Tension rippled through the crowd as the three men from Galdros stood in the square, their presence unsettling and sinister. The festival that had started as a hopeful attempt to unite Rimuru now teetered on the brink of chaos. The colorful banners fluttered overhead, a stark contrast to the danger that simmered in the air.
Padrino took a slow breath, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, as his mind raced through the possible scenarios. A direct confrontation could incite panic, but allowing these spies to remain unchecked could spell disaster. Behind him, Marko stood ready, his gaze sharp and unwavering. Hinata and the others from the council had taken notice as well, their faces painted with concern as they approached cautiously.
The Galdros agents smirked as they noticed Padrino and Marko approaching. One of them, a tall man with a scar running down the side of his face, stepped forward, his voice low and mocking. "So, this is how Rimuru welcomes visitors? With swords and threats?"
Padrino narrowed his eyes, studying the man. "Visitors don't sneak in unannounced, and they certainly don't come armed like you do."
The scarred man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You misunderstand. We're not here for a fight. Not today, at least. We're here with a message."
Marko's hand tightened on his blade. "A message from Galdros?"
"Precisely," the man replied, taking another step forward. "King Marcellus sends his regards. He wanted you to know that he's watching. That no matter how many walls you build, no matter how many soldiers you train, Rimuru will fall. Sooner or later, Galdros will come, and there won't be anything left of this little village except ash."
A murmur spread through the crowd, and Padrino felt the unease radiating from the villagers. He could sense the fear beginning to take hold. He needed to defuse the situation before it spiraled out of control.
"And yet," Padrino said, his voice calm and measured, "you're here, standing in the middle of my village, surrounded by my people, delivering this so-called message. It seems to me that Galdros is the one afraid. Why else send spies instead of soldiers?"
The scarred man's smile faltered, just for a moment. "You're arrogant, Penduko. That arrogance will be your downfall."
Padrino stepped closer, his eyes locking onto the man's. "Perhaps. But today, you're leaving Rimuru with a warning of your own. Tell Marcellus that if he dares to send another one of his men into my home, we'll send them back in pieces."
The tension in the square thickened, and the Galdros agent's face darkened with anger. His hand hovered near the hilt of his blade, but he hesitated, glancing at the crowd surrounding them. He knew he was outnumbered, and any move against Padrino would be met with swift retaliation.
After a long, tense moment, the scarred man gritted his teeth and took a step back. "You'll regret this, Penduko. All of you will."
Without another word, he and his men turned and strode toward the edge of the square. The crowd parted to let them pass, the villagers watching in fearful silence as they disappeared into the shadows of Rimuru's streets.
Once the men were gone, Padrino turned to face the crowd. He could see the fear in their eyes, the uncertainty that had been stirred by the Galdros agents' presence. He needed to act quickly, to reassure them that Rimuru was still strong—still united.
"Everyone, listen to me!" Padrino called out, his voice firm but steady. "What you saw today was an act of desperation. Galdros knows that Rimuru is not a village that can be easily taken. They want us to be afraid, to turn against each other. But we will not give them that power!"
The crowd remained silent, but Padrino could sense their attention sharpening. He pressed on, letting his words carry over them like a shield. "We are stronger than they know. Together, we have built Rimuru into a home worth fighting for. And when Galdros comes, we will be ready to defend it, not just with swords, but with the unity that binds us as one!"
A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, and slowly, he saw the fear in their faces begin to shift. There was still uncertainty, but hope flickered once more.
Hinata stepped forward, placing a hand on Padrino's shoulder as she spoke to the villagers, her voice gentle yet firm. "Padrino is right. Rimuru's strength comes from all of us. We are not a people who give in to fear. Today, we stand together, and we will face whatever challenges come our way with courage and with hope."
The crowd began to nod, their resolve returning. Marko moved to stand beside Padrino, his voice quiet but confident. "We'll increase patrols and tighten security. Galdros won't catch us off guard again."
Padrino nodded. "Make sure the council knows what happened. We'll need to meet and discuss our next steps."
Marko gave a curt nod and disappeared into the crowd, already making preparations.
As the villagers slowly began to disperse, Padrino felt the weight of responsibility settle over him once more. The Galdros threat was not an idle one. They had sent spies to sow fear and discord, but Padrino knew that this was only the beginning.
Hinata stayed by his side, her brow furrowed with concern. "They're getting bolder," she said softly. "I don't like this, Padrino. Galdros is testing us, trying to find weaknesses."
Padrino exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "I know. And they won't stop. Marcellus is trying to break us from the inside, using fear to weaken our resolve."
"What will we do?" Hinata asked.
"We prepare," Padrino said firmly. "We strengthen our defenses, but more importantly, we strengthen our people. If Rimuru is going to survive, it won't be because of walls or weapons. It'll be because of the people standing behind them."
Hinata nodded, but there was still a shadow of worry in her eyes. "And what about Brant's brother? Lars? He's been stirring up trouble ever since Brant's execution. Do you think he could have been working with those men from Galdros?"
Padrino frowned, the thought gnawing at him. "It's possible. I want him watched closely. If Lars is plotting something, we'll need to find out before it's too late."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Hinata promised. "But be careful, Padrino. Galdros isn't the only threat we're facing. If there's unrest within Rimuru…"
"I know," Padrino interrupted, his voice weary but resolute. "We can't afford division now. Not when Galdros is this close."
He stared out at the village, his thoughts swirling. The festival had been meant to unite Rimuru, to bridge the gap between the villagers and the Outcasts. But now, it was clear that Rimuru's unity was more fragile than ever.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the square, Padrino felt the weight of the coming storm pressing down on him. The quiet before the battle had begun to fracture, and it was only a matter of time before Galdros returned—not with threats, but with blood.
The fight for Rimuru's future was far from over.