255 Responsibility (2/2)
”But no matter how much we ponder here, the result won't change. You and your team turned your back towards the people who needed you. This scene will forever brand you and will inevitably haunt you when you sleep.”
”Which leads us to my question.” Raven stated, ”Will you be able to remain sleep at night knowing that you, as the 'Leader', caused all of this to happen?”
There was a defeaning silence inside the classroom as soon as Raven finished his piece. The boy in question had his head down, silently imagining himself in that kind of situation. He had to admit that even just thinking about it makes him feel sick in the stomach. If it all boiled down to that, he thought that death might be a better option.
”I want you to reflect on what I said.” Raven stated and said: ”You may sit down.”
He then looked at the rest of his students who hadn't given their answers yet and asked them one by one.
In the end, even though some of the students told him that they will continue with the mission. Raven still managed to stump them with the possible outcomes of their actions. His attitude towards this lesson got the students wonder if there really is a correct answer at all.
At the midst of this atmosphere, one student raiser her hand and asked him: ”How about you, Instructor? What would you do in this situation?”
Raven smiled and said: ”An interesting question. Hmm, let's see.”
He deliberated for a while and said: ”I will go on with the mission.” He replied, which stunned most of his students, he then continued by saying: ”But not with my full team, I guess.”
”I will give an order to the fastest person on my team, which is most likely the assassin.” He stated, ”I will either ask him to infiltrate the enemy base to know how many assassins were dealing with or I will outright send him back to the headquarters to ask for reinforcements ASAP.”
As the students listened to him, their eyes brightened. They started thinking 'Why didn't I think of that?' But then they realized that they were just students by now so it all makes sense.
”I will go the remaining people along with the client. Since a battle is inevitable anyway, I will ask someone in my team to scout for a spot for people to retreat during the battle, I will then ask the same person to retreat while taking as many as he/she could. While my teammate is leading the children, women and elderly away. We will proceed with the mission. If the client manage to fix the outpost, cool. If he couldn't and it's looking bad, I'll ask him to leave while we face a life and death battle with the assassins.”
”I know that we could take down the first wave that they will send to us. If the reinforcements arrived? Sweet? But it they didn't, then the moment the assassins retreat, we will track them back to their base and I will detonate myself in there to make a huge explosion, I'll drag as many as I could before I die. If some of teammates managed to escape, good. If they couldn't, then I could only say that we tried our best. Either way, the explosion will mostly likely terrify the remaining assassins to retreat, so either the client will go back to fix the outpost or not, it's whatever at that point since I'm dead and couldn't do anything at point anyway. I did my best and what comes next depends on them.”
”Yeah, my family would be sad that I died in the middle of the mission. But I died like a hero, alright. They will be sad but proud of what I did. My ego as a Knight of the Kingdom still burns brightly even after my death and who knows? I might be able to inspire others with my story.”
After saying this, Raven paused and allowed the students to think about what he said. After a while he continued: ”Do any of you remembered what I said about being a 'Leader' earlier?”
”Being a Leader is being responsible.” His students replied.
”Very good.” Raven smiled and nodded, ”I'll tell you right now that your answers are neither right nor wrong. So does my answer for that matter.”
”In the end, since I am the Leader of my team. I will try to seek the best outcome for both parties. Whether I could find it or not, whatever my decision is. I will become responsible for it.”
”Being a Leader is being responsible not only with your team and your duty, it also applies for yourself. Whatever comes next, as the Leader you have to face it. Whether you get punished, be haunted by nightmares, or die. Remember that you reached a decision with your team, as the one 'Leading' the team, you shall be the one to 'Lead'. This will be your task, your duty and your Responsibility to do so.”
”Am I understood by everyone?”
”Yes, Instructor.”