The Fire-Eaters (2)
The momentum of these fake Free Arrow bandits—or as I called them, the "Fake Arrow" bandits—remained undiminished even after a week had passed.
The fact that they had effortlessly slipped through a massive dragnet in Texas, only to strike another plantation, brought shock and terror to countless planters.
However, as they began to act with such elusive, ghost-like precision, my suspicions hardened into near-certainty.
If one assumes there is a sophisticated conductor behind these men, most of the questions are answered with absolute clarity.
In the study I was using as a temporary situation room, I called Leo and Owen over and showed them a map where I had marked the locations and sequences of the plantations these fakes had raided with red pins.
"Look here. If you ignore the list of victims and look purely at the patterns of attack and the movement, doesn't it seem too sophisticated? Of course, I've never actually executed a raid like this, so I can't jump to conclusions, but what do you think, Owen? I heard you fought several life-or-death battles alongside Mr. Brown in Kansas."
At my question, Owen Brown silently approached the map.
Though he was now a human rights activist at the forefront of spreading baseball in the North, he was a man who had crossed the threshold between life and death several times with John Brown.
He began to scan the red pins with eyes as cold as a soldier's.
His complexion stiffened as he looked at the detailed information for each plantation that I had received through Macrae.
"Mr. Sett, this is not a raid. It is clearly a small-scale military operation."
There was not a hint of hesitation in his voice.
Without pause, his finger stretched toward the map, tracing a bizarre curve that started at a point in Texas and crossed into Louisiana.
"In Kansas, we fought with our lives on the line. Even we, who knew the terrain like the back of our hands, chose our battlefields with the utmost caution. But these men..."
Owen’s finger pointed to a spot on the Sabine River, on the border between Texas and Louisiana.
"They say there is a small landing here, but how would someone who isn't a local know that? They crossed here at the exact moment the main body of the state militia was searching the upper reaches of the river, passed through trackless wetlands, and struck their target. This is not a movement you can make by looking at a map. It would be absolutely impossible without a guide who knows the state of the river on that specific day."
Leo nodded vigorously, chiming in.
"It’s the same with the quarry near the Crown plantation. I heard that only three people—the plantation owner and the quarry foreman—knew that they were going to procure stone from there. Yet, those bastards knew it like ghosts and guarded the path."
I flipped through the file and pointed out a few more cases.
"The Henderson plantation, the first to be raided in Mississippi, was attacked on the very night the notoriously vicious overseer was away for his sister's wedding. Bandits living hundreds of miles away knew the family schedule of a single overseer in Mississippi? And here, the Jackson plantation was attacked the day after they received their cotton payment in cash. Only the bank and the parties involved should have known about that transaction."
By now, the authorities must also be convinced that these men are not mere bandits.
Of course, those who still insist this is John Brown's doing will claim that Brown received information from the Republican Party and leaked it, but how could that possibly be true?
All the pieces point to a single picture. This is no mere coincidence.
"And we cannot leave out the newspapers. Every time a raid occurs, the place that reports it first, most sensationally, and in the most detail is always the same. It’s the Mississippi Free Press or the Vicksburg Sentinel. Both papers support the most radical secessionists in the South."
I had been keeping a close eye on that part as well.
Logically, it is not at all strange for Southern secessionists to have a fit and criticize the actions of Northern radicals.
However, because I knew those guys were just fakes, I could look down on this situation from a slightly different perspective.
Good. Now that it’s come to this, everything is becoming clearer.
"Then let's create a profile for the conductor hiding behind that band of bandits."
I summarized the data everyone had organized and moved my pen myself.
"First, he is a person who can access administrative information like the state militia's patrol plans or search operations. Second, he must be able to reach into court registries or commercial purchase orders, as he needs to know plantation sales records or transaction details. Third, he must be well-versed in the minor contractual relationships of the region, as he even grasps the work plans of the quarry foremen. Finally, he possesses the influence to move specific politically-aligned media outlets."
At this level, one can only conclude that at least a state legislator, or perhaps someone even more powerful, is involved.
No matter how much money or social prestige one has, it is a feat that would be absolutely impossible without real power.
If I ask myself if I could extract those documents right now, the answer comes immediately.
It would be possible with enough bribes, but wouldn't that leave a trail?
Considering the need to deny involvement if the tail is caught later, it is impossible for me at the very least.
And if it is impossible for me, it would be impossible for any planter who does not hold political power.
"This is something impossible for anyone who hasn't spun a web across the entire state administrative system and regional network of Mississippi. Furthermore, seeing as they even pulled data from Texas and Louisiana, it’s better to see them as someone higher up than a typical state legislator."
"...It seems like someone more powerful than expected is involved."
"But didn't talk arise that there is a high possibility they will target Mr. Sett in some way? If your guess is correct, isn't it a quite dangerous situation..."
Looking at the public opinion and situation in the South right now, the conductor moving those bandits is certainly trying to squeeze out every last drop of Southern anger and hatred.
The finishing touch to that would surely be the terror at the Cedar Grove plantation, which became the cause of this entire situation.
However, to do anything to the Cedar Grove plantation, an army of at least a hundred men would have to swarm in, and even if they are bandits, there is no reason for them to take on such a sacrifice.
