Standing in the courtyard outside of the city's city hall was a mass gathering of survivors. There were thousands of individuals currently living in the Safe Zone, and all of them were rounded up by the garrison and forced to attend this event.
What was this event? Nobody knew. But rumors of a rebellion appearing within the safety of the safe zone's walls had spread like wildfire. And there was indeed an increasing number of incidents of arson and sabotage that began to plague the safe zone after the Battle of the Storm had ended.
Perhaps one of these rebels had been caught, and would stand trial as a result of their crimes against the community? This was just one of the many whispers in the crowd. As the rebels secretly stood among their ranks.
Even Martin was forced to attend the event, and he was surprisingly left out of the loop by the Mayor on just what was happening that was so important as to require all of the survivors to cease their daily activities and attend this spectacle.
Just as Martin ,who was standing near the entrance of the town hall, was about to ask one of the local garrison about what this whole ordeal was about, a group of heavily armed men began exited from the city hall while leading a group of ten prisoners. Though these prisoners were bound, gagged, and had their identities concealed with hoods. Martin knew exactly who they were.
These were the ten surviving members of the militia who had heroically led the defense of the Safe Zone during the battle of the storm. Yet why were they now prisoners? Should they not have been rewarded for their bravery? Of course, the fat and gluttonous mayor took the stand once the men had been gathered in front of him and forced on their knees.
The mayor was a short, and chubby man, with a mustache, and a single glass eye piece. An almost cartoonish representation of an American politician. He even twirled his mustache with a wicked look on his face as if he were trying his best to portray himself as a stereotypical villain from a bygone era.
While he did this, he spoke into the microphone that was set up in front of him.
"My dear citizens, as some of you know, after bravely defending this established safe zone from the monstrous hordes which have sought to overrun it. A few of our more disloyal citizens have taken it upon themselves to act against the interests we as a community share in these most dire of times.
Upon further investigation, we have discovered the root of this behavior. A virus separate from the one that has overtaken this world has begun to spread within the safe zone. A virus started by a few misguided individuals who took it upon themselves to consume the flesh of the dead in a desperate attempt to save their own lives while our heroes stood valiantly in the defense of this city.
Martin hesitantly took a step forward as the Mayor grabbed hold of his shoulder and congratulated him on his new position.
"Martin, as the director of the newly founded OPH, how do you wish to address the people?"
A slight and audible gulp could be heard over the microphone as Martin forced himself to play the role he had been given, all while eying his comrades within the crowd with a certain look that assured them he would do everything in his power to prevent their arrest and execution.
"I want to say... That I am honored to be granted such a position. And that I shall do everything within my power to ensure that the enemies of the people shall be brought to justice. No matter what position that enemy may hold in our society, it shall be my purpose from here on out to bring unto them the people's justice!"
The Mayor nodded his head in agreement with Martin's words, not understanding that Martin was silently saying that he would be using his newly acquired powers as the head of what was essentially an inquisition to bring down the Mayor and his regime from within. All while allowing the so called "corrupted" to run free.
Because the Mayor misunderstood the intent behind these words, he wore a smile as he took over the spotlight, and ordered the people to return to their tents.
"Well, there you have it, so long as martin is on the case, there shall be no need to worry about these corrupted individuals who hide among you all. For those who wish to join the OPH, there shall be an open registration within the next few days.
However, be warned, we have ways of detecting the corrupted, and if one of you fiends were to try to infiltrate the OPH, you will be immediately identified and executed!"
This was, of course, a bluff, as there was really no way to tell an awakened from an ordinary human survivor, not at least without an open display of their abilities. Even the awakened could not detect one another, as their names, levels, and titles were not on display, unlike those of the undead.
But this thought alone filled Martin with dread. Who would try to find out just what this method for detection was later that day? Where, upon finding out the truth, he would sigh in relief. From here on out, the rebellion would evade detection by joining the ranks of the inquisition that was founded to root them out, while using their newfound power to bring down the Mayor and his corrupt regime.
Without even realizing it, the Mayor had sealed his own fate... It was simply a matter of time before he and all of his goons were treated just like the heroes they had just executed in public.