28 - Double Standards

The room was filled with a suffocating tension. Yan, bound to a chair with reinforced ropes, was sweating profusely. His eyes, though full of fear, carried a faint glint of hesitant defiance, as if he were still trying to find a way out of the situation. Rygar stood before him, arms crossed, while Kidar silently observed from the side, his hands resting on the hilt of his long sword.

"Let's start with the simplest," Rygar began, his voice firm. "Who are you, and why did you save the dwarf boy?"

Yan took a deep breath, looking away, but Rygar didn't leave room for hesitation. He stretched out his hand, using a controlled fire magic to burn his fingers little by little, making screams echo through the room. Then, a healing light cured the burn, making the entire nightmare feel like a dream.

"As you can see, this can last a long time or a short time. I'd cooperate if I were you; I have plenty of mana to burn…"

The prisoner, still with fear in his eyes, swallowed hard. "Okay, okay! My name is Yan, I'm... one of the collectors in the trafficking network here. I help transport and sell slaves. That's what I do!"

Kidar clenched his fist around the hilt of his sword, his expression growing even darker. "So you admit to being a slave trader?"

Yan shrank back but continued, "Yes, as for why I saved the boy... I save some of them from time to time, especially little children... I try to help when I see someone's fate is... worse than death."

"Explain that," Rygar ordered, narrowing his eyes.

The man took a deep breath, fighting the panic. "The dwarf boy... I knew he was going to be sent to a human noble from Asura. A filthy bastard who has... strange tastes when it comes to food. He's in Milis now, on a diplomatic trip, but my superiors said he wanted a young dwarf, and it was decided that he would be sent. When I heard about it, I helped the boy escape."

Rygar felt extremely disgusted and repulsed when he heard what Rufus's fate would have been, as he had sympathized with the boy. He wondered how such scum managed to stay alive and prosper. He narrowed his eyes, evaluating Yan's words. "And you thought handing him over to us was a convenient solution?"

"I heard warriors from the beast race had recently arrived in the city!" Yan blurted out, his voice tinged with desperation. "I thought you might be able to protect the boy. I didn't have many quick options, did I? It was that or let him die a horrible death!"

Rygar fell silent, his piercing gaze fixed on Yan, analyzing every detail of his expression. He could hear his heartbeat, and his physical reactions told him that he was probably not lying. After a few seconds, he turned to Kidar. "What do you think of this?"

Kidar seemed as furious as he was, but also concerned. He shook his head slowly. "If he's telling the truth, then the organization already knows we're here. That's worrying."

"It's true," Rygar murmured before turning back to Yan. "What else does your organization know about us?"

Yan lifted his head, sweat running down his face. "They know you're about thirty. And... that there's a beast boy among you who seems to be... dangerous. They say he seems very strong and carries a special sword."

Rygar paused for a moment. He knew that, even without meaning to, his presence drew attention. He hadn't expected to remain completely hidden, but it was good that they didn't even suspect his intentions for now.

"That's not a problem," Kidar said.

Rygar nodded but kept his focus on Yan. "And what about your superiors? Where are they now?"

"Their main base is outside the city center," Yan began, speaking more quickly now. "And each larger branch has a secondary leader."

Rygar analyzed the situation. These were all pieces of information he already knew, but someone from the inside would certainly have knowledge of all the details about the bases and their inner workings, as well as their participants.

Yan began to panic when he saw Rygar's calm demeanor. "I'll tell you everything I know! Please, let me live! I did what I could to help the boy!"

"You think that absolves you?" Kidar growled, his voice low and threatening. "How many lives have you destroyed before you decided it was worth helping one or two?"

"I... I had no choice!" Yan retorted, his voice trembling. "It's the system! Either you work for them, or you get crushed! I was born into this, and I have a family to take care of!"

"Spare me your excuses, everyone has a choice at some point," Rygar interrupted, his voice firm and authoritative. He leaned in closer to Yan, locking eyes with him. "You have two options now, Yan. And pay close attention, because this is your only chance to leave here alive."

The prisoner blinked, fear paralyzing his body.

"You can choose to give us all the information we want and stay alive," Rygar continued, "I'll cut off your dominant arm, and you will become a slave to the Iron Legion, serving under its command until I decide it's enough. Keep in mind that it might never be enough."

