"An Axum spy... Things are more troublesome than I thought."
Edward didn't anticipate the entry of a whole other kingdom to enter the fray. The opposition had grown to another level, he needed to change his plans.
"Well, it is a war. It seems they know you are working for Britannia. So, getting rid of a person with so much power in hand is better than letting you work for the enemy."
"But I am still surprised by how fast information spreads these days, radio and telegraph have helped them out."
"Axum is something every kingdom should fear, from what I have seen, they have the most spies hidden in the enemy territory. They know everything about the general censuses of the people."
"They are not to be feared, if you know everything about the enemy and still can't do any significant damage then their internal problems are too big for them to handle."
"Have you read, Sun Tzu's 'Art of War'?"
"No, I didn't pay attention to books, it hard sitting or learning in class. Better to face real challenges out there or so I thought at that time."
"He was a genius, so was said to have lived through the warring states era of China. The amount of bloodshed and pure horror seen by Asia is far more than, we can ever believe. The brutality and inhumanity shook my heart when I was a kid."
"I am not interested in history. Tell me what's important."
"He once wrote, "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
"...."
"A master of warfare will win in the war not on the battlefield but in the minds and hearts of the people of the enemy. Currently, Axum holds that power, people can be swayed in a minute's worth."
Rage not an expression on his face, he was as serious as he could be. Edward meanwhile understood the meaning behind Rage's words but he had other doubts.
"Why are you supplying me this information, what benefits does this give you? Is Rage even your real name?"
Edward was interested in what kind of person Rage was and his purpose to meet him.
" Rage is my real name. The purpose of feeding you information is to bring chaos, only chaos can bring what I need."
"Chaos? To think you'll leave the creed behind for a goal. What is your objective?"
"Revenge. My whole purpose in living is to kill a man and to reach him."
"..."
The gaze in Rage's eyes was purpose, he was devoted to it.
"And to reach that man I must think like him, act like him and understand him to the very core. Then I'll be able to deliver him the worst death he can ever get."
"Revenge...huh?"
"Hey, Rage, did you know, that guy Sun Tzu also wrote another thing in his works,
"who wishes to fight must first count the cost".
"What cost are you going to sacrifice for the life of a single man, what will his blood earn you? Power? Time?... Maybe you think you'll get peace out of it? but, you'll never see it. Only hollowness and sorrow come from revenge."
Rage relaxed for the first time as he leaned back and closed his eyes and the smile on his face, but he wasn't just smiling.
"hh. hahaha....."
Edward saw as Rage laughed like a maniac in front of him, he rubbed his eyes as if he was wiping off his tears.
" Hey Edward, what do you think I should do? Is there a better option? Don't say your answer is forgiveness."
"...."
Rage shakes his head facing Edward with a bright smile on his face,
"Now, I understand, Why he always felt so annoyed by our actions. We were fast and strong but, he was not naive. He knew the world, we never hoped for a bright future because it never arrives."
As Rage began talking to himself lost in thought, Edward wondered for himself.
"Who is you are finding? Who is that person?"
Rage stopped his self-talk and faced Edward with another question.
"What have you earned on your part of forgiveness? Do you have peace sitting alongside me right now?"
"...."
"Don't have any answer, do you? Would have it been better that you would have gotten your pirate group and finished the assassins for good? I think you could have talked to your daughter in peace right now."
"..."
"Even for your wife, don't you feel the sadness, the guilt of not being to protect her? What about the entire Wesh family? They died to your selfishness don't they deserve justice?"
"...."
"You are being naive, Edward Kenway. Just like a weak person, like a coward running from your hopes to just live longer."
Rage leaned closer to Edward's face with his eyes mocking him about his reality.
"In fact, if you don't feel the need to take revenge on those who hurt your loved ones, then did you ever love them? or, were they a toy to your teenage fantasies?"
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