​1. The Samaran Triumph and the March to the Capital 🛡️
​The arrival of General Lysandra and the thousand-strong Samaran Royal Guard turned certain defeat into a decisive victory. General Kray's 350-man army from the Second Strongest Kingdom was utterly shattered. The pursuit was relentless, ensuring that Surat would not immediately regroup.
​Kevin, Even, and the 19 remaining Freedom Fighters were immediately integrated into the Royal Guard's column. The difference in their appearance was stark: the clean, gleaming steel of Samara's forces contrasted sharply with the battle-worn, scarred figures of the Freedom Fighters, who carried the grit of the Death March.
​Prince Alistair, now safe, treated Kevin and Even not as mercenaries, but as genuine saviors. He spent the entire march recounting their bravery to General Lysandra—detailing the clever merchant masquerade, the agonizing sacrifice at the ridge, and the final moment when the entire group chose honor and death over trading the Prince for their captured comrades.
​2. The Royal Audience: The Price of Honor 👑
​Upon reaching the vast Samaran capital, the Freedom Fighters were brought directly before King Elarion. The atmosphere was tense; they were armed, unbound, and standing before one of the world's most powerful monarchs—a breach of all royal protocol, granted only due to the Prince's insistence.
​King Elarion was an imposing figure, his face bearing the marks of a lifetime of strategic warfare. He listened patiently as Prince Alistair passionately recounted their journey, ending with the story of the moral choice at the encirclement.
​"They had the chance to abandon me for their own safety, Father," Alistair concluded, his voice ringing with conviction. "They chose to die for their promise. They are men of immense courage."
​The King's gaze, sharp and assessing, finally fell upon Kevin. "You fulfilled your contract, outsiders. You are owed Eight Million Gold Coins—the original five, plus the three you charged for your fallen men. Do you accept this remittance?"
​Kevin remained silent, a deliberate act of deference, letting the contract man speak. Even stepped forward, his massive frame radiating untamed energy. He met the King's stare with an unflinching defiance that few dared to show a reigning monarch.
​"Your Majesty, your Prince is safe," Even stated, his voice a low, gravelly thunder. "But the price has risen again. Since the border, five more of our men were wounded defending the retreat, and two of our men were captured and held as bargaining chips—a psychological torment that warrants compensation. Your original contract was only for three deaths."
​The King chuckled—a dry, unexpected sound that filled the massive hall. He was not amused; he was intrigued by Even's fearless audacity. To argue over the price, standing unarmed before a King, was madness.
​Even continued, counting on his fingers: "We initially charged you for three deaths. Then we lost two more in the chase after the retreat. And two men were captured and endured great torment. That totals five more lives either lost or deeply scarred in your service."
​Even's gaze locked back onto the King's. "Eight million is not enough, Your Majesty. For the ultimate bravery and sacrifice of five additional souls, the total price is now thirteen million gold coins. One million for every man wounded, lost, or captured in your service. Will you pay the full thirteen million?"
​The hall fell into stunned silence. The sheer scale of the demand—13 Million Gold Coins—was unprecedented for a simple escort mission.
​King Elarion did not immediately reply. He simply laughed again, a sound now laced with genuine admiration. "Thirteen million," he repeated, shaking his head. "To have the courage to ask a king for that much gold, after having saved his son, is a rare quality indeed."
​The King paused, his strategic mind working rapidly. He had heard of their strength, witnessed their discipline, and now admired their absolute refusal to be cowed by power.
​"Your courage is matched only by your avarice," the King declared. "But I will honor the word of my son. You will receive the full Thirteen Million Gold Coins."
​3. The Royal Offer and The Rejection of Servitude
​Having paid the astronomical sum, King Elarion immediately moved to acquire the asset.
​"Men of immense skill and unbreakable word," the King announced, his tone now one of a calculated business offer. "I see great potential in your discipline. I offer you positions within the Samaran structure. Kevin, your mind is unparalleled; you will be my chief strategist, a Royal Advisor. Even, your force is legendary; you will lead my Royal Guard. Your remaining men will be integrated into the highest ranks of my army. You will be rich, powerful, and secure."
​The King was offering the one thing the Freedom Fighters hated the most: Chains of authority.
​Even opened his mouth to deliver a thunderous refusal, but Kevin subtly caught his eye. Kevin knew a soft rejection was more powerful than a loud one.
​Kevin bowed—a simple nod of the head, not a full submission. "Your Majesty, we are deeply honored by your offer. You speak of riches and power, but you offer us the one thing we fought five years in the Death March to escape: a master."
​Kevin continued, his voice clear and resonant. "We do not fit into any structure. We do not swear fealty. Our group, The Meridian Freedom Fighters, is bound only by the principle of absolute self-rule. We are not made for the service of any Crown. We thank you for the gold, which has bought us greater freedom, not a new cage."
​King Elarion, though disappointed, was impressed by the elegant finality of the refusal. "You reject stability for chaos?"
​"No, Your Majesty," Kevin corrected. "We reject your chaos for our stability. The only stability we trust is that which we build with our own hands, without permission."
​The King smiled, a thin, strategic smile. He realized these men could not be controlled, but they could be used. He granted them unlimited passage and access to his Kingdom's resources, securing their potential future allegiance as high-value, unaffiliated mercenaries.
4. The Verdict of the Thirteen Million and The Cost of Freedom
With the astronomical sum of Thirteen Million Gold Coins transferred to their account—a fortune that guaranteed their financial supremacy—Kevin immediately called a private meeting with the 19 remaining Freedom Fighters. The moment of truth for their philosophy of Absolute Self-Rule had arrived.
Kevin, the Strategist, outlined the final disbursement:
Compensation for the Fallen and Wounded: Ten Million Gold Coins were designated for the families of the three men killed, the five men wounded or captured, and a general relief fund for all members who had fought. Kevin's strict adherence to fairness ensured every sacrifice was accounted for.
The Founders' Share: Kevin and Even each took One Million Gold Coin for their own personal command fund, leaving the final million for the core group's operational expenses.
The gold was a heavy, tangible thing, representing years of blood and pain. For most of the men, it was the key to the life they had truly dreamed of.
"The mission is complete," Kevin stated, his voice flat but firm. "We bought our freedom. Those of you who wish to take your fortune and leave, you are free to go. There is no judgment. This is the goal we fought for."
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Fourteen men chose money over the mission. They weren't betraying the group; they were seizing the peace that had been violently denied to them. They wanted to start families, buy small plots of land, and live out their days without the shadow of the Crown looming over them.
"Strategist," one man said, his eyes filled with gratitude and relief, "You bought us our lives back. We will not forget our debt, but we must choose peace."
Kevin and Even watched them go, understanding that true victory was seeing their men finally free. They were now left with a formidable but small core unit of five men: Kevin, Even, and three loyal veterans who believed the final, necessary war was still ahead.