Chapter 69: Provocateur (5)


    The people around him cowered as if momentarily frightened by the sound of his voice.


    They started to remember. Their viges were reduced to rubble all of a sudden. These people raised their voices in unison.


    The enemy came to attack them. The enemy plundered the fruits of thebour while killing those who resisted.


    That''s why they had to abandon their viges and flee towards the city. What would happen if the Lord''s army challenged them with a small force and was defeated? The enemy army would do as they have done to their viges, pour into the city of Volden and steal their food supplies and temporary shelters.


    YesWe cannot run away any further


    "We have no choice but to fight......"


    "Weve gotta beat St. Gallen!"


    The call to fight gradually grew, especially among the men.


    Don''t let the invaders get away with it. Take back our viges, our fields.


    One of the refugees suddenly shouted.


    "Yeah, we can''t just let the enemy do whatever they want! They set fire to any vige they attack!"


    "Really!?"


    "Is that true!?"


    "Yeah! They dont care at all! They burn everything from houses to fields! They even burned the church!"


    "Umm, in my vige, they poisoned the well ...... and one child died because of it!"


    "Ahhhh! It''s like theyre trying to exterminate us all"


    "They are serious about killing us all!"


    Some spoke of how vige girls were assaulted. Others cried that their wives were taken away from them. Or how their children were ughtered.


    Slowly but surely, the ounts of the damage done by St. Gallen came to light. The fact that they had been made known once again added fuel to the people''s instincts to protect themselves.


    And the result?


    "I''ll fight! I''ll fight too!"


    "My lord! Let us join your army!"


    "We''ll take back our vige!"


    There was an explosion of voices begging to join the army.


    Until now, they had been refugees with nothing. But then Tullius guided them. He made empty promises, iming that food and shelter would be provided.


    And now, they believed that there was something worth protecting. Food for today and tomorrow and a warm home to protect against the freezing autumn wind. They believed that they would be given these things, when they have not even seen them in reality, and that they were in danger of losing them all to the approaching St. Gallen army.


    Thats why the people decided to fight. They had to protect and to stop losing anything.


    Among the people who had made up their minds to do so, there were a few with strange expressions on their faces. They looked as if they had been intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. However, the refugees were now in the midst of a manic frenzy. Of course they wouldnt pay any attention to a few drunks here and there.


    The man on the tform smiled at the frenzied voices of the crowd.


    "Thank you...... my greatest thanks to everyone! Let''s work together and bring peace back to thend!"


    "YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH""


    At the shouts of the agitated people, Tullius bent down and covered his face.


    He looked like he was sobbing uncontrobly......, or as if the devil was trying to hold back hisughter at the foolishness of the people.