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((The Mon/Wen/Fri Double -- page 2 of 2))
Esai's gaze didn't lift up from his meal, though he didn't seem like he intended to eat the rest. "There's a chance that they won't stick around for much longer," he said.

"More than just a chance," said Adan.

Raul knew what they were getting at. The slavers were traffickers. As soon as they'd moved the residents of Miro, there would be no reason to stay. And the reinforcements from Warrenhold still needed time to organize. Even if they got on a plane right now and made the flight today--which was unlikely--they might still miss their window to rescue the remaining townsfolk.

And those Abolish bastards might get away.

But their reapers had made it clear. This mission wasn't about getting involved in the problems of the local residents. They weren't on a mission to stomp out injustice or protect the innocent. They were just here to observe. To gather intel. And locate the Sword of Unso, if possible.

Raul understood that. Esai and Adan did, too. They had priorities. And reinforcements were on the way. They could just wait. They could go diving, looking for that "sunken cave near the two-toned rock" again. If all three of them went together, maybe they'd actually find it this time.

Raul heard himself say something. "What if...?" He didn't finish the sentence, but he suddenly had his brothers' undivided attention.

"What if what, bro?" Adan urged.

Raul struggled for the right words. It was a dumb idea, still half-formed in his mind. "What if... we just... delay some stuff?"

His brothers eyed him steadily, then glanced at one another.

"Harassment," summarized Esai.

"They won't like that," observed Adan.

"Who won't?" inquired Esai.

"Everyone," answered Raul. "Going against the grain."

"Yeah, bro, true," concurred Adan.

And there was silence.

"So should we do it?" said Esai.

"Hell yeah, bro," they both said.