Synthetic Survivor: Machine Age - Chapter 142

“I don’t think projecting you suddenly from my eyes was the best idea,” One said.

“Aw c’mon, this world is full of magic and they faint at the mere sight of something like this?” Hailey pouted.

“Well, there isn’t much that we can do for now.  I’ll end your projection and I’ll just carry these two back to the city,” One said.

“Okay, dear,” Hailey retreated from her projection and returned.

One then picked the two up from the muddy and wet grass and carried them on each shoulder.

With his strength, carrying them made no difference whatsoever.

After five minutes of walking, he was finally spotted by the western watcher and the news of his immenent arrival quickly spread among the outer and inner district.

Inside the castle, a guard burst through the doors that lead to the king’s throne room and announced in a frenzy.

“Milord, your vassal has returned,”

Immediately, King Wog stood from his throne and suspended the current session, Patricia, Stacy, and the other aides quickly ran outside with the King as the others who were trying to secure influence had their dreams immediately shattered.

Knowing this, they tried to flee.

But William was already a few steps ahead of them and had them all arrested.

Most of the peasantry and the citizens flocked to the western gate and clogged the streets leading to it.

The garrison was forced to ward off the hordes of people that wanted to have a front row seat.

The people cheered as soon as One’s silhouette appeared in the distance. Even under the pouring rain, the men, women, and children of the city flocked to greet their hero.

Unbeknownst to One, despite showing himself to be a murderous and uncaring person before, the people grew to love him in just a short amount of time.

Not because they were forced to or brainwashed to do so. But because of many reasons.

All families had food on their tables during every meal time.

All had their fair share of the harvest.

All were given meaning as workers for what they soon coined to be “the greater good of all”

Despite the blood that was shed, the people, desperate they had been for decades, were finally blessed in return for that bloodshed.

The garrison also felt the same. The western archers cheered and waved their arms over the walls.

King Wog and the others soon arrived and were lead through the crowd and climbed up the western wall.

They looked and saw him walking down the dirty path that lied in-between the wheat fields and the ditches.

Wog felt relieved.

Patricia was happy to the point that she cried once again on Stacy’s shoulders.

Stacy, on the other hand, was worried. His eyes were purple but nobody seemed to care.

If blue meant he could he reasoned with and red meant the opposite what did purple mean?

“So that’s were those two idiots went,” Stacy said, referring to Jorn and Toby who were then recognized by the garrison soldiers and William who had just climbed up the southern tower of the western gate.

But One stopped walking just a few meters short from the gate.

The crowds went silent, the garrison was confused.

Wog and the others looked at each other and then looked back at One who was looking around, seeing the familiar faces.

Jorn and Toby then both coughed themselves awake and soon realized that One was carrying them.

Noticing that his cargo were awake, One gently  lowered them to the ground at the same time and they both stood on their feet and faced One.

Despite One’s purple eyes that gave off a feeling of dread, One nodded.

It was a sign both men understood, One was not a threat.

And so, both of them stood on One’s side and stared down everyone else in the Fortress City.

One then looked at Wog who in turn looked at One in the eyes.

One also gave him a nod before taking a step further.

“Am I still welcome?” One suddenly asked.

Nobody replied. The rain began to lessen its downpour as if it was complying with the current situation.

“Am I still welcome?” One repeated his question.

Suddenly, when nobody dared to speak, a young boy walked away from her mother’s arms and confronted the man in black.

“Young one?” One asked.

“Mister,” the child said.

“Yes?” One knelt down and faced him.

“When are you going back to work?” The child suddenly asked.

[You’re welcome after all] Hailey whispered inside One’s mind.

One gave the child a good rub on the head and stood up.

“Young man,” One said in a loud voice.

“Let’s get to work,”

And the crowd cheered. William and the garrison drew their swords and held them up high in honor of One’s return. Wog laughed as he waved his vassal welcome.

“Ben! Ben! Ben! Ben!” The crowd cheered as One entered the city. Patricia and Stacy were quick to join the cheers.

King Wog had referred to the man in black since becoming king as Lord Ben, the name quickly spread among the people and he was then known to be Ben The Powerful, a title worthy only to One.

Jorn and Toby quickly walked alongside their leader and tried their best to keep the crowd from pushing and pulling on him.

Seeing this, William immediately descended the walls with a few knights and quickly formed a circle around their leader.

And Wog was happy with it.

The day was a glorious day of celebration for the Fortress city’s people as a feast was immediately hosted by the king in honor of his vassal’s return and their victory against the Imperial government.

It was, however, a rather dreaded day for those who tried to take advantage of the turmoil.