EA-R-TH Age of NeOlwd

Chapter 4 - Manipulated Celebration

"Greetings, Mr. Maverick," the two bulwarks said uniformly. "We are here to escort you to the Council."

"How did you both know I will be here?" asked Maverick.

The bulwarks looked at each other. "We are bulwarks, no one in Tenebro can escape our sight," said one of them; he looked older than the other.

Maverick looked at them suspiciously. "Shall we move, Mr. Maverick?" the younger one asked. The bulwarks walked either side of Maverick, like protecting something precious.
"Is this necessary?" Maverick asked the elder bulwark.

"You may or may not like this, Mr. Maverick; but this is the Council's orders," the elder bulwark answered impassively.

The young man asked, "Those talks are true, Mr. Maverick?"

"What?"

"There is a talk going on in our village that, you are going to join bulwarking," the young bulwark asked with a brightened face.

"No, no, no," Maverick spurted.

"Why?" the brightness started to fade.

"Why! Let me ask you why. Why did you join Bulwarking?" asked Maverick, in a bossy tone.
"Because....because... I like bulwarking," said the young bulwark palely.

Maverick's face went solid. "Let me make this simple. I will ask you some questions, all you need to do is just say yes or no, only yes or no," Maverick commanded.

"Um, okay."

"You joined bulwarking because it's the prestigious job in our village."

"Maybe-"

"Only yes or no," Maverick snapped.

"Yes."

"You joined because you can get nice pay compared to Wheat Cultivation and Fisheries."

"Yes."

"Also, even though if you don't make any progress you'll get paid."

"Umm... Yes."

"Have you made any invention of your own?"

"No."

"Have you ever nominated your name to work as a Tolerator?"

"No."

"Have you done anything useful to our village except following the Council's orders?"

"No."

"If you get married your wife will get a job in the Poultry by default. You both can be financially secured till you die, right?"

"Yes, that's the good thing about bulwarking," the young man said.

"Oh! I see. Can you tell me the work nature of bulwarks?" Maverick questioned.

"Um. We bulwarks must protect our village. We must be innovative and flexible. Our inventions are used for the welfare of our people and...and we should take care and protect everything in our village, from the E.B.B to even repairing your broken windows," the young bulwark erupted in the end.

"Just recollect our conversation, you will know what I'm trying to say," Maverick said casually.

After a brief silence, the young bulwark said, "Yes, I...I understand."

Maverick stopped walking, and said, "Look, I didn't intend to hurt you. You are not enjoying your work because you chose it just to satisfy your needs. Understand this; our needs can never be satisfied. If you choose something to just satisfy your temporary needs, it may look like you are satisfied but remember that you are digging an unclimbable pit for yourself."
"Enough of this nonsense," the elder bulwark roared. "You have reached your destination, Mr. Maverick. Wait inside the guest's room until you are called. Come on, boy. You have a lot of work to do," he grabbed the young man by his collar and dragged him away.