STORK CITY
Stork City, a stunning metropolis, always gleamed with splendor. Situated at the heart of Silvermoor, it bordered Rossfield to the South, Melvic to the West, Lightshore to the North, and Eldoria to the East.
Five men—Darius, Julius, Tom, Hans, and Peter—approached, aiming to use Julius's Wellington pass to enter discreetly. Aware that a careless move could lead them into the Major's grasp after the incident involving Henry Wellington, they needed to be swift yet cautious.
Meanwhile, back at the Wellington estate, Titus seethed with anger for letting his prey escape. Some servants who were too scared to betray the Wellington stayed behind and assisted Titus and his men, who were bound. Henry's wounds were tended to promptly by the family doctor, and the successful surgery left him waking to chaos.
Shortly after giving birth to Henry, Mrs. Wellington died from an unknown cause. Henry grew up without knowing a mother’s love, and his father was not a kind of man who showed concern to his son’s upbringing. Henry perversely found pleasure in subduing others using his authority. It was almost confounding to everything who knew him, how such a handsome boy grew up to be so distorted in thought. His father still kept him in the dark regarding the real reasons why the country was locked to the outside world and the true mission behind their coming to Silvermoor.
Like Henry, Titus and Katherine too were kept from the truth. Their parents died when Katherine was around 12 years old. Titus had to assume the role as the head of the household when he was just a teenager. He vowed and made it his only purpose in life—to protect and marry his sister off to a wealthy good family. It was the only way to ensure her continued safety and happiness. Katherine, however, who was on her way to the Wellington estate, had other plans concerning her future.
The Harrison and Wellington families occasionally spent time together. The two families had already made agreements for Katherine and Henry to marry when they reached the age. However, Katherine always made efforts to postpone the burden that was forced on her. Titus knew Henry wasn’t a perfect fit, but he also knew that angering the Wellington family was the most idiotic move he could make.
Henry woke up after hours of unconsciousness in bed. He saw Titus next to him, triggering memories of the dreadful night he was shot. His pride pierced, he refused to show any remorse to those he considered inferior. "Did you really kill that girl?" Titus asked, fearing he had almost married his sister to a psychopath.
"I didn't!" Henry defended. "That man killed her! The big one, he... It doesn't matter. They're all dead now! How dare they shoot me!"
Titus was unsure, knowing Henry was a coward who preyed on the weak and lacked the courage to commit murder. He chose to focus on catching the criminals he pursued, disregarding the truth behind the girl's death. "We've informed the Major. Stay and rest. I'll pursue them with my men," Titus said.
"No! I'll handle them myself." Henry understood the Major's potential displeasure with the farm's turmoil. Leaving his son in charge had led to an uprising. Capturing the criminals was his only escape from his father's wrath.
“You’re in no condition to ride a horse,” Titus advised.
Henry, “We’ll take my father’s ranger. It’s fully charged.”
Electric vehicles remained a perplexing enigma for the Denizens of Silvermoor. Owned exclusively by the wealthiest conquerors, the quest to locate them continued. Amidst their deliberations, a man arrived with news of an assault on the mine. Acting swiftly, they pursued the lead, tracking down Logan en route to Stork City to reunite with his companions.
On the other hand, Darius and the others were still trying to figure out how to get into the city. But the city guards were extra cautious and kept every entrance carefully guarded.
“There is only one way we can do this. The man I mentioned…who can help us secure weapons! He runs a tea house in the city. I’ll try to enter alone and get his help sneaking you in,” Julius suggested.
Securing passage with his carried pass, Julius rendezvoused with Flisk, a well-connected figure within the city. Unspoken motives drove Flisk's aid, as he clandestinely ushered Darius and the others into the city. A flamboyant figure with veiled intentions, Flisk's appearance raised suspicions upon their initial encounter.
“You didn’t mention Mr. Flisk was one of them!” Peter pointed out, glancing at Flisk's racial identity.
“Peter!” Darius interjected sharply.
“He’s different! He's a decent man, most of the time,” Julius clarified. Flisk chuckled softly before responding, “I understand your suspicion. I'm not proud of the actions of my people towards you. Rest assured, you're safe here in my sanctuary. Follow me.”
With that, Flisk led them to another section of his camouflaged tea house. Inside, they found a diverse crowd of people—different races mingling, enjoying drinks, gambling, and playing various games. It was a scene unlike any they had experienced before, and their hearts raced with a blend of excitement and apprehension.
They walked further, going past rooms where different activities took place. “A tea house? This is more like a whorehouse to me!” Hans whispered to his friends.
“Gentlemen!” Flisk escorted them into a room. They sat down and were given refreshments. “If my assumption is right, you guys are on the run from something. If you came to this city to cause trouble, I am afraid I won’t allow you to stay here.”
“No, we’re not here to cause any trouble or problem to your business. We just got caught in a mess but we’ll fix it very soon and get out of your hair.” Julius explained
“I’ve known you for quite some time now and am willing to offer you a place here to stay for a couple of days if you and your friends here behave. I don’t gamble in games I can’t predict. I am not going to risk getting caught up in a fight that has nothing to do with me,” Flisk added.
Julius then said, “Trust me, they’re not dangerous. It’s just that due to a circumstance, these men and I, we had to run away from our master. We were framed for killing…”
Flisk interrupted, “No need to explain what happened, Mr. Jackman. One week is all I can offer. Keep in mind though, the minute I notice this arrangement becoming dangerous to my business, I’ll become the man you’ll be running away from!”
Julius responded, “I know you’re risking a lot just taking us in. But you’re the only one I can ask for help. Um…I know you’re involved in arms dealings. We’re looking to secure weapons. Just arr…100 machine guns, if possible? We’ll pay you enough.”
Flisk said, “Whatever you’re planning to do, I advise you to stop here! I’ve seen a lot of pumped up naïve men aiming to bring down the empire only to meet their death at the end of the road. I am saddened at how easily young men assume such… primitive tendencies just to impress their counter parts. You can’t win this battle, not by fighting anyway! Unless suicide is what you’re looking for.”
Julius insisted, “We’re not planning to fight. This is just for protecting ourselves.”
At that moment, Peter and the others realized it wasn't wise to let Julius take the lead in explaining. Peter swiftly devised a way to mitigate Julius's deception and spoke up, addressing Mr. Flisk directly.
"Mr. Flisk, our motives aren't solely about our safety. It's futile to withhold this information from you, as you'll inevitably discover the truth soon. The fact is, we've become… adversaries of the Wellington household. Alongside us, there are hundreds of others who managed to escape. They're currently in hiding within LightShore city. Our primary concern is protecting them, and for that, we require access to weapons."
Darius added, "I don't judge a person by their skin color, but in these circumstances, it's hard to ignore. You seem like a decent man, and if you empathize with us, then you understand the relentless torment and suffering my people endure every day. It won't end until we take action."
Flisk retorted, "Ah, so he speaks! It's been years, but I remember that face. Darius King! Once a voice for your people. Surely, a man of your caliber recognizes when he's overstepping boundaries. I am a businessman. Like I said before, I don't gamble on uncertainties. For old times' sake, I'll give you a week. I've learned that even in the face of great oppression, humans still find solace in life's pleasures. Forget your futile plans and enjoy music, drinks, and women. Things you seem to have forgotten how to appreciate!" With that, Flisk excused himself and departed.
Upon hearing his words, a tremor of fear coursed through them, for they realized the weight of his truth. Their adversaries had set their sights on them, and they were largely in the dark about their foes. It was a stark awakening to the harsh reality that their hardships had only just begun.