Breaching Contract

"I'll never forgive you!"

Those vengeful words were delivered to me by a middle-aged man. From his position on the floor, he pulls himself to his feet despite the blood dripping from his many wounds. His ragged clothes were always riddled with holes, but more were added by the knife now returned to my pocket.

"You waltz in here killing my brothers and sisters!? For what!? That government whose shoes you lick for breakfast!?"

There is nothing to support his dying body. Walls were blasted down, furniture turned into weapons of war, everything has been destroyed. All that remains in this dilapidated warehouse are me, him, and countless bodies belonging to his gang.

"We were doing good in this town! Sure, some rich folk lost their heads, but they were killed so that us normal people could live!"

He waves his bruised and broken arm around the room. In this place that represents not even one percent of the city's population, he claims to steal and murder for the 'people'. In a city that was safer before their arrival, they claim to be the heroes.

The man spits. Barely any liquid leaves his battered face, and what does come out lands nowhere near my tidy black suit.

"Got anything to say, you government lapdog?"

I ignore the man's grumbling and confirm the status of the building through my ear piece. There is no need for me to humour the justice of a gang leader with over one hundred accounts of murder. He could have saved the lives of thousands in the process, but that does not change my mission. The ones in charge want him and his entire organisation wiped off the map and I was commissioned to see it done. Nothing could convince me to spare him or any of his family. Even if the impossible had occurred and every last citizen of this old town wanted them around, the trigger would still be pressed.

He manages to steady himself just as I finish briefing my spotter in the van.

"I'll never let you tyrants have your way! I'll kill you even if I only have my teeth left to stab you with!"

The gang leader's charge is slow but passionate. A normal human would be unconscious at this kind of blood loss, not to mention the multiple broken bones beneath his flesh. Even if he managed to cross the distance between us, he has no hope of survival. He doesn't even carry a weapon to combat the gun in my possession.

"Long live the—"

BANG

* * * * *

An old memory plays through my head. When you've been in this field as long as I have, history begins to repeat itself. I see in the bandits before me the same crazed eyes as those gang members. Just like back then, my hand is steady as I point the barrel of my pistol at Notger.

"I'm afraid that I cannot allow that."

Bargaining is pointless. Whatever pity he expects to receive will never come as long as I'm his opponent. Their fate was sealed in stone the moment they failed to escape from my clutches.

"You are charged with the crimes of theft and attempted assault on a member of the royal family. Whatever your motive, you will be arrested or killed for your actions."

"Wha–! Don't see what we're doing!? We're the good guys here!"

"Your contract."

I spoke only two words, but the force behind my voice caused Notger to take an instinctive step back. My gun lowers to my side, but I no longer require my weapon as a threat.

"You are a citizen of Melior, are you not? This privilege comes at a cost, a contract."

One step forward, the wooden supports ache beneath my foot.

"This status grants you protection under the crown and its armies. You are given the rights to live within these walls, find work, own property. The only requirement is that you follow the laws put in place, laws you agreed to upon taking residence in this city."

A step backwards, the bandits are slowly pushed back by my merciless glare.

"I just told you! Your laws are rigged against us! You're telling us to break our backs for some aristocrat just to feed ourselves!"

"Why is it that you fail to put in the work?"

A second step forward, the air grows colder despite the warm rays from the midday sun.

"Your fellow citizens navigate the same restrictions, yet succeed in obtaining a clean living. What you consider impossible, most others find to be the bare minimum."

"Shut up! Don't compare us to those spineless cowards! We aren't about to follow some rules that shouldn't exist in the first place!"

They continue with another step back. Despite his claim as someone greater than everyone else, the bandits are cowering.

"Disagreement with a law is no excuse to break it. The agreed upon contract requires that you receive punishment for crime. Should you find an issue with your leaders, you must either resolve the dispute diplomatically or possess enough power to change the kingdom by force."

The building shakes with my third step.

"You have not the strength for the latter, and you do not attempt the former."

"And dress up like a snake for those royal swines!? I'd rather die!"

Notger pushes his blade as far as the metal tip can reach. His blade moves forward, but his feet still move back.

"The kids need us! We're doing the right thing here! We're the heroes! If you think that you can trample on us because you have a fancy name, think again!"

"Their fate is unfortunate, but your disobedience will not be accepted."

The bandits are slowly coming to the edge of the platform. Dust drops to the street below as we dance to the end of the line.

"Doing as you please because you think yourself to be correct? That is nothing but anarchy. You insist on dying for a fantasy where everything goes your way, a fantasy without accountability. It appears that I have no more reason to drag things out."

I crouch down and tightly grip my weapons. Whether it was my stance or the deep breath I take, the bandits understand what must be done. Within the last seconds of peace, I speak one final time to Notger, Engel, and Giso.

"It is my duty to strike you down. If you still believe that you should live…"

Locking eyes with my opponents, I click back the hammer of my revolver.

"Then fight for your life and win."