Chapter 46

The third option

 

 

The gazes of soldiers and rebels alike fell on the people who suddenly appeared.

"You are the man who saved that girl, Argent" Sallo said with a suspicious look.

"I am honored to be remembered."

"I hope you aren't here to interfere ..." Laru said as the rest of the men stood by his side, blocking the way.

"I have not come to interfere, I have come to end this charade."

Suddenly, Argent spoke in a language that men who heard him could not understand. Then the young man dressed in clothes as high quality as his stepped forward and brandished his sword. A weapon unlike any previously seen by those present, it seemed that it could cut just by looking at it, as everyone stared at it for an instant and were forced to blink by its radiance.

"I know you won't until you see it, but once you understand that you can't win, I ask of you to drop your weapons ..."

"So he's on the side of the Lord of Garush after all. He completely fooled me, I could have sworn  he was not". Sallo said as he took a defensive stance.

The sound of glass breaking caught everyone's attention. The remains of broken jars lay at the feet of Iren's soldiers, who stood firmly once more.

As trained soldiers they were, they did not miss the opportunity that presented itself at the moment that everyone's attention had left them. Without wasting time they had drunk the potions they carried for emergencies, once again they could fight.

"Oh shit!" was the last thing a man said before his heart was pierced by the spear of one of the soldiers. Increasing even more the number of victims of the resistance.

And as the frightened men were on guard, what little confidence they had regained after defeating the soldiers was crumbling now that they saw themselves surrounded.

"No one else needs to die, surrender now."

There was something in the man's voice, beyond the situation, that made them feel his authority. Those who volunteered to help the resistance spread their hands and surrendered, the still living members of the resistance followed soon after.

"Get out now! KILL THEM!" Sallo shouted with all his might, but after a few seconds of silence, Argent stepped forward and answered the question that was beginning to form in his mind.

"They are not going to answer. How do you think we got here without them knowing? The men who were guarding the area have already been incapacitated."

"It can't be ... Was it all for nothing?" Said while sobbing someone who could not be distinguished in the crowd that was beginning to lament.

"Shameful" Said one of the soldiers, as he put his spear in the neck of one of the men who moments before had cornered him.

"No need to ..."

"¡AAARGH!"

The man's cry was silenced by the spear in the same way that Argent's words were.

"Everyone will die for defying Iren!"

"¡Ryuuji!"

While the fearful men ran to get away from the soldiers, young Ryuuji went in the opposite direction and with his sword intercepted that of one of the soldiers, who was about to bury it in the shoulder of an unfortunate man who had fallen trying to flee.

"You must stop fighting, you still ..."

"Silence! We will not let this disgrace go by!"

For an instant, Argent found it difficult to hide his frustration at the attitude of the soldiers, who refused to listen.

...

"Stay calm, we'll take care of this." Argent said without losing his composure.

The frightened men found it difficult to trust these words, but once again, the assurance with which they were spoken imposed the authority of the man.

Just as they refused to listen, the soldiers did not bother to speak. If this armed youth got in their way, he would be eliminated like the others.

Surprisingly, the well-trained soldiers found it difficult to connect their attacks on the young man, who was slipping through their weapons like water.

It's true that Iren's soldiers are strong and well-trained men, but in Argent's eyes, they were just numbers. Numbers that even together, were still below Ryuuji.

Even if the amount was similar, in Ryuuji's case, these numbers were found on a single body. Imagine trying to hit someone, which is literally six times faster. Try clashing swords with someone who has literally ten times your own strength.

The fight with Garonte had caused Ryuuji to understand what he was capable of, and now he was putting it into practice.

After a couple of minutes, Iren's soldiers were again in a deplorable state.

"... W-Who ha ...?"

"We are not your enemies." Argent said to the exhausted soldier.

"Neither of you." He said, this time looking at the frightened members of the resistance.

"First of all ... Drink, it's an antidote to the poison that runs through your body."

Without taking a moment to think about it, the soldier accepted the vial that Argent offered him and drank its contents, his companions followed suit.

"Isn't that hasty?"

"If they wanted us dead, they wouldn't need to resort to such a ruse to begin with, just before they prevented us from being executed."

"I see you've already cooled your heads."

"You say you are not our enemy, but you just ruined everything we've fought for, and all the sacrifices we've made."

Argent's gaze turned colder than they had seen before, that gaze was directed at Sallo, to whom he soon responded.

"And what exactly is that you have fought for?"

"Of course it is for the lives of the Garush people, who live like ..."

"And what are those sacrifices that you talk about? Are they not precisely the lives of those people you say you fight for?"

