"Brooke, why have you co back?"
"You’ve been at Hope Village for a long ti."
"You’re the first person I’ve seen run back from Hope Village."
"Where is your wife and kids? Aren’t they with you?"
"Is Hope Village alright?"
"It must not be alright, otherwise you wouldn’t have run back."
"Can’t soone co back just to visit?"
"..."
As soon as Brooke showed up in the residential area, he instantly beca the focus of the residents’ attention.
It should be noted that Brooke was among the first residents to leave Barnes Village, and many people admired his decisiveness at that ti.
However, most people understood his decision.
Having offended soone, if he didn’t leave, any mishap could destroy his family.
Little did they expect that the existence of Hope Village would beco a "dreamland" for many people from Barnes Village.
Now they were very enthusiastic towards Brooke.
After all, they hoped to learn more about Hope Village from him.
Hope Village had beco a taboo topic in Barnes Village, and everyone discussed it privately.
Brooke didn’t expect these people to be so enthusiastic towards him.
Oh no, rather, they were curious about the existence of Hope Village.
Facing their intense gazes, Brooke gathered his thoughts and then said, "I was doing quite well in Hope Village and had no plans to return to Barnes Village. I only ca back to share so news with you all."
While speaking, Brooke’s expression was solemn, and he looked around at the crowd of onlookers, ensuring they were all familiar faces.
As soon as he finished talking, the crowd, prompted by Brooke’s serious deanor, felt there was sothing important, and soone imdiately asked anxiously.
"What news?"
Brooke lowered his voice and said, "There is a territory planning to launch a major attack on Barnes Village during the next Territory War. If you don’t want to end up as vanguards or slaves, you better think about leaving Barnes Village!"
Upon hearing this, the faces of the assembled crowd changed drastically.
"A territory is going to attack Barnes Village? Which territory?"
"When?"
"It’s not so easy to leave Barnes Village; you might not get far before being eaten by a Demon Beast."
"You say this with such certainty; do you know this territory? Is it Hope Village?"
"..."
So were panicking, so pondering, so questioning...
In an instant, all kinds of looks were directed at Brooke.
Their reaction was within Brooke’s expectations.
After letting the surrounding residents say their piece, Brooke continued, "Our territory just recently experienced a Territory War, and the non-aggression period hasn’t even ended yet! How could we possibly attack Barnes Village? But indeed, I did hear this news from Hope Village."
"So is Hope Village preparing to ally with a territory to deal with us?" a resident asked sharply.
Brooke: "...Yes."
"Are you also sent by Hope Village to persuade us?"
When this question was asked, all eyes once again focused on Brooke.
Brooke nodded, "Sort of! Hope Village wants to corner so of Barnes Village’s walls, to weaken it, making it easier to deal with. Their main targets are the professionals. I ca back mingling with their group; after all, you are all ordinary residents, and I don’t want to see you make needless sacrifices."
Brooke’s words slightly moved the people around him, but most remained indifferent.
Those moved by his words knew he spoke the truth; these ordinary residents were of no value in most territories, and if the territory was taken over, they would likely beco spoils of war for other territories, losing their personal freedom.
Those indifferent felt no kinship with Brooke, and even if they had interacted with him while he was in Barnes Village, they did not believe he had returned to Barnes Village solely to save them; he definitely had an agenda.
Brooke observed their expressions, paused, then continued, "Of course, my coming back to inform you isn’t just about wanting to save you; there’s a purpose. Hope Village is quite short-handed, and if I can bring you back with , not only can I save you, but I can also receive certain rewards from the territory. These rewards are beneficial to —it’s killing two birds with one stone, so naturally, I am willing to take the risk."
This statent eased the expressions of the crowd.
If there were benefits involved, his actions were sowhat excusable.
"If we leave with you, can you guarantee our safety?" soone in the crowd asked first.
Brooke looked at him, recognizing who he was.
This was Finn, a 15-year-old boy, an old resident here. After his parents died, he beca an orphan, raised by the neighbors giving bits and pieces for his upbringing.
Although he was still just an ordinary person, everyone believed he had the potential to beco a professional.
Previously, his early departures and late returns ant minimal contact with the other side, but now that they interacted, he realized that throughout the process, his mind was always clear, always able to ask the most direct questions in the shortest ti.
But he also realized Finn’s fascination with Hope Village, hence his probing questions.
Brooke thought, as long as he persuaded him, his endeavor would go much smoother.
Calculating, Brooke spoke earnestly, "Of course, my team didn’t follow into Barnes Village; they are currently waiting outside the territory of Barnes Village. As soon as you step out of the territory range, they will co to et you and escort you to Hope Village. Although I can’t guarantee complete safety for everyone, the risk is relatively low."
The crowd, influenced by Brooke’s words, began to consider the possibility of leaving.
The existence of Hope Village was often discussed internally; they had heard from many teams arriving at Barnes Village about the allure of Hope Village, so there was indeed a bit of longing for it.
Who doesn’t want a better life?
The life of an ordinary resident in Hope Village was exactly what they sought.
Only after the Barnes Village Lord restricted the professionals from going out did these ordinary people give up on the idea of leaving the territory on their own.
But now, the opportunity had arisen once more; should they seize it?
Everyone looked at each other, uncertain of what to say at this mont.
Or rather, who should take the lead in making the decision?
At this mont, Finn spoke again, "There are so many of us; if five or ten people leave, it won’t attract much attention, but if it happens several tis, it might be discovered. So, who leaves first, and who leaves last? Will your team outside wait for us? For how long? If your people leave after receiving so of us, and those who go out later get discovered, it will be a no-win situation—who can then be responsible for these people? We ordinary people, if abandoned, have no way out."
With one question after another erging sharply, the enthusiasm of the crowd cooled down once more.
One choice was about future life, and the other about current life.
One involved risking great danger and potentially life itself; the other involved possibly sacrificing life and freedom.
Which was lighter, and which heavier?
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