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Chapter 6 : Compliance vs Sacrifice

"W-what? Disqualified?", I asked, repeating the sentence that had just come out of Gerard's lips.

I was hoping his tongue would get twisted and he'd say disqualified instead of qualified.

But it seemed like my hope was not achieved. It didn't quite match up with reality. I saw Gerard step closer and stand right in front of me, still in a straight stance. He just stared at me because I was the only one who seemed unhappy with his decision.

"Disqualification. Don't you understand that word?", he said. It was clear from his gaze that he was belittling me. Again. It had always been like that since we first met.

This time I fought back.

Seeing him puff out his chest, I puffed out my chest and lifted my chin high. Not to forget to look directly into his eyes. He thinks I'm afraid of him.

"I understand. So much. So that I'm asking you. What did I do to get disqualified? We managed to survive without getting bitten or hurt. See? I wasn't hurt in the slightest, why was I disqualified? I wonder if you even know what disqualification means?"

Although it was faint, I could hear a few people behind me start whispering to each other. I was actually embarrassed to do this, but hearing their voices, I felt like I was getting a big boost.

Anyone could see that Gerard wasn't happy about this. He took a few steps back and smiled mockingly.

"Do you all know what's most important in a raid?!", Gerard asked loudly. This time he wasn't just talking to me.

For three seconds there was only silence and the sound of the summer breeze. Everyone was afraid the answer would get them disqualified just like me.

"Compliance." , answered someone in the line, attracting everyone's attention as only his voice could be heard.

When he heard that answer, Gerard looked happy, and immediately stepped closer, "Who answered that earlier? Raise your hand!" he said.

The bread thief and I looked back, curious. Apparently the one who raised her hand was the woman who made the man beside me fall down. She looked calm and didn't seem the least bit scared.

Gerard raised his hands to the front of his chest and clapped his hands loudly, "Exactly." he said with a satisfied smile and the others reluctantly clapped along.

"No," I said without hesitation, stopping all the clapping.

I could feel the guy who stole the bread next to me glaring at me, as if to say 'what the hell are you doing?!'

"What do you mean?"

I turned around and faced him directly, " Compliance is important. But isn't it more important to look out for each other? We all know werewolves are just like wolves. They live in packs. How can we possibly fight against such pack creatures by just relying on compliance? Silly death."

"The leaders only predicted the situation we would face, not the actual reality. During our training, we only trained our bodies to keep up with that beast, and there was never any direct training against that beast, right? We will need the cooperation and awareness to protect each other among the troops. If that can be realized, as you can see by yourself. We all managed to overcome your beloved mad dogs and minimize casualties." I explained.

I continued to stare into Gerard's eyes, as did he. This time, our gazes both implied dislike. I didn't like his controlling personality and I guess he didn't like my defiance. Well, at least we were honest with each other.

"What's your name?", Gerard asked.

"Anne."

"Okay Anne. I can totally understand what you mean. Can you take responsibility for what you said?"

I didn't answer right away and wanted to see where Gerard's words would lead. He stepped closer, and continued to do so even though we were so close that I was forced to step back.

"Can you take responsibility if every troops will sacrifice theirself just for other troops? Can you take the responsibility if the troops are more willing to die together than to sacrifice one person for success?!", he argued and stopped stepping in front of me.

I swallowed hard. Gerard's demeanor right now reminded me of my old boss at the bakery. My eyes blinked a few times, not knowing what to say.

Before I could say a word or more, I heard a hand clap. When I turned my head, I saw that it was the top brass who had come down with Gerard earlier. And until this moment I still don't know what his name is.

"Great! Very great!" , he said sounding excited and full of emphasis.

The candidates lined up behind me clapped along even though they didn't know exactly what they were clapping for.

The man stepped closer. The sound of his shoes with their soles hitting the hard ground was satisfying.

"You must be a smart girl. All those ideas you showed earlier to deal with the dogs have proven it." "But do you know what caused many of our kingdom's soldiers to die during the great war with our neighboring, kingdom of Vellinte 20 years ago?"

I was stunned into silence. I had heard stories about the war that took place a few years before I was born, but I had never looked into it. I didn't know the final outcome of who won and who lost, so how could I answer his question? It's like asking how to make candy from a child who has only seen candy a few times, not tasted it.

"Because that clever prince Douwis encouraged the soldiers under his command to take a different route and disobey the original plan." , he said with emphasis, "That's why! Your obedience was put to the test. But it seems that you are easily swayed by the instigation of others. There is nothing to do but get rid of the defectors at the beginning. You two cannot continue. Now, please get out of here."

"But I-" , I stopped my words when I saw the bread thief man walk away without a word.

Now my enthusiasm to continue protesting began to fade. At first, besides thinking of myself, I also wanted to defend the bread thief. It didn't seem fair that he should be expelled too for trying to help me.

"Don't you want to catch up with him?" Gerard whispered to me.

I gave him a glare and rushed off to catch up with the bread thief.

"Hey wait! Why are we leaving?! What did we do wrong?! Hey!", I continued to harangue the bread thief while walking fast, trying to keep up with his pace.

But he remained silent until we were outside the walls. The people passing by looked at us with strange looks. I knew they must be looking down on us for failing, plus the man next to me was shirtless.

"Why don't you stand up for yourself!", I shouted, successfully stopping his footsteps. But he stayed where he was, so I decided to catch up with him.

"He won't change his mind." , he said.

"How can you be sure? Is it because he's a leader among the people there? So you do whatever you want? Is that so?"

Finally he turned around, facing me directly. The sun was shining right above us.

"I know him very well. Because he's my father."

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