Criminal X : Epitome Of Evil

After hearing that the place selected for the War to take place was Ashen Crucible—The Dread Horizon, everyone present at Ground 0 became hectic and talkative.

Pablo had yet to know about the place so he wasn't afraid and even if he became afraid, he won't waste time.

That's why, after Harlia finished telling everyone about the call she received from Malvador, Pablo stepped forward and hollered:

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

He shouted that at the top of his lungs and his shout was also meant for the King standing among the people.

As soon as that shout happened, Boulder looked at the King asking if the man wanted to punish Pablo for shouting at him like that, but the King waved his hand.

"Let it be." He said.

Boulder nodded and stood silently like the bodyguard he was.

It's not like you would be able to do anything to him anyway. The king thought and focused on the stage.

Silence ensued in Ground 0 after that shout and Pablo had everyone's attention.

Harlia stood behind him a little and she stared at him with a scowl on her face.

Pablo sighed and decided to talk to her first.

He turned his head to his left. "I only came forward to shut them up, Admiral. Only you shall talk to them anyway. After all, you will order them to divide the armies."

Harlia smiled. "Alright."

Pablo stepped back and Harlia took the center stage again.

She cleared her throat and began.

"Me and Pablo had reached a decision for this war. I will tell you that decision and if you think that I am asking for your opinions, you are wrong. The decision is final. Of course, if any one of you is not satisfied with it, then I can surely help them become satisfied with it. My fist knows all the arguments."

Everyone said nothing.

Harlia nodded. They were satisfied.

"Our army will be divided in two equal parts. One part will be governed by Pablo and the other shall be managed by me. My part will fight the Cannibals and his part will fight the Vampires. This decision is final and I won't accept any opposition from you. And if, in any case, this decision turned out to be wrong, turned out to be bad, I will take full responsibility. Is that alright?"

"YES!"

Everyone agreed.

Pablo also liked it as he found Harlia a true leader. One that would take responsibility. But she had no idea what her responsibility would do when the decision turned out to be wrong. They would die if that happened and the only thing left to take responsibility for will be the corpses.

Nevertheless, Pablo would manage. He would manage everything. If worse came to worse, he would be the only one alive from the Forza Kingdom.

"Alright. Now that's out of the way. Prepare to divide the army in two equal parts. Pablo and I should get equal soldiers from the king's army. He and I should get equal soldiers from the military. He and I should get an equal number of soldiers from the divisions. Everything should be divided equally. And after all this is done, Pablo and I shall be the sole rulers of their own parts. No other soldier shall have the authority. Only Pablo's and mine order will be absolute. And if anyone is not okay with that, come forward and I shall make them okay with it."

Harlia waited to see if anyone would come but no one came forward.

Though one hand was raised.

Harlia and Pablo looked there and it was the first Marshal who did that. Fozier was the name. He was the same marshal whose five soldiers were killed by Pablo.

"What is it?" Harlia asked.

"Why am I not the one standing beside you, Admiral? I am stronger than Pablo. I am the strongest Marshal. If anyone, I shall take the second part of the Army and fight the vampires." Fozier said his point. And he was valid as well.

Pablo would have answered him himself if not for Harlia taking the lead.

"You might be strong, Fozier. But Pablo here has something that you all don't have."

Fozier frowned. "What's that?"

Harlia smiled and said the same thing that many people said about Pablo. This man had one thing that made him different from others. He had…

"Malice."

Fozier went silent.

Pablo's lips curled up.

And Fozier went silent for good.

He said nothing.

Harlia let it go and then another hand was raised.

This time it was a General from the Healing Division of the Military.

Harlia asked the man what was it and the man asked:

"How shall we divide the division between you and the second Marshal? There are a total of ten divisions. I am responsible for the healers. How shall we di—"

"That's simple." Harlia spoke before the man could finish. "The total number of soldiers each division has, shall be divided by two and distributed to me and Pablo. That's basic maths. If the answer came in an odd number, then give Pablo the extra soldier. Clear?"

"Yes."

The General went silent and Harlia asked everyone if they had any more questions.

No one said anything and Harlia carried on.

"That's all then. Go and prepare for the war. I want everything to be done tomorrow. We will meet outside the gate of the Numb city with each and everyone participants of the war. No excuses shall be excused. We are heading for a War. Say goodbyes to your families, tell your children that they should not wait for their fathers to return. I want absolute victory in this war and the most important thing…

Tell this to all the soldiers as well. If that new vampire king, Malvador Nocturne came in front of you during the war. Don't try to become a Hero. If he came in front of you, and you are not Pablo Castillo, you shall only do one thing…"

Harlia locked eyes with everyone present on the ground and declared what they should do if they met Malvador Nocturne.

"Run."