Then, wouldn't it be highly likely that they would commit a 'spiritual victory' by terrorizing another of James Sett's plantations—the owner of Cedar Grove—and claiming they had delivered God's judgment?
No. Even if they didn't have that intention, I could just induce it to happen.
"Leo, I think I need to be out all day tomorrow, so I need to set a schedule."
"Yes? Are you planning to inspect the plantation's defensive posture?"
"No. Quite the opposite."
In fact, even if I were to finish off the bandits, it would be impossible to find the real mastermind behind them with just that.
Because someone who planned this kind of work wouldn't be careless enough to expose their identity to the bandits.
But it makes no sense to leave someone who could aim a blade at my plantation at any time alone, right?
Whoever it is, I will drag them out thoroughly and make sure they can't show their face in public.
Fortunately, I had plenty of bait left that those kinds of guys would drool over.
* * *
The Natchez Horse Racing Club was no different today than usual.
From new topics like which plantation was raided last week or that the militia numbers need to be increased, to traditional topics like how a certain British stallion is fantastic and how much money it costs to breed with it.
While the attending planters were sharing various stories, I expressed my anxiety to Parer, a state senator of Mississippi.
"Whew... Senator, is there no report yet that those bandits have been wiped out?"
"Yeah. Even though we mobilized the military, their escape is strangely fast. But since there is talk of executing the operation more secretly and swiftly from this side as well, don't be too anxious."
"If it's the Free Arrow, aren't they the heinous criminals who killed the overseer of Cedar Grove? I took it over boldly, but I didn't know they would grow their forces this much and go around looting plantations."
Since Parer was the one who sold me the Cedar Grove plantation in the first place, he also sighed and squeezed my shoulder tightly.
"Don't worry. I will do whatever I can to help you. And haven't most of your plantations already finished fortification? No matter how empty-headed those bandits are, they won't throw their lives away by crashing into such fortresses."
"But the plantations I recently acquired are on my mind. I'm planning to fortify them quickly and bring in weapons, but administrative procedures and material transport don't happen that fast."
"Ah... I see. You've acquired several plantations recently. If it's okay, I'll help you so that the administrative procedures end quickly."
"Thank you! I've brought all the maps showing the structures here and the fortification plans. If you submit them to the administration yourself, Senator, I will never forget this grace."
Parer willingly nodded and unfolded my plans.
"Are you doing construction on three plantations at the same time?"
"Yes. Among them, I'm worried about the Black Creek plantation because its defenses are the most vulnerable. In fact, structurally, one can approach the warehouse where the supplies are stored directly through the left wall..."
"I see. Then wouldn't it be better to start fortifying the Black Creek plantation right away?"
"Wouldn't rumors spread if I did that? It would be like advertising that this side is the weakest, so I'm going to proceed with all three at the same time."
Parer said it was a reasonable plan and left his seat, saying he would submit these documents today.
And I went straight to find Quitman and recited almost exactly what I had said to Parer.
"...So you're asking me to help with the fortification of your plantations?"
"Yes. I'm especially worried about the Black Creek plantation. It's a place where one can approach the weapon storage warehouse directly through the right wall."
"It's worth worrying about. But don't worry. I am a member of the Federal House of Representatives, after all. And the Fire-Eaters who follow me are positioned in every corner of Mississippi, so I can greatly speed up the process."
"I'd be grateful if you could do that. Then could you share the documents I brought with them as well?"
"That’s not difficult. I owe you my life, so shouldn't I repay you even in a place like this? Hahaha!"
Quitman also laughed readily, took the bundle of documents from me, and strode out of the mansion.
This is why having good connections is great.
Afterward, I met with Governor Macrae and Senator Jefferson Davis and told them the exact same story, handing over the materials.
However, while the materials I gave them were basically all the same, there was one difference.
The path to approach the warehouse where the main supplies were stored.
The optimal path the bandits would first attack if they raided the plantation was marked slightly differently on each one.
So, just by watching where the bandits attack from, I would be able to know through which path the data was first leaked.
Whether it was the Fire-Eaters, the state legislature, or the state capitol building.
Come on in, let's see you try.
* * *
"Mr. Speaker! Information has come in. It seems James Sett is planning to extensively renovate the plantations he recently purchased."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. Our informant secretly stole the submitted documents. It says the Black Creek plantation is the most vulnerable, and if you just jump over the left fence, you can immediately rob the warehouse where the main supplies are kept."
"Then there's no need to fight on a large scale, so it won't take much time."
Senator Parer, who is close to Sett, submitted the documents faster than anyone else, saying he would help him, but unfortunately, he couldn't even imagine that there was someone in the capitol who could steal that information intact.
Black Creek plantation.
And even the detailed construction plans and maps.
At this level, there is no reason not to carry out a surprise attack.
"Tell the hounds. The target this time is quite a big shot, so make sure to write the Bible verse clearly."
"John Brown delivers God's punishment to James Sett. This will surely be a headline-worthy article."
"Hehehe, yes. I'm already looking forward to that day."
Free Arrow.
Firing toward the heart of James Sett.