The swarm of tutamits had gone. The city was safe for now. However, the source of the light remained unknown to the three of them (Lidya, Micah, and Elia). If it was on their side, they could breathe a sigh of relief, but if not, their hearts pounded faster with every step they took toward the source of the light.
On Micah's side.
"Gyaghhh!"
Running at full speed, Micah arrived first at the source of the light. He came with his pistol pointed directly at the old man, who was floating with just his body and head. His eyes bulged as he was ready to pull the trigger immediately. Unfortunately, Rudi's presence near the old man made Micah hesitate to start shooting.
"Rudi, who is this person?! Why is he helping us drive away the tutamits?!" shouted Micah with a hoarse voice.
"Calm down, Micah! He is a representative of the mercenary army called the Dragon Fang Legion. His name is Drian Foldor," explained Rudi. His right hand pointed at Foldor with all five fingers directed towards him.
"We just met, but you've already forgotten? Come on, you're still young." Foldor turned his head slowly and looked at Micah calmly. He wasn't scared at all by the weapon pointed at him. Although he had looked like a coward in the cell, he seemed different after getting out, even exuding a fierce aura.
"Who are you?" asked Micah. From his stupid-looking face, it was clear he wasn't joking when he said he didn't know who the old man in front of him was.
"Oh ho ho... Seems you've really forgotten (wide smile). Sharpen your memory, young man, you're still young! Let me put it this way... Thank you for letting me escape from the cell."
Micah was silent for a moment. Then...
"Ohhhh~!" He held his own forehead. "You're the old man from the cell?! You're quite lucky! I thought the surviving eruplion would eat you!"
"Hah, I'm not that weak. That cell sealed my magic, that's why I couldn't do anything at the time," Foldor explained with a fragile smile.
"So?" Despite the jokes and laughter, Micah did not let go of his suspicion. He pointed his pistol again. "What do you want?"
"Oh oh~... No need for force like that (raising both hands)... I'll explain immediately, kid!" There was no fear at all in the old man. His words even sounded sarcastic.
"Micah, can you lower your weapon?" Rudi stepped between the two people who were talking. He stood in the middle with both hands gesturing for them to stop.
"As you requested..." Rudi faced Micah. His hand pointed at his friend with all five fingers. "... We need soldiers, right? That's why the Dragon Fang Legion is happy to serve. And Foldor here is to negotiate with me."
"Mercenaries?" hearing that word, Micah became even more skeptical of Foldor and his gang. "Are you crazy?! We need real soldiers! Not a bunch who only cares about money!" Micah insulted Foldor without looking in the mirror.
"That may be true, but I've ensured they won't betray us."
"Proof? Where's the proof?!"
"This incident is proof. The Dragon Fang Legion is just slightly below the Hamud Forces. With the number of bodies we've created, they wouldn't dare to do something stupid like betray us just for money."
The sound of the night wind roared loudly. The wind blew so hard that it made their hair sway quickly. Micah's hat was blown away by the wind and fell to the street. Silence fell between the two of them.
"..." Without saying anything, Micah dismissed his Soul Weapon while stretching. He took a deep breath and exhaled like someone who had just finished exercising.
*Tak... *Tak... *Tak...
The bearded and mustached young man walked closer to his dark-skinned friend. The black friend's shoulder was held with deep trust by the bearded-mustached young man.
Taking a few steps back to create some distance between them, Micah looked at the old man named Foldor with sharp eyes. Micah's gaze signaled the half-bodied old man not to mess with them.
Foldor just smiled while bowing his head and raising the corners of his lips.
*Brak! *Brak! *Brak!
"Hah... Hah... Hah...!" Elia arrived, gasping for breath. Her small, trembling hands held her knees. Her mouth kept opening and closing to catch the breath she lost after running after Micah.
"You're so fast?!"
"Elia, you seem exhausted? Take a rest!" It wasn't Micah who spoke, but Rudi. The person Elia had chased after walked to the building's wall, resting his back on the solid wall while watching his hat fly away, relying on the sunglasses hanging from his ears.
