After crossing the Channel, their small transport finally reached the Belgian coast. From there they traveled quietly through narrow roads and damaged villages until they reached a small trading post near the border.
That was where Steve's contact was waiting.
A tall Native American man stood beside a wagon loaded with supplies, calmly smoking while watching them approach.
Steve stepped forward with a small nod.
"Chief."
The man returned the nod, his expression calm and unreadable.
"You took your time," Chief said.
"Had to avoid a few complications in London," Steve replied.
Chief's eyes moved over the group one by one—Sameer, Charlie, Diana, and finally Daniel. His gaze lingered on Daniel for a moment longer than usual, as if sensing something unusual.
"You bring quite a group with you," Chief said.
"They're with me," Steve answered.
Chief simply shrugged. "As long as they can walk quietly and follow directions."
He motioned toward the wagon behind him.
"I can take you close to the front," he continued. "Beyond that, the trenches begin. After that… it's the war."
The group climbed onto the wagon and began the slow journey toward the Western Front.
The farther they traveled, the quieter the land became.
Fields were scarred by shell craters. Burned farmhouses stood empty. Even the trees looked torn apart by artillery.
By the time night arrived, they were close enough to hear the distant thunder of artillery rolling across the dark fields.
They had stopped in a ruined patch of woodland to rest. A small campfire burned between them, its light flickering across tired faces.
"So… are you the smuggler?" Diana asked, sitting near the fire and watching the man across from her.
"Yes, I am," Chief replied calmly.
Diana studied him for a moment before asking another question.
"So you are involved in this war? On any side?"
Chief shook his head slowly.
"No. I'm not on anyone's side."
He stared quietly into the fire.
"My people lost everything in the last war. We don't have the luxury of choosing sides."
Diana frowned slightly.
"Against who?"
Chief lifted his hand and pointed toward Steve, who had fallen asleep nearby after the long journey.
"His people."
Diana followed the gesture.
"So you can guess," Chief continued quietly, "a man with no home ends up doing work like this."
The fire crackled softly for a moment.
Daniel spoke then.
"Well… the British did invade many places," he said calmly. "America was one of them. Many native clans were destroyed or pushed away from their land. Entire tribes disappeared, along with their homes, their traditions, and their way of life."
Chief turned his head toward Daniel.
"You seem to know about my people's history," he said.
Daniel shrugged lightly.
"Well…" he said. "History tends to repeat itself. Empires grow by taking land that belongs to someone else, and the people who were there first usually pay the price."
"Why do men seek other people's lands?" Diana asked, her voice thoughtful as she looked into the fire. "Can't they live in harmony?"
Chief let out a short laugh.
"Ah… this lady is innocent," he said, shaking his head. "Because that idea only works in stories. Not many people are greedy, but it only takes a few."
He poked the fire with a stick.
"A few men who want more land, more power, more control. And when those men rise high enough, their greed becomes a war."
Diana fell silent, thinking about his words.
In her mind, the answer still seemed simple.
This must be Ares' influence.
The god of war corrupting the hearts of men and pushing them toward violence.
"Then why are you helping the men who destroyed your home?" Diana asked.
Chief looked at her quietly for a moment before answering.
Daniel spoke first.
"Didn't he just say not all humans are greedy?" Daniel said calmly. "Some people lose everything and still don't want others to suffer the same fate."
Chief nodded slightly at that.
Daniel continued, staring into the fire.
"After a man loses everything, sometimes he understands pain better than anyone else. When you have no home left to return to, you stop caring about sides and start caring about people."
Chief added quietly, "War took my land. Doesn't mean I want it to take the rest of the world too."
Daniel watched the fire for a moment before speaking again.
"You want to know why humans are special?" he said.
Diana looked at him.
"What?"
"Death."
She frowned. "Death?"
"Yes," Daniel replied calmly.
"The reason humans feel everything so intensely—love, fear, hope, desperation—it all comes from one simple truth."
"They know one day they will die."
The flames crackled as sparks drifted upward.
"That fear—that one day they will disappear completely—is what gives birth to their emotions."
Diana listened quietly.
"Because of death," Daniel continued, "humans learn to care about things. They love their families, protect their homes, fight for their friends. They create kindness, compassion, loyalty."
He paused.
"But that same fear also creates greed, cruelty, hatred, and war."
Chief nodded slightly.
Daniel leaned back, his eyes reflecting the firelight.
"Humans are strange creatures. Because they are mortal, they are capable of incredible kindness… and terrible cruelty."
He looked toward the dark horizon where the distant sound of artillery echoed.
"No other species lives with the constant awareness that their time is limited. That's what makes them different."
Diana remained silent.
"If humans were immortal," Daniel continued, "they wouldn't feel the need to cherish anything. Why love someone if you have eternity? Why treasure a moment if there will always be another one?"
"But humans don't have eternity."
"They only have a short life filled with moments they can never repeat."
"And that," Daniel said quietly, "is exactly what makes their lives so precious."
*****
A/N: If you'd like to read ahead of the Webnovel release schedule, you can join my Patreon!
The Patreon version is 30 chapters ahead.
👉 patreon.com/Universal_Peace