Thomas Hobbes and Virginia Maria cautiously entered the gates of the Kingdom of Esverita. Guards stood watch at every corner, observing everyone who came and went. Though they were not stopped, the atmosphere remained tense. The streets they passed through were filled with silent citizens, barely speaking to one another—a clear sign that the kingdom's political turmoil had yet to subside.
Virginia turned to Thomas, who walked beside her with measured steps. "The situation isn't much different from the last time we were here," she said quietly, her eyes scanning the distant guards.
Thomas nodded, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "This kingdom is stuck in a stagnant tension. No significant changes, but no outright collapse either. A perfect condition for concealing a grander scheme."
Virginia sighed. "Do you think Prince Calius' faction is intentionally maintaining this for something bigger?"
Before Thomas could answer, the voice of the Navigator echoed in their minds. "You both should stay vigilant. Something feels off here. Neither side is making significant moves. Typically, in situations like this, one faction would begin acting. But here... silence."
Thomas paused momentarily, crossing his arms. "Do you suspect Prince Calius' faction?" he thought, communicating with the Navigator.
"More than that," the Navigator replied. "I suspect that what appears to be internal conflict within the kingdom might not be entirely as it seems. There's something larger at play behind the scenes."
Virginia interjected mentally, her tone cautious. "But what? This feels like the calm before a storm. Why are they waiting? If Prince Calius wields as much power as claimed, why hasn't he acted?"
The Navigator was silent for a moment before responding. "That's what you need to uncover. You're in the best position to investigate this. I want you to delve deeper into Prince Calius' faction. Find out what they're hiding."
Virginia exhaled audibly, catching Thomas' attention. "The Navigator wants us to investigate Prince Calius' faction," she said softly, just loud enough for Thomas to hear. "And of course, without giving any concrete clues as to what he's actually looking for."
Thomas glanced at her with a neutral expression. "Does that surprise you? He's always like that. Issuing commands without much explanation, as if we're pawns to be moved without question."
Virginia gave a faint smile. "You sound annoyed, Thomas."
Thomas simply shrugged. "Not annoyed. Just realistic. The Navigator may have his own agenda, but I dislike operating in the dark. Especially in a place like this."
They continued down the increasingly quiet streets. Virginia noticed the guards were more alert than before. Their movements carried a tension, though there were no signs of immediate action. Her suspicion only grew.
"Thomas," she said suddenly. "If Prince Calius' faction isn't moving, do you think they might be waiting for something? Perhaps external support?"
Thomas considered this for a moment. "It's possible. In politics, waiting can be a strategy. But what could they be waiting for? Power is within their grasp. If they wait too long, they risk losing everything."
Virginia bit her lip, her thoughts racing. "Or perhaps they're waiting for a weakness from the other side. Maybe they know something we don't."
The Navigator interrupted again, his voice more urgent this time. "Whatever it is, time is short. If they're waiting for something, you need to find out what before it's too late. Go to where their influence is strongest. Start there."
Virginia looked at Thomas, who met her gaze with thoughtful consideration. "It seems we don't have a choice," she finally said. "We'll have to go deeper, as he suggested."
Thomas nodded in agreement, though a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. "But we'll do it our way. The Navigator can give orders, but how we execute them is up to us."
Thomas Hobbes and Virginia Maria continued their slow march toward the city center. The tension in the air grew heavier with every step. As they approached the central square, the usual chatter of townsfolk was absent, replaced by an eerie silence. A large crowd had gathered, their faces somber, most of them gazing downward with expressions of fear and helplessness.
Virginia squinted, trying to see clearly through the throng. "What's happening there?" she asked, half-whispering.
Thomas moved closer, his gaze sharp and analytical. "It looks like an execution. But judging by the atmosphere, I suspect something bigger is at play."
They pushed their way closer, slipping through the crowd until they had a clearer view. In the middle of the square, several bodies hung from tall wooden posts, their gentle sway barely noticeable in the still air. Their luxurious, expensive clothing was unmistakable, even in such a state. These were not ordinary people—they were clearly individuals of high standing.
Virginia swallowed hard, her heartbeat quickening. "They're royal officials," she murmured, half to herself.
The Navigator, silent since their last conversation, suddenly spoke in their minds. "This is a public execution. Such acts are usually carried out to demonstrate the dominance of a new power. Prince Calius appears to be serious about consolidating his control over this kingdom."
Thomas listened quietly, his expression unchanged. Internally, he analyzed the act. "This execution is more than just a show of power. It's a message to anyone still loyal to the opposing faction. Calius wants to crush any remaining resistance before the battle even begins."
Virginia, meanwhile, felt a wave of nausea seeing the hanging bodies. "Horrible," she whispered, her voice laced with suppressed anger. "How could someone do this to their own people?"
Thomas glanced at her briefly. "It's a strategic move. In political theory, such actions are not uncommon. Sacrificing a few to control the many. Prince Calius likely sees this as necessary to ensure stability for his rule."
Virginia shot him a sharp look. "Stability with blood? I don't care what your political theories say, Thomas. This is wrong."
Before Thomas could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. They turned and saw two familiar figures: Jeanne d'Arc and Pharnaces II. Jeanne stood with her usual firm demeanor, though her expression was grim. Pharnaces appeared calmer, but his eyes were sharp and watchful.
Virginia stepped forward quickly. "Jeanne? You're here too?"
