Suikoden VI

Chapter Two: Part One

Chapter Two: Part One

One month later...

The air was thick with tension in the war room of the Liberation Army headquarters. Nash could sense it, even standing just outside the room. He glanced at Sierra. "I have a feeling this won't go very well."

"Well, the current meeting going on is not going well," she replied, rolling her eyes. "So it's not surprising."

Nash grinned at her. "You seem nervous, old girl."

Sierra glared at him with crimson eyes. "I'm not. I'm annoyed. I don't see why you persist in staying in this country. Every single person I've met here with some sort of power is a selfish idiot. And the...food is not very appetizing either."

"We're here because my mission is not yet complete," Nash gently reminded her. "I've returned to Harmonia empty-handed twice. I don't believe they'll allow a third failure."

"As if you should be afraid of insignificant humans."

"You haven't met many Bishops, I see."

—

Inside the war room, Caesar stood tense. He looked at Bearyl for a long moment and then looked across the table at the man Bearyl was addressing.

"I can't believe you would do this," Bearyl said hotly. "You ordered your men to abandon their posts in Zinnia? Are you out of your mind? Do you realize what you've done?!"

"Like I told you, my Lord," Lorik Varra said tensely. "I had no choice. The citizens of Zinnia poisoned the water supply in the mayor's mansion. Four of my men have died and twenty others are either vomiting uncontrollably or have absolutely no control over their bowels! In the last month or so the people of Zinnia have indicated to us that they, in no way shape or form, appreciate our liberating them from Sheikh Sloan Faakhir's control! We were outnumbered and desperate! I had to abandon the town for the safety and security of my men!"

Bearyl scoffed and shook his head furiously. "Since when is maintaining an occupied town ever easy? All this shows me is that you made absolutely no effort to win the citizens over! Is it any wonder when a spoiled aristocrat like yourself takes power?!"

"How dare you!" Tala hollered. She even reached for the gunstock war club strapped to her back, and Varnaz in turn quickly readied his morning star. But Lorik gestured to Tala and the young woman immediately backed down. "I will not stand here and be insulted by you, my Lord. I've been the mayor of my hamlet since I was eighteen years old. Since then I've led my people through every strife in this country. From famine to tax hikes and every known harassment there is. I know how the political games work sir."

"And yet you lost Zinnia," Bearyl shot back. "Which only proves you're not as good as you puffed yourself up to be when you joined the Liberation Army."

"What it means," Lorik countered, his voice rising. "Is that I know when I'm facing a losing battle. I have sacrificed muchfor this Army! I've marched the people of my town—men and women of all ages—straight to their deaths time and time again because I believe in this cause! But I'm not going to continue spilling their blood over a town that has no appreciation for everything we have done for them!" Lorik slammed his fist into the war table. "I will not do it anymore! I must take care of them, Bearyl! And if that means withdrawing my forces from a hostile town, then you better believe I will do it!"

Bearyl was breathing heavily through his nostrils. He suddenly straightened and folded his arms over his chest. "You don't want them to spill blood anymore? So does this mean you're withdrawing from the Liberation Army?"