"Tsk! I wanted to torture them bit by bit already," Eloi mumbled. He was looking forward to torturing anyone they could grab, one for information and also for the heck of it.
The others agreed with him, and they began discussing torture methods and which ones to apply first.
Pity they had to think so much before they could do so. In the previous wars, this was as easy as picking prey, dragging them towards camp, and having fun with 'em.
Baltimore ignored these people, turning to look at Seto. "How's the progress inside?" he asked, referring to their people planted inside.
They had new people entering with the caravan, but some people from their party also stayed. For instance, Treck.
Because they believed Alterra was much weaker than they were, Treck decided to stay in order to cause chaos before and during the war. He was in the best position because not only had he investigated beforehand, but he was also within the level cap.
"What did he say anyway?" Ero asked, looking at the aether letter on Seto's hand.
"No reply. I assume he couldn't access his space at this time."
Ero shrugged and no one else thought much of it either. Although Treck was arrogant and could be emotional, he still knew when to step back for the bigger picture.
So… they weren't too worried about him.
At this time, Trek was walking around with arrogance in each step.
Although he gained a little loss, people were still afraid to butt heads with him in general. Many people would still shiver when they met his eyes, and he figured out their arrogance from before was short-lived.
It didn't matter that these people were newcomers and refugees. In his eyes, they were all the same.
Anyway, wins aside, he had a mission right now and he ought to do his job! Guia was waging war soon and he needed to start planting the seeds that'd make things easier for them during the war.
First stop was the food court during meal time. While chewing on delicious barbeque, he looked at a crowd to leave bits of comments and questions, expecting that they would brew and spread among the population—like it always did.
They called this… planting some knowledge or tapping awareness for the purpose of (Guia's) greater good.
"Where's your lord?" he asked. "I'm really curious. If you don't have one, why hasn't anyone taken the lead?
"Such a good place, how could be no one hailed as the leader?"
"Hey, do you know how the rules and regulations disappeared during wars?" he said to another group, "During wars is the time for the citizens to get rich!"
He'd go queue after queue, mumbling similar things, ending it with "I'd say save your money now and just wait for your next war!"
He did so quite a few times and with various topics. He was subtle enough too, at least that's what he believed.
However, his actions caused him to be reported instead.
For the past hour, he was reported 8 times. So when he moved to another market to repeat the 'planting', he found himself surrounded by the assigned guards in the area instead.
Luckily or unluckily, it was led by Gochi.
Treck was a bit nervous when he realized there were so many guards, but immediately gained confidence when he saw it was the half-orc.
He didn't know what this damn territory was thinking making this guy a guard. It was disgusting!
He sneered, crossing his arms. "Ehh… you again?" he asked. "I was just walking around. What are you doing here?"
Gochi's expression didn't change. In fact, the reason why they didn't deal with him the last time was because it could've turned to a real scuffle that might hurt the citizens and the children.
Not to mention, the Guia lord and the others were still there. The trouble of imprisoning him for a few words of insult was not worth it.
However, now that they were certain Guia would be waging war soon, there was no reason to be polite anymore. "Please stop causing chaos. It's unsightly."
His tone and stance made Treck surprised, and immediately very angry. His eyes red in anger, fist clenched and very much wanting to hit this anomaly on the face. How dare this animal tell him off?!
"You're brave since you have people with you?!" he yelled, though he wasn't stupid enough to attack. At least not yet.
Instead, he kept consistent with his mission and looked at the guards behind Gochi.
"Heh," he paused, an annoying arrogant grin plastered on his face. "You're letting this beast in two legs order you guys around? Disgusting!"
Gochi's fist clenched but he didn't show that he was being affected. Since the last insults he came to learn how sincere Alterra was to him. There was no need to feel insecure.
Instead of being intimidated, he looked at Treck with an apathetic expression on his face. "We'd like to ask you to come with us for questioning," he said and grabbed his arm.
"You dare!" the aborigine yelled, immediately trying to escape. But Gochi was the same level as he was, except he was much, much, stronger.
The next thing Treck knew, large hands found his face and his head was hit smack on the stone floor underneath him.
His vision blurred and he felt intense pain in the head. He was dizzy and his sights saw double of the beast.
Treck was livid, insides boiling with madness. "YOU BASTWARD!!!" He screamed behind the orc's rough palms, gesturing to take out his weapon to retaliate.
He wasn't able to hit before he was teleported elsewhere.
The next sight he saw was a plain dark place in stark contrast with the lively streetscapes he had just been in, decidedly without his weapon on hand.
The fact that his head hurt, his vision blurry, and his heart beating loudly in anger was not helping him absorb what had just happened. He could only gape for a while trying to recover his bearing.
Some minutes later, he heard some footsteps on the side and he turned his bloodied head in a direction.
He saw the thick bars keeping him in a tight space, and he quickly realized that there were some uniformed guards behind the bars.
They were looking at him without expression, but he still felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Welcome to prison, bastard."