"Why don't you leave this place?" Ames asked anxiously.
The old man replied in a faint voice, "Even if we wanted to, they wouldn't let us. There is a rebellious man who controls this island, and the army that supports him as well. You've seen him before, and we are far too weak to face one, let alone two."
Ames asked again, "Since when have they been exploiting you?"
The old man answered, "For many years. The village used to be full of people and homes, but they have all left now. And we found nothing to do except submit to their rule, waiting for salvation."
Youray looked up at the sky, his face devoid of emotion, then sighed bitterly: "This is the problem with this world: either you make the rules, or you follow them. Old man, I won't blame you for your weakness, but I will blame you for not standing as a wall against oppression. Living ten years without chains is better than living a lifetime in shackles. Your failure to break the chains is your sin."
The old man looked at Youray and said, "I admit my fault, but there is nothing we can do. If we confront them, we will die."
Youray replied firmly, "Death is better than living as a slave to others. Man's role in this life is fulfilled through his death."
The old man raised his face to the sky and said, "It seems you are absolutely right, boy." Then he began to walk away.
Ames's eyes looked at Youray and said, "Weren't you a bit harsh?"
Youray replied calmly, "Do you want them to live in this humiliation? If the revolution doesn't start now, how will they face their reality after we leave? If someone else comes, the same pain will repeat. The spark of the revolution must never extinguish in a person's heart."
---
Only moments passed until everyone heard the ringing of the village bell.
The residents were surprised and said, "The deadline is until tomorrow, why did they come so quickly? Did they change their minds?"
The boy who had been sitting beside Mihon stood up and asked, "What's happening?" Then he ran off quickly.
Mihon stood and headed towards Youray and the others.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and moved toward the center of the village.
As for the three soldiers who remained there, they were confused and wondered, "Why is the bell ringing now? Has the leader returned?" They were eating when they stopped and rushed toward the crowd gathering.
The village leader stood in the middle of the square, on a wooden platform, his hands behind his back, silently waiting for the gathering of the people.
When everyone had gathered, and the three soldiers had arrived, the leader began to speak:
"Listen carefully, my loved ones, you who have been tortured in your land. We have been silent for too long, and this silence has brought us humiliation. They thought we were content with what we are, but enough! Today I swear that the chains that bind our necks, we will either break them or die trying. We will no longer accept humiliation. I am sorry to drag you into battle, death will occur among us, but death is an honor for those who live in this humiliation. Either freedom, or death in its pursuit!"
The villagers responded enthusiastically: "We are always with you!"
The leader continued: "Everyone who can carry a weapon, follow me. It is either us on this land, or no one! Know that the reward for this rebel is five million gold coins. He has not reached the first star, but he remains very dangerous. We may all die, but I do not ask you to die, rather to live your lives without chains, to raise your heads! We were not born slaves to live as slaves; we will take our freedom with our own hands!"
Ames smiled, moved by the words, and said: "They should have done this long ago."
Youray said calmly: "The spark has only just begun now."
Suddenly, the mute girl struck Youray on the head with her hand, thinking: "What an evil one!"
Youray smiled and said sarcastically, "Do you pity them?"
The mute girl whispered, tilting her head while blowing air.
---
At that moment, the boy was running toward the center of the village carrying a weapon, his face frowning.
The three soldiers met the boy, and one of them said, "This is the one who disrespected the commander before, let's take him hostage."
"This hostage will truly please the commander."
They grabbed him; the three stood in front of the boy.
"What are you doing, you scoundrels?"
One of the three struck him behind the head and knocked him unconscious, saying, "Let's go before the villagers see us." One of them carried him, and they started running to leave the village.
---
In the village, the residents began to prepare, each searching for a tool to use in fighting.
A group of newcomers appeared, wearing light green clothes stained with purple spots.
Everyone was surprised to see them carrying weapons.
They wondered about the reason for this change.
"What is happening, our elder?"
The leader replied, "We have made a decision: we will no longer serve that rebel. We will confront him. Are you ready to take this step with us?"
Without hesitation, everyone responded enthusiastically, "Yes!"
This had been a spark in their hearts for a long time, but they had suppressed it because they did not want to disobey the village leader's word. But after he spoke himself, they answered quickly and with enthusiasm.
The leader said, "Very well, prepare yourselves and carry whatever you can. At this moment, all the village residents gathered and headed toward the rebel's stronghold."
---
Elsewhere on the island, inside a huge cave, a group of people were sleeping on the ground, scattered randomly, with remnants of food and wine bottles filling the place with a foul smell.
At the end of the cave, there was a throne on which a person was sitting, with another man beside him.
The person sitting on the throne was the Revolutionary, and the man beside him was the army commander who forces the residents to pay taxes.
The Revolutionary said sarcastically, "What weaklings they are! They lost consciousness quickly because of the alcohol."
The commander replied, "You're right, it seems we need to train them more."
Suddenly, three people rushed in carrying a small child.
"My lord... my lord... my lord..."
The lieutenant shouted angrily, "What is this shouting? I hear you, you scoundrels! I ordered you to stay in the village and monitor the residents!"
One of them answered, "My lord, that is why we came to tell you that the villagers are preparing to attack this place, and they are targeting Revolutionary Karno. Yes, they are targeting you." The one who spoke was looking at the Revolutionary sitting on the stone throne.
Revolutionary Karno, the reward on his head is five million gold coins.
The reward on the banner equals the reward on the head — the leader of that banner — and those who have not reached the star on their banners are not pursued because they do not pose a threat to the army, so they are neglected.