[Tekoa Town, Mayor's mansion]
In that same night, Rueben visited the Mayor's estate, as he identified himself to the gate guards, before being allowed to go in and see the slight changes in the area. Due to the commotion that Ester made during the day, there were signs of a battle happening in this area just from the cracks on the floor and some scratches. Through that, it seems like Ester had really done something he himself couldn't even imagine before.
In fact was mo brainer at all, after all they were talking about Ester's wife here, Ziv. Based on how he reacted when he barged into his office and immediately went straight towards this place, it seemed like Ester was pretty desperate. However despite his desperation, he was pretty sure that Ester wouldn't be able to succeed, after all Jabarin and his team were here.
After getting into the mansion and walking along the hallway, Rueben then saw a group of black robed people exiting the Mayor's room, as they nod at the figure inside before earily leaving the site. No matter how much he looks at the black robed figures, his senses are warning him that they are bad news.
However without minding that, Rueben then knocked on the door of the room, before he went inside and surprised that Mayor Zoabi was not present in the room. However Jabarin himself was there, looking out the window while drinking some red wine.
"Rueben? What brings you here?"
"I've heard the news, early this morning, Ester came here right?"
"Ester... ah yes! Are you talking about the former captain of the town's brigade? Yes! He was here... why did you ask?"
"I just checked sir!"
"Checked... he also went to your office I presume?"
"Unfortunately yes"
"Then he must have also learned about his wife through you?"
"Yes... I'm sorry about the blunder"
"Blunder? Don't worry about it, plus it wasn't that much of a blunder, but in fact only a slight annoyance"
Hearing that term from Jabarin in regards to Ester, it seems like Ester had lost miserably to Jabarin himself, which is expected since Jabarin is an expert warrior and has rich experience in combat. In comparison to Ester, he simply doesn't stand a chance agaisnt Jabarin.
"By the way sir! Where's mayor Zoabi? I just want to check on him"
"The mayor? No need to worry, he is safe... apparently he is busy trying to teach his new toy on various skills"
"Toy?"
"Yes... you already know her"
With that Rueben realized that the toy that Jabarin was talking about was none other than Ziv and if what he heard was right, then Mayor Zoabi is teaching her stuff related to his perversion and fetish in a rough way. Once more he felt disgusted at such act, it would have been better if the mayor just killed her instead.
"Are you sure this is the right way? Treating her less than an animal, isn't that too much?"
"Too much? Maybe it is too much, however what can we do? We can't stop him nor deal with him, Mayor Zoabi is a really important person, especially outside, due to that, we can't do anything in regards to his deeds but turn a blind eye"
"Blind eye... wait mayor Zoabi is an important figure? Did I miss something?"
"Right you don't know since you live in the frontier... yes mayor Zoabi is an important figure in this country, in fact he is very close attendant to the king of this country and the person who is second only to the king in terms of military might"
"Second only? That's impossible! Even if we factor you and your groups into the military might, our military including you guys couldn't expect to be above than the royal knights of the king right?"
"We are not, however mayor Zoabi has a special force that is only available to people who sponsors them, I'm pretty sure you've encountered them quite a few times already"
With that Rueben remembered the black robed people as he guessed.
"The black robes?"
"Yes! That's the special forces, but they are not simply black robed figures, but rather they are priest or mages of magic related to death, basically they are a cult and the only way they can make people sponsor them is by promising eternal life, and as a cult that specializes is death aura, this is nothing but a simple feat"
"Making deals with cults that are a taboo towards life, isnt this blasphemy? Aren't they evil? Why is the mayor taking care of them?"
"Evil... can you define evil?"
"Evil generally refers to actions, intentions, or characteristics that are profoundly immoral, malevolent, or wicked. It involves deliberate harm or suffering caused to others, often with malice or a lack of empathy. Philosophically and theologically, evil is a complex concept and can be viewed from various perspectives, including moral, metaphysical, and psychological angles. It often contrasts with notions of good, virtue, and moral righteousness"
"In general definition, you are right, however you can't simply label them as evil, after all... for me they are necessary evil"
"Necessary evil?"
A "necessary evil" refers to something that is considered undesirable or morally wrong but is deemed essential or unavoidable in achieving a positive outcome or preventing a greater harm. This concept is often used to justify actions that are ethically questionable but are seen as the lesser of two evils in a given situation. For example, certain harsh measures might be considered necessary evils in the context of maintaining order or achieving a critical goal.
"Yes! As I've said, you may not know this but the other cities south from here, it's a total chaos there, people are dying everyday... it's it war, especially the capital city, you have no idea just how chaotic it is"
"Is it because of the war that those black robed figures or cults are acting up?"
"Yes they are, apparently the enemy that this country is facing is really strong, that's why the cults strength is needed to even the playing field"
Hearing that Rueben seemed worried and curious at the same time as he asked.
"What are these enemies you spoke off?"
"No one knows, I'm fact the higher upside are keeping shut about it in order to prevent unease among its people"
"Even from someone like you?"
