* * *


    "How deep have you fallen, comrade?" Old Tigo''s vision was vague from the torture, but even then, he knew who was in front of him. That voice was unmistakably coming from one of his old friends.


    "Fallen," Mayor Lucca said, and the corner of his lips raised into a smile – more accurately, a sneer. "Stop with your flowery words, Tigo. You and I know well enough what kind of person you actually were in the past! I bet it was in your plan to sacrifice these kids…"


    "Indeed, old friend. The past me really is unbearable. Cough, cough, cough. Such is the life of me, the deserter…" Old Tigo''s coughing fit intensified, accompanied by blood streaming down from his lips and staining his plain white shirt and brown pants, which were the attire of the condemned at their execution stage: white, symbolizing a prayer for a better next life, and brown, representing their redemption upon the soil of Threa, where their blood would be spilled.


    As Mayor Lucca watched over Old Tigo, he turned and opened his mouth, this time directing his words to the rest of the kneeling figures, one of whom had been struck by a guard before and now lay unconscious. Based on how much blood had flowed from the wound, perhaps he was dying. "Any last words???"


    Their eyes widened, still expecting the former heart to soften at their pleas, especially since they were truly innocent and had nothing to do with the accused crime that had fallen upon their names.


    "Please. For the sake of our past relationship, let them go, Lucca. I know you well enough. There must be something of you still left in there. Please… I beg you." Old Tigo interjected from the side. He then let his head fall to the ground, and with a *Thud*, it crashed heavily on the wooden platform, oozing blood from the fresh wound on his forehead.


    "Not only you’re an old man without dignity, but you have even gladly thrown your pride away by kneeling in front of me, your junior. How much of a shame you are now, Tigo," Mayor Lucca said with an intonation of unconcealed mockery, yet his face remained icy. Except for the curl on his lips, he was as cold and poker-faced as he had been from the start.


    "I don''t care. No matter how much you insult me. Mock me. Beat me. Torture me. I don''t care. Yes, I am nothing but trash. I am a nobody. Yes, it is what I am now. An old man without dignity. Honor. Pride of a knight I once was. But just please!!? Please just this once, Lucca, please. Let them go!!!"


    Finding no response whatsoever, Old Tigo lifted his head to look directly at the supposed face – perhaps the eyes of Mayor Lucca. Blood had now fallen from his forehead, even filling his eyes and flowing down to his chin, creating a sight resembled that of someone who was crying in tears of blood. He begged once more, hoping to soften the heart of his old friend.


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    "Look at that girl. Her corpse was tied there for three days. Three days. Her corpse, Lucca. She can''t even rest in peace. They denied her of it, even just for such a simple funeral – cough, cough, cough. And what is the cause of her death? Just because she slapped the one who wanted to rape her. Can''t you see it, Lucca? Can''t you see how they don''t even see us as human beings?"


    Old Tigo spoke all of that between his tears of blood and bile coming up with his coughs, his voice growing raspier the longer he spoke. The other eleven kneeling figures who heard what Old Tigo was saying began to cry as well. Meanwhile, atop the tall, abandoned building, where El, Ran, Sir Giles, and the rest of the members stayed, they could hear Old Tigo''s voice clearly through a black device connected to somewhere on the platform below. While Ran was currently sobbing, El and the boy just beside Ran were busy fighting with all their intention to win against the tears that were already falling drop by drop defiantly from their eyes.


    "Her name was Rima. She had a little sister living on the underside. She worked in the restaurant tirelessly and took holidays only after I forced her tens of times. She and I often bickered over such small issues. And when I asked her about it, she said she did all of that to make sure her sister could drink the overpriced medicine sold in the city. She also said her little sister was the only family she had left. And now, that little girl lost her only big sister. Her only family. Can you see that?" at the last of his words, Tigo screamed. His face twisted while looking at Mayor Lucca, who maintained tranquility and lack of concern as if no rain could ever make a ripple on the surface of his face.


    "They too had family. Waiting for them to come home," Old Tigo mentioned the rest of the figures at his side who were forced to kneel. They were now sobbing uncontrollably hearing Old Tigo begging for them. He had always been there as their unbridled, gruff boss who barked orders loudly, with an unkempt appearance, yet acted like a grandpa figure with his wizened advice every time they came to him with trouble in their lives.


    "All of them are like family to me. We share our time together in the restaurant. I purposely didn’t overcharge the customers and only served those who respected the food cooked by the chefs. And knew, not to leave any leftovers on their plates. Just like what you said that time, ''Only those who know of hunger understand the grace of a meal.'' I still remember it, Lucca. I still remember it… junior…"


    Just as the word ''junior'' slipped out from Old Tigo''s mouth, Mayor Lucca''s face twitched, but it all happened only for a moment.


    Mayor Lucca then stepped to the side, much to the relief of Old Tigo. He heard the creaking footsteps of someone walking closer to their back. Old Tigo heaved a sigh of solace, wondering what his old friend would do to settle this. It was fine if it was just him who died here. At least he could amend all of his mistakes while wondering if he could see Rima in the afterlife – that is, if the afterlife truly existed, just like what the Lectors from the Church of Origin preached.


    "So, was that all for the last words?" just as that icy-cold query came out from between the gaps of Mayor Lucca''s teeth, a gunshot rang


    out, instantly killing one of the kneeling figures. The shocking sound sent ripples of disbelief through Old Tigo and the group of onlookers gathered atop the building.


    *Bang*


    *Thud*