Lie or Truth

Before going to the center of the room, Shen took a deep breath. "We've finally found you," he said in a calm but firm voice. The man in the robes paused for a moment, then suddenly tried to run away. Kelly stopped him on the left, and Fenix came up on the right. He was stopped dead in his tracks. Shen didn't waste any time. He ran up to the man, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him down on the table. When the man took off his robe, his face was visible. His pale face showed how scared he was, and his trembling lips showed that he had accepted that there was no way out.

As Shen got closer, he spoke sharply and with authority. He kept saying, "What do you know about the killer?" "Are you the killer?" he then asked in a darker and more evil tone.

Shen's eyes met the man's scared ones. "I swear, it's not me!" he stammered, and his lips shook as he started to speak. His voice was shaky and weak.

Shen looked at his face, taking in the fear and powerlessness, but he didn't want to give in. He pushed the man harder against the table, making his grip a little tighter. "The symbol on this wall," Shen said, pointing to the insignia that was carved into the wall. "I saw the killer wearing it. If you don't say anything, you will have to deal with the consequences. Shen's tone was threatening, but he didn't really want to hurt the man until he had to. He believed that fear would be enough to make him talk.

The man fought against the pressure on his throat and gasped for air. "Okay! "Okay, I'll talk!" he yelled. Shen loosened his grip a little so the man could catch his breath. He moved him to a more comfortable position so they could talk.

Before he started his story in a shaky voice, the man took a deep breath. He said, "It was a few weeks ago."A mysterious man came to our village. He paid me a lot of money to do some...

Fenix cut in and raised an eyebrow. "What kinds of things?" he asked, curious.

The man put his shaking hands on the table in a desperate act. Republic weapons have "magnetic mechanisms" and "special bullets that can bounce off those magnets." Making them was incredibly expensive and difficult. My people needed the money to fight, so I agreed. But I promise you that I had no idea about the assassination!

Shen listened carefully and put the man's story together in his head. The answer sounded true, but it was strange and hard to understand. But Shen had a different question. Shen snapped back, "The assassin had the cloth with your symbol on it on him." "It can't be happening by accident."

He said, "Selling him a piece of fabric made me more money." It was probably used to trick you. You don't know how smart this killer is. But I don't know who he is.

Shen's mind was racing as he thought about what the man had said. This enemy was not like the others. Shen's thoughts about the fabric, bullets, and magnets began to come together like pieces of a puzzle.

"Do you know where this man came from?" Shen asked, his eyes steady.

The man shook his head. "No," he said with a heavy heart. But the sand from Exilia's land was all over his boots. His accent was also different because he was from the eastern parts of Exilia.

Kelly nodded slowly as she took in this new information. "Eastern Exilia," she said in a low voice. "That might be where we need to look next."

Fenix smirked and cut in. He said, "At least we don't have to turn you in," with a dry sense of humor, as if he had finally come to believe the man was innocent.

The man laughed bitterly in response. "What's the point? Half of my people are dead. We have a less than one in a million chance of beating the general.

Shen's eyes narrowed as he sensed something important in the man's desperation. "What do you mean?" he asked.

The man's face got angry as he spoke. "My family used to own this land. Unfortunately, everything changed when the Empire came. They wanted our loyalty, and when we refused, they put in a general to accuse us of betraying them.

Shen frowned. He asked, "So the general is working for the Empire?"

"Yes," he said, sounding angry. "And he is lying to our people about justice."

Shen was deep in thought. The man's story seemed believable, but there were still some questions. Fenix grumbled, getting impatient, "Let's go." We have enough to do something about.

But as he turned, Shen felt a wave of reluctance. It felt like his heart was asking a question because it was beating so hard in his chest. He remembered how intense his brother Geno's voice was.

* "Shen, listen carefully to what I have to say." Geno had once said, "People wear masks in the outside world." And you, as the King's man, the kingdom looks to you. People who seem to come out of nowhere in your life could be spies from another country looking for information. They can even be someone whose only purpose is to help others. You are careless, in the middle of being tricked, and giving yourself a chance to be tricked. You can only protect the future. *

Shen remembered how hurtful Geno's words had been at the time. But now they were like a voice from the past that told them what to do.

He had to look away from Zack because he felt like everything was too much for him. Was this man telling the truth, or was he being tricked, as Geno had said? It was easy to picture him as the hero in this story, rushing in like a superhero to save the day. But this didn't happen very often in real life.

Shen's mind was racing as he thought about how Geno had good reason to doubt everything. He had seen a lot of betrayal and hidden plans. What if I run in right now and try to save these people? What if I'm just another fool who is being fooled?

There was another part of him that didn't want to be cynical. He thought, "We can't just go."
Zack's sadness seems real. He knows as much as we do. We need every advantage we can get to stop the killer or the general who is behind all of this. If I don't take a chance, I can't really help anyone.

He could feel the fight going on inside of him: a growing, almost heroic sense of duty against the worried voice of his brother's worries. What is the right way? Should I ignore people who really need me, or should I be careful and save others?

*Shen realized at that moment that he was no longer the unsure young man who believed everything his bosses told him. He was changing quickly, becoming someone who could make choices that could change his life under a lot of stress. He thought to himself that maybe this was what it was like to be a hero overnight or to try to be one.

As they were leaving, Shen stopped. He turned back to the defeated man and saw that he was deep in thought. "Wait," he said in a strong voice. Fenix and Kelly stopped and looked at him in shock. Shen added, "The general doesn't know we know the truth."

Fenix raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Shen's eyes were full of determination. This means we can use this against him.

Fenix looked like he wasn't sure. He said, "We don't even know this guy." "There's no way to know for sure that he's not lying to us."

Shen thought for a moment before answering. "Maybe. "His arguments, on the other hand, make sense," he said. You've also seen the general. He is a lunatic who rules his people through fear.

Kelly gave a small nod of approval. "That is true," she said next.

Shen turned to the man again. He asked, "If we get rid of the general, can you get the people to support you again?"

The man's eyes shone with bravery as he looked into Shen's. They are afraid of him now. But if he falls, they will remember how strong they are. "I know for sure," he said with confidence.

Shen's inner turmoil grew stronger. My brother told me ahead of time that this would happen. If I make the wrong choice, I put everyone in danger. But if I do nothing, people will be hurt by a corrupt government. Could I live with that?

As the knot loosened, Shen's whole life became filled with steely determination. I won't ignore my doubts or run away from them. Geno told me to be careful, but I'm still going to try to help these people. If that means being a hero, then so be it.

Shen thought the man's words were true. This man wanted to protect people who couldn't protect themselves. Shen thought for a moment before nodding firmly. He firmly said, "So be it."

The man took a deep breath and said, "My name is Zack."

"Shen. My friends and I will help you in this fight."