The mysterious man offered Viktor a package of preserved food that he held in his right hand, trying to ease the tension. Curious and very hungry, Viktor could not resist.
"It doesn't smell like anything."
"To avoid attracting beasts to the hideout..." the man replied, watching Viktor unwrap the package.
"How do you have so much hunting equipment?" Viktor asked as he ate, still trying to make sense of the situation.
"I am part of the Hunters' Guild!"
The Hunters' Guild is one of the few neutral factions in the galaxy. Their sole purpose is to eliminate beasts that threaten humanity, but of course, they fight for money and fame.
The Guild is funded by contracts. Nations, corporations, and even wealthy individuals pay for their services. In exchange, they receive protection from the beasts that threaten their lives and property.
The stranger watched Viktor as he quickly devoured the food.
"You can call me John." He looked at Viktor with a piercing gaze.
"You're a deserter, aren't you? Judging by your uniform and the wreckage of your ship, you're from the Union."
Viktor was surprised, but quickly regained a serious expression and instinctively became alert.
"What if I am?" His face remained neutral.
John maintained a hostile posture, but he didn't seem intimidated. He took a step forward and Viktor, looking at him, tried to get up, but couldn't. John looked at Viktor's face very closely and stared at him in silence.
"HA...HAHAHA....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" John started laughing, taking a step back.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to turn you in... In fact, I want to recruit you, I'm part of the resistance." He raised his hands in surrender and stopped laughing.
'RESISTANCE? ' Viktor's eyes widened.
'USER! '
'I know, Atlas. Of all the places to land, it had to be next to a revolutionary, ' Viktor thought, feeling a headache coming on.
'I just wanted to escape this stupid civil war, not join it. '
'USER! WHY ARE YOU SURPRISED? YOUR HISTORICAL RECORD SHOWS THAT TROUBLE ALWAYS FINDS YOU. '
'Atlas... wait, it can't be that the resistance is on a completely freezing desert planet with storms and dangerous beasts, what would they gain if only criminals and smugglers and especially the Union lived here? None of them are supporters of the resistance, only a madman would do that.
Viktor didn't believe a word of it. He narrowed his eyes, trying to read any sign of deception on John's face.
'Resistance in the middle of nowhere on this planet? How can I trust you?'
Without hesitation, John took out his small UV flashlight from his leather pocket and pulled his coat slightly to reveal his neck. He turned on the purple light, illuminating his neck and revealing the resistance symbol under the UV light.
'YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!' Viktor screamed inwardly.
'THIS IS WHAT HUMANS CALL BAD LUCK…'
'Atlas, not now!'
"Do you believe me now?"
"Why are you telling me this?" Viktor asked with a piercing look.
John sighed, his shoulders relaxing a little as he stood up.
"Very simple, because you don't have much of a choice. You're either a deserter or a criminal in the eyes of the UNION."
'HE'S RIGHT.'
Viktor kept a neutral expression as he ignored Atlas's comment.
As he watched him, John continued.
"You're running from the UNION on a hostile planet, in the cold and with only your clothes on. If you want to survive, you'll need allies."
Viktor thought for a moment, still suspicious, but thinking that John was right.
"Of course we're willing to help, but nothing for free."
"..."
"We'll provide water, food and shelter."
"..."
"But most importantly, safety. Isn't that a great deal?"
There was silence in the cave after Viktor heard the offer. The distant sound of the howling wind outside was the only thing breaking the silence.
Viktor looked up at the ceiling. "I understand."
With a relaxed smile, he lowered his head and looked directly at John.
"You're muscle, not brains."
".....????"
"For someone offering me an escape route, you seem pretty desperate."
John's eyes widened in surprise when he heard a slight tremor in his voice, but fortunately he had a mask long enough for Viktor not to notice.
'SIGNS CONFIRMED! JONH IS LYING! THE SLIGHT TREMBLE IN HIS VOICE CONFIRMED!' But not to Atlas.
'doesn't sound like he's very skilled at negotiations...'
"...." John remained silent.
"What you seek from me is not my loyalty to your cause, but rather information that I possess."
During the conflict between the UNION and the Rebellion, information was essential to victory for both sides. Troop repositioning, warnings of attacks, and knowledge could help win a battle.
Information serves as the starting point for all strategic and tactical decisions. For military leadership, understanding the enemy's movements and intentions could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Suddenly, John transformed his hand into a blade of ice, moving it quickly towards Viktor's throat, just inches away. His eyes were now filled with rage.
"Don't think I'm joking," he said coldly to Viktor.
"If you don't cooperate, I'll take what you have by force." His true face showed.
Viktor, however, remained calm. He looked straight into John's eyes without showing any fear.
"You won't hurt me," he said calmly, "because you don't have time."
"...." John continued to stare at him in silence.
"You weren't the only one who saw me fall; I'm sure of it. The UNION must have sent search teams."
When the ship collided with the ice creature, there was a massive explosion, creating a bright trail.
The fall left a trail of smoke that remained visible for some time. This trail helped locate the point of impact and the wreckage of the ship. Anyone on the planet could see the ship's arrival, especially UNION.
"You got me out of there just in time so I wouldn't be captured because you realized I would be valuable. But you didn't have time to take me to a safer location, I'm sure our pursuers are within reach... They haven't shown up yet because the passage is blocked by beasts that inhabit it, since it's the hunters' hunting ground, but they're getting closer, as you can tell by your reaction. More importantly, you won't hurt me because you need me intact to take me to your superiors."
He continued to glare at John as he brought the blade closer to his throat.
"Am I right?"
The cave fell silent after Viktor's revelation. The distant sound of the howling wind outside was the only thing breaking the silence.
"HAAHAAH" a low, hoarse laugh echoed off the stone walls.
"You've got guts, kid..." John said, still laughing.
"I thought you were just another spoiled elite, but I see I was wrong."
'You have no idea...' Viktor thought internally.
'AFFIRMATIVE!'
Slowly, John retracted his ice blade, transforming it back into a normal hand.
He took a step back, still smiling but now with an intrigued look at the young man he had encountered.
"What you said is correct..." John admitted in a more serious tone.
"That's why I'm keeping my offer so that you can have a resistance. Are you interested?"
"No!!" Viktor replied without thinking twice.
John's eyes turned cold and he heard an answer.
"What I want to make a deal."
"Uh, deal?" John asked, intrigued by the answer.
"Yes!!"
Viktor smiled and explained. "There's nothing to lose; you can kill me and collect your bounty from the UNION while protecting your identity, but you have everything to gain from the information I have for you. Plus, you can become a hero to the rebellion. Instead of being just another soldier, you can become one of the most important members of the rebellion as their informant, who gave them the key to victory."
John was silent for a moment, considering the proposal. Despite being an interesting young man, what he was saying was absurd. Information was valuable, especially to the rebellion. He still had doubts.
"How can I trust you? " he asked with a skeptical look.
"What guarantees that your information is really valuable? "
Viktor smiled, noticing John's hesitation. "Cesar. "
"..." Stunned by Viktor's answer, John paused for a second, not believing what he had just heard.
"I know where Cesar is. "