“So… what do you think the King's plan is by spreading wanted posters about us?” asked Dina, staring at the dark night sky, lit only by the stars.
Arya sighed. “I don’t know, I can’t conclude yet. But there are several possibilities behind his actions.”
He raised his fingers one by one.
“First, to make the nobles—whose positions are threatened—even more reckless and panicked.”
“Second,” Arya continued, “he wants to confuse the people. They are forced to choose—follow the King's orders or support us. And since he is the King, they can't just mock or insult him freely.”
“And third… maybe all of this is done intentionally to ruin his own image.”
Dina frowned. “Ruin his own image? Why would he do that?”
“To see our reaction,” Arya answered calmly. “Whether we still have the resolve to continue this mission… or not.”
Dina fell silent for a moment, then looked at him. “So you mean… we’re being toyed with?”
Arya only gave a faint smile. “That King seems to have a lot of free time.”
Dina snorted. “From his moves, he does seem too relaxed. Even though one by one, his territories are being liberated by us.”
“If we really are his main targets,” Arya added, “then why only now? We’ve already killed seven rulers.”
Dina shrugged. “Well, forget it. So, where’s our next destination?”
“Oiter City,” Arya replied briefly. “After that, only one more remains.”
“Oh right,” Dina murmured. “We went to Puari, but only stopped by, right?”
Arya nodded. “Since the ruler was said to be good, we only rested for a bit and didn’t do any executions.”
“So only one city left after Oiter?”
“Yes, the last city is called Zerio. After that, we go straight to the capital.”
Dina seemed to be thinking. “So there are nine cities with corrupt rulers, right?”
“Correct. We’ve dealt with seven. Just two left.”
Dina looked at Arya. “Once everything is done… then what will we do? For example, let’s say we kill the King too. Who will replace him?”
“There’s a rumor,” said Arya, “that the King’s younger brother is a good and sane person. But well, it’s just a rumor. We’ll see for ourselves later.”
“What if his brother is just as crazy?” Dina looked at him seriously. “Why don’t you become King instead?”
Arya laughed loudly. “Me? Become King? Mwahahaha! Not bad! That way I can sleep with lots of beautiful, sexy, and enchanting women!”
Dina turned her face away, bowing with a red face. “Trashy man…”
“Let it be,” Arya said, still laughing. “But honestly, I’m not fit to be a King.”
“Why?” asked Dina, glancing at him.
“Better to enjoy peaceful days without thinking about anything. If you become King, your life will be consumed by managing everything.”
Dina nodded slowly. “That’s true…”
Their journey to Oiter City continued. Three days later, they arrived at the city gates.
“Hmm…” Dina looked around. “The view is as usual.”
“Yeah. Alright, feel free to look around first,” said Arya.
“See you later.”
“Yeah, be careful.”
They split up, each exploring the city. When night fell, they met again in front of the ruler’s mansion.
“You coming in too?” asked Dina as she drew her two daggers.
“Yes, this time we don’t need to be stealthy. But still at night, so the citizens won’t be disturbed,” Arya replied while raising his pistol.
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
Two bullets fired from Arya’s pistol, instantly taking down the gate guards.
“Attackers! Exone is attacking!”
“We’re under attack by Exone?!”
“Just surrender! There’s no use staying loyal to a corrupt ruler!”
One by one, weapons were dropped. The guards raised their hands in surrender.
“What now? They have no intention to fight,” Dina said softly.
Arya stepped forward. “Let them be… Dina, cut off all their fingers one by one.”
“What?! Cut off all their fingers?” Dina looked at him in disbelief.
Arya stared coldly. “Of course. It’s a reminder that Exone was the reason they lost their fingers. That way, they won’t do evil again.”
“But… don’t you feel pity?” asked Dina, her voice trembling.
“Pity? For what? Does pity solve anything?” Arya stared sharply. “Cutting fingers is minor compared to death. The world isn’t as soft as you think. Those who refuse… will die.”
One by one, screams echoed in the corridor as Arya cut off the guards’ fingers. Blood flowed. Suppressed sobs.
“If you continue doing evil… even after your fingers are gone… then I will never forgive you.”
Dina looked at him. “Is this really okay? You seem cruel…”
Arya turned to her. “Cruel? If we let the criminals go without consequence, then innocent people will be the next victims. That’s even more cruel.”
Dina didn’t respond. She just followed Arya toward the last door inside the mansion.
“Have you surrendered too?” asked Arya to a group of people inside.
“P-please forgive us!”
Arya glared at them. “No. You are the root. You’ll repeat it. You must lose your fingers and step down from your positions.”
“What can we do to gain your trust?” asked the terrified ruler.
Arya approached. “Give me your hands. Now.”
Suddenly, one of the ruler’s sons shouted, “Bastard! Who do you think you are?! Just some brat from nowhere!”
“Shut up!”
“Don’t provoke him!”
Bang! Arya’s bullet pierced the young man’s head. Bang! Bang! A few others fell as well.
Dina said nothing. Her eyes couldn’t look away from Arya now standing in a pool of blood.
“Come on, let’s continue,” said Arya flatly.
They headed to a hidden room, guided by a trembling, terrified guard. Behind the door, a foul stench struck.
“Dina, can you cut the door?” asked Arya.
“Leave it to me.” Slash! The dagger sliced through metal easily.
The stench pierced their noses.
“Ugh… so foul. You really are an animal!” Arya covered his nose and entered the room.
People were seen weak and injured.
Light! Light filled the room. “You’re free now.”
Dina cut all the bars. Arya began healing one by one.
Heal! Heal! Heal!
A total of twenty-four people.
“So cruel…” Dina held back her anger. “What’s the benefit of treating humans like this…”
“Don’t think about it. Let’s get out,” said Arya.
Once outside, Arya took out food and water from his storage. “Please eat. Please drink.”
Tears of joy erupted. “Thank you…!”
Arya turned to the guard. “Did the former ruler have any good relatives?”
“I… don’t know. Try asking the servant.”
Moments later, a servant came rushing in.
“There’s… his younger brother,” said the servant. “A good man. But he was imprisoned for opposing the ruler.”
“Show me the place.”
They arrived at a dark room. Dina cut the door. Slash!
“Ugh, smelly too…”
“He’s been imprisoned for five years,” explained the servant.
“Five years?!” Dina covered her nose.
Arya approached. “Hello, Sir. I’m Arya. Your brother is dead. We killed him. Can you take his place as ruler of this city?”
“M-my brother… is dead?” The voice was weak… then slowly turned into relief. “Thank goodness… the people are free… Yes, I’m willing… for the people.”
“Your name?”
“Terza. No family name. Just call me Terza.”
“Alright, Mr. Terza,” Arya smiled. “From now on… this city is yours.”
They exited the room, and Arya helped rebuild OITER city. As for the victims who were made prisoners by the former ruler… all of them were freed and asked to go to AZURA city for mental rehabilitation, because they wanted to be far away from OITER…
Let me know if you'd like this version polished for publication later.