On the next day during the evening, Rufus was invited to a luxurious palace of one of the senators. This person belonged to the political party that was known for its very nationalistic stance and its members were the first ones to yell out their opposition to the notion that they should become subjects of the emperor.

"I hope the mercenaries haven't caused you any more unnecessary headaches?" the senator asked during dinner.

"No, no. We are all good now."

"Please understand that she is of mid-born."

"Mid-born?"

"Yes, to make sure that the rich merchant class wouldn't rise, the states of Etna created the mid-class for them. Anyone can buy their way to this class which is in many ways the same as high nobility, but it still bars them from many offices. They are allowed to own large sways of lands and collect taxes from the inhabitants but are not allowed to be in the senate."

"Still doesn't explain the animosity towards me."

"Her father was a mercenary who bought himself into the mid-class. Her father worked tirelessly to earn for her family to be able to provide for them. He taught his children the same ideology that made her hate people who didn't claw their way to the top. It's not like she herself did what her father did, but she has her father's spirit no doubt. A very rude mouth also," the senator said and laughed.

"You knew her father?"

"Oh yes. We hired him many times and we became very close as I was the one in charge of the mercenaries. It was my duty to hire the best warriors for my people."

"You wish to protect your city?" Rufus asked.

"Of course. Our city-states are the closest thing to paradise in Aesis and I believe it is worth protecting."

Rufus seemed to be impressed with the senator who seemed like a man who truly respected and loved his people. He was not after lands or riches, but rather the well-being of his people.

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The senator then left the dining room to get some wine.

Rufus then spotted that there was already wine on the table and went to tell him that there was no need to.

As he opened the door he saw a man wearing a mask walking toward the senator. The senator had his back turned towards him and did not see him approach him as he was pouring the wine. The masked person didn't carry weapons, but the strangest thing was that no sound could be heard at all. All of his steps were dead silent.

The man was Gadaric.

Gadaric then placed his hand next to the senator's ear. He snapped his fingers and with it, blood exploded from the other ear. The senator collapsed on the floor with a red puddle forming under his head.

Rufus then rushed in trying to strike down the masked assailant. He with ease dodged it and then started to run away. As he ran, no sound could be heard even when the window shattered with Gadaric jumping out of it.

Rufus gave chase but he then started to hear running sounds from all over. As he looked around he saw mirages of the masked man everywhere. He felt like he was in a trans and seeing illusions everywhere.

Rufus started to feel dizzy and kept hearing a steady snapping sound from everywhere.

He had no idea that Gadaric was standing right above him on a ledge. He then reached out his hand and again snapped his fingers. This time a blast of sound came from his hand as he snapped his finger that blasted Rufus down.

He fell to the ground as the masked man also jumped down and started calmly walking towards him.

Rufus felt dizzy with his eardrums being blasted.

"No need to be afraid. I will not kill you. The emperor has more plans for you in the future," Gadaric said.

"Who the hell are you? Do you have any idea who you just killed!?" Rufus yelled still being dazed.

"I am Gadaric, one of the emperor's shadows. That man was Enrique Valeros of the independence party that is against my emperor. Do I need to also explain why I killed him?"

"He was a good man."

"Yes, he seemed like a good man, but my emperor is better….."

Gadaric then looked ahead as republican guards were starting to run in their direction.

"I need to get going now. He was luckily the last person on my list."

Gadaric then with ease fled leaving Rufus on the ground.

~ ~

The next morning, half of the independence party members had been assassinated. The autopsies had shown that their brains had exploded from the inside.

This man Gadaric baffled and terrified Rufus. He could have killed him right then and there, but he didn't. He now knew what kind of people were fighting for this so-called emperor.

The mood in the city was depressing with the people mourning for the death of their leaders. Many of the senators were ready to accept the emperor's demands in fear of their own lives, but the people started to riot and demonstrate.

It was then decided that war was to continue regardless of the threat of assassination.