Twisted Wonderland - Beanfest: Bean or Be Beaned

Chapter 22: Few Opportunities Indeed

At a different part of the woods...

Trey and Rook are walking in the woods.

Rook happily says, "Oooh... Laaa la la laaa..."

"You seem to be in unusually high spirits today, Rook. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen you in a bad mood," Trey says.

Rook chuckles, "Heh heh heh. Why wouldn't I be? We get few opportunities indeed for housewardens and vice housewardens to go toe-to-toe in earnest. Perhaps I'll have another chance to challenge Vil when we get to the botanical garden. Are you not excited at the prospect of encountering the Roi des Roses?

"Not really, no. I've never been gung-ho about competing with Riddle," Trey says, "On the other hand, I only really played tag with him once or twice back when we were kids. I guess it could be kind of fun to run around like we're young again."

"Ah, you see the light! Now, let us away to our next battleground, the botanical gar—" Rook says, but suddenly notices something, "Wait. There is a distinct aroma wafting through the air. Are you picking it up, Trey?"

"Huh? ..." Trey replies. He then picks up the scent as well, "Ah. There it is. It's kind of...spicy? Pretty appetizing, actually. Is someone making food? Why would someone cook in the middle of a game?"

"Judging by the direction of the wind, the aroma is coming from the botanical garden. Let's have a look for ourselves!" Rook says.

At another part of the woods...

Vil and the others soon pick up the same scent.

Floyd sniffs the air and notices, "Huh. There's a real strong smell comin' from the botanical garden. Kinda familiar, too..." and soon realizes, "Ah, I know! It smells like the meat Sea Otter was lugging around earlier."

"Who's 'Sea Otter'?" Epel questions.

"Kalim, I'm guessing," Riddle says, "He's a farmer like us, as I recall. What's this about him carrying meat, though?"

"He said it was a lunch that Sea Snake packed for him. Doesn't smell like a sandwich and a big of chips, I'll tell you that much," Floyd says.

"Yes, it's more like someone's barbecuing meat," Epel replies.

"He's practically posting a giant neon sign pointing to his location. How can someone be that trusting?" Vil says.

"Yeah, he's prolly luring in the monster team as we speak. It's gonna be a feeding FRENZY," Floyd says with a big grin, "I say we nose in on the action here, fellas!"

At the Botanical Garden...

Jamil arrives at the Botanical Garden himself, and he is wearing a camo outfit for the game, "Hmph... Looks like Floyd wasn't feeding me false intel when he told me where Kalim was headed. I knew you'd heat up my packed lunch without stopping to question it, Kalim. We'll make a clean sweep of all the farmers foolish enough to take the bait. Come on. We're moving in."

"Understood," The Monster Team says.