The Outlaws

Chapter 3: ”Liar and Whistleblower”

After reminiscing about a difficult time before, Jovie realizes he, like everyone else here, are waiting to hear an explanation or rather a confession from that dangerous criminal. It's because he don't know Hochi a lot, his information is less than the imperial hymns he've watched on television. As the crowd boos and curses Hochi incessantly, he still sits there, without any expression of anger or depression, instead in a relaxed posture . It can safely to say that his face is almost emotionless. It’s as if he is enjoying the fresh air, the gentle rays of the early morning on the last day of his appearance in his homeland.

Suddenly Babilo makes a gesture to ask the crowd to keep silence, says:

“Now everyone, hold back your rage, there's no point in venting your anger on a dying criminal. Dear compatriots, as someone who has spent a lot of time researching and chasing Hochi, I would like to ask everyone for silence few minutes so that I can make something important public."

Everyone is surprised with a little curiosity, whispers about what Babilo is about to say. Babilo now begins to reveal:

“Hochi Dwelryton- a citizen of Violeska. Before becoming the leader of the treason, he was a teacher in capital of Uta. But later, when knowing that the empire had implemented a protectionist policy on 4 countries: Foks, Imanto, Holiver and Dowan with the agreement of the 4 leaders in all 4 countries at that time, Hochi began to have a reactionary thought. He did not believe in Violeska's way of ruling, so he decided to leave the country, went to the colonial countries and spread the news that Violeska was a dictatorial empire, wanted to expand power over those countries. He lied that the government did not keep their promises about negotiating peacefully, instead directly used force to put pressure on the four leaders in those four countries, thereby imposing protectionist policies, turning those four countries into disrepute  become its colony. It was just some of his blatant lies to tarnish the empire's reputation."

Babilo picks up the “Smart Device” and presses a switch to show a video of a news reporter talking about the massive change in all aspects of Federation of J since becoming a part of the Violeska Empire.

“…After the four countries have merged into the mother country Violeska, Federation of J was established. Instead of being called by its old names, the merged countries are called by regional names, include: the Banya region, the Imanto region, the Foks region, and the Holiver region. The power of the four families that run four regions is fully transferred to the mother country government…”

People begins to talk excitedly about this fact. Babilo requires everyone's silence and continues to play the video. The news reporter's voice comes again from his device:

“...During the beginning of the Federation of J rule, the Violeska government focused on building high-rise buildings, roads, submarines, ..., brought advanced science and technology in the empire to this place. Aircraft, surveillance cameras, robots,... are present in every area. In economic terms, the government focuses on mineral exploitation, applying a single currency, the Holibi - the official currency of the mother country. In addition, there are also a number of reforms to the federal education system such as adding Viole to the main language system, students can learn subjects according to a new model, eliminating unsuitable subjects... "

Babilo intentionally skips to the end of the station's narration: "...After 5 years, Federation of J has become a flourishing land, has more development than in the past. If you compare the period before unification, the period under the protection of the empire is truly like a paradise…”

Everyone looks at Hochi with angry eyes, and Hochi's getting started to waver a bit. Babilo gloats that letting the crowd and Hochi listen to every word has brought about the expected effect. He hangs up the phone, takes a deep breath, and says in front of the speaker:

“People of Violeska, everything is clear now. The empire completely changes the face of the federation. Think! If the king only considered the federation as his colony, there would be no need for him to put resources and manpower into it. Did you know that, before being annexed and run by the empire, each region, if counted separately, that's absolutely impossible to compare with the main country, from economy, education, politics, ... As news reporter said, after returning to the mother country, J is simply like a paradise..."

Suddenly he turns his face towards Hochi, sighs:

“But there are still ignorant, short-sighted people, who consider the protection of the mother country a crime. Hochi do not serves the homeland, but also smears the reputation and honor of this place and sparks the federal protests. People like him who bites the hand that feeds, deserves condemnation, even death."

“That's right, that's right! He is not worthy to be a citizen of Violeska, a descendant of the god Viol.” One shouts in agreement, then another person speaks up:

“He is a disgrace to the nation. He doesn't deserve forgiveness."

