Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Rain's open communication might have seemed counterproductive, especially considering their need for secrecy and the absence of the knowledge of how established the means of communication of the enemies. However, the group understood that Rain's transparency came from a deliberate strategy.

The sea folk arrived as planned, bringing the captured soldiers to the shore. They also gathered up the weapons and shields discarded by the disoriented enemy troops, which had been scattered by the force of the waves. Rain, displaying his expertise in earth magic, handcuffed the unconscious prisoners.

After ensuring their restraints, he confined them within a hut crafted from earth magic, allowing them only their basic undergarments.

"Ah, I get now what you said before…" Roan said and then laughed. "You are quite something, Rain…"

"Ordinary soldiers can't communicate with others, right?" Seadir asked. "We just have to move this guy somewhere and ask a few things to the others."

"Leave that to us. We can make them talk with more ease," Branden said and then went to call Esmeralda, Lorene, and Orcis.

Those four were the main reason that the battle started, to free them, since most people didn't know that King left his daughter locked in her room and sent the others to an unknown island.

Once those four came, Rain moved behind the hut to keep an eye on the enemies. There was no telling what the special soldiers would do now. He hid their locked ally underground behind that hut with just enough oxygen for him… he probably could recover from dying of asphyxiation, after all.

"You guys know who we are, right?" Branden asked when the prisoners began to wake up. "What do you really know about the situation?"

No member of the King's Blade had been captured, so it would be a bit harder to convince those guys that Branden and the others weren't being coerced or brainwashed… they never talked with them, after all. In any case, the twenty prisoners refused to say a single thing. It also seemed that they were unlucky enough not to capture any of Orcis' soldiers.

"I am Princess Esmeralda," Esmeralda stepped forward and then said. "Perhaps a former princess would be the best way to introduce myself… I won't try to convince us to join our side or understand us, but we need you to tell us what you know. Consider yourselves lucky that all of you only had minor injuries when you wanted to kill our friends and even more so when you greatly outnumbered us.

Do you truly believe that justice is on our side?"

Esmeralda took on the task of engaging with the captured soldiers who might be swayed by their sense of justice or moral principles. Her objective was to tap into their conscience, making them question their involvement in the hostile operation against Rain and his group.

She hoped that by doing so, these soldiers would feel compelled to share any vital information about their mission, commanders, or plans. Such insights could prove invaluable in their current situation.

Soldiers undergo rigorous training that instills the values of duty, honor, and safeguarding the innocent. This training cultivates a strong moral compass and a sense of responsibility to uphold justice.

Most military organizations have a well-defined code of ethics that outlines the ethical principles soldiers must adhere to. This code underscores the importance of fairness, integrity, and respect for the rights of all individuals.

Effective military leaders often emphasize the significance of justice and ethical behavior. This influence can shape soldiers' attitudes and actions, making them more inclined to uphold justice. Thanks to all those reasons, the soldiers hesitated a bit.

"... We heard that the princess was captured by a rebel that was brainwashing Lord Branden to take over the kingdom."

"Many people began to say that Lord Branden was planning to use the King's blade for a coup. The reason for that was the fact that their strongest soldier was a soldier from the fallen Lonard family. He blames the royal family for the fall of his family."

"Well, isn't that convenient?" Rain asked and then laughed. "You would do better in following all my commands, Branden. Apparently, you are too stupid to make decisions on your own. If I could brainwash others, I would just make the KingKing buy and produce all the spiritual potions in the country for me."

"... What else?" Branden asked after facepalming.

"The king's blade current leaders are here to prove their loyalty to the king, and they are also fighting in the East for that reason."

"The entire kingdom is working together and preparing supplies to rescue the princess. Even kids want to join the army and contribute somehow."

"... Father wouldn't allow that," Esmeralda said. "He wants too much to leave his name in history books, but he wouldn't let kids die for that…"

"Joanis… he is controlling the flow of information and rumors all over the kingdom," Branden said while clenching his teeth.

The group also learned that Joanis, in his relentless pursuit of Rain and his allies, resorted to offering a significant reward for Rain's assassination. This reward served as a powerful incentive for individuals to take on this dangerous task.

Joanis knew that to effectively eliminate Rain, he needed to exploit the desperation or greed of those who might be willing to undertake such a dangerous mission.

However, at this point, only a small and misguided group of people were genuinely considering this treacherous endeavor. These individuals, driven by various motivations, were willing to risk their lives to rescue Esmeralda, even though she wasn't actually in need of rescue.

Their mistaken belief that Esmeralda was Rain's captive and required saving only added to the confusion surrounding the situation.

Joanis' offer of a substantial bounty created a moral dilemma for some, as they weighed the appeal of wealth against the grave consequences of attempting to assassinate Rain. While financial incentives naturally attracted a few individuals, most recognized the formidable nature of Rain's abilities and understood that such a thing would be incredibly deadly… for them.