Feared Brother: Geno Takeda

The armor of the soldiers was well-polished and shone in the morning light. The way they stood in neat lines made them look powerful, which scared the peasants. Even though Shen tried to calm down, he could feel the weight of their numbers. Their presence felt like planned control, and this was not an ordinary force.

The Republic officer in the middle of the square was full of himself. His tunic was covered in complex insignias of high rank, and Shen felt a deep rage at the way he smirked. The officer's rude tone made the peasants stop talking to each other.

"How bold of you all," the officer said with a smirk that broke the awkward silence. "To damage our property, trespass on Republic property, and then stand here acting like you're innocent." People should praise this kind of bravery. He looked Shen right in the eye. "Nothing happens on Republic land without consequences, and the mill you broke is on that land."

The officer pointed at the far-off shape of the windmill, whose blades were barely spinning in the wind, and looked at the group with disdain.

He added in a nasty voice, "That mill is on Republic soil." Take a look at it now. His voice got sharper and his words cut through the air. The structure of it has been weakened. the damage caused by your careless actions.

The villagers' whispers got louder as they nervously looked at each other. Shen squinted as he looked at the mill and followed the officer's finger. There were new scars on its walls from the night hunters' rampage. These included broken wood, claw marks, and places that were clearly unstable.

The officer's lips curled into a sneer. "Those monsters came here because you messed things up, even though you may not have hit them yourself. You have to kill them.

Shen moved closer to the officer, who had a smug look on his face, and clenched his fists. Shen said clearly, "We didn't lure those creatures." " We had a hard time staying alive. The mill was damaged as a result of their attack, not ours.

The officer's smirk got bigger as he leaned in a little more. "Collateral?" Do you think the Republic cares about your excuses, Commander? That building is a symbol of our claim and power. And you and these peasants have made it dirty.

As the mob screamed in fear, the locals looked at each other with worry. The chief of the village stepped forward, then stopped, looking uncomfortable. But Shen couldn't stay quiet any longer and clenched his fists.

"These people fought night hunters to save their lives!" Shen's voice came out, and it was full of anger. They were keeping their homes and themselves safe. The mill came about because people were fighting to stay alive.

The officer's enjoyment was clearly mocking because he laughed in a way that made it clear he didn't care. "Survival?" he said in a sarcastic way. "On Republic grounds, survival is a privilege, not a right." This village's behavior is clearly against our laws. Every syllable of his words, which were meant to show power, hung heavily in the air.

Shen's blood was boiling. "If the mill was so important, why didn't the Republic take care of the night hunters?" He growled and moved forward. Do you only follow the law when it works for you?

The officer stopped being rude for a moment, then squared his shoulders and stepped threateningly toward Shen. He snarled, "Commander, watch your tone," and his brows narrowed.
"You are talking to someone who works for the Republic. Your disobedience is almost like treason.

Before Shen could answer, the peasants started to fight. A strong person appeared, and the crowd gasped in relief and amazement. Shen's heart skipped a beat when he saw the broad-shouldered shape of his brother Geno Takeda. Everyone turned to look at him, and the whispers stopped when he stormed into the square.

Geno's strong presence and piercing eyes changed the mood right away. As he moved through the crowd, he seemed to make the Republic soldiers look small. When the officer realized what had happened, his confident look fell apart.

"Geno Takeda," the cop said in a low voice, barely above a whisper. He was obviously nervous after being so cocky before. Geno was a well-known tactician and fighter, even though he didn't have an official job in the Republic.

Geno's cold, unblinking eyes spotted the cop. "Enough of this farce," he said in a low but firm voice. " These peasants have been through enough trouble. You won't keep bothering them by using Republic rules as a reason.

The officer stopped and looked around for backup from his troops. He muttered, "This... this is a matter of Republic law," even though he had lost all of his confidence.

Geno stepped forward with purpose, and his presence was a silent threat. "And I'm telling you to leave," he said in a cold voice. "Take your men and your laws with you. Right now.

The officer's eyes moved back and forth between Shen and Geno. Finally, he nodded and his voice was quiet. He quickly said, "Maybe there has been a... misunderstanding." He yelled an order to his soldiers as he turned. "Go back!"

The villagers were relieved but still worried as the Republic soldiers began to leave in an orderly line. Geno's eyes stayed on the last soldier until he disappeared from view. He looked at Shen right then.

Geno's face relaxed a little when he said, "You did a good job." He put his hand firmly on Shen's shoulder. "I was told what happened in the woods. You bravely stood up for the peasants and Zara.

Shen looked down, feeling both proud and unsure of himself. He whispered, "Was it enough?" with a hint of doubt in his voice. "I couldn't save the soldiers." Zara might have died too.

Geno's hand comfortingly wrapped around his shoulder. "You went above and beyond," he said firmly.
"Bravery doesn't mean saving everyone. It's about standing up for what you believe in when it matters most. You are the reason Zara is still alive. You are the reason the people in the village are still alive. That's brave, Shen. Don't ever doubt that.

Shen looked into his brother's eyes as he realized how important what he had said was. For the first time, he felt like he had done something right without any doubt or guilt. He nodded and smiled a little. "Thank you, brother."

"Come," Geno said in a softer voice. "We should meet again in the stronghold." There is a lot of planning to do, so you will need to lead.