"Go to hell, Hochi!" - A series of people start booing Hochi.

Jovie looks at Hochi. He saw his bitter smile. He takes a look at his wet eyes and be startled. Even though Hochi have suffered all the hatred from the people, his expression now makes Jovie feel like he have expected and accepted it rather than being embarrassed and depressed.

Hochi says to Babilo:

“Tell everyone I have one last thing to say. I promise that when I finish speaking, I will obediently submit to all judgments from the empire.”

“Haha, if that's the case… I'll give you a few minutes. Remember, just say in short."

Babilo puts the speaker to his mouth and says:

“People of Violeska, everyone, listen to Hochi's last words. Maybe this will be his last words so guys, please try to keep quiet for a moment to hear his every word clearly. Although he is a transnational criminal, he have been also an influential person in education in the country, so I think his words are worth listening to."

Everyone starts whispering. The fact that each one wanna to listen to the last words of a person who is about to face a court. All show their agreement by keeping silent. When the atmosphere is so quiet that the sound of the wind can be heard, Hochi shouts:

“My people, can you hear me?”

The shouting make everyone around laugh. Someone mutters:

“Is this guy crazy? Why does he have to do that when you can use speakers instead?"

Some of the people next to them start laughing even louder because they see that Hochi speaks without the speaker makes him look like a joke, but they don't know that's also his intention, when Babilo recommends Hochi to use the loudspeaker, he firmly shakes his head to show his refusal. When the crowd fall silent, Hochi begins to speak:

“Have you ever wondered what the life of a J federal citizen is like? There must be many people here who have traveled abroad to J federal for different purposes. So are you guys curious to know what they saw and experienced while in a place under the empire's control? I am one of the people that have been present and experienced life there,so on the behalf of those who have the same experience as me and are present in the crowd but being afraid to speak their voice up, I will tell others what happened about life in the place that General Babilo just called 'paradise'."

Jovie sees the crowd begin to riot, everyone hears every word of the prisoner with a powerful voice very clearly, they seems quite curious though still skeptical about the words of the dangerous criminal. Seeing that the situation was not good, Babilo asks Hochi:

“After all… are you trying to make the people confuse? Or are you trying to indoctrinate them with those words?”

“I am just telling the truth. You can't stop the truth from being exposed even by tying my body to a chair."

Babilo is getting hesitated, even though he was in the upper hand when it came to navigating crowds few minutes ago. He knows that the more he tries to stop Hochi, the more people believe his words. And if he escorted Hochi away crowd, he'd look like a liar, because it was he who agreed to this speech.

Unlike Babilo, Hochi doesn't have any hesitation, continues his speech:

“Federation of J is essentially a collection of four different countries: Banya, Imanto, Foks and Holiver. Those 4 countries used to be 4 countries with their own independence and democracy, have led by 4 different families for more than 1000 years. In other words, each country had more than a thousand years of civilization with a rich cultural and historical treasure no less than Violeska. People in each country enjoyed a prosperous life, were educated in a good educational environment, and have access to diverse cultures in the period of international integration before unification. But after the empire has annexed and merged the countries into a single country with the name 'Federation of J', democracy and freedom disappeared.”

Saying that, Hochi's tears wells up, he can't hold back his emotions when he thinks about the plight of the people of Federation of J, says in a wistful voice:

“During the time when the empire ruled the Federation of J, the empire established its own government for this place, instead of letting the people vote as before. They bumped the families down removed the leader elected by the members of the previous family, and sent a new leader to the federation called the 'Governor' with the task of replacing the king this vast land. In addition, at the regional level, the government sent robot messengers over, said that they were on duty, but in fact, they let them monitor the movements of the chiefs of the special zones, and also acted on their behalf the job of a chief executive. The freedom here also came to an end when a series of security cameras were installed in every corner and connected to a server that controlled by a 'messenger' to be able to monitor, recognized faces, controlled every behavior every day..."

" Enough! Stop there!" Babilo tries to intervene.