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    Back in Mirthwater, El could see their eyes redden, glaring as if they wished to bore a hole into something. It wasn''t surprising, though; since both of them, along with the other kids at that time, seemed to have a close-knit relationship with the people of the restaurant, particularly that woman whom El had caught reprimanding them during their first encounter so they could sit while eating their food. He could feel the weight of their treasured relationship even from afar.


    Yet, it had all been cruelly ripped apart. From a distance, El recognized her. The woman bound to the pillar was Rima, a staff member of the restaurant with the name Ran had mentioned. She had died three days ago, but it appeared her body was deliberately preserved. El knew very well what happened to corpses after three days; her body should have shown signs of decay by now, with flies buzzing around. But there was nothing – no signs of rot, no swarming insects.


    One other detail that gnawed at him was that among the twelve figures kneeling in the center, he spotted the old man he had encountered with ''the man'' at the restaurant – whose name was Old Tigo. El wanted to ask the others about it, but he chose to keep his thoughts to himself after sensing the solemnity in the air.


    He might not have been the most perceptive when it came to reading the atmosphere, as he realized his lack of common sense might have already offended others unintentionally. Yet, for this particular moment, El knew and understood undoubtedly that it was best to keep his mouth shut in this somber, grieving ambiance. Unlike before, when he tried to lighten the mood by complimenting Ran just as she explained what had happened to that woman, Rima, it had created an awkward strain for the rest of their journey.


    Now, though, he felt sadness creeping in, a reflection of the emotions swirling around him – originating from all of them. Deep inside, he recognized that he was affected by all of their grief.


    Death had been a common occurrence in the village where he had lived before, with funerals happening every three days, or maybe weeks, or if the villagers were unlucky, they went to have a funeral every day. Some had even resorted to cannibalism just to survive another day, which had made El wary of everyone around him in that village.


    So, El assumed he was supposed to feel nothing. But...


    ''But why?'' El questioned himself. Why did tears threaten to fall from his eyes? Perhaps it was the sheer number of people around him, overwhelming him with their collective sorrow as if a heavy weight pressed against his chest. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, determined not to let a single tear fall. It had been a mistake to cry in the restaurant that day. Not this time. He had already promised his uncle.


    Meanwhile, all twenty-five members on that upper floor of the building, including El, watched in silence, with Sir Giles behind Ran – crossing his arms over his chest. The veins on his forehead and arms bulged, throbbing continuously. On the other side, one among them held an odd-looking device that El couldn''t identify, as its purpose was a mystery to him. Later, he would learn that it was actually a camera, recording the somber scene currently unfolding below, in the yard of the mayor''s office.


    "Sir Giles, what do you all want to do after this?" Ran asked with a shaky voice, not taking her sight away from the platform.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "You all kids should get back to the base once this is over. I''m sorry, but there is no leniency this time," Sir Giles replied sternly to Ran''s question, yet, she remained silent, which made Sir Giles behind her back could only let out a rueful sigh.


    As the mayor rose from his seat and approached the platform, the murmurs of the Mirthwater residents in the front rows gradually faded until no one dared to utter a single word anymore.


    The mayor''s name was Lucca Accard – Accard being the name of his family, granted by the emperor himself. It was said that he had once been a Commander in the Vanguards, earning high merit in the war against the Tribals. After unfortunately suffering severe injuries in that conflict, he retired from his position and was subsequently appointed as the mayor of Mirthwater City by the emperor.


    Even so, the residents of this city not only respected him but also feared him. He was widely known for his close connections with the royal family. Moreover, there was a persistent rumor that he had also once served as a Keeper in the main Church of Origin, which was reputed among all residents of the empire for being fiercely protective of its own members, even after they left their positions.


    Mayor Lucca approached the execution ground step by step, eventually climbing up onto the platform. As he turned to face the twelve kneeling figures – those people, except for the owner of the restaurant – began to cry, pleading for his mercy.


    "Please, Mayor Lucca. Please!?? We didn''t do anything…"


    "Please… I have a family at home. I can''t leave them like this."


    "My mother, Mayor. My mother is in the hospital right now. She is sick… Please let me go…"


    "We''re innocent. We had nothing to do with what happened to that noble. Please… hic, hic, hic… please…"


    "I have a fiancé, sir. I will be married three months from now. Have mercy…"


    "…"


    "…"


    "Silence!!!" one of the five guards present on the platform abruptly snapped at them, cutting off their incessant pleas. His loud voice made most of them flinch, trembling in fear. One of the waiters from the restaurant, who wasn’t bothered by the shout, instead glared at the mayor; only to be struck on the head by the guard''s long gun who quickly approached the one who dared enough to have such poor, disgraceful conduct directed directly to the mayor. Blood streamed from that waiter''s wound, soaking the ground beneath him.


    The other four guards stood in silence, their legs straight and arms holding their guns at the ready. They wore no expression on their faces, for the only thing that mattered to them as guards was obedience – nothing more, nothing less. It had already been ingrained in the very essence of their being from the very moment they were trained and joined this sacred position, to defend the majesty of the one who held high in the eyes of the emperor.


    "You''ll see this, Tigo. The innocents; have been implicated by your foolishness," the mayor said to the kneeling old man positioned in the middle of the group. His eyes appeared to hold no emotion inside – just pure, unending chilling gaze.


    Old Tigo, his disheveled white hair framing a face and body marred by a multitude of wounds, from burns and blunt trauma – to lacerations inflicted by sharp weapons. He now bore a sorrowful expression. He had endured severe torture before the execution, unlike the others who were merely confined behind steel bars; yet their ultimate end would be equally tragic. From this moment on, any of their families would be thrown to the underside.


    With only three fingers remaining on his hands, Old Tigo struggled to move his parched throat, sight cloudy in defeat, regret, and loss. Eventually, his dry lips parted, allowing a string of heavy words to escape, broken and hoarse – while struggling to lift his head to meet Mayor Lucca''s eyes. "Yes, it was indeed my fault. How terribly foolish I am, as I underestimated your cruelty. You choose to side with their iniquity at the end. How deep have you fallen, comrade?"


    ...


    <b><i>(A/N: A last or second name was considered sacred and was forbidden for commoners to use unless formally granted by the emperor or Dukes of the empire. Thus, last names were reserved for the nobility or those of status, such as wealthy merchants or knights who had earned the right to a second name. So, it didn’t matter if the commoners had to share the same or similar names among themselves.)</i></b>


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