Chapter 76. The Fate Changer
Roku. Western Earth Kingdom.
For a while, we lingered at the ashes of the village, solemnly honoring those who had passed. Everyone was overwhelmed with negative emotions. War is war—it's either you or them, with no other option. Yet, even in this world, people try to follow certain rules, or at least they attempt to. One of those rules is that civilians shouldn't be harmed without reason. True, they're treated poorly, sometimes even brutally, sent to mines, their property taken, and restrictions imposed. But that's war—land and its people are spoils of war.
"It's been a while since I've traveled through the country," Lao said, shaking his head. "Reading dry reports is one thing, but seeing it all firsthand is another..."
"It's not as bad as you think," I reassured him. "We've traveled through many provinces, and cases like this are rare," I nodded toward the ruins of the village.
"Please forgive me," one of General Zeng's men approached us. "I think I have an idea who might be responsible," he continued uncertainly. "If you don't mind, I'd like to share my thoughts."
"Speak up!" Lao said, eager for any leads.
'Yes," the soldier instinctively straightened, then relaxed when he realized he wasn't addressing his direct superior. "About two years ago, I served in this province. The situation was normal—there was only one Fire Nation base nearby, but we didn't have enough troops to attack, so we just monitored them. We learned they were here for the trees—no attacks occurred. But in the last months of my service, a group appeared that burned down two villages in a week, killing almost all the inhabitants. Every day, we tried to catch them, but to no avail. They never stayed in one place, always moving, and judging by the tracks they left—they traveled on Komodo rhinos." He stepped aside. "They're here too," he pointed to animal tracks that Lao and I had only just noticed.
"Oh, I've read about them—interesting creatures. They were artificially bred by Fire Nation breeders. They have nearly endless stamina, thick skin, grow quickly, and are an excellent source of meat. I once tried Komodo sausages—delicious, by the way, it's one of the traditional dishes of the islands."
"Only later, when I was transferred to another province, did I learn it was the infamous Rhino Gang," he continued. "An elite special forces unit that hunts traitors and prominent figures of our Kingdom."
"Then why attack ordinary villages?' Lao asked, confused. I had the same question.
"There's a rumor that when they have no targets, they burn villages just for fun," the soldier said through gritted teeth.