Earth: The Second

Words Before Disaster

By the way, Thomas did not actually jump out to punch Udeka. While his anger is unbearable, Adma’s presence makes it harder for him. Since this morning, the man already confronts him many times, making sure that Thomas will not succumb to his revenge. Sometimes it takes even more than one negotiation for their demand to be fulfilled, and huge chances, that Adma already left the city when that time has come.

Therefore, Adma makes sure that Thomas can get every preparation if the second or third discussion is to be held again.

But moreover, Udeka’s counter-argument is indeed baseless. Firstly, he denies the act of intimidation of the village, said that it was necessary as ‘disciplining’ and upholding the social control around this village. It is even worse with how he responds to the second alternative demand.

You can clearly see how Udeka hates the commoner and would do everything he had to get rid of them.

Curiosity also filled Adma’s mind to the man that sits beside him. Because he never met him before, Adma can’t predict what is this person is like. Does he send by the kingdom to watch over this discussion? Or is he one of Udeka’s right hands?

“Sir, pardon me,” Roberto lean to the duke, and whispering. “Is this really a discussion for developing social welfare for the villagers? why does it seem that they all so tense in front of us?” asked Roberto.

“As you can see, this is the situation I’ve faced with, Sir Knight! I just do my job as a civil servant to the whole population, but this village seems don’t know how to thank the kingdom! Look at them, they are said that I was persecuting, while I’m just doing King’s command to prevent uprising however I can.” replied Udeka angrily.

“But… If I’m not mistaken, there is nothing about the ‘social welfare’ in this discussion?” asked Roberto.

Udeka glaring at that Knight from the corner of his eyes. He wondered why does this person be so chatty while his role is just to witness the riot that will happen momentarily?

“Alright then, if you want to listen to the whole explanation,” Udeka then got up from the chair and started the discussion again.

“Allow me to rephrase… The ‘development program’ of the red-light district definitely will have a much better prospect than farming or raising livestock. This would be a place where everyone in the city would head after their hard work and soothing their souls! Can you imagine how much money can be made in one night?” Udeka paused and turned to face the audience as if tried to persuade them.

“Your life definitely will be much easier than the farming, of course, more than that you will get rich fast! Imagine that you can finally buy things that you have dreamed of for a long time! Or put your children to school! If that won’t improve your life, how else it would be?” 

At first, the audience is silent, but then some of them started to clapping. Either really interested or just following the flow, now even more of the audience also clapping their hand, in support of Udeka’s plan.

Feel that he have the lead, Udeka smiled smugly. He turned to Thomas and challenge him.

“With this reaction from the audience, I wonder what the representative is actually stating? Are they really voicing what the villager wanted? Or are they just a thug that thirsts to be heard of?” mock Udeka.

Thomas is preparing to open his mouth when Adma suddenly interrupts him.

“Pardon us Lord, but we just surprised by how stupid that sounds like, for the prospect of this village,” replied Adma.

Eventually, Adma catches their attention. From the audience, Duke, and the representative. 

“We have spent these past days talking with the people and getting better knowledge of what is the village specialties are. Turned out, the village has a history, even years older than the city. For the whole story, I will let Thomas completed it,” asked Adma and returned him to the seat.

Thomas who was surprised by Adma’s intervention now got up. Luckily, his mind is already clear from his revenge intention to Udeka.

“The history of this village is told by my father, which he also heard from my grandfather. This village had existed for more than a hundred years, and it has never been like this. Previously, the ground is dry. Nothing can be harvested, and livestock is skinny and sickly because they can’t eat.” Thomas paused for a second. As if hearing an old tale, everyone’s attention focused on him, and no one wanted to interfere. Even Udeka himself.

“On that village, lived a youth that listened to the legend from the merchants and adventurer. Somewhere in this world, there is an artifact that is able to produce water from nowhere. He grows up believing that story and decides to explore the world to get that Artifact. Years after years, he followed the trails and guides from other people. He had faced death countless times, and prevail. Until one day. He reached his destination and found the Artifact that he needed.

