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((The Mon/Wen/Fri Double -- page 2 of 2))
Hector hesitated. 'You don't think the Lorentians will be upset if I just start hacking away at this thing?'

Garovel spared them a glance. 'Well, Carl and Ravi are on their phones again, and they're trying to give this land to you, anyway. I doubt they'll care.'

Still, Hector held back. 'And what if we find something in there that suddenly MAKES them care?'

'Oh, you mean if we find something so good that it makes them take their offer off the table entirely? I figured that was the point of them coming with us in the first place, so it can't really be helped.'

'There's that, too,' said Hector. 'But I meant, like... what if Carl and Ravi tell the Vanguard and Abolish about whatever we find here?'

'Oh, I'm sure they will. Especially Carl. Seems like a real prick, that guy.'

'I mean, he would just be doing his job...'

'A loyal prick, then.'

Hector deliberately avoided looking in their direction and instead relied on the Scarf to observe them. They hardly seemed to be paying attention to him now, but he knew that their reapers were still with them even though the Scarf couldn't pick them up.

'So what should we do, then?' asked Hector.

'Start hacking away.'

'Really?'

'Sure. Whatever's in there probably isn't all THAT crazy, and even if it is, well... we can ask Hanton for a favor.'

Hector's expression hardened. 'Garovel...'

'As a last resort, that is.'

With how casually the reaper was bringing it up, Hector got the impression that Garovel had considered this possibility before they even set out.

He really didn't like the idea of allowing Hanton to mess with anyone's memories, but he could also see Garovel's point about how it might be necessary. If it could prevent Abolish or the Vanguard from coming down on Lorent like a sack of bricks, then maybe...

Agh. Dammit.