Kayden interrupted him in a low voice: "My uncle... I already knew that. My father told me you were exiled from the Empire, but how have I not seen you before?"
Harry sighed, looking at Kayden with eyes mixed with sadness and determination, and said:
Harry: "Because they exiled me from the Empire twenty years ago... and wiped my name from every record."
Kayden's astonishment increased and showed in his features, but his uncle continued:
Harry: "I was an angry young man, seeing corruption devouring the villages, nobles looting, and guards killing without account. I could not bear it. I began to rebel, organizing some young men, attacking convoys of injustice, and liberating slaves from the castles of tyrants."
He smiled with bitter irony then said, looking at the cloudy sky: "But the Empire does not forgive those who break its rules. They captured me, tortured me, then decided to exile me instead of killing me... just to be an example to others."
A heavy silence fell before he continued in a calmer tone:
Harry: "And since then, I was no longer Harry, Kayden. I worked various jobs outside the country; I was a servant, a cook, a sweeper, and a laborer working to earn his daily bread.
In one of the remote ports, Freeze found me. He did not ask about my past, but he noticed my skills, and he gave me a future and gave me the title 'Hawk-Eye'."
Kayden stepped forward a little, his voice trembling with emotion:
Kayden: "No one told me anything... nor that they exiled you for this reason."
His uncle answered him in a firm tone:
Harry: "Because they feared me... they feared I would plant the seeds of the same rebellion in you."
Then he looked directly into his eyes and added:
Harry: "But I see you now walking the same path, without knowing it."
Freeze approached, placing his hand on Kayden's shoulder, saying:
Freeze: "And this reason is what made me add Harry to my crew. I do not look for men without a past, but for those who carry real pain... and turn it into strength."
Then he completed after turning his back:
"Harry is the reason for my helping you, Kayden, because of what he did in helping and saving me..."
Freeze broke the silence with decisive steps toward the table, where the map was still spread out, and pointed to a specific point near the southern port of the capital.
Freeze: "We have less than a day before the Empire discovers our presence in the capital. Marcus and his men will handle securing the back roads, while we... will begin the second phase of Valerian's plan."
Mariana approached and took a quick look at the map, while Eugene said:
Eugene: "What exactly do we need?"
Freeze: "Three things: First, knowing the locations of the Royal Palace and its entrances. Second, the packages... containing the documents, weapons, and information we need to capture the Emperor and defeat him. Third... you."
Freeze looked at Kayden, then at Harry, and added:
Freeze: "Your presence now is important, not just as executors... but as symbols. Kayden from a noble lineage, Harry the exiled, Eugene bearer of William's book, and Michel... the eye that does not overlook."
Mariana stepped forward and asked seriously: "What about me?"
Freeze smiled: "You are the one who will protect our backs if things go wrong. You are the hidden hand in the capital."
Kayden raised his gaze toward Freeze, features of determination appearing on him:
Kayden: "Leave the palace entrances to me. When do we move?"
Freeze answered him confidently: "Tonight. After nightfall."
In the middle of the night, Marcus was outside with the revolutionaries launching the attack on the capital. They had deployed their forces throughout the Empire, starting from the markets to the residential neighborhoods, and were tightly controlling the most important strategic points.
The capital was in a state of chaos.
Revolutionaries were in every corner, closing roads and tightening the siege around military camps, while the Empire's forces were unable to counter these violent attacks.
Marcus was leading the revolutionaries with all cunning and shrewdness, and with precise instructions, the revolutionaries were gaining more control over the city. They were besieging government buildings and military centers, preventing any movements or supplies from reaching the Royal Palace.
The main goal was to keep the city under the control of the revolutionaries until the Imperial Army arrived and was distributed throughout the Empire, which would give them enough time to complete their plan to occupy the palace.
While news was reaching the Emperor that the city had fallen into the hands of the revolutionaries, he ordered a huge army to be sent to regain control. But it was too late.
Marcus's forces had cut off all supply routes, and the Imperial Army became in a weak position before the well-trained and well-equipped revolutionaries.
Meanwhile, Kayden, Eugene, and Mariana had reached the heart of the capital, where they were waiting for the right moment to attack the Royal Palace.
Kayden in a low voice: "The time has come. The Imperial Army has been dispersed throughout the Empire; although their strength and numbers are here in the capital, the revolutionaries are enough to disable them. We are in the lead."
Kayden gave his instructions quickly. The plan was to head directly to the palace while Marcus and the revolutionaries engaged with the Empire's forces in the rest of the capital.
Eugene seriously: "We need to move quickly, no time for more delay."
Mariana with confirmation: "We will be able to storm the palace before the Imperial Army arrives."
Then they began moving quickly toward the palace, where they knew the decisive battle would be. As they approached the palace walls, the attack began directly.
The Royal soldiers were busy facing the revolutionaries outside, and the guard on the palace was at its weakest. They did not have time to deal with this sudden attack from within.
Kayden with confidence: "Today we put an end to the Empire's rule. This city, and this palace, will be under our control."
With every step, their forces increased in strength in controlling the palace; they knew that every passing minute brought them closer to the final victory.