"Child, do you wish to kill them all?" The fairy-like being asked.
Lith nodded. Wasn't it obvious?
The lady then said with the gentlest tone one could that Lith should rethink what he should be doing.
She then showed him various things.
The organization that made the slaves do these things was, in turn, just another slave organization under the control of a higher power.
These people were made to make the slaves under them work forcefully.
They had children, wives, and families that they needed to feed. They were powerless to resist the higher organizations and thus made other slaves work.
The higher organization was the government of the country itself. They were trying to find the secrets of a renowned demonic cultivator. They told the people it was archaeological research and used much of the taxpayer's money.
But at the end of the day, the government used force, turned many people into slaves, and created an organization to get things done quickly.
They paid just a little of what they had from the taxes and used the rest for their own purpose.
Eventually, the fairy showed Lith what the government was doing and everything happening.
From what Lith saw, he knew the government was run by a single man.
Although it was a government, it was like a dictatorship here.
The man was a person who had a rough childhood due to the previous government. He had many things go wrong with him and suffered many hardships. The previous government also were the reason for his parents dying, and this man had ambitions to take it over one day — which he succeeded in doing.
Now that the man was here, he ensured no person ever suffered like him and worked hard. Eventually, he established a dictatorship.
Although everything seemed like a democratic government, the man had everyone under control.
This man one day realized that a demonic cultivator was the reason for his parent's death. The cultivator had worked with the previous government, and his parents died.
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Now his inheritance was at some place, and thus, the man ordered that the prisoners they had in the country were to be made slaves and would need to work to get the inheritance.
But the prisoners didn't agree that becoming slaves would rather die than work.
The government officials then took the families of the prisoners' hostage. They took them in custody to blackmail them into working.
The prisoners thus agreed, and eventually, the slave organization was formed.
The man who had ordered the prisoners to get to work was aware that the families were taken hostage. But he ensured that the innocents didn't get mistreated and put his focus on the inheritance.
Days passed and the news of the inheritance being found out excited the man. He thought he would finally get to see his parents' killers.
His focus on the families of the prisoners was gone as he assumed that the people under him wouldn't really mistreat them.
But the people under him did end up doing what he assumed they weren't going to.
They had clashes with the families. Due to being in a higher position of power, they did many sinful things to the families.
The prisoners weren't aware of what was happening to their families behind their backs, and the government officials had their way with them.
The government officials wouldn't have stooped so low to do something with the families of the prisoners. Still, they were under a lot of pressure from the country's people and the man at the top.
The people of the country were dissatisfied with the current government's governance. They were putting a lot of pressure on them. They also thrashed many properties of the officials and shamed their families.
The officials had really rough days, and with the families of the prisoners and the higher giving them a hard time, they decided to show the prisoner families their place and had their way with them.
Understanding all such things made Lith frown really hard.
Who was right, and who was wrong?
He had no idea whatsoever and was now stuck in a dilemma.
The fairy also made Lith aware that he must choose the fairest thing, and he could then leave this place.
The surrounding cleared up, and Lith was now standing atop a mountain below the mine. A bit away from it was the enclosed shelter he lived in and the people present there.
He gazed at it, and his mind worked at its full capacity to decide what was right, wrong, fair, and unfair.
This whole thing was a vicious cycle of good and evil, with there being many dilemmas one after the another.
And Lith only had two paths in front of him:
Solve everything from the roots and bring justice to everyone and be a hero,
Or,
Kill every single one — not give a single fuck about anything and anyone and become a villain.
The second path would mean many innocents would die, including children, women, the elderly, etc.
This was also a very vile thing to do.
Lith still had his humanity left from Earth. He had trouble choosing such a path for himself.
Gazing at the distance, Lith thought out loud, "but… I am no Saint or a Hero; I don't want to work and bring justice to everyone."
"It's pathetic and not worth my time. It doesn't benefit me in any way whatsoever."
What would Lith get by bringing justice to everyone? What's the perk of being a hero? Fame? Status? Wealth?
Everything seemed too boring, in Lith's opinion, and there was no fun in things.
But then, the other option of killing everyone, what good will it bring to Lith?
Watching innocents die, will it have anything that would benefit him? Why kill them anyway? It was so much work with nothing to gain.
So what should he do? What path should he take?
Lith racked his brain hard once again and pondered deeply over things.
Finally, after a long while, he took a deep breath and looked at the shelter with a serious gaze.
"Fair, is it?" He muttered softly.
What is fair? This was a really subjective concept and question.
To the slaves, being freed and having the organization above them killed was fair.
To the organization above, having the government free their families was fair.
To the families, having the government annihilated was fair.
To the government, having the people under him be cooperative was fair.
To the people below, having the government listen to their needs was fair.
Finally, to the man at the top, fulfilling his revenge was fair.
There were different things and different fair situations.
But if the talk is of Lith, having the people who mistreated him get punished is fair.
So what was the most fair thing to do?
As Lith came up with this question, he was clear now. Rather, he had a smirk on his face. He then said softly,
"The fairest thing…."
Saying so, he took a step ahead and looked at the people below in the mines. He then continued with the same tone,
"It's obviously…."
He took a step ahead again and, having a murderous glint in his eyes, said, looking at the authorities,
"...to get me the compensation."
.....
A/N: This is the final chapter of the year and also the month.
Thank you all so very much for getting the privilege!
I am gonna celebrate the new year's eve by sitting in my hostel room, studying for my med entrance while also writing some more chapters for you guys :p
I might also go out and touch some grass I think. Probably get Sugon as well.
What's sugon you might ask?
Oh well...
Ahem,
Jokes apart, enjoy your time my lads and lasses, I love you all 696969.
Happy reading and Merry new year!