Chapter 72: Just Getting Started
The applause gradually faded.
One by one, the cheers died away until the square once again fell into a comfortable silence.
Cassian remained standing at the center of the stage, the microphone resting loosely in one hand. Instead of speaking immediately, he allowed the quiet to linger, letting anticipation settle over the thousands gathered before him.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...You're probably wondering," he began, slowly pacing across the stage, "what became of Iron Bastion."
At the mention of the prison's name, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Iron Bastion.
The fortress that had stood for generations. A symbol of fear, control and punishment. It had shaped Gregor Naught's identity for longer than most could remember.
And now...It no longer existed.
Cassian stopped walking.
He faced the crowd.
"I didn't rebuild it."
Confused whispers immediately spread through the square.
"What?"
"No prison?"
"Then what happens now?"
Cassian simply waited.
Once the murmuring settled, he continued.
"...I replaced it."
He turned and gestured toward the newly constructed district beyond the city square.
Sunlight reflected beautifully against fresh stone buildings, wide courtyards, and open gardens that stretched beyond the marketplace.
"Where Iron Bastion once stood..."
He smiled.
"...there now stands a recreational center."
A few surprised voices escaped the audience.
"A place where children can laugh instead of cry."
His hand shifted toward another building.
"A home for those who have nowhere else to go."
Then to the largest structure standing proudly at the center.
"...And a refuge."
His voice softened.
"...For the lost."
Silence swept across the square.
Not because people disagreed. Because they couldn't quite believe what they had heard.
The prison...was truly gone.
Some exchanged uncertain glances. Others stared toward the new district with growing curiosity. Several former prisoners quietly lowered their heads, unable to hide the emotion welling in their eyes.
For them...
Those walls had represented years stolen from their lives.
Now...They were gone forever.
Then a voice rose from somewhere within the crowd.
"...What about dangerous criminals?"
Another immediately followed.
"If there isn't a prison..."
"...Won't villains just roam free?"
Fear began spreading once again. Parents instinctively pulled their children closer. Conversations erupted across the square. The celebration threatened to dissolve into uncertainty.
Cassian didn't interrupt he simply waited patiently, until the noise gradually faded.
Only then did he speak.
"...Rest assured."
His calm voice effortlessly cut through every lingering whisper.
"There will never again be a prison in Gregor Naught."
For a heartbeat...no one reacted.
Then understanding dawned. The former prisoners were the first. Someone laughed and another burst into tears.
Soon, cheers erupted from every direction as men and women embraced one another, some collapsing to their knees while others simply stared toward the sky with grateful smiles.
Years of chains.
Gone.
Years of labels.
Gone.
Years of believing freedom was impossible...
Gone.
It was real.
For the first time...Freedom belonged to everyone.
Even Shinsei, standing quietly near the side of the stage, found herself blinking in surprise.
"...He actually did it..."
She shook her head with a faint smile.
"I can't believe he actually did it."
Cassian simply watched.
He allowed the celebration to continue for several moments. Long enough for everyone to experience the weight of what had just changed.
Then...He slowly raised one hand.
The cheering gradually diminished.
Conversations stopped.
Thousands of eyes settled upon him once more.
"...However."
The single word immediately changed the atmosphere.
Cassian's expression grew serious.
His smile disappeared completely.
"...Since there is no prison..."
He paused.
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
"...There will no longer be imprisonment."
A heavy silence settled over the square.
He continued.
"...Anyone who chooses to become an enemy of innocent people..."
Another pause.
"...Anyone who willingly walks the path of evil..."
His voice lowered.
"...Will face death."
No anger.
No hatred.
Only certainty.
"...That will be their punishment."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
No applause and no whispers.
Even the wind seemed to disappear. Every person present understood that Cassian wasn't making a threat.
He was announcing the law. Freedom...Would exist. But so would absolute responsibility.
A child looked toward his father. Former prisoners exchanged uneasy glances. Several guards straightened instinctively.
Even Daito narrowed his eyes.
"...He's serious..."
Monday muttered quietly.
Wei-Wan adjusted his pony tail.
"...His philosophy leaves no room for second chances."
Zachia folded his arms.
