Onobu city
[3rd POV]
Depending on the circumstances humans could become the most disgusting creatures on the planet. It was impossible to imagine the atrocities they could do to their own kind. People were burned alive, shred apart and become dog food, family execution. The husbands have to witness their wives being r*ped. The children have to witness their parents being dissected like cattle. Such things might exist in war, or in barbarian tribes, but who would have imagined them happening right in a city that is considered an advanced civilization of a great empire.
On a street of the 'outsider' ward, a man was stripped naked, his hands were tied to a horse. He was dragged along the road. His skin was slowly peeled from his body, his flesh and blood stuck to the ground making a long red trail. Despite the pitiful screams, the people around did not mind but instead mocked or even threw stones.
" Barbarians!"
" Fucking fanatics!"
" Kill them! They're maggots! They are worms!"
…
All the shouting mixed with the giggles of some mischievous children. They watched the execution as if it was a play. However, In the crow there were not only the cursing, mocking and hateful glances for the man, but there were also pitiful looks, looks of fear and growing anger. Among the crowd was a young man with spiky hair gritting his teeth. He was clenching his fist to the point it bled. Under the old brown cloak was a calloused body covered with scars. Moments later the officers pulled out another person and this time it was a woman. Her face was swollen and almost unrecognizable because of bruises. The officers grabbed her hair and started tying her legs. Her hand too was tied to a horse. The young man put his hand on the side of his waist where he hid a short sword. However, another hand reached out to stop him it was of a middle-aged man in a police uniform.
" Jun, don't do that."
" Bradley, could we just stand there and watch?"
The man named Bradley, the chief inspector in charge of Onobu's outsider's ward, nodded silently. He whispered into Jun's ear.
" If you attack them, it would be the perfect excuse for a real wipe out and none of us will be able to escape."
Jun stared at Bradley before he could say anything. The cry of a child resounded. A child only 5-6 years old ran out and clung to the woman.
" Where the hell is this kid come from? Hurry and get him out of here!"
" He must be the son of the rebels! A young maggot."
" Hey didn't you hear what Alan sama said? The children are not guilty."
" Hah… this thing will soon turn into a criminal. Just wait and see. The children of terrorists will also become terrorists!"
Nobody knew who started it, but a stone was thrown at the kid's back causing him to scream in pain, and then it was followed up with two, three then a rain of stones on the poor child. The woman, despite being tied up, still tried to use her body to protect the kid. Their cries and groans became weaker and weaker.
" No Jun!"
At the same moment Bradley's words end two heads were cut off. It was the heads of two soldiers who trying to tie the woman to the horse. Standing in front of them was Jun, he took off his cloak to reveal his muscular body, in his hands were two short swords. The entire crowd fell silent, because of the terrible killing intent emanating from the young man. He crouched down to the woman, who was now breathing weakly, based on the wounds she probably wouldn't live much longer and the kid had already motionless. Jun's bloodshot eyes glare at the crowd he screamed.
" Brothers! Sisters! Are you people just gonna stand and watch like this? Witnessing these monsters slaughter us as they please? Have you not seen the blood of women and children flooding rivers in this land? Will you people stand and watch your friends and relatives die one after another at the hands of Allan Gurrag's puppets? Fine, stayed home and covered yourself with blankets cowardly like a dog and be killed anyway! Heed my word! For every blood we dropped I will make them suffer! Even if I have to die, I will die in battle, I die for fighting! I die for the innocent lives in this accursed city! I die for vengeance! "
As jun finished his words, screams were heard everywhere. In the crowd a child stabbed the neck of a man who threw a stone at the woman, a blacksmith used a hammer to smash the head of another person standing beside him. A slaughter took place and the outsider ward was painted with blood.
-----------------------
The sky became dark. On the streets of the outsiders, fire was burning. Spikes, barbed wire scattered on the road. Trenches were made with furniture to block the paths entering the ward. The sound of gunshots, the sound of arrows can be heard from everywhere. A war took place between insurgents, people in the outsiders area with the city guards.
In a building that used to be the home of an infamous gang was also a secret arsenal of the insurgents. Carts were loaded from there and firearms were delivered across the streets. In a room 'Crack!' sounds echoed. Those were sounds of fist hitting and bones breaking. Bradley was tied to a chair, his mouth covered in blood. In front of him was Jun clenching his fist, his eyes filled with rage.
