Chapter 48 | Intermission 1

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Jeromy and Selina rode their horses away from Riverside and towards Port Gilles, recently renamed to Gillesport due to its growth from a mere port. It was a few towns down the Sohao River. Gillesport went back into Imperial territory as the river forked into the Gilles River. A telepathy transmission came to Jeromy from Riverside after a few minutes of riding. They were preparing for the worst, as he instructed.

After the trafficking victims are escorted back to Riverside, the following would happen in short order. Commander Dustin would declare this incident a victory in the eyes of the Imperial citizens but also as a failing of the Association to keep the populace safe. Although Jeromy did destroy the cell of traffickers, it would reveal a huge hole in security that Dustin would exploit politically.

Although Jeromy had hoped that this rescue operation would help validate the Association as more dependable than the Empire, the Association allowed a large criminal element like this to exist in such close proximity. This fact would negate Jeromy’s accomplishment. Jeromy and Lord Alton would also lose their justification in ending the Imperial checkpoints.

Commander Dustin would no doubt push for more control. They could combat this by using the mayor to make Dustin back down but then he would just reveal that the traffickers had threatened the mayor to get to the refugees. The mayor ordered the town militia away from the areas the traffickers used to make their escape from town and sided with them over Jeromy. Without the mayor, Dustin would have free rein in Riverside and could justify this takeover as for security purposes.

The situation would only get worse at Riverside. More Imperial troops would likely arrive and close border access. Elves in the town would likely get unjustly prosecuted. This could put Prince Lue in jeopardy.

Also, if Riverside would fall into direct Imperial rule, the Guardians would also exploit the situation and seek the surviving members of the Phoenix in the city. This was going exactly as planned for them.

They arrived upon a hill overlooking the town of Gillesport, where Gilles River met the sea. Across from this sea was the vampiric nation of the Rodani Federation. Knowing the destination of the traffickers gave a dark image of what they planned for the humans they kidnapped and the human flesh they sold.

Vampires, although not common anymore, ate human flesh. It’s been said that blood with the flesh tasted exceptional though not all vampires liked the taste. Although slavery was still legal in Grethenia and Rodani, they both banned any new imports of slaves from human territories in accordance with treaties with Vultia. With the slaves being trafficked to Port Gilles, there still seemed to be a demand for it.

Looking down the highway, Selina spotted something as she pulled her horseback a bit from the summit of the small hill, “They are here.”

“Where?” Jeromy was pulled back as well. Selina pointed towards the trees almost indistinguishable from each other but Selina marked the position in the air with her blue mana, creating a circle.

“Captain, how are we to proceed?” Selina asked.

“I’ll go in alone. Selina, I’m sure your sniping skills haven’t dulled,” Jeromy directed.

“I am as precise as always, Captain,” Selina responded. Jeromy climbed down his horse and left it with Selina. “Do not get kill…”

“I won’t. I won’t,” Jeromy said lazily. This annoyed Selina a bit and she pouted as she positioned herself in a tree.

Jeromy walked steadily down the road with his pistol in his holster and sword in his sheath. It was an unusual sight to see a lone man walking down the road with almost no regard for the monsters that lurked all around. But he then suddenly stopped and drew his sword in the direction of a cluster of trees to his right.

His sword was a sign and Jeromy simply stood there and waited for the people hiding to come out. One by one, the people emerged from the trees and bushes with their rifles aimed at Jeromy. The got up close and personal to him, clearly threatening, but he just smiled. The riflemen surrounded him as another person drifted into his view.

“Annabelle,” Jeromy called for her.

“Jeromy…” She muttered with a crossed expression as she held her sword to his neck. With his sword still drawn at his side, Jeromy had a calm expression as he continued.

“We need to talk. I didn’t want to leave off as we did,” Jeromy said and appeared to be full of regret. Annabelle raised her hand and gestured her men to put down their rifles and they slowly did after a few seconds of confusion. Slowly, he unattached a water pouch from his belt and held it for Annabelle. She immediately recognized the scent.

“Rose Milk?” She asked, her words becoming emotional as she held the thing she missed out on for years.

“Yeah. I know how you don’t like drinking blood so I had this in case I ran into you,” said Jeromy. She clutched the water pouch tightly as she sheathed her sword. Jeromy did the same.

“Mistress! How can you trust him after what he did?!” One of the men, the lieutenant from before, shouted. Jeromy squinted a bit at the man and recognized the familiar face.

“Is that you, Nathaniel?” Jeromy stepped forward and got in front of him. The others didn’t know how to respond and stood in awe.

“Don’t talk like we’re old friends!” Nathaniel said in a rage. “Was that how you treat those who were your allies?!”

“Nate, please. Do not speak for me,” Annabelle told him in annoyance and he had little choice but to sealed his lips. “We also killed his people.”

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She walked over to Jeromy and grabbed his shirt, dragging him out of the encirclement.

“We’re going to speak privately.”

Annabelle opened the pouch and drank some of the Rose Milk. Tasting the nutritious sap for the first time in years gave her great satisfaction.

Annabelle spoke first, “You knew I was here?”

“I figured you knew the Collective trafficked people here from Riverside. There’s no way you wouldn’t have known. And I can always rely on you to be near the action.”

The Collective was an international criminal organization which dealt with trafficking of nearly all illicit goods, including drugs and slaves.

“I see,” Annabelle looked down and smiled at Jeromy’s thoughtfulness. She looked him in the eyes again and asked, “And the elves? Why are you cooperating with them?”

“It’s not like I trust them entirely. I trust them as far as I can throw them. Prince Shol has given me assurances and his actions speak for themselves,” he defended himself with Annabelle who remained unimpressed.

