THE ALMIGHTY GENERAL

FIVE

Alister flinched. Just for a second.

But then, regaining his composure, he smirked. "And what if I do?"

Lance’s eyes darkened, his eyes burning with fury.

Alister folded his arms. "Your father refused to pay the levy."

His eyes turned to Evelyn. "Your wife is nothing but a shameless woman who enjoys seducing men."

Lance’s fists clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"And your daughter," Alister continued with a sneer, "has no respect for her elders."

"Your family is indeed useless, and you all deserve to be punished!!!"

Lance’s chest rose and fell with rage as he stared down Alister.

Then another voice joined in.

The chief, the very man who had ordered the flogging said, unimpressed by Lance's appearance, finally spoke. “Lance, your family have committed crimes against the east district, and they deserved their punishment.”

“And let’s not forget Lance himself. A deserter of the battlefield!"

"He should be punished for his crimes against this city.” Malcolm added.

"We're even kind enough for not sentencing your family to death." Nicholas chimed in.

"How dare you shamelessly show your face after running away from the army."

Lance’s entire body trembled as he stared down Alister and the corrupt officials.

He knew all their accusations were a lie.

Then, slowly, he turned to his family, and knelt in front of them.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with guilt. “I should have been here."

"I should have protected you.” His eyes darted between Evelyn, Rachael, and John.

Evelyn knelt beside him, placing a trembling hand on his cheek. “You came back,” she murmured. “That’s all that matters.”

Rachael wrapped her arms around his back, her small body shaking. “You’re here now, Dad. That’s enough.”

Lance swallowed hard. His voice hardened. “No one will ever lay a hand on you again. I swear it.”

A scoff cut through the air.

“Enough with the dramatics,” Alister sneered. “Your family is pathetic. If you were too poor to pay the levy, you should have left quietly.”

Alister then tossed a document onto the floor.

“Hurry up, sign it,” he smirked. “Sign over your house to us, if I can't get the money, I will finish you guys off."

John’s frail hands trembled as he reached for the document.

“Dad, no!” Lance grabbed his wrist, his grip firm.

But John shook his head. “Lance… we have suffered enough. If signing this means we finally escape their oppression, then so be it.”

He bent down, stretching his hand toward the paper.

A heavy boot slammed onto the document.

John froze.

The chief loomed over him, a smug grin on his face.

“You think you can just walk away?” the chief said, his voice laced with mockery. “For the past ten years your family has barely paid any levy, countless resources were spent on this memorial hall… Your family owes the East District over two hundred thousand dollars.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

John’s body stiffened. His frail fingers curled into fists as he lifted his head, his eyes blazing with defiance.

“You are all monsters,” he spat, his voice hoarse but filled with fury.

"Wicked! soulless men. You will be punished in the afterlife!”

SMACK!

Alister’s hand whipped across John’s face, sending him sprawling onto the floor.

“Shut your mouth, old man!” Alister snarled. His hand shot out, wrapping around John’s throat.

Evelyn and Rachael screamed.

“Let him go!” Evelyn cried, struggling against the guards holding her back.

“Grandpa!” Rachael sobbed, thrashing in fear.