Chapter 40 - DIFFERENT IDEALS (1/2)
INSIDE THE STRONGHOLD
'What does that store?' Azief pointed to one of the shed.
'That is our food storage. That is meat' he pointed to one of the shed,
'That is vegetables.' Hamad pointed to another shed like barn
'And what's that?' Sofia pointed to another one with 10 guards posted around it. Azief also curios about that shed since it is so heavily protected.
'That is our Rewards and Acquisition Shed.'
'Rewards and acquisition shed? What's that?' Azief ask
'That is where we put our skill books, pills, potions, weapons, armour and the rest of the world orb system.'
Hamad explains
Hearing this Sofia and Azief both are shocked but they do not shows their shock on their expressions.
Then Sofia asked,
'Why would you do that?' Clearly Sofia is puzzled.
Azief on the other hand began understanding what this stronghold is all about. Control he deduced.
Looking at the people inside the stronghold they are mostly civilians. Looking at the guards, there are warriors as the foot soldiers.
Archers guarded the watchtowers. Knights as the vanguards. Mages as long distance weapons. Support class as the hospitals.
These are systematic, in order….but mostly…..controlled.
If not how could they create this kind of environment? Their classes, their specialties is decided by the higher ups that control this stronghold.
Azief could see this in just one glance.
Heh, it seems there are some ambitious people out there. Hamad was entertaining Sofia, answering all her question when suddenly Lord Shadow ask
'What is the hierarchy inside this stronghold?'
Hearing this, Hamad also hesitates to tell Lord Shadow because, he in a way, could guess what Lord Shadow reactions going to be, but then with a sigh he said.
'Let us enter one of the barrack and speak there.' He said.
Azief and Sofia nodded. It seems that this conversation would be private. They walked to the barrack.
When Hamad enters he quickly orders all the officers and the recruits inside the barrack to clear the place.
The only one inside the barrack is the Captains, Vice-Captain, Hamad, Sofia and Azief.
Azief sit down and Sofia sat beside him. Then Hamad also sits down while the captains and Vice-Captain still stand and then Hamad begin his explanation
'When the Light fell, we didn't know what to do' he said bitterly.
'All around us was tall trees, and green grass. We heard monsters, we saw zombies eaten by some moving trees. It was terrifying and we were always in peril. For a few days we move in silence. We lose people. Then we reach what used to Mentakab. There…..we meet the Vice Commander.'
And saying this, clearly there is a hint of awe and respect in Hamad tone regarding this man called the Vice Commander
'Vice Commander?' Sofia said puzzled.
'When the Fall began, Putrajaya crumbles, KL was destroyed, ravaged by monsters. Millions died in a single days, cities were burned and turns to ash. From the ashes, comes a group. They called themselves the Party for All Malaysians.'
'A political party in the middle of an apocalypse?' and Azief almost break character and laugh but he endures it.
'Not a political party' Hamad said and this time his facial expression was clearly hinting to something dark.
'A military one. It was led by two generals.'
'You mean real military?' Azief said. But one thing stays in his mind. The words that Hamad said, sparked soothing in his mind.
The words, two generals and something clicked in his mind, the wheels turning as a few thing is enlightened to him.
He didn't say anything neither is his expression betrays his newfound information but he clearly has some ideas about some things and even though it is just a conjecture at this points, at least he has a place to start from.
He did not ask the name of the two generals instead he keep on listening to Hamad
'Don't know' Hamad said. Then he continued
'I don't really know whether the General really did come from the military or not but they possesses enough people following them and establishes a stronghold in the middle of KL after the beast retreated. Everyone been calling them general and they do look the part. The reason why they built the stronghold in the middle of Kl is because when the meteor strikes, there is some those meteorites that crashed to the earth right?'
Azief nodded.
'That meteorite that falls did not bring the monsters. They bring the Teleport stones.' Then Hatta explain to the duo about teleport stones.
'So, that's the reason they build a stronghold there!' Azief exclaimed.
Now wonder! If the teleport stone could transport the low level players to other part of the country, to every state, this party could gain control and information easily.
'Yes, so they could send their army to pacify the country.' Hamad said excitedly. Clearly he supports this party.
But Azief clearly could not agree with this. Sending armies? Establishing controls? These are the worst case scenario he once thought of.
Some selfish people, is carving Malaysia and creating their own sphere of influence. Warlords…..are emerging.
And what better way to carve a fallen nation then during chaos, by offering safety and security…..by sacrificing liberty and freedom?
While Azief is conjecturing in his mind about all the things he found about this stronghold, Sofia ask Hamad.
'How does this got to do with you?' Sofia asked.
'Well, when we reached Mentakab we saw that there is a stronghold and we enter the gates. Entering we were given a choice. Either we join them and relinquish our World Orb items or after three days we would be evicted from the stronghold.'
Threats, huh? Azief mused. That would work.
'And you choose to stay. Protection by sacrificing liberty. Hmph' Azief snorted. He clearly looks down on such person.
How could they become stronger like that? Hamad, Hatta, and Sita and the Vice Captains all smiles bitterly.
'Not all people are like you, Lord Shadow.' Hamad said bitterly. How could a strong man like Lord Shadow understand?
Weak people have their ways. ”You can't run away” is an ideal for the strong.
And not all people are as brave or could endure what happens after the fall. Some lost loved ones and could no longer get up.
Some lost courage and give up. Some found no other meanings, and they stop.
But hope...hope keeps the heart alive. And the Party is a beacon of hope for the weak. A hope of normalcy, a hope for security….a hope for things to get better.
And in front of hope…people will be blinded by any logic and reason, and would surrender almost anything.
To people who can stay and stand their ground, to not be swayed and get up from their despair, to not lose courage and to find a purpose in this new world, these people could easily see the discrepancies of the intention of this Party.
Because these kind of people…..are strong. Both mind and body. Seeing Hamad and his subordinates bitterly accepting their positions, Azief could not stand it.
'Hmph. Was I born strong? In the beginning, I was also weak!' He shot back to Hamad.
Sofia glares at Azief and Azief stop rebuking them. Calming himself down, he asked these people a question
'How many?' Azief asked them
'How many what?'
'How many of these strongholds have these generals constructed and how many states have they pacified?'
'From what I heard from our last messengers, four states have had the stronghold and each stronghold is now trying to pacify each region.'
Hamad answers
'Which states?' Lord Shadow asked
'Pahang, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur' Hamad replies again
'And the hierarchy?'
'Recruits, Normal Recruits, Officers, Vice-Captain, Captains, Head Captain, Vice Commander, Commander, Vice General, General.'
'Pretty simple' Sofia said, nodding her head
'Yes, this is the beginning.' Hatta said from behind
'And each thing is regulated, no?' Azief said, and there is a trace of ridicule here. Hamad obviously did not miss that ridicule and his face redden.
He very much supported the Party and its vision for a new Malaysia, and very much desires the peace that Malaysian have protected and preserve for 59 years.
'Yes.' Hamad replied in a slightly higher tone
'Skill books, items, pills all this belong to the individuals.' Azief coldly said