From the moment he passed by the wooden houses, Seth felt that something was wrong.
Along with the present and noisy animals on the farms, the sight of people happily going about their activities surprised Seth. Perhaps if this were happening on the outskirts of a rank D city, he would have been a lot more understanding.
Given how weak rank D cities were, it would be pointless for them to be involved in the country's politics, their voices carrying no weight.
However, for rank B cities, it was different.
Though still below rank A and rank 0 cities, rank B cities were occupied by a sufficient number of general-stage cultivators, possessing enough 3rd-stage generals and always led by a Kaiser-level cultivator.
Rank B cities had a voice, and their movements were enough to attract attention and with this logic, it made sense for such a city to be under martial order at the moment, with their surroundings cleared of suspicious elements.
The city was meant to be on high alert, with patrols moving around its outskirts, but Seth could only see nine of them. Instead, everything seemed jolly.
Even as he reached the city's gates, he found the place filled with lively faces. Seth had held his curiosity, mulling over his doubts. However, when he walked into the city, he could no longer keep it in and decided to question Gudzil.
"Well, everyone also thought the entire country would be devastated, but when Lady Dorian joined the rebellion, everything changed."
With excitement unknowingly creeping onto his face and tone, Gudzil was just about to tell Seth more. However, when he caught the frown and little shock that appeared on Seth's face, he held his tongue and scrunched his forehead.
"Sorry, sir. But you don't seem to be up to date with the happenings of the country," Gidzil tentatively asked.
"Yes, I'm not. I've been away for a while," Seth said and fell silent. Gudzil also went silent, his face showing signs of tightening, but he kept it composed.
"What is the current situation of the president at the moment?" Seth asked.
Internally, Gudzil didn't want to answer the question, hoping Seth would drop the political issue all the while cursing his greed for wanting a Rank 6 beast and coming along with Seth, however, all that was a wish, as he dared not offend the man beside him.
"Well, the latest information from the central regions is that the president and the few cities that still obey her have been contained.
It's kind of like house arrest, though there are rumours that the liberators, as they are now being called, will soon launch a fierce attack against what is left of the government, especially the presidency, there has been no hard evidence to back up such claims. So far, it seems like a stalemate."
"Hmm, if the government has been contained and their influence limited, then who is controlling the country?" Seth asked, looking around at the bustling crowd.
His expression wasn't good, and Gudzil quickly stole a glance at Seth to gauge his reaction before answering.
"Well, the rebels are in charge.
It seems despite the peace, a lot of people have been discontent with President Alice's rule or perhaps the combo of Basco and Dorian is just a lot more charming, but the thing is they have seamlessly taken over the country.
Especially with Basco's sudden terrifying power.
No one knows how, but he single-handedly suppressed three Rank A cities and a Rank 0 city that followed Alice.
He defeated three Kaisers all on his own. The battle was so…"
Talking about the man Basco, who was becoming something of a legend, Gudzil couldn't help but get carried away. But when his eyes made contact with Seth's, he remembered himself.
"Ahh, sorry about that. Umm, what I was trying to say is that the rebellion has a firm grasp of the country at the moment.
They control the other cities, especially the military, and right now, Alice is the ruler of the Egrgand Federation in name only. The only reason she probably still breathes is because of her former relationship with Dorian."
After saying these words, Gudzil fell silent. But within himself, he was panicking and screaming, wondering if he had said too much. And then what he dreaded happened.
"I'm guessing you're also supporting the rebels."
Gudzil had dreaded and prayed not to be asked this question, but reality was reality, and right now, all he could do was salvage the situation.
"Well, sir, you know how these power struggles can be. Propaganda and false rumours. At the moment, the word on the street all points against the president.
Though I've tried my best to find the truth, the remote location of my territory doesn't give me a lot of power.
I can only hear the feelings of my people and be biased in choosing a side, and though I don't believe the bad talk about the president, I find myself favouring the rebellion."
Done speaking, Gudzil waited for Seth's reply, but none came for a moment. and then suddenly, Seth spoke, "Let's go."
"Ahhh, but what about you, sir?" Gudzil couldn't help but blurt out.
"What about me?" Seth said, stopping in his tracks and looking at the man.
"Well, what side are you on in the war?"
Unlike himself, who couldn't even be counted as a side character, despite his weird ignorance, Seth was a force to be reckoned with and a main player.
Although Gudzil honestly didn't support Alice, he began making plans on how to switch camps on the off chance that Seth was with her.
This change had nothing to do with the beast Seth wanted to give him, but with the feeling he got from the man, his gut just told him to follow the younger person before him.
"I don't care about the war, and I support no side," Seth said, looking at Gudzil, his gaze put so much pressure on the man that he rapidly nodded his head.
"Let's go," Seth said but then stopped.
"Urgghh, you lead the way," Seth lazily drawled and then followed after the man.
Figuring out Gudzil's fear wasn't that hard, and Seth could only be amused by it. Though the truth of the participants in the civil war was quite a shock to Seth, that was all.
As long as both Alice and Dorain were still alive, he had no worries and wasn't interested in whoever ruled.
With a shake of his head, Seth pushed the amusing matter to the back of his mind and focused on his surroundings. After all, he had a tournament to win.
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