Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age - Chapter 121

One had the unconscious Count Drian dragged from the back of his throne. The guards were disgusted when they handled him, he was as wet as a rug due to his sweat.

One had Jorn and toby drag the count to the courtyard. One then stood in front of the throne and looked at William and the knights in the room with him.

“Wog” William said.

“Wog is your master,”

One nodded.

He sat himself back on the throne and raised his leg over his other leg.

“A few days ago. I proclaimed Wog as my king, and so, he shall be a king. But how can he be a king without a proper fief?” One said.

“But why us? Why did you choose us? You could’ve just made your own fief and lured the people away,” William said.

“It’s simple. It’s because Wog himself was the one who told me to liberate you,” One said.

William and the rest of the soldiers felt something warm in their ċhėst.

“Is that so..”

“Indeed, he is a man of honor, dignity, and kindness. A man like him deserves to hold the mantle of King,” One said.

“But..” One frowned. His frown exuding an aura of terror.

“He is a dwarf, I know most of you are aware but just because he is a dwarf does not mean he does not have the qualities of a human    king. You are all the same, the only difference is the name of your race but in mind and soul, all of you are equal,” One said.

Most of the knights were humans but One noticed that there were a few beastmen and elves in the mix.

“And if any of you defy him, I will end you at the spot,” One said.

William bowed his head further.

“I promise you, I shall not let that happen!” William said.

One nodded and then looked at the soldiers behind him.

“Well?” One asked.

“We will follow your example!”  They shouted.

Not because they genuinely wanted to change their perception, no, One knew they only complied out of fear.

But One was going to change that. Despite ruling through fear and bloodshed himself, ever since his encounter with the goddess left him scarred and the dreams he had been having have returned to his memory, he felt a slight tinge of humanity return to him.

One stood from the throne and began walking down the red carpet.

“Come,” He said as he passed by William. William immediately stood and followed closely behind One.

“Tell everyone to round up every noble family and bring them to the outer district’s courtyard. But none of them shall be mistreated, I will handle them personally,” One said.

“Understood,” William said. “All of you! Round up the nobles and their families and bring them to the courtyard in the outer district, now!”

The knights and mages immediately stood and stormed out of the throne room as soon as William and One exited.

One and William walked down the bloodied halls and into the messy streets of the inner district.

With their leadership gone, the forces loyal to the Count had either surrendered or tried to flee.

Sporadic fighting continued but only from the merchants who tried to put up a fight. One had to make sure no atrocities were committed by the rebels or the image of his righteous uprising would be tainted.

But, One, unlike when he controlled legions of his drones, could not fully control the tendencies of some of the soldiers.

“Hey! Stop that!” William shouted.

“Back off, this is revenge!” The men said.

William was about to draw his sword when two small beams of light pierced their ċhėsts.

“Huh?” William looked at One.

He had his two of his fingers pointed at them. The knights fell down on the ground. The others that saw what the man in black did cowered in fear, fearing that they would be next.

“Discipline,” One said.

“Yes..” William answered.

“Fret not. I do not mindlessly kill without reason. But I do not like how you humans are too drunk in your emotions and forget logical reasoning,” One said.

William then thought.

William then realized that the man in black had not told any of them his name even though he had done so much and accomplished plenty.

His moniker as The Man In Black spread like wildfire throughout the Fortress City. Many have come to look up to him as their great liberator while others doubt that he’d be any better than the Count he had just deposed.

But words of his strength that tore down the eastern wall was enough to quell any potential dissent as long as he was inside the city.

One headed to out to the Eastern gate that he had blown up. This confused William, it was as if One was going back into the forest.

“Milord, if I may, why are we leaving the city?” William asked.

One looked at him.

One said nothing and pointed over the grassy fields. William looked on and saw two figures standing by the clearing.

“Is that?” William said.

“A week ago, an elf by the name of Patricia was running through the forest in the middle of he night under the heavy rain. She was chased by knights that resembled those from this city,” One said.

So that was what happened to the goons Anne sent out, the man in black killed them and saved the elf!

But this presented another problem.

The man in black was bound to ask where Patricia’s accomplice was. William was not confident that the girl was still even alive.