United in Hatred Arc: Chapter 26.
A day later...
The same thing occurred again. The three were now lying in wait, trying to ambush and rob another carriage. Winter Icecream was now conflicted and unnerved. The first time was understandable; it was mostly a bunch of rich nobles' illegal orders, but now...
There were no contrabands. Just a bunch of grain and other perishable foodstuffs.
Claudia Osser insisted that some disruption was needed to incite the lower class to rebel. Winter was now in a somewhat heated conversation with Claudia while Peter Stenenem kept hushing them to lower their voices.
There were also two other revolutionaries helping them, just positioned on the opposite side of the road. They too were lying in wait. Petel gave them an assuring thumbs up.
"I'm just saying, this doesn't help anything. Because if some grain shipment went missing, the traders will jack up the prices."
"And that incites the people to protest and slowly lose faith in the supposed lords and nobles that were bound to protect them," Claudia replied.
Winter scoffed. "No, that just makes people hate bandits," Winter said, pointing at his cloak disguise. "This isn't a disguise; we are actually bandits."
"No, this is what you call a false-flag." Claudia shrugged.
◆ [ Claudia Osser's opinion of you has most likely dropped. ] ◆
(Bricks, he's quite reserved lately...)
Winter's jaw then dropped. "That makes us terrorists, that's even worse. You're eroding their trust and forcing them to side with the rich."
"You're thinking about this in the wrong way. You're right that our actions will raise grain prices, since merchants will want to make a profit. They'll obviously jack up the prices."
Claudia continued. "If the merchants jack up the prices, the people will be displeased. If the people are informed that a gang of bandits stole a portion of this week's shipment, they will be furious. They'll be furious because their high taxes aren't even used to provide proper security."
Claudia said it with such passionate dedication that it further unnerved Winter, who wasn't in the slightest convinced.
"You also have to remember that although serfdom is illegal, most farmers' lives still aren't better. They're called tenant farmers now, basically serfdom with extra steps of freedom."
"These grains are made with calloused and exhausted hands, forced to toil in the hopes of clearing a debt that will never be finished."
(That makes it even worse, stealing from enslaved hands.)
"You know, I might be convinced by your words if this grain shipment that we're about to intercept is given to the people or the poor. But nooo, we're selling this."
Winter retorted, almost shouting. The two have stopped debating with hushed voices; they were now almost screaming at each other.
◆ [ Petel Stenenem's opinion of you has most likely dropped. ] ◆
"We need the funds. We're selling it in with a slightly higher markup, but not enough to be opportunistic. We need the funds." Claudia said, whereas Petel just gave up at this point, letting the two argue it out, hoping that they'll both get tired.
"Also, your commie movement is selling narcotics."
(Commie?) Claudia thought, unfamiliar with the term. "Mostly harmless relaxants and stress relivers. That's their proper descriptions." Claudia said as Winter recalled the time when he saw her inhaling a white-dust narcotic that supposedly gave a serene and peaceful feeling.
It would've been a 'decent' narcotic if it weren't for the fact that it was addictive. Claudia was addicted, but gave the excuse that she needed it for her physical and mental anguish.
Apparently, it's a well-known and commonly sought narcotic that the Peasant's Revolutionary Commoner Brotherhood massively produced. Dusty, it was colloquially called.
"Back to the point, we're not attacking all the grain shipments, just a part of it. Enough to cause problems but not enough to starve them." She said while Winter kept shaking his head. He gave up arguing with her.
(It's no use. It's like arguing with a college campus wannabe activist and after I've sufficiently paid my debts. I'm going to leave... I like what they're fighting for, but I don't like their methods.)
Winter thought, waiting for the carriage to arrive. After some time of quiet silence, the trotting of a horse was heard. The carriage has arrived.
Rather, it was a carriage convoy. There were three carriages, guarded by ten men on horseback, fully armed and armored. There were also guards inside the carriages, two inside and one in the front, seated with the driver.
The guards were positioned beside the carriages, forming a basic defensive posturing.
(It really surprised me when I learned that these two are competent high-tiered silver-plated adventurers. No wonder they're both so strong...)
Winter mused, gripping his scorch dagger. "Wait for it..."
(Not only that, but they also told me that I have the potential to be stronger than them. Their belief in me was emboldened by the fact that I've captured an assassin from the Thirteen Daggers criminal group.)
*Bang!* A loud explosion boomed, causing the leading carriage to topple and collapse. It triggered a mine trap. The other carriages stopped, and the guards quickly unsheathed their weapons. *Bang!*
Another explosion. This time it was disorienting. A white flash exploded above them, causing their ears to ring and their eyes to be blinded. A basic flashbang grenade. Claudia then leaped away from her position, landing in front of the disoriented guards.
"Minor speed, Fleet-foot."
Claudia activated two techniques, easily dispatching two armed guards and knocking them out instantly.
"Minor speed, Minor strength, Fleet-foot, Small Boost."
Winter activated four techniques and then rushed forward, punching and knocking out the guards instantly. He took out four of them at rapid speed, which impressed Claudia and Petel.
Their two other allies joined the fight, springing into action, managing to defeat two other horseback guards.
"It really is strange when you see it. Activating four techniques in rapid succession." Claudia said, finishing the rest of the guards. The guards inside the carriages came out, but they were all cleanly struck in the head with a rock, disorienting them.
Petel didn't leave his position; he provided accurate ranged support instead.
(I really thought he was some tank...) Winter thought, lightly kicking a guard away. He felt the familiar surge of power, raising a brow.
(What? I didn't kill anyone? Do I earn experience when defeating opponents? That's quite something.)
...
...
...
The ambush was successful, and all the guards were securely restrained to the trees. Another three revolutionaries have shown themselves and quickly controlled the carriages, leading them away from the action.
Winter then observed as Claudia and Petel collected the other minor spoils while the two assisting revolutionaries were physically teasing the restrained guards, mocking them.
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