Blac indeed thought about it. A moment where all his thoughts were on if he should try and change sides or not, but his instincts that had made him live all these years made him blink at Kosh and smile with a small shake of his head. "I’d rather stay here please."

He wanted to be done with Azaroth and the rest of the little bastards, but Blac won’t move a muscle to do it and that’s why he made sure the tax collectors are here.

Kosh laughed again and his men followed him in laughing loudly. "Are you really afraid of these children, Blac? You? I thought all the stories about you were true but you really are just a coward!"

Azaroth looked at Blac to see how he’d react, but the man just continued to smile softly. Azaroth understood him, why get controlled by emotions when you can instead control them?

Blac asked instead. "What are you going to do now, Kosh?"

Azaroth was interested as well so he asked. "What is this right of ruling you mentioned earlier?"

Kosh snorted. "Who are you guys? You don’t even know what the right is? And you killed the village head? Well, the right speaks on the fact that you can have the power to rule if you dispose of a ruler. You can take the position."

Under Greytown, all the villages and even Greytown itself existed under the law that individuals can rule over others if they have the power. So the chain of command is made up purely of strength. You can be a leader if you kill the previous leader.

But that hardly happens without the nod from Greytown and that’s exactly why the tax collectors are here today. To know how an unknown person will just come without them knowing and try to take a leadership position. And for it to be children?

Kosh thought maybe it was even the rebels that had made their way over from the east to try and use Greytown law. But children. From the letter that Blac sent, they used some kind of enchanted tool. He smiled, today must be his lucky day because if he got his hands on the enchanted tool then he would begin his own rise in power.

Azaroth nodded. That kind of law is acceptable, the leaders of Greytown are up to something right. "At least you are right on that. Only those with power should be allowed to stand above others. So tell me, if I kill you can I take over your job?"

The atmosphere suddenly became stiff as silence and tension descended. Everyone wore a shocked expression, more from the tax collectors as they looked to their boss, Kosh, to react. Kosh’s smile was now frozen on his face and his eyes hardened, but still he replied. "I work for the First Leader. If you can defeat the First Leader who leads Greytown and all its territories then you can take over my job."

Azaroth leaned forward. "So the one in charge of it all is known as First Leader? Interesting. If I kill the First Leader then I’ll rule it all?"

This time even Blac was shocked by what Azaroth said. He looked from him and his companion to the tax collectors. No matter how many enchanted tools you have, how dare you try to think of fighting the First Leader? That kind of thought shouldn’t ever cross anyone’s mind!

"Bastard!"

"Let’s kill him, he’s obviously insane!"

"Take the First Leader’s place? That arrogant bastard! Kill him right now and drag his body on the ground while we piss on him."

"His friends too! Let’s bash their heads in!"

The tax collectors began to shout and their essence pressure billowed out, their collective aura making the villagers flinch.

Azaroth and the others looked amused and Stallus said casually. "That’ll make everything easier, won’t it?"

Kosh ground his teeth together. He wanted nothing more than to kill the little shit right now but since he’s technically the village head now he can’t just do that, so he said instead. "Yes. If you take the First Leader out then you’ll be the new First Leader. Simple right?"

Azaroth nodded thoughtfully and then said to Blac. "Why have the tax collectors not killed me now?" He wanted to absolutely understand the rules of this little world before he began to make his moves.

Blac said. "Because they are under the First Leader. The rule of showing power to rule might be simple but it’s also complex. Right now you are the village head and he has to respect that considering the fact that the other village head was stronger than him and also he can’t just kill a village head without the go ahead from his boss."

Azaroth nodded. "So what if I go against the rules set by his boss?"

"Then he’ll have the right to fight you and take your belongings. Except for the title."

It was Alex who asked now. "What happens when the tax collector gets killed?"

Blac and the others froze. That is something that had never happened before. And when Kosh felt Azaroth out and realized he’s a novice like him, all he wanted was for the boy to make a mistake so he could tear him limb from limb.

Kosh opened his mouth but before he said anything Azaroth waved his hand. "Enough. I’m bored, take your tax and get out of my village."

The veins on Kosh’s head stood out and his eyes darkened. His men touched their weapons, waiting for the order from their boss. But Kosh still maintained himself, more than Azaroth expected from him. "Very well. In the name of the First Leader I demand that you bring out the share that belongs to him."

Stallus raised her voice. "Bring out the tax! Bring out the harvested fruit."

One of the warriors bowed to Azaroth and turned to a building beside the village head’s own. The silence was so thick as the two sides stared at each other.