"A-and the other option?" Yan asked, his voice barely escaping his dry lips.

"The other option," Rygar replied coldly, "is to tell us everything you know, right now, and accept a quick death, courtesy of you having saved the dwarf. Choose."

Yan was silent for a moment, his eyes rapidly shifting between Rygar and Kidar. He knew there was nowhere to run. Finally, he lowered his head, defeated.

"I... I'll help you. I'll do whatever it takes. Please, let me live."

Rygar stepped back, crossing his arms. "We'll see if you're useful, Yan. If you try to deceive me or escape, your punishment will be worse than death. Do you understand?"

"Yes! Yes, I understand!" Yan responded desperately, shaking his head.

"Good," Rygar said. "Now, tell us more about the leader of the branch. We want to know everything before we make our move."

Yan began providing more detailed information about the organization's bases. After some time, he said something that caught their attention.

"The leader of the branch I worked for is the brother of the Black Troll," Yan revealed, his voice low, almost as if afraid of being overheard by invisible ears. "He knows much more than I do about the organization's operations. I only handle transport and logistics."

Rygar leaned in, analyzing every word. The name of the Black Troll was already familiar, but learning that there was a family connection with a subordinate in an important position was valuable information. He turned to Kidar, who listened in silence, his penetrating gaze making it clear that he was absorbing every detail.

"Kidar, I want you to interrogate him thoroughly about all the organization's bases. Routes, schedules, the number of people involved, their methods. Nothing should be overlooked," Rygar ordered.

Kidar nodded firmly. "Consider it done."

"In the meantime," Rygar turned to Yan, "draw a map of the branch you worked for. I want to know every detail: the entrances, exits, guard positions, and where your boss is located."

Yan swallowed hard but began working. His hand trembled slightly as he drew, but he did his best to create a clear and detailed sketch.

Rygar watched his progress for a moment before stepping back. He needed to organize the next steps. After receiving the map, he would make the next move.

"I'll go there," Rygar declared, "I need more complete answers about the organization's strongest members. Yan doesn't know enough about that."

Yan looked at him with a mix of fear and relief. The man knew his life was still at risk, but for now, it seemed he had escaped the worst.

Before leaving, Rygar went to Taes. He found him training his control over earth magic.

"Taes, prepare everyone to act before dawn tomorrow," he instructed.

Taes frowned. "Do we have something planned?"

"I'm working on it. Make sure everyone is ready to leave on my command."

"Understood," Taes replied, immediately adopting a more serious tone.

With that settled, Rygar left the tavern and stepped out into the dark streets of the city. As he walked, his mind began to fill with thoughts.

He reflected on his decision to spare Yan. There were many factors involved, but the main one was the impact it would have on Rufus. He had truly liked the little dwarf and knew that if he killed the man who had saved him, it might break the boy's trust.

But that wasn't all. He also saw this decision as a test for this world as a whole.

Rygar remembered his mother's words, which she always told him: even in the midst of darkness, there would be good people. Words that contrasted with what his father taught him, that anyone who harmed the tribe was an enemy.

Verdia, Rygar's master, on the other hand, believed that everything depended on circumstances and perspective. She believed that everyone could change. She considered herself an example of this, saying she had been very different in her youth. He remembered a particular conversation in which she told him about the nobleman who had tried to kill her because her group had killed his parents fifty years ago.

"I can't blame him for wanting revenge," she had said. "But if I could go back in time, I would still spare him. He was just a child back then, and that's my limit for what I could accept. It doesn't matter what reason I had, I took away his family, and he resents me for it."

Rygar pondered these words as he walked through the quiet streets. The world was full of conflict. Different perspectives led to inevitable confrontations. His master had told him that decisions were often ambiguous, but as long as you had a moral compass, you could move forward.

He agreed with that. How far would he go? What would he be capable of doing to protect his own and achieve his goals? As long as he kept that clear, he believed he could live without regret.

There were many nuances between what was right and wrong, and Rygar knew this better than most. Everything depended on perspective. For some, he would probably be considered a villain for killing everyone who opposed him. But for him, things were simple: if you attack someone, you need to be ready to be killed in response.

