The soldiers had taken their positions inside the castle, and security had been doubled. The commanders had gathered around Flarka, evaluating the situation they were in. As soon as Flarka entered the room, he shouted at Kierra.

"What was that?"
"He reached for his sword while looking at you," Kierra replied. "And you drew your sword directly," Marek interjected. "If you're so eager to draw a knife, go become a cook in the kitchen. You could have started a civil war there."
Kierra stood up in anger, but Rhadam intervened.
"Do you want to die, you old fool? Have you forgotten who you're dealing with?" Rhadam's voice was stern and threatening. Before Marek could respond, Flavia interjected.
"If a commander of this country can reach for his sword while looking at you, it shows how far these soldiers can go for Pauly. Brother, you humiliated the governor of this city in front of your soldiers and servants. Kierra, you challenged the city's commander. From now on, we can assume that Pauly can rebel at any moment. And we are just 40 people inside the rebels' fortress."

"There are approximately 600 soldiers stationed in the city. They might be the most disciplined army in the country, but I doubt their loyalty is still with this country. Tonight will be a long night. I wish I had brought more soldiers. My instincts had warned me," Rhadam said.
Rhadam's words further increased the gloomy atmosphere in the room. Kierra spoke up:
"There may be 600 soldiers in the castle, but these men are the finest warriors of this country," he said, pointing at the soldiers standing guard at the door. "We are talking about a 600-person army here. Not to mention the hidden spies in the city. Even among the merchants and beggars in the marketplace, who knows how many are assassins. Say something, man! Can one stay silent in such a time?" he added, reaching out his hand towards Marek, seeking support.
All attention focused on Marek. He sat upright and appeared to contemplate for a while before speaking.
"If we spend the night here, it's likely that we will encounter an attack attempt. We should secretly get you out of this city, my king." His calm tone and demeanor caught everyone's attention. "Are you suggesting we run away?" Kierra stood up abruptly. "This is not the place for foolish heroics. This is not a battlefield, and these people are not your enemies. This is not the place for pride."
"And how do you plan to escape from a city surrounded by spies?" Rhadam chimed in, joining the argument. "Let's speak their language. Let's bribe them."
"Tell me," Kierra said, "When the soldiers attack us tonight, will you be able to draw your sword?" His words shocked everyone in the room. Kierra, who had been trained by Marek, was challenging his master like never before.
This remark infuriated Marek. He suddenly stood up and drew his sword. Kierra responded just as swiftly, parrying Marek's sword with his own. He pulled out his dagger and made a forward move when an iron plate hit his head. When they looked in the direction the plate came from, they made eye contact with Flarka. Kierra withdrew, ignoring his bleeding head, and got ready for the next move.
"Never draw your swords in my presence without my permission. Besides, this man saved my life in the epidemic years ago. I owe him my life; don't ever forget that," Flarka said, shifting his gaze from Kierra to address everyone.
No one was saying anything. Flarka turned his gaze away from Kierra and continued speaking:

"Let's focus on the real enemy. What happened here today marked the starting point of a rebellion. However, there's something that all of you have overlooked: Pauly's cowardice. With a single attack, they can wipe us all out. But he knows that if even a single fly bites us in his own fortress or city, he will be held responsible. If there's going to be a clash, it will happen outside the city walls. Therefore, our real battle is not here; it will begin after we leave this place. Now, rest, all of you."

After finishing his words, lay down on his bed. The remaining members of the group began standing guard alongside the soldiers at the door.

In the late hours of the night, the number of soldiers in the castle increased, and the royal guards surrounding them. However, there were no developments. All the soldiers spent the night standing in tense anticipation. As the first light of day appeared, Pauly emerged on the floor. The loyalty of the city's soldiers to him was immediately evident. He silently waited for the king to leave the room.

Since Flarka also woke up with the first light of day, Pauly didn't have to wait long. When Flarka left the room, he wasn't too surprised by the scene he encountered. When he locked eyes with Pauly, he saw him standing motionless, waiting for him. The mask he had worn when he first entered the city was no longer on his face. He stared directly at Flarka with anger and determination in his eyes.

After examining the state of the castle for a while, Flarka ordered his soldiers to prepare to leave the castle. As the soldiers quietly passed through the castle guards and exited through the gate, they encountered an unexpected sight. All the soldiers in the city were lined up at the entrance of the castle, standing still.

The threat in his voice concealed his surprise. "They have been prepared to accompany you. They will accompany you to ensure you hunt and return safely, my king. It is very dangerous to move with such a small group during this time."

Without waiting for a response, Flarka ran to the front of the group and started walking towards the soldiers. As Flarka approached, the group began to split apart and make way for their king. His entourage also moved forward with him, and when they reached the gate, Pauly had already climbed onto a stall in the marketplace and was watching them. He was surrounded by a crowd of merchants, with soldiers lined up in front of him.
Without saying anything, Flarka left the city, and the soldiers followed him. Shortly after, the gate closed behind them. Although the gates were closed, Pauly hadn't moved from his spot. Colonel Razor approached him.

"Is it right to let them go like this? We openly defied the king; it will cause trouble for us in the future. We cannot catch the king off guard like this again."

"An easy target, you say? Do you think that man is foolish enough to traverse the entire country with only 40 people? We learned that the Royal Guards also left the city one day after the king's departure. He came here to watch over this place."

"We will wait. Just wait. During the hunt, they will expect a move from us, so they will always be on edge, but we will wait. Until a moment they least expect. In an unexpected instant, from an unexpected place, we will strike them. And I assure you, we will strike so hard that they will regret crossing us today."