Part 7: Scottish

Vertin: Finally, get them all to the corner.
Grr—
Vertin: ...
Vertin: I'm a bit hungry.
Vertin: Oh right. I'll check what this padlock is made of and see if it can be consumed by the Shamirs ...
Checks it under the lights.
Very ordinary metal. It's just a common metal lock, with a bit of rust on the shackle.
Vertin: ...
Vertin: I see. With plenty of food on the ground, Shamirs won't notice the ironware hanging above.
Vertin: Heh. Time to try a brand new dish, you old gentlemen.
Closes the door of the room and sneaks through the hallway. There is no light in here.
There are two guardhouses on each side of the hallway.
Pass by the rooms, and the front gate would be ahead. There is no lock on the gate.
???: Psst-psssst!
A gray-eyed boy pops his head up at the cell window.
Vertin: ... Who are you?
“The Ring”: I am "The Ring." I can catch anything with a toss.
“The Ring”: Look!
He throws out an iron hoop, which is the size of a finger ring. The ring rolls over and clogs up Vertin's shoelaces.
Vertin: So cool!
“The Ring”: You can open these doors, can't you?
Vertin: Yes.
“The Ring”: Can you help me out of here? And I swear I will be at your service.

Vertin: But if you don't come back, the instructor will give us a harsher punishment.
Vertin: I'm just sneaking out for food. I'll be back.
“The Ring”: ...
Vertin: What would you like to have?
“The Ring”: ... Fish and chips. Some onion vinaigrette on the side, if they have any.
Vertin: No problem. I will bring some mashed peas too.
Three hours later
“The Ring”: So you managed to control the Shamirs and got out?
Vertin: Yes. How about you? Any odd things in your room?
“The Ring”: Nothing peculiar. Just some stinky rats. Didn't even take me long to take care of them.
He shrugs his shoulders uncaringly and takes a good bite of the fish.
“The Ring”: Nom-nom! The Staff Canteen does serve some good fish and chips ...
“The Ring”: What you have in the Second Canteen is not even close to it! Keep missing the dressings and sometimes it's not even cod they fried!
“The Ring”: Hmm ... So, why are you here?
Vertin: ... I said "that word."
“The Ring”: What word?
Vertin: "That word." I said it at the pre-parade assembly.
“The Ring”: Oooh, you mean the S-word? At the school assembly?
“The Ring”: Hahahahahaha ...!
“The Ring”: Good for you ... Hahaha ... The Big Head is gonna be so pissed!
Vertin: *sighs* I don't understand ... It was he who said that I could ask any questions I want.
“The Ring”: Where did you learn "that word"?
Vertin: I heard it from the janitor of our dormitory. That was the last thing he said.
Vertin: I saw him being escorted outside the school gate and onto a truck.
Vertin: He screamed all along, "The 'Storm' is coming ... The 'Storm' is coming ..."
Vertin: Er-m, I said it again ...
Vertin: ... Shoot.
“The Ring”: Never mind, keep going.
Vertin: ... I asked many people, but none was bothered to answer. Uncle Morris said the janitor left the school at an inappropriate time and saw some inappropriate things, so he needed treatment.
“The Ring”: So I was right. The school is blocking the news feed.
Vertin: What do you mean?
“The Ring”: Look at this. I snuck this out from the staff office.
Vertin: THE WORLD-CHANGING "STORM": TRUTH COVERED BY THE FOUNDATION?
“The Ring”: Yes. It wrote about a phenomenon called the "Storm," which will bring everybody in danger.
“The Ring”: Yet, the Foundation has stayed in silence about it. We are not allowed to say "that word." And this is the evidence.
The newspaper has already become soft in hand after all the foldings. Some of its printings have even become blurry.
Vertin: It doesn't tell us exactly what "that word" is, either.
Vertin: There's a line in bold at the end of the article ... "Welcome to Manus Vindictae"?
Vertin: What’s Manus Vindictae?
“The Ring”: Dunno, never heard of it.
Vertin: Something has been printed on the back too. Hmm, let me see ...
Vertin: Nor happiness, nor harmony, nor fame,
Vertin: Nor pride, nor strength, nor skill in arms or arts,
Vertin: Shepherd those herds whom blindness makes tame;
“The Ring”:                Their eyes see not one light of Bright Stars.
               Men’s past ways are shaded by their shame,
               Paeans are but admiration’s mirror half.
               Tides run in blind by their ever-be routine,
               Staining that Heaven with obscene calamity.
               When folly wrecks wit, where do stand we?
               Before a cruel whip? Man who man would be,
               Must rule the empire of himself; in it
               Must be supreme, establishing his throne
               On vanquished will, quelling the challenges
               Of hopes and fears, being himself alone.
...
The night is quiet.
Yet disturbances are about to come out of the dark.
Squeak, squeak.
“The Ring”: What's going on? Great, the chips have brought in more rats!
“The Ring”: Vertin? Vertin!
“The Ring”: Do you have to drift off now? Come over and help!