Jeanne nodded, her gaze fixed on the bodies hanging in the square. "We arrived a few hours ago," she said. "This is what we found."
Pharnaces interjected in a low tone. "Those are high-ranking officials of the kingdom—people who opposed Prince Calius directly. This is his way of sending a message to anyone bold enough to challenge him."
Thomas studied them intently. "So, he's eliminating all obstacles in his way."
Jeanne nodded again, her expression hardened. "Not just eliminating. This is a warning. Prince Calius wants to ensure there's no one left to resist, not even at the highest levels."
Virginia felt both anger and confusion bubbling within her. "But how could this be allowed to happen? Isn't anyone trying to stop him?"
Jeanne sighed, her tone softening slightly. "Calius' power has grown too strong. The guards in this city won't defy him, and the people are too terrified to fight back. He's created an atmosphere of fear that keeps everyone in submission."
The Navigator's voice echoed in their minds once more. "This is the result of a well-crafted strategy. Calius has been quietly consolidating his power behind the scenes, and now he's baring his teeth."
Thomas appeared deep in thought. "He's playing his game well, but that doesn't mean he's unbeatable. Every system, no matter how strong, has its flaws."
Jeanne looked at him with interest. "If you have any ideas for dismantling this system, I'm listening."
Thomas gave a small nod but kept his thoughts to himself. Virginia, on the other hand, stared at the hanging bodies with a resolute expression. "This can't be allowed to continue. If we don't stop him, more people will suffer."
Jeanne glanced at her and offered a faint smile. "You're right. But this isn't a battle we can win quickly. We need to be cautious, or we'll end up as the next victims."
Pharnaces, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Let's leave this place. Staying in this crowd for too long isn't safe."
The group agreed and began to move away from the square, leaving behind the grim scene of executions that symbolized Prince Calius' unchecked cruelty and power.
As Thomas and Virginia walked alongside Jeanne d'Arc and Pharnaces II away from the city square, the weight of what they had witnessed hung heavily in the air. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in Thomas and Virginia's minds.
"Ask Jeanne what Bambi thinks about all this," said the Navigator, his tone serious yet curious.
Thomas glanced at Jeanne before speaking. "Jeanne," he said evenly, "what does Bambi have to say about all of this?"
Jeanne looked at him briefly and sighed. "Bambi completely rejects Calius' actions. She couldn't even bear to look at the scene. I think she's resting now. We heard her vomiting several times earlier; she seemed deeply shaken."
Pharnaces added in a calm voice, "That's a natural reaction. Bambi is just an ordinary girl. There's no way she'd support a tyrant like Calius."
Virginia, who had been silent, felt relieved to hear this. She had worried that Jeanne's team might turn out to be their enemies in this system's quest, especially if their Navigator, Bambi, supported Calius. But now, she could breathe easier.
"At least we won't have to fight other players," the Navigator remarked in Virginia and Thomas' minds. "If they're fully opposed to Calius, we can focus solely on the natives of this world."
Thomas gave a small nod to himself. "That simplifies things a bit," he murmured.
As they continued walking, the conversation faded into a reflective silence. Virginia scanned her surroundings, still processing what they had seen. Her eyes caught sight of a young boy darting frantically through the crowd. His face was etched with fear, and he glanced over his shoulder repeatedly as though being pursued.
Virginia narrowed her eyes. Wait… this boy looks familiar. Her memory flashed back to earlier days—he was one of the children she had helped when he was accused of stealing bread.
"Virginia," Thomas warned, his tone sharp, as his gaze followed hers. "He's being chased."
Sure enough, several men dressed as priests of the Church of Mephisa were running after the boy. Their expressions were stern, their strides purposeful, as though they wouldn't stop until they caught him.
The boy spotted Virginia and ran straight toward her. "Help me!" he cried, his breath ragged. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "They're trying to catch me! I don't know why!"
Virginia knelt down, placing her hands on the boy's shoulders to steady him. "Calm down. I'm here. I'll protect you," she said gently, though her heart began to race.
Jeanne stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Virginia and the boy like a shield. Pharnaces stood beside her, his expression unreadable, but his hand was ready on the hilt of his sword.
Thomas turned his gaze to the pursuers, who were now only a few meters away. "They're dressed as priests from the Church of Mephisa," he said, his eyes narrowing. "But why are they after this boy?"
The Navigator spoke again in their minds, this time with urgency. "The boy might know something or have done something that the Church sees as a threat. Whatever the reason, we can't let them take him without understanding the situation."
The priests stopped a few meters in front of the group. One of them, a tall man in a black robe, pointed at the boy. "Hand over the child," he commanded firmly. "He belongs to the Church."
"Belongs to the Church?" Virginia shot back sharply, stepping up beside Jeanne. "This boy is a human being, not someone's property."
"As outsiders, you don't need to understand," the man replied without hesitation. "He must return to the Church immediately."
Thomas stepped forward, standing between the man and their group. His expression remained calm, but his voice was cold. "What exactly has he done? Making accusations without evidence only makes your actions look like sheer intimidation."
The man hesitated for a moment, then tightened his grip on the wooden staff he held. "The Church does not need to explain its actions to outsiders."
Jeanne moved forward, her voice commanding but measured. "If the Church believes in justice, then explain his actions here. We'll judge if your behavior is warranted."
The tension grew thicker as the priests seemed to weigh their next move. Virginia felt the boy clutch her hand tighter, trembling with fear. She resolved then and there—whatever it took, she would not let them take him.
***