By now, news of Orgil's arrest had spread throughout Anpo City. Many people who had suffered his abuse were rejoicing, while his supporters kept a low profile, fearing imprisonment if they spoke out for him.
Inside an old, torn-down inn, Chinua and her eight subordinates sat down for dinner. As they ate, the two waiters who had just served them, along with the innkeeper's wife and daughter, stood clustered behind the counter. They were clearly afraid to get close to the group eating in the middle of the inn.
"Now that we're known, why don't we move to a luxurious inn instead of this shabby one?" Drystan complained.
"You know," Naksh said with a grin, "I've never met a bandit as greedy for luxury as you are."
"I thought Drystan wasn't a bandit anymore," Khawn said, turning to look at him. "Are you still a bandit?"
"It's just an expression!" Naksh replied, shaking his head lightly. "I've taught you for years, why do you still act like a child who doesn't understand sarcasm?"
"I advise you not to teach the kid such things," Hye interjected. He looked at Drystan. "I prefer staying here. While this inn isn't grand, the owner didn't reject us when we first entered the city."
Chinua looked at her subordinates. "Khenbish," she instructed, "Enkhjin wants to go over some details of the record book with you." She turned to Naksh. "Naksh, take Jeet and Drystan with you to help Yanam and the soldiers. Khunbish, Zhi, and Khawn, take some soldiers and arrest those connected to Orgil. After dinner," she added, glancing at Hye, "Hye and I were going to the prison to meet Dolgoon and Buqa." She wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her right hand. "Khunbish," she said, addressing him again, "tell Enkhjin not to disturb Orgil's family unless there's evidence they're related to his scheme." She looked back at the owner, his wife, daughter, and the two waiters clustered behind the counter. "Why do they look so afraid of us?" she asked Hye.
Hye smiled faintly. "A group who just arrested Orgil is eating in their inn," he replied. "Who wouldn't be afraid?"
"We're not going to hurt them," Chinua stated.
"How do they know that?" Hye countered. "They don't know who Chinua is." He picked up his cup of water, drank, then got up and walked towards the counter.
Chinua watched Hye. He smiled and spoke warmly to the inn owner and the two waiters. Turning to Khenbish, she said, "Be sure to tell the owner we won't harm them; they don't need to be afraid."
Khenbish nodded. "I will," he replied.
"Let's go," Hye said, turning back to Chinua. "The sun won't wait for us."
Chinua stood from the table and walked out of the inn with Hye. As they approached the street, she noticed people's eyes following them.
Hye smiled faintly. "Are you feeling uncomfortable?" he asked.
"Why are they staring at me?" Chinua asked in return.
"They have their reasons," Hye said, his smile widening slightly.
"I was taught from an early age that staring is rude," Chinua stated.
"But Chinua," Hye began, stopping in front of a fruit stand. "There are many types of stares. Some stare out of fear, some out of jealousy, and some out of admiration." He looked at the hawker. "Uncle," he said, "I think it's better to visit our guests with a basket of fruit than to go empty-handed. How much does this basket cost?"
The hawker smiled. "You can take this for free," he said.
Hye refused the basket of fruits. "How can I take it for free?" he asked. "You're a businessman. Just charge me like you would anyone."
"Consider it a thank you for getting rid of the corrupt officials," the hawker replied. "You don't know how much we suffered under the Sumyaa family." He smiled at Chinua. "This young man spoke very bravely for us."
"Just charge us as usual," Chinua said. She paused. "Well...as for gratitude." She picked up a red apple from the table. "I'll take this as a thank you."
The hawker smiled enthusiastically. "Will you be full just eating one apple?" he asked.
"That's enough," Chinua said. "I just had dinner." She took a bite of the apple in her hand and walked away.
Hye grabbed a basket of fruits and paid the hawker.
"May I know the name of this little brave man?" the hawker asked.
Hye smiled. "That person is Chinua, the fourth princess of Hmagol," he said.
The hawker was stunned. "The Eastern General who defeated the Razaasia Army in Umusa Kingdom?" he exclaimed.
Hye smiled again. "That's her."
The hawker pointed at Hye. "Then you must be the General's strategist!" he declared.
Hye smiled at the hawker and walked away.
The hawker excitedly walked out from behind his stall, knelt in the middle of the street, and said loudly, "Long live His Majesty! Thank you for sending the Eastern General to restore peace to the southwest region!"
"The female general," whispers followed Chinua. Women and girls stopped, staring as she walked past.
"This is the general the Razaasia talk about," one voice said.
"Yes, that must be her. The general who allowed the Razaasia to collect their dead in Hosha City," another added.
"This is what the fourth princess of Hmagol looks like."
"So fierce looking."
Although the whispers were low, Chinua still heard them. As she and Hye walked past, the chatter of people on the street echoed behind them.
Chinua looked at Hye. "Do you really need to make us known?" she asked.
"Sometimes making yourself known makes your enemies rethink their motives," Hye replied. He looked at the street, then back at Chinua. "Look, Chinua, those people look at you with admiration. Do you know why?"