" S…Stop it Jun, if this goes on… we're all gonna … die."
" Die? If this continues the only one who dies will be you! Tell me quickly where you hid the 3 Teigu."
" I…I can't if they get into Alan's hands."
" Wake the fck up! Bradley! Sooner or later they fall into his hands! If we can find them at least we have hope in this war!" - Jun grabbed Bradley's collar
" N…No Jun this… is no war. It's a suicide… It's not a fight that we could hope to win…. Please wait, for the rescue team."
" Hahaha. Really, Bradley? Do you really think I would naively believe that?"
Jun broke the base of the chair, he grabbed Bradley by the neck and lifted him up then gave him a smack in the stomach.
" Only us, Bradley we are the only "insurgents" in this place. Unless the revolt army uses their full force to attack which is never going to happen. I also think they want to use Alan Gurrag to completely eliminate us just think about that terrorist incident."
" Cough cough. T…That was a trap."
" Whatever Bradley! I don't want to do this to my friend at all! You are my teacher, a lot of people here are indebted to you, tell me where the Teigu is!"
" Cough cough. I'm… sorry."
"…"
Jun stood up, took a deep breath, and spoke his final words to Bradley.
" You have one hour Bradley, last chance, in an hour I don't have Teigu's position, I will kill your son Matt, your wife and then I will kill you."
The iron door slammed shut in anger and the room fell into darkness. Tears fell down Bradley's cheeks, he was crying because of his uselessness. This city hadn't changed one bit in 20 years, he was unable to touch Alan Gurrag, unable to save his family, even the friend he treasures most. Bradley intends to commit suicide, hoping that Jun will spare his family, he couldn't betray the rebels and he couldn't betray Onobu. As a person standing between two classes, Bradley understands that not all official citizens Onobu are mindless puppets, there still are families, innocent people. The insurgents had received so much bad reputation, if they continued there would be really no hope of fighting against Alan Gurrag.
Alan wide opened his mouth as he pushed his tongue into his intact jaw. As he was determined to take a strong bite, a creaking sound came from the iron door. Under the flickering light is a familiar angelic face.
" Bradley san?"
" Alex kun…"
3 hours ago.
[Alex POV]
" I needed to save an acquaintance, or at least his family. It was thanks to him the circus was able to escape Onobu when I got caught."
William put his hand on his chin thinking for a moment, then spoke.
" Bradley right?"
" Right."
" I could let Haruki save him and his family if it were possible. After all, his mission has something to do with Bradley."
" No, please let me!"
" Hmm? Why? I don't see any reason. You think you can do what Haruki can't?"
A few drops of sweat ran down my back, I gulped and kept my voice from trembling.
" Haruki nii wouldn't be 100% sure to save Bradley correct? As you implied 'only if it is possible'. Besides, I don't think it would be good for you to change the group's plan just because I decide to save someone. "
" Oh so now you care about our group's plan?"
" Yes, although I do not know what the plan of this organization was, I understand it is very important. I don't want Haruki to be in danger because of some mistake."
William was silent for a moment, then broke into a smile.
" Fine, I can make arrangements for you to enter the city. However, Bradley has been taken away. His current position is still unknown so you can only save his family. After you finish the job immediately return to the rendezvous point. You only have 2 hours, after that 2 hours everything depends on your decisions and fate."
I nodded. Haruki looked like he was about to voice some objections to William's words but I clenched his fist and looked him straight in the eyes with pleading eyes. I don't quite get it but every time I do this the chances of getting Haruki approval greatly increase. It seems to have worked this time because after his mouth was repeatedly opened and closed. Haruki stayed quiet.
" I oppose William sama. We can't trust this child. What if he sniffs us to Onobu military?" - Musui
" Don't worry about it Musui san I trust Alex kun won't be such a person."
" Can I have some explanations?"
" Instinct."
" Tsk!"
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After an hour, Haruki and I stood in front of a well some distance away from Onobu. Around us was a group of ten people fully armed.
" Ah~ don't! Not there~"
Haruki examined me from head to toe, groping every inch of my body. I tapped his forehead lightly because the group's gazes were focused on the two of us.
" Alex. Leave immediately after finishing the task." His blue eyes looked at me pleadingly.
" Yes."
" Promise me."
