Chapter 778: Peace Haven Has Treated You Well

That evening, Akta and his men politely decline an invitation to dine with the village elder and constable.

Instead, they rent an empty house and cook for themselves.

Once the constable learns that they are elite troops from Peace Haven, panic sets in. He rushes through the night to report to Grayearth Town.

The town constable has no idea what to do either. He sends the village constable, who also serves as militia captain, back to watch the Peace Haven squad.

He then reports to the lord's castle and the local garrison himself.

Most villagers are too frightened to gather around the soldiers from Peace Haven.

Only the youths and children, dreaming of Knights, find excuse after excuse to walk past the courtyard where Akta's squad is staying.

The next morning, Akta goes to speak with the village elder.

The sight of Akta and his two deputies leaves the elder completely at a loss.

A man who normally rules the village like a king has brought several others along simply to bolster his courage.

A blacksmith is often a central figure in a village or town. Smithing is skilled work, after all.

Prosperous landowning farmers and people who run general stores, mills, or similar businesses also command respect in a village.

These men normally look down on the other villagers. In front of Akta and his deputies, they scarcely dare to breathe.

The elder asks carefully, "My lord, is there anything you need us to do?"

Akta shows him the orders. "Village Elder, we are soldiers from Peace Haven, sent to support your country."

"You must have heard that the Calamity War is about to erupt. Some calamity creatures have already crossed the defensive line and reached the Tranquil Sea."

"Our mission is to help your army hunt down the ones that slipped through."

"We tracked signs of calamity creatures to the area around your village."

"Now we need information."

"Has anything strange happened nearby? Have any people or livestock been attacked or gone missing?"

The elder and his companions exchange blank looks. At last, he ventures, "My lord, we don't understand this calamity you speak of!"

"No one warned us, and we know nothing about calamity creatures. Nothing strange has happened near the village either."

Akta trades glances with his deputies. "We may need to stay here for the next few days."

"We will pay for whatever we use. If anything unusual happens, tell us at once."

The three men rise and leave the elder's home.

On the way back, Berio curses. "Damn it! Lumir never issued a warning."

"These villagers don't even know the Calamity War is coming. Lumir is going to get them killed!"

"One squad of calamity creatures could tear this village apart. Those few militia members wouldn't stand a chance."

Nadal sighs. "Lumir must be hiding the Calamity War to prevent a panic."

"With administration this weak, Lumir would collapse into chaos before the Calamity War ever reached this place."

"It also needs the villagers farming the land and producing supplies for the army."

Akta shakes his head. "There is more to it. Once the news spreads, people will pour into walled cities for shelter."

"That would drain the cities, disrupt military operations, and draw even more calamity creatures toward them."

"Since the Calamity War began, the Western Federation has sent back plenty of intelligence."

"In past Calamity Wars, armies that broke through the defensive lines attacked the largest population centers first."

"They seem to have a ritual that can turn captured people into creatures like themselves."

"The more people gathered in one place, the stronger the attraction for a calamity army."

"That is why nearly every royal family keeps the truth quiet. They cannot afford a flood of refugees."

"I am not like you two. When I was eight, my family and I were sold to Peace Haven."

"Before that, I lived in Lumir."

"Whenever war or disaster struck, ordinary people fled to the towns, especially the walled cities."

"War drove my family from our home. We ended up as slaves just to stay alive."

"I was born a slave. Later, I was sold to Peace Haven."

"Our lord once said that however absurd a policy or order seems, some small part of it must make sense."

"This isn't Peace Haven. We cannot judge this place by Peace Haven's standards."

By the time Akta finishes, they have reached their lodging.

A group of children lingers near the courtyard.

Their clothes are ragged and their bodies filthy, but bright, curious eyes follow the soldiers inside.

The children scatter as soon as Akta's group returns.

It is early spring, and even southern Lumir remains cold.

Many of the children wear only thin clothes. Some have holes in their shoes.

Berio reaches for his pocket, but Akta stops him with one hand. "Don't. Giving them money will only hurt them."

Berio protests, "I only want to give them a few silver coins for clothes."

Akta's voice turns grave. "No. Do you know how much a family here can save in a year?"

"A lucky family might save a dozen silver coins. An unlucky one goes into debt or goes hungry."

"A few silver coins are nothing to you. To those children, they're a fortune."

"They'll fight over the money, and they won't hold back."

"An injury in a place like this could easily prove fatal."

"Besides, charity shouldn't be handed out for nothing. In Peace Haven, people earn what they receive."

"The moment the villagers see us as rich fools ripe for fleecing, believe me, kindness can turn to malice in a heartbeat."

Akta's expression hardens. "Remember, we aren't in Peace Haven anymore!"

"The equipment on any one of us is worth enough to buy every life in this village!"

"I know your education taught you to show kindness whenever you could."

"I am different. I wasn't lucky enough to be born in Peace Haven."

"You both come from good families. Your families earn more in a year than the head of a town like this."

"They could keep you in school through an academy of higher learning, and both of you graduated from a military academy."

"Your tactical training is excellent. You're both capable junior commanders."

"But you haven't seen enough of the world. Peace Haven sheltered you and showed you every kindness, so you have no idea how cruel life can be beyond its borders."

"The human heart will always be more terrifying than any monster!"

"From now on, you do nothing without my approval. That's an order!"

That hard-earned experience is the main reason Akta commands the squad despite never attending a military academy.