Offer

Shen, Fenix, and Kelly looked at each other to let the general's words sink in. The only sound in the room was the steady march of soldiers outside who were practicing with their spears. Shen looked scared for a second, but then his usual calm determination took over. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and asked with careful precision:

"What do you want in return?"

The general leaned forward and put his hands on the arms of his leather chair. His eyes were on Shen's, as if he were trying to read his mind. He said, "I love my country," in a stern but passionate voice. "I hope it rises again and becomes a strong empire." But some of our so-called allies are getting in the way of those goals. There is a rebellion within the rebellion, Commander. But their vision is very different from mine. They are people who don't have strength or self-control.

Fenix said, "A revolt inside a rebellion? That sounds interesting."

The general's eyes shone with determination, and he didn't care that Fenix was making fun of him. He said in a firm voice, "You could call it that." But the strong, organized structure I see doesn't fit with their desire for chaos and "freedom." I want to bring this country back to its former glory. They just want to tear it down.

Shen took a deep breath and spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. "What exactly do you want us to do?"

The general pulled a piece of cloth out of a drawer in his desk. He opened it up and put it on the desk where everyone could see it. The cloth had the same symbol on it as the one Shen had found in the pyramid earlier.

"Do you know this?" General asked.

Shen squinted at the cloth and then looked straight into the general's eyes. He asked, "How do you know this is what we're looking for?" in a harsh and curious tone.

The general lit his pipe and blew a big cloud of smoke that filled the room. He said something that was hard to understand: "Even though I don't leave my office very often, my ears are everywhere." He went on in a serious tone, "We both want the same thing, Commander: justice."

The word echoed in the quiet room and hung in the air. Shen, Fenix, and Kelly looked at each other quickly, trying to figure out what the other was thinking. Shen thought about what the general wanted to do. Even though it was still unclear what justice meant to the general, his determination made it hard to reach a compromise.

The general stood up from his chair and walked to the big window that looked out over the courtyard. He clasped his hands behind his back. "This symbol is theirs," he said with more force. If you bring him to me, I can get all the information you need from the person he represents. He spoke with a lot of passion and clenched his hand tightly. "Find him and bring him to me."

Fenix frowned. And what happens after we give him to you? What are you going to do with him?

The general looked at Fenix with a stern and cold look. "I will get my justice," he said coldly. "My people will see the fear and power of real strength, and he will have to answer to me."

Kelly and Fenix moved around uncomfortably. It was clear that the general was crazy.
Fenix clenched his jaw and looked at Shen, who had a different expression on his face, one of calculation. But that calculation hid a fierce internal conflict: one choice that could mean the difference between being saved and disaster.

He frowned as he thought, "I have to make a smart choice." If I agree to this deal, am I sending someone to whatever pain the general has planned for them? If I say no, I might be wasting our chance to find the truth we really need. Which way is better or less bad?

He thought about every possible outcome: giving the man to the general, taking a chance on teaming up with a fanatic, or leaving empty-handed and losing important information. For the first time in his life, Shen felt like a real leader. He was scared that his orders could lead to both gain and loss.

A lot of people, like Fenix, Kelly, and many others, depend on me to make the right choice. But is there really a "right" call here?

Shen stepped forward, his voice strong and sure. He said right away, "We have a deal." But he could feel the weight of what they said inside of him. He thought that this was the start of a single choice that could lead to the death or life of another person. But I'll accept that guilt if it means protecting the people I care about. "Just tell us where you are."

Shen's quick agreement surprised Fenix and Kelly for a moment, but they decided to stay quiet because they thought he had a plan. The general pointed to a small village on the parchment by spreading a map over his desk.

He said, "This is it." You will find him in this town. Don't trust anyone on the way there because there is betrayal everywhere.

For a moment, Shen looked at the map and then nodded. "Done. We'll find him and bring him to you.

As the general leaned back, Shen's stomach turned. He had a twisted look of pleasure on his face. After making my first big choice, I just let someone else take care of it. He tried to ignore the idea, but the "knot" kept coming back to him and getting tighter.

As they were leaving, the general yelled at Shen. He said "Commander" in a way that was not like him. Shen stopped and looked back, his eyes full of questions.

When the general looked at Shen, he didn't understand what he was thinking. "Your eyes... They are different from your friends' eyes. They might not have faced their biggest fears yet. But you got through those worries and made it to the other side. It's clear in your eyes. That sounds good to me.

Shen stopped for a second to think about what had just been said. He just nodded a little in response and then opened the door and left. Fenix and Kelly were close behind, their minds on the task at hand.

As they moved around the courtyard, the insurgent troops' strict training made them look scary. Fenix and Kelly didn't say anything, but they couldn't help but wonder what Shen was up to.