Island Rivayle

[Sea]

Rivayle #19
@Guren ​

Both Bunny and Baron listened on to Simon’s entire long words, one that would be pretty surprising that Simon wasn’t thirsty at the end of his long speech. Simon’s words, well they aren’t necessarily charismatic to say the least but Simon does bring up some pretty strong points, though both Baron and Bunny knows better, or at least they understood what is going on. Simon made the assumption that this is complacency, that this is fear. Yet that is the only one thing Simon made a mistake on – it wasn’t fear.

“I think you are mistaking us for weaklings that Iceschillendrig decide to throw bounty hunters at in hopes that eventually both of us will kick the bucket. We aren’t weak enough for that. This whole stalemate comes from one thing - the unwillingness to throw Rivayle immediately into chaos.”

Bunny responded. What they are doing isn’t complacency. Its effectively the only real way to prevent a war. There wasn’t any real complacency beyond the fact that doing anything more breaks this strange peace that everything has worked up into and drove Rivayle into a war, and that war is what Bunny and Baron is trying to prevent.

“This isn’t about the death of my people, but the last time we have a war between the famiglias – regardless of the power balance, Rivayle greatly suffered. Are you suggesting for the sake of our revolution and for your famiglia to achieve your goals, many would have to die, not just any of the famiglias but also the innocent people?”

Bunny retorts in quite a casual way actually. Is Simon truly willing to sacrifice the people of Rivayle and suffering for this revolution to take place? No revolution could take place without great bloodshed. And that is what it meant for the revolutionary. Regardless of Simon’s answer, whether he have to think it through with his idea or not – Baron would finally give a sigh. It is something one would not willing subject many to, a war that will only destroy Rivayle from within with this ‘fragile peace’.

“Vincent will definitely uphold his duty, you don’t have to worry about that. He is the one that brought this strange stalemate and peace to Rivayle after all. Iceschillendrig is unwilling to send his own people at us, because he needs an army to fight Vincent – if he were to send his full force then the only outcome to that is the end of our famiglia and his whole famiglia’s power greatly weakened from that, this allows Vincent to sweep in and fully control Rivayle. And for Vincent himself, by ensuring we are still here – Iceschillendrig cannot fight him as he fear we may intervene, meaning to put, this stalemate exists solely as long as we are still here, if we are taken out a war between the two famiglias will immediately break out. As such the delicate power imbalance serves Vincent to stabilize our city.”

Baron took a deep breath before continuing on.

“See. Vincent and Iceschillendrig has plans beyond Rivayle. I can’t tell what Iceschillendrig’s plan is, but Vincent himself… there are rumours that he wanted to align Rivayle with the World Government, thus the need for stabilizing Rivayle and modernizing the city as you must have seen. The only way he could do so is if Rivayle is not in chaos and this stalemate is what he needed. There are words about this ‘Celestial Dragon’ that pops out within those rumours.”

“Probably something that Vincent would like, considering the two family heads are of noble blood.”

Baron took another sip of a drink.

“We aren’t being complacent. Vincent probably plans to align us to the World Government, I heard they have a vast amount of resources, enough to change Rivayle for the better. Unlike Iceschillendrig, the man desires peace.”

Baron paused for a moment as he thought about it before he would put his drink down onto the table.

“However, you are right. It’s hard to say what Vincent wanted – he could change his mind any time. The only way we are willing to help you…”

“Baro-!”

“Is if you can put us in-charge of Rivayle without starting a war, or at the very least turn this into a fight without putting the citizens of Rivayle in danger.”

Baron gave his conditions for helping. Quite a hard way to put this, but Baron would accept Simon’s help if he could find a way to handle this condition.

“If you do. We wouldn’t mind helping you as long as it doesn’t put us in danger.”

 

[Guren]

Rivayle #19 @Sea

The back and forth between Simon and the members of the power family continued. The young man brought up some strong points but his perspective wasn’t filled in. There were simply too many facts he was unaware of. And that was about to be pushed in his face. Bunny was first to respond while Simon took a bit of a break to drink some water from his canteen. She explained that this status quo was a respected one to make sure the town of Rivayle wouldn’t suffer the major circumstances. And to not plunge it into chaos. How naive. Simon thought to himself. The act of rebellion, a revolution. Is not something that can be achieved through peaceful means. But for now, he remained quiet, letting everyone speak their thoughts on the matter. Baron quickly took over the remainder of the conversation, a lot was on the man’s mind.

The man began to explain the fragile triangle that was Rivayle’s political climate. Even with their dwindled forces, the force Famiglia was still a part to be reckoned with. And Iceschillendrig would need the entirety of his might to attack them and defeat them. But that act would allow Vincent to gank them and absorb them without dropping a sweat. Pushed to this back corner of the realm, the only thing these people could do was wait and see it out. The fear of being destroyed and gone with the wind is a daily thought, at the very least.

And then the main objective of the two Famiglas was finally laid bare. Rumours of the world government being involved and even a Celestial dragon. Simon’s eyes widened as he slowly rose from his chair, finding that last piece hard to believe. Baron continued to speak, thinking that becoming an ally with the world government wasn’t that big of a deal. And while it may not be bad for Rivayle as a whole, for them in the outskirts. They would 100% be hit the hardest out of anyone. And then an opportunity was granted to Simon. If he could work out a way to start a revolution without a full-blown war and putting the citizens in danger they’d agree to work with him. But to that the young man couldn’t help but sigh.

“I’d love to be able to grant something like that. Sadly, reality isn’t a fairytale. The act of starting a revolution is always paired with blood and pain. If you’ve got any suggestions on that I’m all ears. But I’m afraid such a thing simply is not feasible if you want to achieve true peace or be able to govern Rivayle without outsider influence.”