"Who is he?" Elia asked the same question. She was disturbed by the presence of an unknown person in front of her. Moreover, being half-bodied and floating reminded her of a ghost.
"Foldor! Starting tomorrow, my comrades and I will be your soldiers!" replied the old man, smiling broadly at the woman who had just arrived.
"Soldiers~?" Elia's eyes slowly glanced at Micah, who was leaning silently against the wall. All choices and decisions were made only by the three of them; she had no say at all. But when her eyes glanced at Micah, there was no sign of objection from the fierce-looking man she saw. If so, the only reason to refuse was gone. "I understand... But be careful... We don't kno-"
"Do not worry, ma'am, we are not foolish enough to betray you all after witnessing this incident!"
Foldor quickly cut off Elia's words. Foldor's face was no longer cheerful, now filled with annoyance from saying the same thing repeatedly. By count, this was the third time.
"Ugh... Apparently, you understand?" Elia felt a bit uneasy for having said that.
***
Now Lidya arrived, dragging Micah's head at her magic staff.
"So, are you the hero who saved this city?" Lidya asked, wearing a sour expression.
"The last one, huh?" Foldor sighed, knowing where this was heading. "Hmm (nodding)... I did it... (a slight delay)... On the orders of your friend, Rudi."
Lidya wasn't surprised. She had seen many strange and egotistical people in this place. The person in front of her might be one of them.
"So... (Turning to Rudi) you asked this person to do it?"
"Yes, with payment, of course..." Rudi answered.
"Payment?"
"Making them our country's soldiers and providing them infrastructure for their organization. Right, Rudi?" Micah answered Lidya's question. His head turned from Lidya to Rudi with a normal-to-sarcastic expression.
Lidya's face showed a mix of amazement and a flat expression that seemed to say, 'Really?'.
"Don't worry, we won't betray you. You're strong! Hundreds of royal soldiers are no match for you, let alone us!" Foldor said before being asked. He was already annoyed by that question.
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to hear, but that's not what I was asking."
"Eh?" Foldor was stunned. His face clearly said, 'How is that possible?!'
"Rather than your organization, I'm more interested in the person behind your organization(their leader). Bring him here within 3 days. Then, you'll get my approval, old man." Lidya said, standing with her hands on her hips. The corners of her lips lifted upwards. Her eyes squinted, waiting for that news.
"Oh, about that, easy. I'll bring my master to you, even within just one day."
"Alright, do it then."
The old man smiled and gave a Buddhist-like salute (clapping his hands together and bowing his body). Hands suddenly appeared and then disappeared again, along with his body and head. He vanished just like a bursting bubble.
Rudi looked at the three people near him. He clapped his hands to get their attention. Although raindrops hit his palms when he clapped, the clapping sound was still loud enough to be heard by everyone.
*Plark! *Plark! *Plark!
"Everyone, we've secured this city. Now, let's hurry and rebuild it."
"Yes, I agree (picking up his hat)... Sooner or later, the enemy will come."
"I will contact the citizens to improve their trust in us." Lidya went to the crowd of citizens in the city park.
"I want to rest first; my energy isn't like yours. I'm really drained tonight." Elia left.
After the other left, Micah approached Rudi alone.
"Rudi, let's go to the throne room; there are many things we need to prepare there."
"Hmm (nodding)... (Realizing) What do you mean?"
"Remember, Camel knows about Doris and Sherry."
Micah reminded him of something important. Someone who had contact with them. And the 'eyes' certainly knew without the help of Sense Satusus.
Their situation was no longer safe after the three youths decided to betray the rebels. Rudi couldn't let that happen. Everything Micah said was true; they needed to quickly claim the village before the Hamud Country or the Ingro Rebellion did so first.
"Let's go!" Rudi ordered quickly.
They ran to the throne room to start ruling. There was also a mission of conquest under the guise of rescuing friends.