Arthur’s question was rather simple and very straightforward, but the feelings it sent through every single prisoner were extremely profound. Those exact words were something they dreamt of for years till that point.
Every day they were tortured and killed, and they dreamt of executing that revenge on everyone responsible for their suffering. They wanted to rip them apart and eat their flesh if they could.
The sheer hatred they harbored for the Red Pearl and everyone connected to it runs far deeper than anything Arthur or the others could imagine.
“Revenge…”
“We can…”
“What?”
Their first reaction was naturally disbelief. After all, they knew very well how strong of an empire the Red Pearl was. Taking down that giant is simply impossible for them. They were just a bunch of nobodies with no name and no civil records to begin with. Continue reading at empire
“Yes, revenge. I know how much you lot are eager to get back at those bastards who wrongfully imprisoned you and done all kinds of atrocities to you. I’m saying…” Arthur clenched his fist as he lowered it to his level. “I can give you the hand that will destroy that company.”
“…”
The prisoners went completely silent as they stared at one another. The look of shock on their faces was as clear as day. Nobody could believe it still even though Arthur repeated himself twice.
After all, it just sounded too ridiculous to them. After all that pain, can they have a chance at getting back at those demons? Since when was this world ever fair to them?
“Don’t get too shocked. I have a plan that will make that company get on its knees and beg for mercy. You can take from it everything you didn’t have and start a new life in the city.” He said.
“…”
“Really… Sir?” One prisoner asked with a wavering voice.
“Yes! But, I need your help to do that!”
“…”
“I can’t believe it…”
“We can get our dignity back…”
Tears welled up in the eyes of many of the people present. Even before they heard anything about the plan, the fact they were going to have such an opportunity was enough to make their hearts race with excitement.
Arthur saw all those emotions and his smile slowly vanished and turned into an empathetic look. He understood the things they were going through at that moment. The relief, the happiness, the hope… It all clashed together in their hearts.
“I know that you lot had gone through hell and back. You lost a lot of things, your dignity, your humanity, your lives. I still can’t imagine how all of this happened for years and nobody noticed or tried to stop it. But, I want to help you. I feel your cause and your pain. We can work together to give these bastards what they deserve.”
Then, Arthur stretched his hand. “So, will you join me?” He asked.
The prisoners looked at him, almost admiring his figure as if he were some kind of deity. In their eyes, Arthur appeared to radiate light, like some kind of divine savior who had come there to save them from darkness. He was their hero.
“YES!!!!”
They didn’t even doubt for a second what their answer was going to be. It didn’t matter if the plan was risky, it didn’t matter if they were going to have to do dangerous things. As long as they could fight back against these oppressors, they were ready for it.
“Ok, hear me out then,” Arthur said. “Here is exactly what we will do.”
***
The night slowly passed in the capital with more events than usual. The burning of the Red Pearl had spread far and wide as newspapers quickly took the headline as their first page everywhere.
The reactions of the masses were of natural shock and fear. They heard that it was a gas leak that caused the explosion and so they assumed that the buildings weren’t as safe as they assumed.
The Red Pearl quickly came out with a notice, apologizing for what happened and trying to control the damages. They knew that such an event wasn’t going to pass that easily but they still tried to salvage whatever was left.
The reactions were mixed but that was good enough for the company as it wasn’t a completely negative reaction.
Inside the main headquarters of the company, and on the highest floor, a man clad in formal clothes rushed through the corridor in a hurry.
His face looked extremely exhausted as he had spent the entire night working non-stop and he didn’t sleep at all.
He stopped at the end of the corridor in front of a cushioned double door. He then knocked as he adjusted his clothes.
A few seconds later, an annoyed voice replied. “What?! I’m busy!”
“Sir! Can I come in? It’s an emergency!”
“Ahhhh~ darling, what are you doing?”
“Tsk, it’s one of my annoying workers.”
“Oh my, what a time for him to come~ We were about to start~”
“I’m sorry, darling. Hold on a second.”
Then, the man heard footsteps approaching the door before it opened partially. A short man peaked from the other side. His balding head shone with sweat as he glared at his worker.
“What is it and it better be something important or I will fire you!”
The other worker peaked inside for a split second, seeing an almost fully naked woman lying on the office desk.
‘Is he… Is he really having fun with a woman when we’re in such a dire situation?!’ The man almost choked to death when he realized what his boss was doing.
“Speak!!”
“Ah! Yes, sir! We have received a weird letter just now and the title is extremely eerie. It is sent to you.” The man said as he pulled out a red letter form his pocket and handed it to the boss.
“A letter? To me? From who?” The man received the letter and was about to throw it away but he didn’t care.
“Please read what’s written on the cover.” The man replied in a hurry.
“Huh? What could be wr-” As the man turned the letter around and stared at the written words, he froze in his place as his face grew pale in an instant. He blinked a few times and then stared again, it was indeed what he was reading.
The letter’s cover said: “To the CEO, we know of the shady business you have. Read this letter immediately.”
“… No…” He frowned. “You have got to be kidding me. Why didn’t you bring me this letter any quicker, bastard?!”
“I’m sorry sir! It has just arrived in the mail!” The man replied.
“Fuck! You’re an idiot! You’re fired!!” The man said as he grabbed his bald head and rubbed it.
‘Who is this person? Why do they know? Did someone snitch on me?!’
“Honey?” The woman called for the man seductively.
“Shut up and leave, bitch! I have a problem as big as this world right now!!” He grumbled as he walked back inside and pushed the woman off the table as if she was nothing.
“What the hell?!”
“I said leave now!!”
A//N: Don’t forget to give the book some golden tickets for good luck! :3