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    The Fifth


    and


    The Hidden City


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    Tch. Shit, have they know about it already?


    In a wide hall of the old temple, Martinis Digs an elite of the underworld orders his men to leave the place. Alone in the place, he sits at the wide two-steps-stairs. He drinks the jar of water and places it down in the ground.


    “The kingdom gains their grand victory, huh?


    “I guess. It''s time for my last stand. A satisfying moment on my life will about to come. Despite my name won''t be carved in the history. Still, this is a choice that must be done.” He has stood and waited for the five people to arrive from the entrance of the forest.


    A distance from him, he listens at the woman who loudly speaks, “So it seems, I have to fight you again. This time, I''ll pierce this sword to your gut.”


    Jerome whispers to Mefany, “Be careful. This might be a trap. He might not be alone.”


    Martinis replies, “Young girl, you may have talent with the sword, but you''re to early to beat me in the lead, considering I won''t fight you using my psychic.”


    Mefany runs. To Martinis, she slashes consecutively her sword.


    The attacked person parries them all. He then moves to the right side. And suddenly, a slash of the sword comes down and fails to hit him — an attack comes from Jerome Zabital.


    Jerome follows up his attack, a horizontal slash of the sword. Yet, it''s parried by the sword (vertically facing down) held by Martinis digs. Two at once..? and they''re both good.


    Having the granted opening, Mefany stabs her sword aiming at Martinis back. Metal sound resonances once as her sword flies away from her hand — this event widens the eyes of Martinis and the nobleman. Tears flow from the nobleman''s eyes.


    A well groomed woman— yet full off scars on her recovering arms, legs and face —has repelled Mefany''s attack. She then kicks Mefany''s stomach.


    Mefany groans and thinks, I can''t hold her with my psychic. Holding her stomach, she then falls and sits on the ground.


    “Why are you here?” has asked by Martinis to the woman. That woman just shakes her head sideways.


    Jerome attacks her with the sword. Mike blocks the attack by his sword. Jerome speaks, “What are you doing, you traitor?”


    “I too is a bit confuse,” has said by Mike, “I need clarification.” To the woman, he speaks, “Are you Ann Jie Brigan?”


    The woman nods. —that makes the nobleman thinks, At last, I found you my cousin.


    “Jerome, Mefany, lay down your sword. I''ll be having a conversation with them.”


    “Shit,” has responded by Jerome. “An order from a high ranking in the guild. Who am I to deny?”


    To Martinis, Mike speaks, “My client showed me her image portraying her beauty and well-being. Not like this. She lost her voice from the torture, am I right?”


    “Yes,” has replied by Martinis. “And for you to interrogate me, are you diverting my attention to let my guard down?”


    “Fear not for this woman will defend you for her life.” Seeing the woman going in front to Martinis, he continues, “We can''t lay a hand on her. She''s our client long searched missing person.


    “How about a fair trade? We have her return to her family and we will listen at your story. We might be considerate and tolerate some of your past life.”


    “No need for that mike!” has loudly said by Sammuel. Heading away from the entrance of the forest, he walks while behind him is the fat man, the fifth exceptional general. “That man before you is the fifth exceptional general.” The revelation stuns everyone. As they arrive in the gathering, they listen at Mike,


    “How could you say so? Are you telling me that the man behind you is a fake?”


    “I got every last details from Mefany that completes my investigation via her psychic. As long as I can recall. The fifth exceptional general never revealed himself in public.


    “It happened that time that Jaino managed to rescue sorses on his young age. That tasked was requested by Zahamara. There was no one to represent for the fifth exceptional general whose pledge was to save more victims including slavery, abused, and those who fell victims in the syndicate. That was why the main exceptional general appointed this person behind me as disguise.” To Martinis digs, he speaks, “For you to infiltrate the underworld without being found out, you might have accomplished several things. That includes this woman. Else she won''t be defending you.”


    The woman nods.


    To the woman, Mike speaks, “Woman, you can now approach your cousin. This person''s safety is already assured.”


    The woman looks to see, the nobleman smiles at him. She runs and hugs him tightly. Seeing them in tears and embracing every moment, Mike declares, The case has finally closed.


    Martinis replies to Sammuel, “You are trying to act trustworthy. Do you ever think I would reveal my effort to you all?”


    “Even if Jaino is our current guild leader?” has pushed by Sammuel making the eyes of Martinis wide-open.


    “So, Jaino had ascended as the third...”


    “Yes, he is our current guild leader.”


    “Come... Follow me.”


    Mike asks to Sammuel, “What''s his relation to Jaino?”


    “After Jaino raised as the new guild leader, I investigated his history. You knew how ambitious I am for the seat. I discovered that he is the son of Viegro Diarke the one who liberated us from the last cruel king. And he was the boss of Martinis.”


    Walking until reaching in the other area inside the forest, they arrive at the entrance of city — a city surrounded by the arching high wall of two neighboring mountains. A city contains people— with scars on their recovering skin —are happily living peacefully. Some armed soldiers approach them and bow to Martinis.


    Mike asks, “What is this place?”


    Martinis replies, “These are the people that I managed to fake their death. Those confiscated products of sorse blood... I used them for the camouflage. I only recycled the previous products and presented them to the underworld. If we were shortage, we attacked the dealers of the syndicate and confiscated those products to recycle them again.”


    Sammuel comments, “You are the worst.”


    “In any way, it works.


    “I leaded the group to tend these people, to cure their body physically and mentally. It was just a good thing that I managed to hire capable persons. Later then, in a blink of an eye, this place becomes a city. It''s just a good thing that this dangerous forest and the mountains can camouflage this place. The reason, I have been grateful of this blessing.


    “This inspired me to continue to save someone, no matter how in dangerous position I am.”


    “Then we will not bother you with your work,” Sammuel has declared. “We will fetch some information from you instead. It''s about the remaining remnants of the underworld.”


    “So, I''m cleared? Very well, what kind of information can I provide?”


    “Do you know every person who allied in the underworld?”


    “Knowing them all is far to my interest. I don''t even bother about their progress. But I can give you some lead. One — the most common of them are nobles who will against most good intentions of the kingdom. Two — adventurers in the mystery cavern are funding the underworld so they could move deeper in the endless area. Three — some merchants and syndicates, including those who sell slaves are cooperating with the underworld across the land of Dandia. That''s all.”


    “About the adventurers, that''s my first time to hear a thing.”


    “I can inform you about their goal also. The reason I didn''t bother to mess up with their work.”


    “And that''s?”


    “The search or make the most strongest person of Dandia.”


    “For what reason?”


    “To save us from the wrath of countless calamities of course.”


    “I see... We will wait here until Dogel will arrive. We will inform the kingdom of your greatest endeavors and success.”


    “It''s just a blessing that I meet you all. Thank you. I can continue my duty and can continue to provide support to these people.”


    “You should be thanking your alter ego,” has replied by Sammuel pointing his thumb behind him — the fat man.


    “You have my thanks, man. But I have to extend my duty. I do required your assistance. I do hope you remain my cover for the time being.”


    “Gladly accepted,” has replied by the fat man. “I''m most grateful that I take part for your good deeds. It is a honor. So, I don''t mind doing it so long as you ask.”


    Some people are simply humble


    They strive to achieve their passion


    Never give up is a virtue


    .