An unknown hall sat in complete stillness a few days later. It's not large or impressive; just a short distance of cold stone wall lit only by a few dimly lit lanterns.
Though small, the room held an awful lot of weight.
Several people sat along the same line on opposite sides of the space. Each had either been blindfolded or handcuffed.
Assad was one of those.
With furrowed brows underneath his blindfold, the silence bothered him more than being tied up did.
Where was he? Why was he still alive? While several members of the Dark Division stood close by, several others stood at attention.
Geng Xuefeng looked at the people with little interest; Mae Yongsun stood close by, expressionless.
Sanae Yaktine was also quiet; her eyes would occasionally glance over at the bound individuals. The very front was occupied by Mentesh, standing with hands clasped behind his back.
He stared out over the group of people who had been tied up and were unable to move.
"All of you are here for one reason only."
He started walking around, trying to see every person at least once.
"A lot of you have done things that can never be forgiven. Such as murder, treason, mass murder, etc. Most people would probably have you executed on the spot for doing something so horrible…"
"Oh, for crying out loud, just spit it out already."
A loud click came from one of the criminals who was tied up. A few heads in the room began to turn toward where the sound came from. Mentesh stopped walking and turned slowly until he was facing the criminal. After a few seconds, the room was totally silent.
"Very well. Since patience appears to be lacking among you."
His voice lowered slightly.
"You are criminals, monsters in the eyes of society. Men and women who have committed acts too inhumane to ignore. Which is exactly why…the Empire has decided you may still be useful."
No one in attendance spoke aloud.
Everyone who had been complaining moments before had nothing to say at that time. Mentesh looked across the hall with a slow sweeping motion of his head.
"The silence is deafening considering how freely some of you spoke just a moment ago."
The silent prisoners all turned to look at each other.
An uneasy feeling crept through the room. Finally, a man with long brown, oily hair and a sharp but aged face spoke up.
"When you call us useful to the Empire, what does that mean?"
Mentesh looked directly at him without changing expression.
"It's simple. The Empire has assigned purposes for all you worthless human beings. You have spent a lifetime destroying, robbing and Killing. Now you will be used for something larger than yourself."
The man didn't say anything else.
The confidence that he had displayed earlier was replaced with discomfort as he looked into Mentesh's eyes. All at once once again there was silence in the hall. Mentesh slowly surveyed the people in attendance in the hall.
"Does anybody else have a question?"
Assad decided to listen and not say anything.
'The Empire actually cares about criminals? Give me a break.'
As he focussed on Mentesh, he not express any kindness or mercy whatsoever.
It appeared that there was a sense of urgency underlying the authority exhibited in Mentesh's demeanor.
'Something is definitely taking place that we do not know about, and whatever it is, it is serious enough to pull us into it.'
Mentesh nodded slightly, demonstrating that he would not consider further questions.
"Perfect. Now let us stop wasting time and get right to the point."
The uncomfortable criminals ceased doing anything but standing still.
"Some of you are already aware that His Majesty, Emperor Shim Ju-Won, wants to expand the empire..."
Mentesh allowed a very short pause to let the last statement settle into the minds of the criminals.
"...but this dream of expansion did not begin with him..."
His voice echoed softly, smoothly, and consistently throughout the space.
"It was created by the one before him and thus has been a dream handed from emperor to emperor and this dream of expanding requires sacrifice."
Most of the prisoners shifted suddenly, finding it difficult to stay in the same position.
"This brings us to the reason why you are gathered in this place."
Mentesh placed his hands behind his back.
"The empire needs soldiers, those people will go where normal soldiers might be scared, people that the empire will consider expendable, meaning that should one die as a result of it will not damage the empire. Therefore, each and every one of you has been chosen because you are a criminal and will be sent to the Nami Lan Expedition with other members of the Dark Division...