"Even from someone like me, all I know is that ever since those enemies killed the minister of military and defense, the tension within the capital became intense, it is already a given since the assassination was literally perfect, no one was able to detect them nor even encounter them, it was as if they were a ghost... in the end they concluded to call them terrorist"
"You said southern borders right? Then doesn't that mean the enemy is based within the vast mountainous area? After all that is the only land there that exist"
"Yes! The enemies are there, however even if we know where they are, it will be quite hard for our army to finish them all off because of the terrain, they are employing guerilla tactics"
Guerrilla tactics are unconventional warfare strategies employed by smaller, often irregular military units against larger, traditional forces. These tactics aim to exploit the enemy's weaknesses through surprise attacks, mobility, and the element of unpredictability.
Key features of guerrilla tactics include sudden, unexpected attacks on enemy forces or supply lines, often from concealed positions. Deliberate destruction or disruption of enemy resources, infrastructure, or communication networks. Quick strikes on enemy targets followed by rapid withdrawal to avoid retaliation. Using disguises, false information, and terrain to blend in and mislead the enemy. Utilizing familiarity with the local environment to maneuver effectively and evade pursuit. Gaining assistance, supplies, and intelligence from sympathetic civilians.
These tactics are designed to wear down the enemy, cause confusion, and make it difficult for conventional forces to mount an effective counterattack.
"Because of them, the kingdom has no choice but to employ cultist within our ranks, with their magic and gimmicks, our momentum is slowly pacing forward... that is the reason why Mayor Zoabi can't be dealt with, and that is because he has the backing of the cultists and acknowledgement from the king"
With that, Rueben once more realized why Mayor Zoabi could act so brazenly like that without a care for consequence whatsoever. On the other hand, he also realized that no matter what Ester do, his efforts would be futile, after all he is antagonizing someone he shouldn't mess with.
In that moment a guard suddenly barged into the room as he gave out a shocking news which shocked both Jabarin and Rueben himself.
"Sir! You need to get to the gate quickly! That guy... Ester, he is back"
*********
[Ester's home]
Meanwhile as everyone were taking their nap and Talia sleeping soundly with Ban and the rest of the girls, Sato on the other hand was sitting on a chair facing the window as he seemed out of it at the moment. After all aside from not knowing how to cheer up Ester, he also doesn't know how he could help him in his situation.
Asagi had already wipe herself clean from this problem as she doesn't have any intention to antagonize the standing government of this country, much more since she haven't investigated what this country name is and things to look out for in this country.
In comparison to Asagi previous exploration which has a goal, Asagi and the rest of the group is going in blind as she needs to figure out what the prophecy that was given to her from up north actually means. With that Sato was left alone tackling this problem.
In that moment Asagi surprisingly stood by the window too as she seemed to think about something deeply while looking at the starry night sky.
"Hey there queen! Can't sleep?" Asked by hero Sato
"I got a lot on my mind today and believe me, sleep is the last of my worries"
"Welp there are a lot of things to think about"
"Well what about you? You seemed stressed"
"Stressed? Me? Bah! I'm just thinking too, after all Ester's problem isn't a simple one, not only do I need to think kn how to help him, I also need to think of a solution which would not antagonize the mayor of this town and hurt its citizens"
"Thats... quite a high toll, aren't you expecting too much?"
"What do you mean?"
"Look I may not be a hero or something like a goody two shoes citizen, but I do know that even though your a good guy with good will and all, you can't save everyone... that is called the ultimate choice"
"Ultimate choice..."
"Yes! That is also the hardest choice and the reason why it is called as such is all because it has a sacrifice"
"Sacrifice... I really don't like that word, especially to a hero like me... as much as possible I don't want to sacrifice anyone to achieve my goal"
"Then that's idealism, you expected everything to go what you want, however reality is nothing like that... call me realism if you must but that's the ugly truth, you can't save everyone"
Thinking through on what Asagi said, Sato then understood as he replied.
"Your right, I may have denied it, ignore, and avoided it, but it won't change a thing at all... however I may not save everyone but I want to help him atleast, Ester... at this moment he needs someone to rely on"
"Well since Ester is within your reach to help out, sure! Try to help him out! That's the Hero's job after all, giving hope in tomes of despair, try if you can, I know you can do it"
In that moment while Asagi and Sato was having a warm conversation, Jophiel suddenly landed infront of Ester's home, as he quickly went by the window and informed Asagi and Sato about the shocking news.
"Your majesty! Hero Sato! This is an emergency, the human named Ester had returned to the Mayor's estate!"
"Huh?" Asked by Sato in surprise
"What? How did that happen? How did he get past through us?" Asked by Asagi In question.
On the other hand, Sato quickly snapped back to reality, as he quickly ran up towards Ester's room and noticed that Ester was really not inside his room at all. Since that was the case then Ester might really be in front of the Mayor's estate once more and that is going to be quite a problem for him.
Without further ado, he then woke everyone up as he informed them what Jophiel had told him.
***ReadAtWebnovel***