Simon said, telling the brutal truth. He wasn’t a miracle worker. If one could achieve a revolution without war it wouldn’t be called that to begin with.

“However, I do want to warn you. If either Vincent or Iceschillendrig achieves a contract or alliance with the world government. You people will be the first to go. And perhaps such a meeting will be already underway. And it won’t be through force that they’ll get rid of you.” Simon said, about to reveal the darkness that was awaiting them.

“While a majority of Rivayle will flourish at first you people here will feel that decision almost instantly. The heavy taxes, fines and tributes will almost certainly be extracted from your part of the family. How long will you be able to hold on I wonder? A month, two or perhaps a year if we’re being optimistic. But eventually given your size and lack of funds or partnerships. Those tributes and taxes will go beyond what you’re able to offer. Resulting in the people that you want to protect suffering and dying of hunger and or poverty. If the majority of the force Famiglia hasn’t left by then, and little by little the worry that Iceschillendrig and Vincent have will be gone without them having to lift as much as a finger.” Simon said, making a prediction. And while for the people around him, it might be hard to believe it was the cold hard truth. For he had experienced it himself first-hand. If not for Dragon-san and the others he wouldn’t even be here right now.

“Only then will you people wonder what if. What if we had chosen a path of perhaps chaos and ruin with a brighter future at the end of that road instead of this? The path of least resistance but a future where you, the force famiglia, cease to exist. And everything you hold dear has been sacrificed for the betterment of a few nobles and the grand elite. Eventually, the lower class will also feel the effects of this decision but no one will be left at that point to reverse this.”

“Would you dare to take that chance? I know I wouldn’t have. But sadly I was never given the option.”

“And if you’re so gungho on doing this for the betterment of Rivayle, why not ask them? Ask your men, the people you’re trying to protect what they want. This life as it currently stands leads to nowhere. All for the sake of a very very fragile balance. Or a chance to give the next generation a better future but at the risk of involving one’s life?”

Simon said, warning them of the grim dark future that was about to await them. And hinting at the fact that he had experienced the events he had just described personally.

Deep within he hoped this was enough to convince at least a few people standing around. But without Bunny and Baron in the game, no one else would move.

 

[Sea]

Rivayle #20
@Guren ​

The two heads of the Force Famiglia listened to Simon’s words carefully once more, though while Baron wasn’t proposing the impossible by asking Simon to fight a war with no bloodshed on the innocents, Simon continued to use the word revolution – which isn’t necessarily speaking, the right term to use in this context. Baron had something else in mind – though he would have thought the Revolutionary might similarly have thought of the same idea as well. Either way, for the time being – Baron would allow Simon to continue to speak uninterrupted like before.

Here, having noticed the possibility of a future where Rivayle falls under the World Government allowed Simon to further persuade them to take action – using his own first-hand experience in which Simon would made sure to have the very idea of an alliance with them would be the worst possible outcome. Of course, whether Simon’s words are blemished or lies, or even the pure simple truth – no one in Rivayle, or at least to Simon’s peers could verify those words. Both Bunny and Baron, even though they did not know much of the world outside Rivayle, they are also not stupid enough to simply take one’s words for it without questions asked. Baron understood that this World Government and the ‘Revolutionary’ that Simon is from – are enemies and as such understandable even from Simon’s perspective. If the same situation is presented in reverse to someone from the World Government – they would say almost the same exact thing themselves.

It is his versus her words sort of situation.

“Don’t worry, we learn enough of ‘What ifs’. What if our leader did not disappear from us? What if Vincent decided to take his chances with you? What if both Iceschillendrig and Vincent did not have such motives to realize their grand plans? Besides, you can’t tell me the same thing won’t happen with the Revolutionaries can you? What if your people as a whole change gears and do the same thing as you proposed the World Government would do? What if they decide Rivayle isn’t worth the efforts at the end and abandon us to be attacked by the World Government? The future isn’t that simple as black and white isn’t it?”

Baron asked Simon. Future is uncertain. And as far as anyone, even Simon is concerned – there’s no way for him to know if the future of the Revolutionaries would have the same goals as today. One could hope and try to ensure the Revolutionaries remain firm in their goals to save the world from the tyrannical World Government, but to be so confident that they never change from their resolution would be naïve. And there’s no way for Simon to show proof of that at this time. His experiences were… in hind-sight. And for an isolated Rivayle, that is not something they can easily acquire from the outside politics. But regardless of Simon’s answers, Baron has already made his decision beforehand, sighing for a bit before continuing on.

“Either way, as I mentioned before we will help you as long as you can turn this into one without unnecessary bloodshed. As such, let me ask you.”

“Are you into the business of being an assassin?”

Baron asked, his idea would seem simple enough. His question even surprised Bunny for a bit. To Baron, he could roughly gauge what Simon’s intentions are, and has no problems with being used. This would be mutually beneficial from what he understands. The World Government, the Revolutionaries – without stepping outside of Rivayle he cannot tell if either side would be the correct decision. But Simon has made his point – a chance. Unlike Simon’s belief however, the chance is basically 50/50. Which path would screw them over? That is hard to tell. But he would take the chance with the Revolutionary. Normally, by this time if someone isn’t that interested in helping they wouldn’t have that much to persuade, yet Simon tried his best to convince them to take action, if not for the benefit for Simon to ensure the World Government does not gain a foothold while allowing them to increase their presence in West Blue, then for the people that may suffer in World Government’s rule.

And Simon’s words did convince Baron of that.

“If you are, how about a plan to change this fragile peace?”

Baron asked, taking a swig at his drink.

The people around whom may overheard the conversations, as well as the duo looked at him in anticipation of his answer.