free pirate market. All we would have to do is Leap the information inside that city which most likely has a pirate spy or two living inside it. After that it's only a matter of time before the information finds Its way to Crimson Judgment and Alexandria. Do you have any objections, Clark?” A hearty chuckle came from the council leader's lips. He had been leaking information from that city for a while. It was the best way to feed false information to the pirates which had led to the capture of many vital test subjects over the years.
It was a good plan, and Clark was familiar with the information network that the free pirate market boasted. “I have no objections to that plan. So, who will actually be spreading this information into the city? We can't just let anybody do it even if the general is connected, the trail has to point directly to him doesn't it?”
“That has already been arranged. One of his top subordinates will defect to my side and he will be the one that is going to personally make sure the information is spread across the city. With all that being said and done I'm going to leave now. I want that chest on its way to the captains near those coordinates by sunrise tomorrow. After that it should take them at least a day or so to respond and by that time the information leak should be well on its way towards Alexandria.” The council leaders stood up, bowed for a moment and left without another word.
Clark didn't have anything else to add even if the council leader did stay. He stood up, grabbed the treasure chest and left his home as well making his way towards the harbor to personally make sure the package was sent. Everything was in motion and now the grand trap was set.