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Another voice cried out from atop the fort walls, leaving Iron Army filled with pride and the invading mercenaries with absolutely no hope.

With two severed heads held up by their hair, Hurman raised them for all to see with his left hand. The specks of blood on his face and in his white hair painted a new picture of him. No one present saw him as a washed-up, aging patriarch like many assumed back in Trighton. Here and now, Hurman showed everyone his grit and strength, enough to overcome two perennial foes and proudly show them as trophies of war.

“Iron Territory will not fall! This marks our rise!” Hurman shouted again, lifting his earthen sword with his right arm.

“YAAAAHHH!!!”

Iron Army cheered and celebrated their leaders’ victories. They were all smiles as they eyed their distraught opponents who had yet to formally give in.

As anticipated, the moment one mercenary threw down his weapons, so did those around him. This spread like wildfire as the remaining mercenaries tossed their weapons aside and dispersed every morsel of active essence. It was too late and they knew that.

.....

Taking command again, Hurman declared, “All invaders are to hand over their void rings. They’ll be turned in to Hurdo, aided by Sarpo and Eila to help take inventory of all rings and the mercenaries who owned them.”

“YES, SIR!” Hurdo yelled, pounding his chest and belly. “Line up and come to me! Gorillas, keep a close eye on ’em.”

“Foxes, maintain a perimeter around the survivors as well,” Eila added, dashing over toward Hurdo.

“You’ll all be arrested, but you won’t be tortured. Nor will you be forced into slavery,” Vloz mentioned, surprising not only the mercenaries but many from Iron Territory. “You’ll each be questioned, and then we’ll determine what is to come. Though you all accepted this mission for the sake of gains, perhaps there is a better motivator yet. And perhaps you’ll find that in Iron Territory.”

“MEN, LINE UP!” a man shouted from among the surviving army, catching everyone off guard. But those around him immediately began lining up without question. He spoke again, adding, “Thank Iron Army for being merciful!”

“THANK YOU FOR SPARING US!!” shouted the band of soldiers surrounding the man.

Intrigued, Hurman nodded and watched closely. Finally, he could let himself breathe as he dropped his essence and leaped off the fort wall. Stabbing into the wall with his blade, Hurman slowed his descent and safely joined the rest of Iron Army on the ground.

Also tired but excited, Nixt jogged toward his long-time friend. “Hurman, you got both of them? I thought–”

“Yes. They made a great test of my increased abilities,” Hurman stated with a humble nod.

Since Marsel hurried back to Nixt, Lambier found his way back to the group as well. As his feet touched down, Lambier added, “I was more than willing to help, but–”

“You were horribly slow at taking orders!”

“I–”

Hurman continued, “They were simple orders yet you nearly messed them up. How can you be a perennial on the battlefield and not be able to understand your role when it’s so clearly stated?!”

“I’m not a blind soldier, I’m a mercenary for hire!” remarked Lambier.

“Then follow orders since we hired you!”

Lambier squinted and bit his lip in protest. But Marsel joined in, adding, “Really? What happened this time? You thought you’d save him and ask for a higher reward?”

“NO!”

“Then what was it?” joked Marsel. “Don’t tell me the greedy bounty hunter has a heart?”

“Either way, don’t delay next time. If given an order, then follow it. Especially if you’ve already accepted the payment,” Hurman claimed, not letting the topic slip by without finishing what he wanted to say.

“Next time?”

“Oh? Vloz didn’t tell you?”

Lambier blinked. He glanced at Marsel, who was even more out of the loop. Then he ignored the blood in Hurman’s beard and looked the man in the eyes. “What do you mean next time?”

Hurman grinned slightly and sighed. “I guess I’ll tell you since Vloz didn’t. Given how you and the other surviving mercenaries may not be treated kindly after failing this mission, we’re not against letting you all live in Iron Town.”

“WHAT?!”

“I’m not finished.” Shaking his head, Hurman went on, not letting Lambier’s or Marsel’s unified objection slow him down, “Of course, you won’t be taken in for free. We’re willing to hire you by some means. Some may become military personnel, others might become traders or town guards. That’s the point of interviewing everyone, to find out what each person excels at before we make our offers to each of you.”

“Then... we’ll also have an interview?” Marsel asked, catching on.

“That’s right. If you’d like, I can personally conduct it or we can continue speaking now and just get it over with for the both of you.”

“I won’t accept any other jobs or positions until I’ve been paid for–”

Before Marsel had a chance to complain or put up a fuss, a plain-looking void ring was tossed to both Marsel and Lambier. Hurman then added, “I’ll need the rings back, after you transfer your wages, of course.”

Astonished to be paid so easily, both of the men immediately emptied the rings before lobbing them back to Hurman.

“What was it you were saying?” Hurman jested, grinning cheekily.

“Well... What did you have in mind for me?” Marsel asked, changing his tone.

“That depends. What we want to know is what motivates you personally. Anyone can be motivated by money, but the degree from person to person. Some love it more than anything, but most would take security and a comfortable lifestyle over everything else. And a few treasure their family, though that’s not the usual case for mercenaries. Mercenaries aren’t known for tying themselves down.”

“Actually, that’s why we targeted these two.” A new voice chimed in, surprising Hurman and leaving the two hired traitors baffled.