He wasn't foolish enough to think that everyone he had killed was evil by nature. He knew that among them, there were those who didn't want to be there, who had been forced by circumstances or others. However, as his master had once told him, they just ended up on different sides of a battle.

He was born into a beast-like race, while these enemies were born human and became mercenaries. The conflict between their species was not new, nor something that could be easily resolved. From the moment they were born, both sides were destined to clash, just as many races in this world were.

"And this is the world I live in now," Rygar thought as he walked the streets toward the organization's branch. "A place where strength dictates what you can or can't do. As long as you're strong enough, you can protect whoever you want, fight against whoever you want, and even kill those who oppose you."

In the end, this wasn't his old world. Most of the 'problems' could be easily solved if you were strong enough. This harsh reality was something he accepted, but at the same time, he recognized there were limits. He considered himself a reasonable person, but he still didn't know what his moral limit was.

This was the main reason he had spared Yan. A test, not just with Yan, but with this entire world. If Yan was capable of improving and evolving, it would influence Rygar's decision regarding his moral limit.

"Yan is weak. He poses no threat to me or to others," he reflected. "His actions so far show he has some decency, even though he's involved in slave trafficking. Let's keep an eye on him for now."

He had entrusted Kidar with the task of keeping Yan under surveillance and extracting everything they could from him. Not just information, but also a deeper understanding of the man they had before them.

As he walked through the dark streets, his mind continued to dive into the layers of his own thoughts. He remembered his master's words: "No matter the reason, sometimes you'll end up killing someone who, in other circumstances, could have been a friend. There's no absolute right or wrong, just different points of view. What matters is knowing how far you're willing to go and understanding your own limits."

"If Yan really changes, it will mean something. If he doesn't change, he'll eventually pay the price," he thought.

If Yan knew the weight that his subsequent actions would bring to the world, he would surely have collapsed mentally under the responsibility.

Rygar thought, "In the meantime, I'll see this brother of the Black Troll. I want more complete answers. It's never too much to be cautious."

Finally, he reached his destination: the branch of the organization. The building was discreet, almost invisible among the chaotic architecture of the city. But the signs were there for those who knew what to look for: disguised guards, strange movements, and an air of danger surrounding the place.

Rygar stopped for a moment, adjusting his posture and preparing for what lay ahead. He knew he was entering hostile territory, but his strength dispelled any hesitation in his steps.

Yan's fate and the actions of everyone involved were yet to be decided. But Rygar had one thing clear in his mind: he would continue following his own path, climbing higher and higher, protecting those he considered dear.

With this thought, he advanced into the branch's interior.

----

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world.

Central Continent, Fitoa Region, Buenna Village

POV: Rudeus Greyrat

I'm Rudeus Grayrat. At 6 years old, my life has been... well, very different from what I imagined it would be. After reincarnating into a new world when I died being run over by a truck, I decided I would take this new chance seriously. After all, I didn't do too well in my past life, being a NEET at 34 years old... My parents in this world are Zenith and Paul, and we have a maid named Lilia. When I learned how to read, I set out to learn magic, something that every reincarnated person would want, and I ended up having some talent for it.

Thanks to that, I got the best teacher I could ask for, Roxy Migurdia. Her sacred treasure was still there, hidden in a chest in my room, which was comforting. Well, thanks to her, I became a Water Saint at five years old! It seemed like a big deal from her reaction, but I can't get arrogant, after all, I had the advantage of being reincarnated. My talent might just be slightly better than others. She also helped me heal my trauma, and now I can leave home without fear, which really meant a lot to me.

Little by little, I'm adapting. And I made a friend, Sylphy, who's a girl from our village. She has green hair and a sweet, but also very courageous, personality. She's really cute, and since I started teaching her magic, our friendship has grown quickly.

Recently, something big happened. My mom, Zenith, revealed that she was pregnant again. I was happy to know I'd have a little brother or sister.

Sylphy and I continue our training and play. With her around, things seem easier. Life is still unpredictable, but I know I can count on her.

Now, with my mom pregnant and a promising future ahead, I feel like I have something important to protect. What will the future hold for us?

A month later, a new problem emerged.

The maid Lilia was found to be pregnant. And the father was Paul.