Chapitre 12: Chapter 12
"Is this the person you mentioned to me?" asked Agnathan, looking at the man dressed as a servant, his middle-aged body slender and composed.
"Yes, Lord Agnathan, it's him," answered the subordinate with respect.
"You there, Ragu," the man's voice was quiet but commanding. "We've been watching what you've been doing. You've been causing quite a stir, haven't you?"
Ragu's heart raced with a mix of fear and unease. "I... I didn't mean to, my lord, please don't punish me. My daughter was starving, lord," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously.
He turned to find himself facing one of Agnathan's imposing subordinates. The subordinate's stare drilled into Ragu, his expression unreadable.
"Maybe we can overlook your past actions, considering you were also desperate, and since the lord is known for his kindness. But what are your plans for the future? How do you plan to survive?" the middle-aged man asked in a clever yet inviting manner.
"I promise, my lord, I promise never to steal... I won't. I can leave the city, yes... yes, I will depart the city with my child," Ragu declared, catching a glimmer of hope.
"Even if you leave the city or even the Kingdom, you might survive for a short while, but how long do you think your daughter can last in the current situation?" the servant pressed Ragu, who held onto a glimmer of optimism.
"That..." Ragu found himself speechless. The other person was correct; even if he left the city and chose to hunt in the forest, how could he guarantee his daughter's survival during those days alone? Leaving the Kingdom wasn't feasible either, given his limited resources and influence to travel to the mainland.
"If you were to hunt in the forest, you could either be attacked by wild animals or captured as rebels by the Chola soldiers," the man insisted.
"You, however, could be very helpful to us. Your abilities could be extremely valuable for our mission," he stated, a touch of coercion tingeing his words.
Ragu's mind raced, preoccupied with thoughts of his daughter's emaciated appearance. "What... what do you want me to do?" he managed to inquire, his voice barely audible.
A smirk appeared on the subordinate's lips as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "We need someone with your abilities and experience, someone capable of blending into the crowd without being noticed. You fit the criteria perfectly, Ragu. Help us, and we'll make sure your daughter never goes hungry again. Refuse, and... well, you don't need me to explain what would happen to an orphaned girl at such a tender age, do you?"
Ragu's heart sank as he grasped the gravity of the situation. His daughter's safety hung in the balance, and he realized he had no choice but to comply. With a heavy heart and a mind burdened by the weight of his coerced loyalty, Ragu reluctantly nodded, resigned to the dangerous path ahead.
"No, Stop!" he begged, sensing a heavy weight settling on his shoulders. "What exactly do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Take someone's life," the subordinate said with a smile.
"What? My lord, I can't," Ragu was shocked by the revelation.
"Don't worry, it's just like how you used to hunt, and you're only targeting a Chola guard," the servant next to Agnathan remarked casually.
"But my lord..." Before he could refuse, the servant interrupted, proposing a deal to Ragu. "Don't be hasty to say no. You just need to eliminate him with an arrow, and our men will take care of the rest. If you succeed, we'll ensure you have enough to safely transport you and your daughter to another kingdom, and we'll reward you with ample gold and supplies. If you fail and remain loyal to us, your daughter will be taken in as a servant of the household."
Ragu fell silent, the room growing tense with expectation. Eventually, Agnathan, impatient with the delay, spoke in his deep voice, "If you can't make the decision, there are many like you who would even consider killing the Chola prince for some food and shelter. So, do not waste my time."
Upon hearing Agnathan's words, Ragu, who had been wavering, panicked. In a rush, he agreed, realizing that this was his last chance to guarantee his daughter's survival.
"I agree, my lord," he said hastily.
"Excellent, give him what he requires and do it quickly. I want to make sure our target is eliminated before he returns to the central areas of the city," Agnathan instructed gravely, his expression stern as he stood up, leaving the presence of the four individuals.
"Come with me," the middle-aged man beckoned, leading the way to another spot where a bow and arrow were set out.
"Take this," the man instructed Ragu, gesturing towards the pile of bows and arrows. "This is the picture of the guard. Aim to kill, and the arrowhead is coated with poison, ensuring even a scratch could be deadly," the man explained, handing Ragu the hand-drawn depiction of the target, who still hesitated.
"Don't hesitate. In a sense, you are fighting for your people and your land. The Cholas plundered our stockpiled granaries, leading to this dire situation. We are all compelled," the middle-aged servant said with profound emotion.
This appeal worked its charm, as Ragu's hesitation began to fade, replaced by a fervent determination shining in his eyes. "Please take care of my daughter if I fail or die," Ragu implored of the middle-aged man before leaving the mansion with determined strides, reminiscent of freedom fighters heading into battle.
Unbeknownst to him, he was deceived, as the picture wasn't that of a guard but of Karthikeya, who had left to tour the city and nearby areas.
As soon as Ragu left the chamber, the middle-aged man discarded his emotional expression, his demeanor changing into a smirk as he, too, left in a different direction, leading further into the mansion.
Delving deeper into the mansion, the middle-aged servant soon reached a grand door. "Come in," a voice called from within just as the servant approached the door.
Pushing it open, the man entered, eventually facing Agnathan, his master, who looked at him with a serious expression.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone