Earth: The Second

How the Demands Are Made

Ever since Adma had joined the campaign to save the villages, public receptions towards the meeting with the Duke that will be held in the next 3 days are growing gradually. All of them have heard the rumor about the man who is able to deal with Black Claws single-handedly, and see him as the village’s bodyguard.

Some of them were still skeptical that the tragedy months ago would just be repeated again. But even more, are believe that this time they have a fighting chance. Even the people that worked in the fields seem to be supporting this cause, at first, they are worried that the owner of the fields would be against this.

“That damn Duke is taxing too heavy for the agricultural products no matter how our corps condition is. Besides, the price that he asked to buy the lands is outrageous!” said Thomas’s employer. Apparently, the condition is really dire when the rich and the poor band together and fight against common enemies.

As days grew closer, Adma, Thomas, and Father Risto still preparing the speech and condition that they wanted Udeka to be fulfilled. First is the condition that Udeka put to the villagers, they demanded him to remove all acts of intimidation which have been threatening them all this time. This demand consists of agreement that the Duke would be prohibited to hire any military forces that are not owned by the kingdom. 

The second demand is the resuming of facilities funds for the villages. With this, public facilities such as road, the plaza, and also the orphanage would be developed for the people well-being.

Adma hoped that with this, the orphanage would not have to worry about money again. 

Finally, the third is the heaviest demand of them all, which is the discontinuation of the ‘night district’ that will be build on the settlement. villagers demand that instead of a new district, the Duke would spend the money to develop the villages and agriculture instead.

At first, Thomas and Risto feel that this is the hardest demand since they will face-to-face with Udeka’s own decision that is once again, is protected by the ‘nobles obligation’ privilege.

“But if you didn’t fight for it now, you would let yourself stomped again in the future,” respond Adma when they convey their anxiety. Adma knew that he will not stay in this village forever, and when that time comes. Udeka would just lay his hand again at the village, who knew what is he going to do in the future?

The one who showed the most discomfort with this demand is Father Risto himself. 

“Going straight to fight against a noble’s plan, can be considered as the first move that to the uprising. I am afraid that this will lead him to label us so.”

“That’s true, but we are not completely fighting against his idea,” while also worried about the demand, Thomas seems to be more permissive and accepting it. After all, he is the person who wanted to see Udeka dead.

“Our demand is for him to change the development, into something that everybody can contribute. With this, the tax money is still flowing to the kingdom, but in a different form of industry,” added Thomas.

As expected, Father Risto still showing a face of the doubt when it comes to this plan.

“Let’s just do our best to planning what we want for him tonight,” said Adma, finally return to the conversation. “After all, at the D-day, what we are going to do is a bargain to Udeka. Some of our demands maybe not be achieved to the full extent. Some even have possibilities to be rejected and had to negotiate again in the future.”

Adma looked at Thomas deeply. When he meets that young man, his peers are wanting Udeka’s blood. But now they are discussing politics, just like how civilized humans are supposed to.

“The thing is, this is probably not the last negotiation that you will hold. Instead, this is your first step,” said Adma to Thomas, looking straight into his eyes. Thomas looked down at the table, he did not realize how many papers that have been used to constructs these three simple demands. For the first time in his life, he feels fulfilled to be able to do something for his community. 

“Of course, we will find a way,” he replied to Adma with a smile.

***

In the mansion’s dining room, Udeka sits alone at the far end of the long table. Both of his hands are grabbing chicken thighs, and his mouth chomping at those meats fiercely. In front of the Duke, are mountains of plates and cups, once filled with delicacies and fatty meats, which are now empty and leave only the bones or the dregs.

“Damn commoners! How dare those bastards are threatening me!? I am a Duke of this city! A noble! My voice and decision is a command that they have to obey! How dare they! How dare they!” Duke’s anger finally reaches the tipping point, he threw those plates to the wall, until they broke to pieces.

The head butler can only sweat seeing how his master act after the siege two days before.

