Standing in front of him is two of his subordinates, giving a salute with the utmost respect from their heart.

From a glance, there’s a definite difference in their appearances. One of them is a sergeant from the insignia he has, while the other is just a low-ranking officer, the one that made a ruckus earlier.

“Lieutenant Kruger! Pardon for my action ear-”

“It’s an honor to meet you this morning, Lieutenant Kruger.” The sergeant cut his loud words, immediately putting shame on his name.

“Well, it’s good to see you two in great enthusiasm. Nonetheless, as expected from First Sergeant Rukevic.” Kruger shifts his gaze upon him.

Rukevic nods, “I apologize, sir. The crowds gathering seems to be slowing down today’s agenda.”

“Worry not, as you can see, everything goes according to the plan, Rukevic.”

“I see… Then, there’s no problem with it, sir?”

“Yes, exactly. Now, please do what I’ve told you before. Can I count on you?”

“Consider it done in a minute.”

Rukevic leaves the place as the crowd’s noises keep getting louder, and so does the poor officer in an awkward behavior. Kruger takes a few steps toward the massive crowds, clearing his throat

Even with the slightest noise that he makes, the pressure is enough to make everyone in the vicinity put their attention to him. It doesn’t take much time for the buzzing noises to turn into complete silence amongst them, seeing one of the most important South District rulers standing at the front.

“Good morning, citizens. What a rare opportunity to see everyone gather in this place. I hope everyone is in a good state. The view is quite amazing, isn’t it?”

“Hey, what’s going on here?”

“What you’re up to, bringing us here?”

The crowd remarked to each other as soon as Kruger makes an appearance in front of them, demanding an explanation from the man while he kept silent processing his surroundings.

Without any word spoken, all that he needs is to lift his palm high by his head. Silencing people surrounding him.

“Now then, isn’t it obvious? In front here, are tons of supply packages that you adore from us. For the same reason is why you keep gathering around the convoys, no? Because where there’s food, there’s always rats trying to sneak into it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t mess with us, old man!”

“Hey, why is that thing heading here?!”

Someone in the crowd points their finger far ahead. The furious crowd instantly draw their gaze toward a truck on the other side of the gate after they overheard a noise from it. Suddenly the atmosphere took another turn.

Beep!

Dun! Dun! Dun!

The loud buzzing sound from the alarm and gate opening slowly overruns the chatter from the crowds. Shocking the earth altogether. A pair of massive wheels begin to step out from the gate, successfully putting a shock on everyone who witnesses.

From behind the gate, a man walks calmly side by side with the giant truck without any sign of fear or slight interest in it.

“Lieutenant Kruger, will this do?”

“It’s enough. You’ve come just at the right time, Rukevic.” Kruger shifts his attention to the personnel around, “Lower it down!”

Dun!

The earth tremors as the giant truck stop, slowly raising its dump bed to lower the loads. Dust and dirt crumble down while it keeps on raising high.

Dun!

Curiosity fills people’s minds while their eyes are glued to the enormous thing beside them.

Doom!

The next moment, a wave of dreadfulness overflowed through the opened tailgate. Everyone freezes as the vista unfolded.

A huge pile of dirt spills from the truck. Shocking the ground along with the repulsive stench coming from scattered body parts in it. Piles of corpses are stacked on top of one another, serving as a hellish sight for anyone who witnesses. People start vomiting because of the awful smell of it and the disgusting scenery.

What they’ve seen, is a literal mountain of corpses right before their eyes.

Unforgivable…

Kruger goes around the pile of corpses calmly while glancing at those standing both in awe and terror. Observing them people one by one.

“What are you planning to pull off?”

“The hell is going on?!”

“Hey, old bastards! What’s the point of this?!”

Seconds pass without any words spoken from him, ignoring the angry masses. Instead, he puts on a flat expression. It doesn’t need much time to make the atmosphere into a heated stage, ready to incinerate the crowd’s anger.

Despite that, no one was brave enough to take initiative. They’re all bark, no guts.

For that same reason, Kruger can keep his calm self no matter how hard their protests are. After completely aligning with the center of the front row, he stopped his steps. Taking a quick look at them before going around the crowds again.

“There’s quite an amount of loss during the past few days on the working field. Since we’re currently short on hand, I’ve come up with the terms to work together, all of you.”

“We don’t have time to play around with your games!”

“No, it’s not a game, rather, a better system of distribution than what you witnessed up to this point.” Kruger turns at them while taking a pause.

“As I said, I offer you all the opportunity to take home a portion of the supply package in those trucks, evenly… In return, you have to replace their roles.”

His finger pointed straight at the pile of corpses beside him, sending down shivers at those present in the vicinity. None of them were able to utter a word against him.

Unforgivable…

“It’s quite a hustle to look for another replacement when you lost an entire working force overnight… We don’t have time to inspect each of you nor the force to take a good look, at whether you’re suitable for the job or not, since rats are disposable, after all…”

A complete silence lingers in the air. Kruger stops right in front of the crowds, giving a ominous smirk.

Unforgivable…

“So let me explain our agreement once more, you will receive those supply packages and you could bring them back home. However, starting today you work under us unconditionally.”

“As if we would accept that offer of yours!”

“We refuse no matter what!”

“It doesn’t even worth the effort, old man!”

Kruger nods his head as the crowds begin to protest, “I see… If that’s what you think… then feel free to rot in the winter with your entire family folks! Isn’t it lovely? It’s your choice, gentlemen. I believe you’re smart enough to make the right one.”

Despite how hard they despise the whole thing, no one has the audacity to speak their mind out loud in front of the lieutenant himself. Murmuring crowds start to form small groups, each one of them throwing cynical stares at the man in question.

“This is getting serious.”

“We could be in big trouble if we can’t stock up for winter.”

“It can’t be helped. I’m in, even though I never wanna work with those bastards!”

“Me too, I can’t bear to see my daughter starving through winter.”

“Yeah, we’re in this together everyone.”

“You sure about that? What if they only want to manipulate us?”

“Have you already made up your mind?”

Crossing his arms on his chest, Kruger silents the entire vicinity. Soon after, a middle-aged man steps out from the crowds, taking a glance at his people.  A representative amongst the weak, for the decision that has been made.

He takes a deep breath. Clearing his throat nervously, “As we all agree… with all the heart… We will gla-“

“I refuse!”

Everyone is startled when they hear someone raise his voice out loud. Kruger frowns unhappily upon the sudden interruption. The crowds turn their attention further back, way back of the crowds, to the source of the raspy voice.

Red marks across both his palm accompanied by whitened nails from clenching fists, Zack trying to hold back the vexation that has been built up to this moment. His grey eyes pierced far ahead the sea of humans there.

“Oh, quite a nerve that you have, young man.”

Kruger squints his eyes to take a better look at the person approaching him. At the same time, everyone is speechless when they know the main opposing force hiding amongst them.

“Oi, don’t tell me he’s gonna do it.”

“Zack, are you out of your mind?”

Obnoxious.

“Hey! You would only drag us into this mess!”

"Don't even bother a useless man like him!"

Shut up!

“Someone, stop him please!”

Keep your crap shut, old hag!

“It’s no use, he won’t listen!”

Chattering noise fills the air as Zack keeps walking straight to Kruger, gritting his teeth that burn from indignation. For this time only, deep down, Zack feels something irritating, aching his heart so badly like no other. Enough as fuel to do something unthinkable for him before.

The urge to steal one’s life.