13 Sneaking in Part-1 (2/2)
”Life's pretty sweet, but who said anything about avoiding soldiers.”
”Why is that?” Martin inquired clearly intrigued.
”We have business relations with them. Smuggling forbidden goods, weapons, drugs everything.
”Even slaves?”
The Man was about to answer but hesitated.
”No, not anymore. For some reason there seems to be recent drop in demands recently. There are also rumors surrounding slavers being killed by some self-righteous vigilante.”
”Hmm, this is new. Slavery is banned in both nations anyways.”
”Only on the surface. They usually just pay a blind eye to it. however the situation seems to be changing recently.
After all it was only a matter of time before something like this would have happened. All it would take is an exceptionally skilled group of beastmen to rebel and start targeting all slavers for it to fall into chaos. Retribution will always come.”
”Its quite strange for you talk to about retribution?”
”Not really, we are all outlaws here. Who hasn't sinned here. No one will admit it but we are always afraid of retribution for our actions. After all, even though the strong prey on the weak here. Who is strong and who is weak keeps changing quite regularly. That's why we mostly hold back as long as the crime could be traced back to us. There are unsaid rules everywhere.”
Martin couldn't help but ponder.
The situation here, it was so uncannily similar to the Anarchy that they had once striven for (excluding the part about slavery). Even though there is no governance, people know there limits and that there are consequences for every action. Unfortunately in such cases retribution always comes as vengeance and cycles of avengers and feuds never end. Justice doesn't survive long in a real anarchy.
Though a world where no one had the right to govern you except you yourself was an interesting ideal. It was extremely difficult to put into action.
As they were approaching the rift, they all couldn't help but relax.
”Looks like the trip was easy and uneventful this time. We are quite lucky right!” Marcus commented as they slowly approached the rift.
Now my friends, has anyone ever heard of Murphy's law. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Obviously, once Marcus had made such a cliched statement, how could the universe just let them slip by without a cliched response. It would just be wrong, right at the very primordial level of existence.
So, just as they were approaching dense poisonous gas slowly started to rise around them and shadowy figures obscured by mist slowly walked out of the mist. All that could be seen where black silhouettes smiling creepily at them with dazzlingly white teeth.
”Surrender or DIE!”
A creepy voice that seemed to originate from the deepest pits of hell demanded them to surrender.
Creepy high pitched laughter surrounded them. Everyone seemed to have goosebumps.
”These aren't any outlaws. Its the mistdevils. run for you-” a scream was suddenly cut shot as their surroundings were completely silent.