Argent's words echoed in that street whose floor was covered with the blood of those who had died shortly before.

"As I said before, I have come to end this charade."

Walking slowly, Argent crossed a sad look with all the still living members of the resistance and then looked towards the corner from which they had come to that place. Ruthen, accompanied by Molak and several tied men, stared back at him.

"Last night, Iren's soldiers were poisoned by one of the defenders of the resistance, the plan they had was to assassinate them and make the Lord of Garush take responsibility."

"Poisoned ... was it ..."

"Of course, if they wanted to get out of such a crime alive, they must have a scapegoat, without a doubt, the one you think about is the one who would be blamed.

"The resistance would never so cruelly sacrifice one of its own."

"But it's not one of yours, is he?" Argent said looking at Ruthen.

"The bartender is one of the people who supports the resistance, but he is nothing more than a volunteer without skills or experience."

"Even so!"

"And about cruelly sacrificing someone ... Tell me, how many of you were aware of the plan to poison Iren's soldiers?"

"All the members of the resistance were informed, do you think we are bastards who would hide something like that from their comrades while sending them to die !? They all knew what they were getting into and still volunteered! They were voluntary sacrifices! "

"Really? Then I want you to answer another question, how did you know that the poison would work just when you needed it?

How did they know it wouldn't happen too late or too soon?

Wouldn't it have ruined their plans if the poison acted a couple of hours earlier and consequently the soldiers couldn't go out on patrol? "

At this question, even Ruthen was confused, when he came across Argent earlier and told him about the resistance plan, he had not mentioned any of this.

"From experience, the only reliable way to know something is to check it first. Do you know someone who has been poisoned recently?"

Argent's gaze fell on Ruthen and Molak as he said the latter. They both went from confusion to surprise and then anger.

"The person had to be someone they could watch over, so that they could observe the effectiveness of the poison. I happen to know someone who suffered from poisoning and was under surveillance by the resistance."

"I can't believe they were capable." Said Andreu, the vice-captain of the Argent Guard, who knew Selia well.

"Did the resistance really tested its poison on a young girl we rescued from slavery and who entrusted us with her life !?" The force in Molak's words accused their leaders of such atrocity.

"It's a lie, of course we wouldn't do something like that. Why would you believe him !?"

"And how do you explain that the same antidote I used to save Selia the other day just healed Iren's soldiers. Isn't that proof that the poison used was the same?"

Argent said as he held one of the antidote vials that the soldiers drank moments ago.

"Ruthen, you were present at the time, what do you think?"

"I have no doubt, the antidote that cured Selia looked and smelled just like those."

Everyone present was horrified to understand what had just been said.

"THOSE ARE LIES!". Laru said desperately, as they stabbed him with their gaze.

"I can see that not everyone knew it. I want to ask for mercy for these people, they were manipulated by their leaders, whom they believed to be righteous and just. If anyone should pay, it is them."

"It is difficult to refuse the request of the man who saved us. We will settle with the heads that planned all this."

"Thank you very much ... There is another thing I want to ask you."

...

◆◇◆◇

The wheelbarrow appeared ... and it's empty.

Moments ago, I located Ruthen with the help of the monocle, and when we met, he told us everything he knew about the resistance plan and what happened in the bar the night before.

After separating for a moment to think, I decided to confirm if my contingency plan was possible, and I see that it is. It will be better to do some preparations, but first.

"There are people on the rooftops and behind some corners. They have been standing still for a long time, they are probably sentinels of the resistance, I will tell you where they are hiding, surprise them and knock them out. Ruthen, I heard that you are good at picking locks, I want you to open all the doors from the houses from here to the ambush site, including the place where Molak is being held. "

"Do you know where they keep him?"

"That's right, there is a man looking after him, so be careful. We will incapacitate the guards and go ahead. When you have freed Molak, go with him and take the guards with you, I want them to be present to solve this mess."

"I'll take care of it ... Molak was right, I should have trusted you to know what to do.

"Leave it to me. Now move!"

While Ryuuji and the others take care of the guards, I'll put everything in place for my contingency plan ...

Deciding between helping the resistance or Garonte? As if those were the only options.

Aren't Iren's soldiers a better choice? Of course they have an implicit risk.

The resistance is made up of people who can be influenced, but they are fools who could bring more problems than benefits, you just have to see their stupid plan. Of course, even if they are not smart, it is enough if I am. If I got rid of their impulsive, goofy ringleaders, they'd be an easy bunch to use.

Now ... in what way will it be more convincing?

 

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