Suikoden VI

Chapter Seven: Part Eight

Part Eight

Three days later...

"The bathhouse is very popular, but it's not very private, is it?" Surya asked.

"They're aesthetically beautiful and the hot bath water feels therapeutic, but they are two public tubs separated by a simple divider wall," Israfil agreed. "Voices carry quite easily inside the bathhouse."

"It is...quite easy to hear private conversations," Eamon said softly.

"That tends to happen," Georg agreed amusedly.

"Anyways," Caesar said, directing everyone's attention back to him. "I'm happy to report that as of this morning the last house for the survivors of Agameru has finished. I must applaud our soldiers for their assistance in getting the homes up as quickly as possible."

"I'm concerned that they didn't build their homes on the outskirts of our headquarters," Allise said. "300 meters may not be too far away, but it still a bit of distance from us."

"At least we can see their new hamlet from the rooftops of our buildings," Daunte said. "So they're not completely out of sight."

"And if something happens they can flee to here," Varnaz said, nodding.

"So we have succeeded to bringing Lorik Varra and his people into our fold, even if not as official allies," Tamara said. "With any hope that will change."

"There is another reason we called this meeting," Caesar said. He looked at Daunte, who nodded and turned to face the lieutenants before him. "I want to focus our next campaign...against Sloan Faakhir."

"Great idea," Gunther chimed in. "The Sheikh's Garrison took a significant hit during that earthquake. Now's a good time to strike when their defenses are so abysmal and their morale is so low."

"The Sheikh will no doubt be planning his next major campaign against us once he recovers, if he hasn't already planned a campaign against us," Keiran said. "Seeing as the Liberation Army gained two Sheikhs as allies, they will undoubtedly send their strongest and most mentally unstable Sheikh against us."

"I hope we're not planning on recruiting him," Eamon said warily. He rubbed his arms slightly. "I have heard that Sheikh Faakhir has killed his own soldiers over insignificant matters. A man like that would destroy us."

"I've known Sloan Faakhir for several years," Keiran said. "And I must say that his transformation is highly disturbing. It's like a devil has taken hold of his body. He was not always like—this. However, the atrocities he has committed cannot be ignored. He cannot be our ally."

Daunte hesitated but briefly. He remembered the visions he had seen of Sloan, the drastic changes in his personality. He wanted—no, needed—to know what happened to this man to cause him to change so much.

But...But he's a threat to us and has hurt many people in this Army.

"I will not seek to recruit him," he said finally. "When so many people here have suffered because of him. Not only what he did to Agameru, but to Tidur and his daughters. I will not subject any of them to him."

"Well said, Lord Daunte," Varnaz said, nodding.

"So are we in agreement then," Caesar said. "Sheikh Sloan Faakhir will be the next target for our campaign."

He was greeted with affirmations. Daunte raised his hand. "I must request that this news not leave this room for the time being. I want to inform Tidur and Lorik about our plans in person so they don't hear about it second-handed.