At this time, a small part of the guard team led by Jake and Reno went to Belluga village for their rounds.
Like with other territories, Alterra guards have made a point to check on allied territories once a week.
It wasn't exactly for welfare checks—they weren't that nice. For the most part, it was done to train the guards and also serve as a way for the Alterrans guards to check for family and friends.
A lot of citizens and some caravans also followed them, though they paid some protection fee (monetary or contribution points) to the territory.
They also wanted to take advantage of the momentary peace to find their family and friends. After all, there was always someone to find a family, friend, or acquaintance during these excursions.
To kill two birds with one stone, they also brought products to sell to fatten their wallets up by the way.
Anyway, unlike Vismont and Bright, Belluga was also the one amongst the allies that was most likely to enter a war next. Everyone hoped to find their relatives–if they had some there—before that.
One of the reasons why Vismont was untouched so far was because it was a subsidiary. Aborigines said that few territories were willing to waste their monthly slot on subsidiaries because they were likely weak and poor.
Subsidiary status was also done for a minimum of one year. If the occupiers chose to take a subsidiary, chances were, they'd have to pay tribute to another territory regardless of where their alliances lied.
Anyway, time passed and the Alterrans reached the vicinity of Belluga.
They were not expecting a lot of changes. Since Bright Village had been settled down, not much happened to any of the allies.
Until now, apparently.
They noticed stark differences as soon as they entered. For one, the guards were moving back and forth quickly, weapons out, and their faces and stances tense as if ready to attack at any moment.
As for the civilians, the Alterrans had been used to receiving admiring gazes from the locals. At the very least, they'd get curious looks from those who didn't know them. However, it was all muted and they usually looked at them respectfully from afar, with the exemption of stars like Fable who would definitely get mobbed.
This time though, the Bellugans didn't hesitate to enter their private space, and their eyes on them were filled with tears. They didn't know if it was their imagination, but it looked like they just found their messiah.
(Unconsciously, Jake checked his hair if there was anything amiss.)
"The Alterrans are here!" One said, and another one nodded while sobbing.
There was a middle-aged woman who held a random Alterran guard's hand with a grateful smile.
"You're finally here!"
The Alterrans… were very confused. And it didn't help when more and more people joined in, practically mobbing them.
Fortunately, familiar voices stabbed through the crowd and order resumed.
"Let us through!" the strong masculine voice said, resounding in the area.
The crowd immediately parted, revealing a familiar brunette, followed by a man with pale-blonde hair and sleepy eyes, as well as a dark-skinned man with a large build and sharp features.
The dark-skinned man looked at the others and opened his mouth, telling them it was this person who shouted before. "Give our guests some space," he said as he followed Raine to approach them in greeting, dutifully standing just behind him.
Jake and the others nodded at them, relieved, while the citizens also looked at them with teary eyes.
"Mr. Raine… Mr. Suide… Mr. Orland…" the crowd greeted with respect and the Alterrans couldn't help but look closer at them.
While they had heard that Belluga was actually managed by the lord's men, they didn't think it was to this degree.
"You're here…" Raine said in greeting, "I apologize for the… excessively enthusiastic welcome but… there's a reason for this.
"About twelve hours ago, we received a war declaration."
The Alterrans flinched, listening closely, and Raine continued to explain.
"Now all the citizens are trying to prepare. We tried to stock up on everything—whether it was resources, weapons, equipment, or medicines we bought from you—but it's natural for us to be worried.
"The enemies…. They are not weak. Their average levels would be powerhouses for us."
"That is indeed a bit of a challenge," Reno began, looking at them. "How many left?"
"Well, you're fortunate no one abandoned."
His words made a few frown bitterly and Jake raised a brow.
Raine shook his head at this. "Kimmy… she made an announcement that anyone who leaves the territory before or during the war automatically renounces their belongings."
"Well, we're not certain, but no one wanted to risk it."
"I see. How is she? Your lord, I mean," Jake asked. While he waited for answers, he heard a lot of people around whisper their own.
While most seemed sad and angry for the woman, some seemed more bitter than sorry for her.
Some said 'probably sleeping', another said 'not doing her job, that's what!', and there were also some perverted 'Well, since she was awakened for sex, she must be doing so much now'.
Jake and Reno frowned, exchanging glances with eyebrows furrowed. They knew what happened to their lord—she was raped in public for goodness sake. Had they been so scared of the war they had forgotten to be tactful?
Raine only shook his head. "I'm sorry but she's… indisposed at this time."
"It's fine," Jake said with a shrug. "So the war is starting in two hours, then?"
Jake and Reno didn't answer immediately and looked at his team. They were a team of almost 30 people, ten of which were guards and the others were civilians.
As the team lead, he had the right to make choices for the entire team, as long as he deemed it fit for everyone's goods and safety. This choice, however, would need everyone's consent.
"Vote! I'll give you a few minutes to think about it," he said and the others looked at each other with various complicated expressions.
Jake knew they needed some time to think about it and he didn't rush them,
While waiting for a response, Jake looked at Raine and the others. "And you know you'll be paying right?"
Raine nodded. "We are aware of Alterra's conditions, yes."
Jake looked at him. "You're not the lord," he said. "What if she denied it?"
Raine's eyes darkened a bit as he clenched his fist. "I'll convince her," he said. "We'd be willing to pay for our lives!"
As long as they survived and were alive, that was what mattered, he thought.
The question was: Would their Lord understand this?