There was some laughter coming from somewhere along with the words "Youth is great". But now I just try to keep my heartbeat steady and answer.
" Yes."
Haruki took out a map and handed it to me.
" This thing… can I?" - I asked.
William told me to memorize the map in my head because it was a secret route. The only problem was there was no way I could memorize it in an hour. It would take me a week maybe more to remember this thing because of a damm curse. Haruki nodded, shoving it quickly into my pocket before anyone noticed.
" Take two more in case you lose them."
" …I'm not that clumsy."
"This is an explosive, only used in an emergency."
" Yes."
" This is a flare if anything happens. light it up. Please remember to light it up."
" Y-Yes."
"… Bring two more just in case—"
" Haruki nii… I can't bring that much!"
Haruki sighed and the giggle came again from somewhere. I felt like I was a kid being led to school for the first time.
Our group took turns jumping into the well. Before we went down the guard in this area reminded all members.
" The quest lasts in 2 hours, after 2 hours I will bury this well so try to complete the tasks as quickly as possible."
Under the well was a tunnel leading to Onobu's sewer. The whole place was in complete darkness, we were told not to use torches because there were still a lot of guards patrolling under this stinking area. Alan Gurrag did not leave out any detail, all possible paths into the city were heavily guarded, except for the hidden areas, of course. Twelve people carried tools to chisel a thin wall, a secret path revealed outside of the map of the underground sewer. We climbed up into a house. If I was not mistaken this was the area of the outsiders. From here, the group of 10 split up, each in their own direction, leaving only me and Haruki.
" Let's go, Alex."
I stuck behind Haruki. The surroundings made me afraid it was like a battlefield or rather it was like a massacre happened here. Corpses scattered everywhere, from the elderly to the children. If it was me four years ago, I would have vomited right there. After we walked a few steps, Haruki suddenly picked me up in his arms, then jumped on top of a roof. Below I could see caravans of gun-carrying people pouring in from many corners to the road we had been earlier.
" Hold onto my back, Alex."
Haruki moved swiftly over the rooftops, we then landed in an alley. Under the dim light, he pointed at the map he gave me.
" According to the report, this is where the hostages are kept. There's our man in there. Meet a man named Bob, he will guide you to get the hostages. If there's any problem, immediately abandon the mission, follow the alley I marked and avoid everyone I'm sure you can do it."
It seems Haruki still remembers my escape from the Night Owls. I smiled and nodded then quickly ran in the direction Haruki pointed, I could feel his gaze still following me for a long moment before it let go.
" I'm sorry, Haruki nii."
Instead of going to the hostages, I turned my head in another direction, it was once a gang layout, and in there I ran into an acquaintance.
[3rd POV]
Haruki couldn't help but fidget at the sight of Alex's small figure running away. He know he couldn't give up on this mission. "Alex had promised to be right back, there wouldn't be any danger," he told himself. He went to his meeting point, disguised as a middle-aged man, then infiltrated the outsider's group. Haruki's goal was to quickly find the location of the 4 Teigu and collect them. After an hour of hard work, he cleverly collect all the information he could and finally found Bradley's whereabouts. In the dark cellar, he found Bradley who was in a semi-conscious state. Haruki took out a syringe and injected it into Bradley's arm, who then immediately regained consciousness.
" W-Who are you?"
" I am from the revolutionary army who came to collect Teigu."
Haruki showed Bradley the letter that William sent, he immediately recognized the handwriting but did not read it, instead he let out a relieved smile.
" Looks like the revolutionary army hasn't abandoned us, what he said was true." - Bradley
" He? What are you talking about?"
" As for the Teigu, rest assured they have been given to a trusted person."
" What—"
Before Haruki could ask Bradley what he was talking about, a horn blew, drawing their attention, and cheers rang out from everywhere outside then a voice spoke loudly from the speaker.
" This is Jun, we are going to launch a total assault on the city hall! With 4 Teigu in our hands, we will overthrow Allan Gurrag, and slay that useless City lord!"
" What have you done?"
To Haruki's angry eyes, Bradley held his head in despair. His mouth was trying to stammer about something.
" N..No A— … Al—… Ale—"
Bradley's whole body convulsed violently, white foaming came out of his mouth. Haruki used every means to prolong Bradley's life but the man quickly stopped breathing, his eyes widened in surprise and his last tears fell to the cold stone floor.