"...It's harsh."
Aerin remained silent.
She couldn't decide whether to admire the conviction...Or fear it.
Then—
Clap.
One pair of hands echoed through the silent square. Slow and measured. Every head turned toward the sound.
A lone man near the front continued applauding without hesitation.
Clap...
Clap...
Clap...
Cassian looked directly at him.
Then...
A grin spread across his face.
"...Looks like he's the only one here who still needs his hands."
For one brief second...The crowd simply stared. Then laughter erupted.
Followed immediately by roaring applause.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Cheers thundered across Gregor Naught.
People laughed.
Shouted.
Whistled.
Not everyone agreed with Cassian's decision.
Some never would.
But every person standing there understood one undeniable truth. Gregor Naught would never again be the city it once was.
A new era had begun.
Meanwhile, standing within the crowd...Daito slowly turned toward the nearest wall.
"...I can't watch this anymore."
Champagne rubbed both hands across his face.
"...We really spent an entire month working for this guy..."
Brandon let out a defeated sigh.
"...And somehow I'm not even surprised."
Wei-Wan fixed his hair back into place.
"...His ideology is fascinating..."
He paused.
"...And terrifying."
"That's one way to describe it," Zachia replied.
Aerin peeked over her shoulder toward the stage before quickly turning back again, trying not to laugh.
"...He's impossible."
Monday cracked his neck.
"...No."
A faint smile appeared.
"...He's insane."
* * *
On stage, Cassian stretched lazily, completely unfazed by the fact that he had just rewritten the legal foundation of an entire city.
Shinsei finally reached her limit.
She marched across the stage, grabbed him firmly by the collar of his coat, and began dragging him toward the backstage entrance.
"...Alright."
Her voice was perfectly flat.
"Show's over."
"Hey!"
Cassian protested as his feet slid across the wooden stage.
"The people love me!"
He pointed dramatically toward the cheering crowd.
"They're still clapping!"
"They're confused," Shinsei replied without missing a step.
"I'll take that as admiration."
"You would."
The crowd laughed even harder as the pair disappeared behind the curtains.
Several minutes later...
Cassian and Shinsei found Daito's group preparing to leave the city.
For a moment...no one spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was respectful.
Finally...Cassian broke it.
"So."
His hands had somehow found their way back into his pockets.
"You guys heading out already?"
Daito nodded.
"...Yeah."
He looked toward the road stretching beyond Gregor Naught.
"...We've still got a long journey ahead of us."
Cassian smiled knowingly.
"...Figured."
Shinsei folded her arms.
"Try not to destroy another city."
Champagne scratched the back of his head.
"...No promises."
Everyone laughed.
Even Shinsei.
Aerin stepped forward and bowed her head slightly.
"...Thank you."
She smiled warmly.
"...For everything."
Cassian waved dismissively.
"Don't mention it."
Then his expression shifted. He looked directly at Daito. The humor vanished.
"When we meet again..."
His voice became quiet.
"...Don't hold back."
Daito met his gaze without hesitation.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"...Same goes for you."
Monday stretched his shoulders.
"...And I still owe you a rematch."
Cassian laughed.
"...I'll be looking forward to collecting."
No grand farewell followed as none was needed.
The group turned.
Step by step...They walked away from Gregor Naught. Behind them remained a city reborn from tragedy.
A city without prisons. A city with a future no one could have imagined only a month earlier. Cassian watched them disappear beyond the gates.
Quietly.
Shinsei stepped beside him.
"...Do you think they'll make it?"
Cassian didn't answer immediately.
His eyes remained fixed on the distant road.
Finally...
A faint smile appeared.
"...If they don't..."
He glanced back at the rebuilt city surrounding them.
"...Then everything we built here..."
His voice softened.
"...Will have been for nothing."
Shinsei sighed.
"...You're unbelievable."
Cassian chuckled.
"...Nah."
He turned toward the city, sunlight illuminating the satisfied smile on his face.
"...I'm just getting started."
Far beyond the city walls, Daito never looked back.
But somehow...He couldn't shake the feeling that the next time he crossed paths with Cassian...
Neither of them would be the same people who parted ways today.
To Be Continued...