I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Victor took a deep breath, the weight of responsibility still on his shoulders, but now accompanied by renewed determination. He looked around, observing the guards and hunters organizing themselves, their expressions serious but resolute.

The main hall, once chaotic, now looked like a battlefield in order, with everyone prepared for the next step.

He approached Luisa, who was still maintaining the magical barrier around the invaders. The barrier flickered slightly, reflecting the light of the torches and creating dancing shadows on the stone walls. The invaders were silent, but their eyes betrayed restlessness and concern. Some had expressions of defiance, while others seemed resigned to their fate.

Luísa, sensing Victor’s approach, turned to him. Her eyes, usually filled with a playful sparkle, were now dark and focused.

"We need to question them carefully, Victor," she said, her voice low but firm. "We can’t allow any important information to slip out."

Victor nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation. "I know," he replied, his eyes fixed on the prisoners. "Let’s get started."

He approached the barrier, observing the invaders closely. They were a heterogeneous group, made up of men and women of different ages, all equipped with good quality armor and weapons. This only reinforced the seriousness of the threat they posed.

Luisa partially lowered the barrier, allowing one of the invaders to be brought out. The guards moved quickly, pulling out a stout man. He looked at Victor and Luísa with disdain, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

This wasn’t the leader. Victor thought the leader would be too tough to be interrogated like this.

"What’s your name?" asked Victor, his voice firm and authoritative.

"The name is Raul," replied the man.

"Raul, why did you attack?" continued Victor, his eyes never leaving Raul’s. "What is your objective?"

Raul let out a heavy sigh, but didn’t look away. "We’re not ordinary bandits," he said, his voice deep and serious. "We fight for a cause."

Victor arched an eyebrow, interested. "What cause is that?"

"We’re tired of seeing the rich live in luxury while the poor suffer," Raul explained, his voice taking on a passionate tone. "We want justice. We want to take from the rich to give to the poor, who have to risk every day to have a decent life."

There was a heavy silence in the room as everyone absorbed Raul’s words. Victor exchanged a glance with Luísa, who seemed equally surprised and thoughtful. The invaders’ motivations were not what they had expected, and that complicated the situation even more.

Luísa stepped forward, her voice soft but full of authority. "Do you think this is the right way to seek justice, Raul? To invade and cause chaos?"

Raul looked at her seriously. "Sometimes the only way to be heard is through force," he replied. "We try other ways. Protests, petitions... nothing has worked. The rich continue to accumulate their wealth while the poor can barely survive." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Victor crossed his arms, pondering Raul’s words. He could understand the frustration and anger that drove the invaders, but he also knew that violence rarely brought lasting solutions.

"Raul, do you realize that by doing this you were putting innocent lives at risk?" he asked, trying to find a middle ground.

"Yes, we realize," Raul admitted, his tone softer. "But we need to do something to change this situation."

The tension in the room was palpable, but Victor knew he needed to find a solution that could prevent further bloodshed. He looked at the other invaders, who were now watching the conversation intently.

"We need to discuss this calmly and find a way to help those in need without resorting to violence," he said, his voice firm.

Luísa nodded, supporting Victor. "Raul, maybe we can work together to find a solution," she suggested. "We want a better world too. We can use our skills and resources to help those in need in a more constructive way."

Raul stared at Luisa with a hard, almost contemptuous look, as if her words were just another empty attempt to maintain the established order.

"You talk pretty, but the world is already full of pretty words," said Raul, his voice laden with contempt. "I’m tired of empty promises. You nobles and powerful merchants always promise change, but that change never comes to us, the needy."

Victor frowned, trying to understand the depth of Raul’s frustration. He knew that, however good her intentions, Luisa’s words sounded like yet another attempt to maintain the status quo. They needed to find a way to really make a difference, but how?

Before she could answer, a growing murmur began to spread around the room. One of the nobles, a burly middle-aged man in extravagant robes, stepped forward with determined strides. His name was Lord Marden, one of the most influential in the region, known for his rigid and merciless stance.

"This is absurd!" exclaimed Marden, his voice resounding off the stone walls of the room. "We cannot leave these rebels without exemplary punishment. They must learn that order and respect for nobles are non-negotiable!"

Raul looked at Marden with a mixture of disdain and defiance. "Of course, of course," he said ironically. "The same old story: punish those who dare to stand up against you. But what you never understand is that brute force only generates more revolt."

Marden ignored Raul’s comment and turned to Victor, his eyes burning with anger. "Mr. Shieldman, you know that the only way to ensure that these insurgents don’t cause trouble again is to eliminate them. We must set an example."

Victor felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that if they gave in to violence, they would be perpetuating the cycle of hatred and revenge. "No, Marden," he said, his voice firm. "We can’t just kill Raul. That won’t solve the problem, it will just create more resentment and revolt."

Marden snorted, clearly irritated. "You’re being naive, Shieldman. People like him only understand one language: that of force. Look what you’ve done, a slaughter could have taken place if it hadn’t been for you. I respect your words and your deeds, but if we don’t act now, we’ll be giving rise to more insurgents."

Luisa, who had remained silent, watching the intense exchange, stepped forward. "Lord Marden, with all due respect, we must seek a solution that doesn’t involve more violence. We need to show that there is another way. They’re not the first to make an attack like this, but if we don’t act correctly they won’t be the last."

Raul laughed, a bitter sound that echoed around the room. "Another way? Do you really think there is another way? We’ve tried everything: dialogues, petitions, peaceful protests. And what do we get? Contempt and indifference. No, the only thing left was to take up arms."

Victor felt exasperation growing inside him. He knew Raul had a point, but giving in to violence couldn’t be the answer. He needed to find a way to break this spiral of hatred.

"Raul," he said, trying to keep his voice calm, "if we continue with this cycle of violence, there will never be peace. We need to try a different approach. Let us work together to find a solution that benefits everyone."

Raul shook his head, a look of sadness mixed with anger in his eyes. "You don’t understand. You never will. There will always be a chasm between us. And as long as that chasm exists, the fight will continue."

Before Victor could reply, a commotion began to form between the guards and the nobles. Tension was building, with some of the guards clearly uncertain about how to proceed. Marden, seeing the hesitation, took the opportunity to press his agenda.

"Everyone, stop!" Victor’s voice echoed with authority. "No one will take a life here today. Let’s settle this fairly and rationally. Raul and his men will get a fair trial. This is how we will show our true strength: through justice, not violence."

Luisa, sensing the urgency of the situation, added: "And, Lord Marden, remember that we are all on the same side. We want a just and prosperous kingdom. We can’t achieve that through fear and repression."

The tension in the room slowly began to ease. The guards, seeing Victor and Luisa’s determination, began to relax their postures. Marden, however, didn’t look convinced. His eyes continued to glow with a restrained fury, but he knew he couldn’t openly challenge Victor’s authority without causing an even greater conflict.

"This isn’t over," muttered Marden, turning and leaving the room, his cloak flowing dramatically behind him. "You will see that true justice can only be achieved with firm hands and decisive action."

Raul watched Marden leave with a mixture of relief and concern. "He’ll be back," he said, looking at Victor. "And next time, he won’t come alone."

Victor turned to the remaining prisoners, who were watching the scene intently. "All of you," he said, his voice echoing in the room, "will get a fair trial. And if there’s a way to help right the wrongs you’ve faced, we’ll do our best to find it. But we need your cooperation."

Raul, still suspicious, watched Victor with a mixture of skepticism and hope. "Let’s see if your words turn into actions. Only time will tell."