Very well. Let's proceed with what everyone agreed on," the elder said calmly, then motioned to his trusted aide, Mero, to carry out the task.
Mero immediately led a group of men out through the main gate of the estate, heading toward Jesse's known location.
But just as they stepped outside, a familiar figure appeared on the path ahead.
"Mero! Where are you headed with all these men?" Jesse called out loudly.
Seeing Mero with a group of armed men, Jesse already had a good idea of what they were up to. Still, he acted as if he didn't know, hoping to use this as his opportunity to gain an audience with the elder himself.
Mero was stunned to see Jesse appear so suddenly. It was like he'd walked right into their trap.
He didn't immediately order Jesse's capture—no need. Since Jesse had come straight to them, escape was impossible. All Mero had to do was escort him inside, and the elder would decide his fate.
"Brother Jesse! The elder was concerned about your safety. He sent me and my men to protect you. Now that you're here, there's no need to search. Come, let's go in and see the elder."
These pleasantries were necessary to keep the situation from escalating too soon.
Of course, Jesse didn't believe a word of it—he was certain they had come to arrest him. But both sides had their agendas. So Jesse followed Mero into the estate.
Along the way, Mero asked Jesse what was in the bundle slung over his shoulder. Jesse didn't answer directly, only saying it was a gift for the elder.
That made Mero wary. It might be something dangerous. But with Jesse brushing it off as a gift, he had no real excuse to inspect it. He simply kept a close eye on Jesse the entire way.
Eventually, they arrived at the main meeting room, where the elder and the others were already gathered. When Mero returned so soon, the group looked puzzled—until they saw Jesse behind him.
Just as the elder had predicted, Jesse had come willingly, believing they were his only chance at survival.
"Jesse," the elder said coldly, "you should know the consequences of all this. Since you've come here of your own accord, what is it you're hoping to achieve?"
The elder wasn't questioning Jesse's intelligence—far from it. Jesse had risen to a high rank through cunning and decisiveness. So the fact that he came here must mean he had a plan.
"Elder, I did anticipate the consequences of coming here," Jesse replied. "And I have no complaints. If our roles were reversed, I'd probably make the same choice."
"However, I've brought something that might offer a better solution to this problem—and give me a slim chance at survival."
There was no need to speak in riddles anymore. Everyone here was seasoned and shrewd. Lies and deception would only make things worse. Jesse knew his only shot was to lay his cards on the table and offer a solution that satisfied everyone.
"Oh? Hahaha… well, I'm curious now," the elder said with a smirk. "Speak freely. I want to hear what you have in mind."
Jesse's heart lightened slightly. As long as they weren't attacking him on sight, he still had a chance to survive.
"First, I'd like to offer you a gift. Perhaps after you see it, you'll consider sparing me. Then, I'll share my plan—one that could rid the kingdom of a major threat."
"Very well," the elder replied. "Let's see the gift first. Whether you live or die depends on what you say next."
Jesse nodded and removed the bundle from his back. Under the elder's watchful gaze, he handed it to Mero and gestured for him to open it.
He did this to avoid appearing threatening. By giving the bundle to Mero, he ensured the elder wouldn't feel endangered.
Mero cautiously took the bundle and moved away from the elder—he wasn't taking any chances.
Everyone watched intently. Mero's careful behavior won their approval; he was living up to his reputation as the elder's trusted aide.
As Mero untied the bundle, a faint scent of blood reached his nose. He immediately sensed that the contents weren't explosive or dangerous—more likely something gruesome.
Based on the shape of the box, Mero began to suspect what might be inside… but he couldn't imagine why Jesse would bring such a thing here.
With everyone watching, Mero finally opened the box fully—its four sides unfolded, revealing the contents.
Inside was a severed human head, eerily similar in appearance to Jesse.
Gasps filled the room. Even these hardened conspirators were taken aback.
Jesse had found his sliver of hope in a desperate situation.
"Jesse," the elder said slowly, "I didn't expect you to be so prepared. That head might just save your life. But whether or not I let you live will depend entirely on what you say next."
The elder instantly understood Jesse's intent—he meant to use this lookalike's head as a decoy, allowing the conspirators to present it to the public as evidence that Jesse had been executed.
But the elder also saw the danger in this. From a purely strategic point of view, the safest move was to kill Jesse outright. There were too many variables in letting him live.
Jesse, however, wasn't surprised by the elder's hesitation. He had predicted this exact reaction.
He knew the elder feared a future scandal—what if the public discovered the deception? The backlash would be catastrophic. The kingdom might not survive the fallout.
So Jesse spoke again.
"Honored elders, I believe the real culprits behind this crisis are the same people who slaughtered our men recently. I have a strategy to help the kingdom eliminate this threat—one that I'm willing to personally take part in."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words sink in. The room fell silent. Everyone leaned in, waiting to hear what Jesse had planned.