For the mansion, no life was taken from Adma’s attack, other than the damage on the property which only happened outside of the building. Too bad that for Udeka, the damage to his soul is much more severe.

As a man who only seeks pleasure, the thought that someone had threatened and out-command him irritates Udeka. He returns to drinks, food, women, and many worldly desires he has, but nothing is able to save his mind from the humiliation that he experienced.

“Three days! Three days from now, I have to go back to that backwater place! I swear I’m going to burn that place down! I will kill the men! The Children! and take their woman to work at a brothel!” screamed Udeka, he pours a glass of wine and gulps it down in one go.

“Black Claws! Bring me the Black Claws! I want them to kill! KILL!” he screamed again, seems like Udeka finally got drunk.

His head butler that had always been in this room erase the sweat on his head.

“Pardon me, My Master. Previously, you had to ask the audience with the Black Claws, which they declined.”

Udeka glare at the head butler that standing behind him. His pupil is wide and his mouth is still dirtied by his food remain. “What do you mean that they decline?”

The head butler started to be wary, as he has never seen his master act like this before.

“When the messenger arrived at their inn, Boss said that they decide to reject the work, sir. They returned the money and said that they will leave the city to and heading to the ruin in the southeast.”

“What!? Call them back! I need them to clean up this mess! This the mess that they created themselves!” 

“That’s impossible sir… Apparently, they have gone halfway to their destination. Even if we send messenger, there is no guarantee that they will accept the job,” answers the head butler.

Weakly, Udeka leans to the chair where he sits. He stares at the empty ceiling, probably too tired to scream and whimpering.

Where does all of this go wrong? He asked. When he received this job as a Duke, he thought that he was finally able to live a slow life, surrounded by everything that would make him happy. 

“Even if I finally leave that house, is this the end of my happy life?” said Udeka to himself.

“Even after papa and mama work hard to gain influence, and able to bestow me with such life… Is this how far I will go?” 

A past flashed back to Udeka’s mind, showing his teenage life surrounded by royalty. As a nephew of the king, his family life is resourceful and rich, but that does not mean that he experiences hardship in his early life. Bullying is a common thing, even around the aristocracy. 

Compared to the other family members that have strong influences on either trading and war, you can say that Udeka’s family did not have that much power. His father indeed has a business, but they are not as booming as other family members. Eventually, the amount of fortune that they have also contributed to her mother’s social standing, soon after, ill rumors started to circulate around their family that they are going to fail.

“No! I’m not going to let it!” Udeka screamed as he getting out of his seat, startled the head butler behind him.

After a long time, Udeka’s evil mind finally returned to full capacity. He wanted to destroy that village, and everyone that living in it. He wanted to use the soldier’s strength, but then it will raise the king’s suspicion that an uprising has happened in one of his cities.

“King has no mercy for every uprising that he found out. Even the governor of the territory also got punished for the same reason, said that they let the ‘weeds’ grew wild.” 

He may hire all the adventurers that are available in the guild, but that means more of his fortune would be gone, and there is no guarantee that those barbaric will keep their mouths shut.

Suddenly, an idea comes to his mind. 

“If I can prove to one of the royals that those commoners are attacking a righteous Duke that had just do his job for the people, then they would not put their doubts in me! Instead, they would protect me, and treat me as the victim of those commoners!” again, Udeka speaks to himself.

Udeka thought that this is a brilliant idea. He would go to the place designated by those commoners, listening to their demands just like they wished for. Isn’t it will be great when suddenly someone attacks him and worsening the situation? 

For example, what if that person is part of a rebellion against the kingdom, this action is the beginning of a greater movement? Lastly, the only thing that he needs, are just the people a member of the kingdom, who just happened to accompany him at the said time.

Therefore, Udeka started writing.

***

The designated day had come, and both the villagers and government have arrived at the village’s Plaza. 

In the center of the area, right beside the fountain, are two tables that had been set face to face. One is the place for Adma and the resistance, and the other is for the Duke and one person that accompanies him.

Someone that Adma had never met before.