Together with his family and friends, he made it along the way. Sadly, what is left on this land are just corpses and empty houses. While he is sad that he is too late to save his people, the Man swears that he would bring this village back again. With the artifact that he has acquired, he started the farm and the corps. Eventually, the people who came from afar listened to the rumor of ‘the oasis’ and started to arrived at this village.

Times go by, and even until now, the Artifact is still creating water. It was so massive, that people have to build canals and rivers so that they will not be flooded by the amount of water. That’s the story of the village.” told Thomas.

Every audience started to talking to themselves. Some of them stated that they have heard that story before from their parent. Some connect it to the origin of rivers near the city.

But Adma realizes something from the story. ‘Device that can create waters’ sounds impossible, when he looked back to that fountain that was used to fetch water, he feels it is not so weird after all. 

“What I wanted to say, is that our ground is fertile, with lots of waters, and good crops every year. To using productive land for the building would be wasting this city’s ability to produce food of their own.” finished Thomas.

Udeka showed a grumpy face. “Is that so?” But can you see that people are happier with my red district plan don’t they?” challenged him.

“That looks like it because the people that started clapping first are not from the village.” interrupts Adma. And Udeka is glaring at him again. “People tend to follow the majority, let’s just say that you have hired three to five people, to support your ideas, and ‘do whatever they can to make you look good. When some of them started clapping, everybody else would think that it’s appropriate to clapping along. Some of them may be agreed with your idea, but some are just doing it because they are subconsciously following around.” replied Adma, which makes Udeka even angrier, because Adma is right.

Udeka indeed paying quite an amount of money for the people he met on the street. Some of their jobs are to stand among the crowd, then they have to clap, shouting, and supporting him when he is able to convince the people like previously.

One thing that he has prepared, is that he also had plan B. And this one is quite a terrible one.

The discussion continues with the previous demand, the one that Udeka had always avoid. He said that he won’t accept that Thomas called it ‘persecution’, ‘intimidation’, or something that has a similar tyrant-like word. Instead, he wants to call it ‘disciplining’ the chaotic masses and to prevent the rebellion seeds from growing. But Thomas knows more than that. He openly tells the incident that happened months ago, and he mentioned the name of the people that have been killed, captured, or tortured. Which one of them is his own father.

At this time, Roberto has started to lift his eyebrow. He has a fair amount of work, serving various kinds of nobles. Some are clean, some are dirty, and some are in the grey areas. Some of the dirtiest ones are the kind that hiring criminals to do their dirty jobs.

“Nonsense! I am the extension of the King, which authorized to command my own soldier for the protection of the city! Moreover, you don’t have any proof that I’m hiring mercenaries to kill people, am I?” again, Udeka challenged him, but unexpectedly, a shout coming from the audience.

“Liar!” screamed the voice of a child,

“We have enough of your BS! We won’t let you come near our place again!”

“Go away from this village! We will never accept you as our Duke!”

“Bring my husband back!” said one of the females among the crowd.

For some reason, the previously quiet audience suddenly started to shouting toward Udeka and Roberto. Apparently, there are many victims just like Thomas, but they choose to contain their anger and revenge.

“Everyone! Please quiet!” 

Father stands up from his chair, he lifts his hands, asking for the audience to calm down. But instead, the voice grew louder, and some of them are even started to walking near the discussion table.

“ORDER!”

A thundering shout, manage raise above the mob’s anger. Either because of the owner’s charisma or the sword that shines in his hand. But the angry audiences are now quiet, and obediently step back from the discussion.

Roberto had to stand up. After the commotion is over, he sheathed his sword back and turned to Adma and Thomas.

“As a knight of the kingdom, I demand the clarification of your statement,” he asked.

Thomas looked at Adma as if he asking for a guide.

“There is no clarification,” said Adma to the knight. He then turned to Thomas. “Tell him the truth. Everything that you have experienced,” he answered.