We were having lunch.
Some time ago, two guards beat the ground in a rhythmic pattern.
Morse code.
The basic Morse code created by Yash.
I haven't memorized it yet. However, Grimori, Kel, and Lila have mastered it perfectly.
The two guards were Kel and Lila.
According to Yash, the message was:
'The infiltration was successful. The execution of a few prisoners will be held at the circle. Make sure not to cause any ruckus because higher authorities will be present there.'
They kept it short and simple.
Execution.
Perhaps for the rebels.
According to Yash, many prisoners who get captured choose rebellion over living as slaves.
Such rebels are either executed or imprisoned for life depending on their influence.
The ones being executed today seem to have significant influence.
That is why they are going to be publicly executed.
Yash has narrowed down the prisoners who could possibly be henchmen of the smugglers.
There are five according to him.
One of them belongs to our section while the others are distributed elsewhere.
However, every single prisoner is being taken to witness the execution.
According to Yash, it is obviously meant to break their spirits.
To ensure they never support future rebellions.
And somehow... it works.
The older prisoners lose hope, meaning they stop supporting newer prisoners. The strength of any possible rebellion weakens before it can even rise.
If resistance still starts growing somehow, the hidden henchmen among the prisoners secretly eliminate the rebels during the night.
A planned hierarchy.
Something that makes me sick.
According to Yash, they must have the backing of someone extremely powerful.
Very, very powerful.
Because no one is stupid enough to oppose the Gretoling Empire secretly otherwise.
However, Planet Gamble lies outside Gretoling Empire Domain.
It has no laws.
Every single mistake counts.
Nini, Surya, Yash, and I gathered at the Central Section.
Millions of prisoners and future slaves had been gathered there.
It was time for the execution.
Yash disappeared into the crowd.
Somehow, I already knew his next move.
Eliminating the hidden henchmen within this confusion.
He is frighteningly efficient.
[Surya]: Where did that brat go?
He asked in a rough voice.
[Pratik]: Maybe he got lost.
I replied with an awkward laugh.
[Surya]: That better be the case.
He said with a grin.
Boom.
Nini punched him so hard his body heated up before crashing onto the ground.
[Surya]: How can you talk about a kid like that?
Surya deserved it.
He shouldn't badmouth Yash like that.
Especially in his absence.
The chaos slowly settled down.
The stage was prepared.
Three ropes.
Three rebels.
One execution.
Hang till death.
The three prisoners were brought onto the stage.
Everyone could see them.
I saw them too.
Smiles.
Laughter.
Faces without guilt.
All of them looked happy.
They don't fear death?
They were asked for their final wishes.
One of them requested to give a speech.
The higher authorities allowed it.
After all... what could a speech possibly do?
The man about to speak was Garv.
At least, I think that was his name.
[Garv]: Pride! Pride! Pride!
His voice was powerful.
It sent chills down my spine.
I could say the same for the others around me.
Even Surya looked stunned.
So did Mala.
[Garv]: As a Gretoling, I belong to a warrior species! I prefer breaking before bending! I have my pride! Pride as a Gretoling! The rebels were silenced! It is true! Every single word is true!
The higher authorities laughed.
They didn't even need to defend themselves anymore.
Their public execution already proved the rebellion had been crushed.
[Garv]: However, everyone who died found liberation! Freedom from the shackles of this oppression! The peaceful rebellion was answered with bullets in our backs! The silent rebellion was answered with betrayal behind our backs! But look carefully... our rebellion is now being answered in front of everyone!
This man...
He was affecting all of us.
Suddenly, a bullet pierced through his torso.
One of the higher authority members had fired it.
[Zeon]: He is annoying me. Finish him already.
Said the fat young member of the higher authorities.
Garv coughed blood.
Yet he still laughed.
[Garv]: See?! Even the higher authorities fear us! They fear liberation! They fear the very thought of rebellion! Hahaha—
Zeon fired more bullets in anger.
[Zeon]: Die! Die, you worm!!
I could feel anger building inside me.
Why?
A massive disturbance broke out.
The prisoners near the stage started attacking the guards.
Even the higher authorities looked surprised.
Garv wrapped the rope around his neck despite his injuries.
[Garv]: You suppressed every rebellion until now... but how do you plan to stop the rebellion that begins after my death?!
For a moment...
I felt like he looked directly at me, Mala, and Surya before throwing himself down.
His fellow rebels followed him.
A red alert siren rang throughout the facility.
More guards and higher-ranked personnel rushed in.
Surya, Mala, Nini, and I escaped from the Central Section.
[Surya]: That was quite an unexpected move.
[Nini]: Yeah. Everything happened way too fast.
[Mala]: I can't believe someone could hold that much power in their words.
No.
It wasn't just his words.
It was his determination.
His actions ignited a fire inside everyone.
I wonder what will happen after this chaos.
I am sure the higher authorities will make major changes now.
After returning to our cell, we met up with Yash.
[Yash]: How was his speech?
[Surya]: Weren't you there, brat?
Nini gave him an angry stare and he immediately shivered.
[Surya]: I-I mean... where were you, pretty boy?
He tried sounding softer.
[Surya]: You brats of deep s—
Nini slammed him into the ground again.
[Yash]: Well, I completed my work. I met up with Lila and Kel. According to the information Grimori passed to them, tomorrow we can act freely.
[Pratik]: What does that mean?
[Yash]: We make our move.
He said calmly.
[Yash]: Grimori is going to set the control room on fire. All security cameras will shut down. We will get around half an hour to move a large number of prisoners onto a ship arranged by Kel. Meanwhile, we ourselves will board another ship.
Now I understood the rest.
The two ships would split the enemy forces.
Yash, Nini, Surya, and I would be on one ship.
Mala, Grimori, Kel, and Lila would be on the other.
Handling things that way would be easier.
[Surya]: I see. Sounds good as long as I stay close to Nini. But what about the personnel? The stronger ones will become a huge threat later.
[Pratik]: We already have a plan, right?
I asked confidently.
Obviously.
Tonight was going to be long.
[Yash]: Tonight is going to be very long.
Yash said with a smile.
[Nini]: We are eliminating them tonight, right? Secretly.
[Surya]: Nini is so smart and cute. Marry me.
Nini punched him into the wall again.
Honestly, we had already gotten used to watching this by now.
Tonight would be extremely important.
Tomorrow morning, our movement begins.
But our real plan starts tonight.
Faith.
Act.
Succeed.
That is our mantra.
It doesn't matter how powerful the personnel are.
We will defeat them with everything we have.
To be continued...
---
EXTRAS:-
A MEETING (PART 3)
Everyone was ready to attack Krishna.
Just then, Nayaka raised his hand and shattered every barrier in the hall.
His sheer aura filled everyone with fear.
[Nayaka]: How about we settle this peacefully? Isn't that right, Shang? I hope you don't mind, Krishna.
Shang nodded in agreement.
[Krishna]: I certainly do not mind, Sir Nayaka.
Many leaders had sweat running down their foreheads.
The Immortalus Society Authority members slammed their desks in anger.
Their leader, the leader of Immortalus Society Authority group Haimono, however, remained silent.
Yet a single glance from Nayaka was enough to silence everyone else.
After all, no one could defy the most powerful sorcerer alive beside Gomo Taka,
Nayaka.