Chapter 107 – The Great Equalizer

Joshua found himself leaning his elbows on a tavern counter. Beside him was a rather jaded old man complaining in the current era. He was arguing beside another man who seemed like he was pious.

He didn’t join them. He minded his own business. He just sat on his stool. Clicking his mug of wine and making it swirl. The tavern had a nice feel to it. Joshua had talked with the owner and he was drinking the same wine that came from this village owned by an Alva but the wine was wine. It didn’t matter.

“Keep it quiet will you?” said the barkeeper. He wiped the table. His front tooth was missing.

Joshua nodded his head. Taking a sip of his wine, the two that were arguing started to start mocking. The old man talked about swords while the other pious man discussed the usefulness of firearms. It was a heated argument. Both sides not wanting to lose the argument.

It was disrupting the idyllic mood of the tavern. At least they are not brawling, thought Joshua. He had time for a drink for once so he wished that the two men wouldn’t become hotheaded.

There was a serene atmosphere. There was a lad playing the lute. A barmaid was singing as well. The two men had been keeping their voices down but as they go in deeper to their discussion. Their voices became louder. The barkeeper had this annoyed look on his face. He kept on telling them to lower their voices down or take their talk in another place. It happened about three times now. Joshua’s been counting.

The two was rather passionate about their talk. They discussed the old world and the old ways. One was a rather fond about swords and the other preached the usefulness of firearms. The pious man, however, kept on saying how it should be controlled as a dangerous weapon. He went on about how a single untrained man could still kill someone with a gun. The jaded old man grumbled how easy it was to kill a person now. The two disagreed on some points but Joshua could tell that they had one thing in common. They don’t have that much fondness when it comes to firearms. The pious man considers their usefulness but thinks it’s far too dangerous. The jaded man outright shows distaste for it and call it too convenient.

It was a matter of preference among the two. Joshua had some thoughts on the subject. But he kept his own thoughts just like the barkeeper who displayed finely crafted matchlock rifles above the shelves. He found himself drinking quietly at the bar’s counter. He listened to the two when suddenly he felt a nudge on his side. He looked at the person who did that and saw that it was one of the two who seemed like they want a third opinion about the matter. Joshua really didn’t want to say anything but the two insisted on getting his thoughts.

They asked, “What do you think of firearms lad?”

Joshua leaned back. He folded his arms He wearily narrowed his eyes at the two and answered. “I think they are a great equalizer.”

The two probably didn’t expect that answer. They laughed and said. “Why do you think that lad?”

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“Well,” Joshua cleared his throat and faced them properly. “Guns are the greatest equalizer known to man. No other thing ever created by humans has equalized humans like the gun. A world without guns is a world where women and children are at the mercy of monsters, as an example. People who chortle on about the safety and rights of women and children would do well to remember that.”

The two looked at Joshua with a nodding approval. Joshua didn’t expect that.

“Indeed, with a gun, a child or anyone can protect themselves against a monster.”

“That’s a good point actually.”

The two folded their arms. They had different ideas but hearing ‘mercy of monsters’ made them reflect about their opinion. The barkeeper seemed like he was fond of Joshua’s answer. He grinned, showing that missing tooth. Joshua smiled wryly and turned to his drink.

The old jaded man and the pious started nodding their heads at each other. They changed their subjects and instead they started whining and grumbling about the taxes and the recent decision of the Mayor to accept the Templars demands.

“Blessed be the firearms.”

“Indeed, we can use them to fend off leeches like them.”

Joshua smiled. He thought to himself how easily their minds changed when it comes to their own safety. He sipped on his mug and after a few minutes he stood up and left the tavern.

Joshua stretched his arms. He looked at the sun and narrowed his eyes at the sight of a flying airship. He looked at the sigil of the airship and frowned heavily. Alva bastards, he murmured. He didn’t like that sigil and didn’t want whoever owns that ship to recognize him. So he half-jogged back to his house. He passed through the house-lined streets. There were merchants arriving by carriage and he had to avoid them in a hurry.

He took a right down an alley and took a shortcut which cut him some time. When he arrived at his house he noticed that the Alva’s ship was halfway down. He sneered at the ship and entered his house. Upon entering his house Joshua immediately sauntered into his room. He locked the door and went to the curtains. He made a good long look outside the window before shutting the curtains closed.

Joshua sat on his bed. There was a cold fury rising inside his heart. It was a tranquil yet burning fury that made him calm. He had no love for the Alva, which was clear. Seeing their ship made Joshua paranoid. His mind started like a storm as various murderous ideas came upon his head.

What if they found me, thought Joshua. It would be sheer bad luck if they do. But Joshua didn’t want to take chances. He didn’t want to be a slave and if anything. This made him stood up away his bed and pulled the trapdoor that led to a basement near his bed. He strutted down and gaze upon the craft table filled with various tools and bombs. The room was greasy and unkempt. It smelled of oil and powder. But to Joshua, it was perfect. After the bad experiences, Joshua learned how to be wary. He had enough of being less prepared.