Chapter 75: Privilage

“You!”

Ethan nodded once in acknowledgment. “General.”

The Low-Silver general from the Panther battle pushed through the crowd, disbelief etched across his features.

“What are you—” He stopped, reassessing the situation. “These people are with you?”

“They are.”

Understanding transformed the general’s demeanour. He turned to the captain, voice shifting to parade-ground command.

“You will admit every person in this group. Immediately.”

The captain blanched. “Sir, our orders—”

“Are superseded by mine.” The general’s aura flared subtly, silver energy emphasising his rank.

The refugees who had abandoned Ethan moments earlier surged forward again, hope rekindled by this unexpected reprieve.

He turned to Ethan, voice lowered. “Who are your actual companions?”

Before Ethan could reply, the crowd erupted in sycophantic backtracking.

“I was with him the whole time!”

“He saved my family personally!”

“We fought monsters together!”

The transparent attempts at association disgusted even the guards processing them.

Ethan had seen enough. His patience, never abundant, evaporated entirely.

“Enough!”

His voice carried authority beyond its volume. The crowd fell silent immediately.

“I brought all of you here,” he continued, silver eyes sweeping across the assembled faces. “So I will naturally not abandon anyone now.”

The words struck like physical blows, shame burning across many faces. The message beneath his statement rang clear—he’d witnessed their betrayal and forgiven it, demonstrating greater virtue than those he’d saved.

The checkpoint reopened, refugees filing through with humility.

As the crowd thinned, the general approached Ethan directly.

“You continue to surprise, Ethan Brandon.” He pitched his voice for privacy. “A Silver-rank abandoning the wall defense to escort civilians. Unusual priorities.”

Ethan met his gaze without flinching. “My priorities are my own.”

“Indeed.” The general glanced at Lin, Tiana, and Hong Wei, who remained closest to Ethan throughout. “These three matter to you.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

“Then they’ll receive special accommodation.” The general signalled to an aide. “Arrange quarters in the military sector for Ethan Brandon and his companions.”

The aide saluted sharply, hurrying to comply.

“Why the hospitality?” Ethan asked, suspicion evident.

The general smiled thinly. “Silver rank privilage.”

Ethan met the general’s gaze without flinching, silver recognizing silver across the invisible divide.

The soldier assigned as their escort led them through streets markedly different from the Third District they’d fled. Here, order prevailed despite the crisis.

Hong Wei’s eyes darted everywhere, absorbing the disparities between districts with the shrewd assessment of someone who’d grown up with nothing.

“Different world,” he muttered.

Tiana squeezed his shoulder in silent agreement.

They arrived at a four-story building of polished stone and gleaming windows—a hotel that catered to merchants and visiting officials in peacetime.

Now it served as refugee housing for those with proper connections.

“Your accommodations,” the soldier announced, leading them into a lobby of understated opulence. “Three rooms, adjoining. Meals will be delivered whenever you ask for it.”

Uncle Lin’s weathered face registered disbelief at their sudden change in circumstances. Just hours earlier, they’d been barricading doors against monsters. Now they stood on marble floors beneath crystal chandeliers.

The soldier handed Ethan a key. “The general requests your presence tomorrow morning. Eighth bell.”

Message delivered, he departed with military efficiency.

Ethan surveyed their new sanctuary, enhanced senses detecting no immediate threats despite the luxury. “Let’s get settled.”

The room allocated to Ethan featured a balcony overlooking the city’s central plaza.

From this vantage point, he could observe the preparations underway—barricades reinforced, archers positioned along rooftops.

A soft knock at the connecting door preceded Tiana, Hong Wei, and Lin entering.

“How long do you think we’ll be safe here?” Tiana asked, cutting straight to the heart of their shared concern.

Ethan turned from the window, decision already made.

“When the monsters attack again, use the chaos and go to Tiana’s house.”

His words landed like stones in still water.

Hong Wei nodded immediately. Lin’s brow furrowed with confusion.

“Why? Isn’t it safer here?”

Ethan met her questioning gaze with impassive eyes. “Just do it.”

The shortness of his response registered as clearly as a warning. Lin’s expression shifted from confusion to stunned recognition, then settled into grim acceptance.

She nodded once, no further questions offered.

He knows something we don’t.

Uncle Lin remained silent throughout the exchange, his features betraying nothing of his thoughts.

Years running a restaurant in the Third District had taught him when to speak and when to listen.

“Get some rest,” Ethan suggested, his tone softening fractionally. “We all need it.”

They dispersed to their assigned rooms, the brief meeting concluding without further discussion.

Some warnings required no elaboration—the danger lay not in what Ethan had said, but in what he’d deliberately left unspoken.

Ethan remained at the window, tracking the movement of troops through the streets below.

The pattern seemed chaotic at first glance, but his perception detected purpose beneath the apparent disorder.

They’re pulling forces from the eastern sector. Leaving it vulnerable. But why? Is the city lord setting up a trap? Ethan thought.

An hour passed in watchful observation. The sky darkened as evening approached, tension mounting with each passing minute.

Then it began.

Shouts erupted from the streets below. Soldiers ran in formation toward the northern wall, weapons glinting in the fading light.

“The monsters are attacking again! Units to northern positions! Everyone must remain focused, the monsters might attack from all directions!”

Ethan returned to the connecting door, finding the others already alert and waiting. Their faces registered the same grim determination, they were survivors recognising the sound of approaching chaos.

“Like I said, when things get chaotic—which will be in a few minutes—leave for Tiana’s house.”

They nodded their understanding, no words wasted on questions that couldn’t be answered.

Hong Wei stepped forward, jaw set with determination beyond his sixteen years. “What about you?”

“I have business elsewhere.”

“Take care of yourself,” Tiana said softly, the unspoken depth of those simple words hanging between them.

Lin added, “We’ll be waiting.”

Ethan responded back, and departed without further farewell, his legs carrying him through the building and into the churning streets below.

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