Chapter 24: MAN WHO NEEDS TO DIE
Far up in the northern reaches of Velmora, in a small, forgotten village nestled between two sleeping hills, a group of eight armed guards stood in perfect formation. Their spears gleamed under the morning sun, and their eyes scanned the villagers with cold discipline.
At the center of them stood a man in his thirties, wearing an official-looking black coat with a golden crest stitched into the shoulder — Ashton Hook.
He wasn't from here.
Once, Ashton had been a respected officer working in the Ministry of Defense. A man with power, connections, and authority.
But corruption... always finds a way to burn those who play with it.
He had been caught in a scandal.
Not enough to kill him, but enough to bury him in shame.
As punishment, the ministry exiled him here — to Libas, the very village I lived in — and made him the new village chief.
The guards beside him weren't local. These were from the capital — trained, ruthless, and loyal only to the system that sent them. Ashton wasn't here to serve. He was here to control.
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Back to me — Aric