“What was your reason for escorting Prince Lue then?”

“We’re creating an alliance with Grethenia,” Jeromy said.

“So, the Association is making its move now?” Annabelle paused for a moment and thought about what this meant for her people.

“That’s why I suggested having the elves escort our people out of the forest. You don’t need to worry about King Walter anymore,” Jeromy assured and spoke confidently. “But I do need your help and the Maquis on something important related to this.”

“Huh?” Annabelle didn’t expect Jeromy to make a request. The boy she remembered was strong and didn’t rely on others for much so this must be serious.

“I’m sorry for making this request when we only just seen each other again but, it’s serious.”

“I thought you meant the Association was making a move for secession,” she was taken aback again.

“Not entirely, it’s complicated but the Association needs to maintain its authority. This is where we help the Association,” Jeromy explained the level of the request. Annabelle knew what he was saying would require sacrifices but she knew that her people were his too.

After thinking about it, Annabelle agreed, “If this will make it so our people can live here, in Association territory, I will go along with it.”

“The Association, the Elves, and the Phoenix. Together, we’re a force of about a thousand. More than enough to attack and take Riverside.”

The Imperials were always worried about secession in the northern territories, especially Prince Adrian. Those fears were about to become a reality.

***

The retrieval of the refugees came to no surprise for Commander Dustin. This result was unfortunate for his greater plans for the town but he’d have no choice but to compromise with the mayor in his dungeon. The betrayal of Riverside’s elected official was going to be a catalysis for some small changes. Perhaps his men could finally escape the confines of the fort and take up some housing outside the walls.

That was the plan until over a hundred people walked into Riverside. The story they told was extraordinary that it bordered on lunacy. Of course, Dustin refused to believe such a ridiculous story about a healer who just so happened by at such a crucial juncture. However, he didn’t have any other explanation.

The fact that a major criminal operation stood so close to Riverside would send alarm bells back at the Imperial Capital and grant him the authority he needed since his arrival. In the end, it was his victory and the Association would soon begin losing their grip on this town.

That was why the fact that Jeromy didn’t come back with the rest of his mercenaries troubled him. Just before the victims came back to Riverside, there was some unusual activity in the guilds. Inventory being transferred, freelancers and mercenaries dropped their commissions, and whispers in the streets.

Jeromy would definitely make a move in the coming weeks.

***

Alisha was being carried by the Elliot golem back to her dungeon. What Alisha didn’t expect was for people to be following her. They were following in a line and carefully stepped through the forest greenery behind Elliot and her other meat golems. She was too tired to ask and assumed that they’d give up and go back. However, after they crossed a dirt road to civilization and back into the untamed forest, Alisha had to say something.

The people, twenty-seven in total, stopped when the Elliot meat golem did and turned to face the group.

Alisha spouted out in an annoyed weak voice, “Why are you following me?”

“You really don’t know?” The woman who spoke was the mother she saved in the dungeon. She was holding her daughter’s hand while trekking through the hazards of the forest.

“I figured all of you were lost or something,” Alisha spoke meekly.

“…We want you to take us with you,” the mother said, her voice filled with conviction and the others seemed to be on the same page. Alisha didn’t see the group discuss this as she left as soon as the healing was done. They just got to their feet and started following her.

“For what?”

“To be your followers.”

“You have your own lives. Go back.”

“…You healed us. It was the most wondrous sight we had ever seen.”

“Although my healing method was unorthodox, I treated every one of you because that was my job and duty. I treated the misfortunate as any of you might’ve. Back on Earth, there’s a rule of patient care to treat people regardless of their background. To treat patients equally and to the best of our ability. Please understand.”

Unbeknownst to Alisha, her speech only served for the people there to devote themselves to her even more.

“We’re not leaving! We followed you because we have nothing to call our own back in the Empire. If we go back, we’ll be slaves in everything else but name.”

Alisha noticed a few half-elves among them. In fact, all the half-elves were here. “I don’t require any followers but if you have something to ask of me, please say so.”

“If you allow us to stay with you, we’ll do our best to serve you as your subjects.”

The word ‘subjects’ caught Alisha’s attention. What if she did have subjects to call her own? They’d be allies she could trust because of their allegiance and dependency on her. She could also have extra sets of hands to help in her dungeon’s industrial compacity. At this moment, Guide and his orb of light came out of her pendent and interjected, “Madam, are you genuinely considering their ridiculous request?”

“This might be good for you to work with humans too,” Alisha answered with a playful smile.

“I have our monsters and golems for work, Madam.”

“We can find them something to do.”

“Their low efficiency will hinder our progress.”

“Guide, don’t be jealous.”

“Madam, I’m not jealous,” he stated while Alisha giggled. “I’m simply evaluating their proposal objectively.”

Alisha tapped Elliot’s shoulder and he let her down. Although her golems were made from her will, some autonomy was necessary for them to be more effective than just slimes. Alisha grasped a tree branch and pulled herself up after a bit of effort.

“If you come with me, you’ll probably never be able to return to your lives as normal humans. I’m hunted by the Empire and the Association. I’d probably bring you into danger. You might die…”

None of them wavered and continued to hear her speak.

“I will protect you all to the best of my abilities. I don’t know if I can live up to your grand expectations but I will try.”

The whole group suddenly started to clap. To have total strangers depend on her like this was strange for her, especially because of her anti-social nature. She didn’t understand why they chose to follow her but, if they were so willing, she had to make an attempt. This wasn’t a simple game of hunting but a war. In order to win this war, she had to gather more allies.

“Guide, please interview each of them and assign them a job in the dungeon, preferably away from the monsters.”

“I understand, Madam.”