“This is the inner ‘plains’ yes?” Naedon asked.

“Yes. Sauters is part of the inner plains.”

“What so special about inner plains that Salamander, or whatever his name is harasses you?”

“The inner plains has a healthier supple of water compared to the Outer Plains.”

“Fine,” Naedon said, tapping the table. “I get that you have healthier water. You also have a minefield, wouldn’t that stop this Salamander?”

“We don’t have weapons as he does.”

“Weapons? Your entire defensive line is filled with mines, at least thirty rows of them. Hell, that could stop a small army.”

“Yes, a small army, but Salamander has no ‘small army’. After he sets off the minefield he can penetrate the city walls easily.”

“I see…negotiating? Cause it sounds like he’s not interested in taking over.”

“We’ve tried that for years, but each time he increases his take.”

“Hold up.” Stelig said, rocking back in his chair “he takes the water and just leaves?”

“Yes.”

Stelig laughed and shook his head. “He’s taxing you.”

“Tax?” The Warden asked confused.

“Yes…he’s designated himself as King of this ‘Inner Plains’. The water is what he takes as a tribute for protection. Is he the only one who troubles you?”

“No…the Ravagers does as well”

“…and let me guess. When the Ravagers come, he handles them?”

“Yes.”

Mr Black gave a thundering clap and nodded as if he approved of Stelig’s word. “You’ve found yourself a good crew Cypher. Well done. Well done.”

Naedon sat up, swallowed his saliva then rolled his neck. I couldn’t hear the muscles pop, but I could tell they did, from how lucidity he moved after.

“Do you have a theory on how was Salamander taken out,” I asked, steering the conversation back where it needed to be?

“I do not.” Mr Black said.

“Warden…do you have a way to contact Salamander?”

“Yes.”

“Call him…if he doesn’t answer, then that’s your confirmation.” Stelig said.

I sat there in silence waiting on The Warden to make the call verifying Salamander’s status.

Mr Weitson though, was unphased by anything, making me wonder about his mental state. The discussions we were having, really and truly. He shouldn't be listening in, but for some reason he kept his mouth shut for once, which gave me thousands of different thoughts. What is going on in his head? If it were Hannah-Lee…the entire Carib Waste would’ve been burnt asunder.

“No one answered my hails.” The Warden said, coming back into the room flustered “When last did Salamander arrive to claim his tithe?” Stelyne asked.

“Tithe?”

“She means the water,” Naedon said.

“Four months ago.”

“…and what’s the interval between collections?”

“every two weeks.”

“..and when last did you see him, three months ago?”

“And you didn’t find it weird?”

“Of course. The Ravagers have been more aggressive than usual.”

“I see, so because Salamander the Hirth or Girth…or whatever his name is dead, The Ravagers have been using that to their advantage?” Tryzer asked, annoyed.

“It would seem that way.”

“Who are these Ravagers?” I asked.

“Nomads. They simply steal what they want, but the one trade they engage in is oil.”

“Oil?”

“Yes.”

“…but that’s a wanted commodity if they have access to that, then why don’t they trade?”

“…that’s the thing, they don’t have access to oil. They siphon it off the pipes that run through the Waste.”

“Will they be problems once we make a move onto Devil’s Reach?” Naedon asked.

“No. I don’t believe so. You took care of them, they won’t trouble us for a while, or if someone takes the reigns of Salamander’s fall.” The Warden said.

“Good.”

Mr Black turned to me, flashing a golden capped smile. “Cypher. How would you kill someone like Salamander? If you wanted his base of operations, without an all-out skirmish?” He asked me.

I bit my lip and clenched my fist. Bastard. I watched as his eyebrows raised, as to taunt me. I wanted to shrug the question off, but with everyone’s eyes peering on me. I know I couldn’t because I’d already figured out how this Salamander, character died already.

“I’d poison the water supply,” I said, turning to the Warden. His eyes popped open, shocked by the revelation. “You said he hasn’t requested any tithes in months, yes?”

“He hasn’t.”

“Right…in place such as The Waste. Water is the most important commodity here. More important than oil, because Water is drastically important to daily life. Plants need it. WE need it. How many gallons would this Salamander take?”

“Fifty thousand gallons.”

“holy shit…you produce that much water?” Rynord asked.

“They don’t produce,” Stelyne said, cutting Rynord off. “How many other settlements provide Salamander with water tithes?”

“Twelve.”

“Twelve settlements?”

“Yes.” The Warden confirmed.

“Out of thirteen settlements, do you know who provides him with the most water?”

“…I’m not sure.” The Warden admitted.

“Fine…let’s say thirteen settlements on average provided them with an average of forty thousand gallons of water….” Stelyne said. “…That’s around five hundred and twenty thousand gallons of water…that’s enough for two thousand men.”

“Devil’s Reach is a fortress,” Mr Black said. “…and I believe Cypher was right, the water was probably poisoned.”

“Why poison the source?” The Warden asked.

“Because they’re importing their water…or they don’t need that much. Stelyne, check the bodies for Uroken nanites.”

“Poison eating nanites?” Naedon scoffed. “Why bother?”

“…because if they’re not getting any water, they more than likely are using the nanites to break down the poison, ensuring they could survive. Let’s look at it this way because we can’t look at it as if they don’t have the funds to pull this off.

The kidnapping at the Broken Sphere, the materials we found at the Belleview Port, not to mention the Sonic Bomb…this is funded.” I said.

“That theory’s plausible Kaiden,” Stelyne said, then turned to Naedon. “I know you’re a soldier Naedon, but sometimes I wish you’d use your imagination more when assigned to specific missions. Cypher, I’ll look into it…shouldn’t take too long. Mr Weitson…have you shown my team the video?”

“I haven’t” He admitted.

“Before you do. Mr Weitson, I think you should also let Stelyne know a list of people that would want to kidnap your daughter. One that can buy a portion of someone’s company.”

“What?” Colvolt asked, confused.

“You weren’t here, but Rikor Haek…the man that kidnapped your daughter. He was once part of Gartheon Defence Services, he left the company and did this kidnapping, someone put this up to him…who would do such a thing?”

Colvolt looked to his left eyeing me. Her lips drew a line, then he smiled bitterly. “You’re telling me you don’t believe it’s rioters?” Colvolt said coldly. “Rioters can’t pull off something like this. I know it, you know…now give us a list of your enemies!”

He nodded as if I’d won some battle I didn’t know existed. Then he rose his head up, smiling as if he was about to take a picture for the paparazzi. He’s a god damn psychopath! I thought to myself.

“Ms Stelyne, contact Ms. J’ron, she should be able to give you the contact list of my enemies.”

“Why her?” Naedon asked, confused.

“Because she’s my s—“ Colvolt tried to say, but I cut him off.

“His secretary…funny how that works out?” I said, shaking my head.

I felt stressed, more stressed than when I did dealing with the theMs Artificial Death case. I racked my brain more in that more than anything, but with this bullshit, with this Billionaire, I truly was tired!

“Humph…” Stelyne said, “if it isn’t too much trouble Mr Weitson, can you show the rest of my team the footage you received…Please.” Stelyne said firmly, lips drawn to a line.

Colvolt Weitson unlapped his foot, siphoning through his pocket and tossed a data chip at Mr Black. He let the data chip drop in his hands. He got up and slipped the data chip into the holographic projector.