Chinua glanced at the people on the street and realized that what Hye just said was true. She saw the eyes of young and old citizens smiling at her. The frightened expressions of the citizens no longer existed and replaced by warm smiles.
"Showing compassion for your enemies," Hye said, "won't only change how they view you, but also how everyone else views you."
Chinua smiled. "And who do I have to thank for this?" she asked.
"You can only thank yourself," Hye laughed as he stopped in front of the courthouse. "Because in the end, you chose compassion over fear. We're here."
Outside the small courthouse, a woman and a child stood arguing with two guards. "You can go back. I can't help you," one of the door guards said flatly. He lowered his voice. "Please, sister-in-law, I can't let you see him."
"Please..." Oyun begged, tears in her eyes. "I won't stay long."
The guard looked up and saw Chinua and Hye walking towards them. He turned back to Oyun, his voice urgent. "Sister-in-law, please don't cause me any trouble."
Oyun wiped her tears, knowing her pleas would be ignored. She held her son's hand and walked away from the court entrance.
"Hey, wait a minute," Hye called out.
Seeing Hye and Chinua, Oyun quickly pushed her son, Tugi, behind her. Hye smiled gently. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Are you here to visit a prisoner?"
"I just wanted to bring food to my husband," Oyun said. "He hasn't eaten since he left this morning."
"What is your husband's name?" Hye asked warmly.
"Buqa..." Oyun replied softly.
Hye glanced at the bundle neatly wrapped in Oyun's hand. "We're also going to visit Officer Buqa and Officer Dolgoon," he said, raising the fruit basket he carried to show her.
"Can we go in with you?" Oyun asked hopefully.
"The law prohibits anyone from visiting prisoners during the investigation period," Chinua said, her tone gentle but firm. "If he's found not guilty, he'll be released within four days."
Hye knelt down and looked at Tugi, who was hiding behind Oyun. Tugi held Oyun's skirt with his deformed left hand, the wrist bent awkwardly. "Do you want to go see your father?" Hye asked with a smile.
Tugi nodded.
"Be good," Hye said softly, "and wait for him for a few more days, okay?"
Chinua stretched out her hand to Oyun. "If you're willing," she said, "I can help you bring the cooked food to your husband."
Oyun placed the wrapped food into Chinua's hands. "Thank you," she murmured.
Chinua watched as the mother took her son's hand and slowly walked away from the courthouse, out into the street.
Outside the first building, to the right of the cells, a table and two chairs sat. Chinua and Hye walked to the first cell, sat on the chairs, and looked at Dolgoon and Buqa.
Hye handed the basket of fruits to the guard. The guard opened the door, placed the basket inside on the ground, then locked the door again and moved ten yards away.
Dolgoon looked at the basket of apples. "No outside food is allowed in prison," he said with a slight smile.
Chinua met his gaze. "If I want to bring food in," she stated, "no one dares to stop me."
Dolgoon and Buqa looked up at Chinua sitting outside their cell. They exchanged a look, finally understanding why Orgil had fainted after Chinua whispered to him. The young woman standing before them was indeed the female general everyone wanted to see.
Dolgoon chuckled, then exhaled. "No wonder," he said, "your subordinate warned the soldier to choose his words carefully or it might be his last. Hearing a thousand praises from others isn't as astonishing as seeing it with your own eyes."
"Since we've offended you, we won't ask for mercy," Buqa said, looking at Chinua. "But Hmagol law prohibits you from harming our family. I hope that since you speak for the people, you'll obey the law."
Hye smiled faintly. "So, you know the law," he said, "but you chose not to obey it."
"As I said before," Dolgoon replied, "this southwest region was under Orgil's jurisdiction, and there was nothing we could do. We knew the law, but to survive, we had to abide by the laws Orgil set for us."
"But that's no longer the case," Chinua said. "Your colleagues have vouched for your innocence. To have them vouch for you shows you're different from Orgil. I understand why you did what you had to do. Sometimes, you must do things others dare not—not because you want to, but because you're willing to sacrifice so your brothers won't suffer. For that, I admire your self-sacrifice. I was given a chance to prove my worth, and today, I'm giving that chance to you."
"What do you want from us?" Buqa asked.
"I hope you'll serve under the new mayor of Anpo City and abide by the supreme law of Hmagol," Chinua replied. "According to Minister Enkhjin, you two did nothing wrong regarding the embezzlement, so you'll most likely be released after he completes his investigations. Whether you accept or not is entirely up to you."
Hye looked at Dolgoon and Buqa. "The most honorable people," he said, "are those who stand on the side of justice. Their actions bring no shame because they know what they do harms no one."
Chinua placed the wrapped food on the table. "Your wife asked me to bring this to you," she said, pushing the package toward Buqa. She stood up and looked at him. "There's a doctor named Heng in Lao-Da Village. He might be able to help your son's injured hand. If you visit him, tell him I, Chinua, sent you." She turned and walked away with Hye.
Buqa stood up and shouted, "Thank you!"
Chinua stopped, turned, and smiled. "If you want to thank me," she said, "then accept my offer to make a difference in the lives of the Magoli living in this southwest region."