"Well, it really exhausts me." Gwen shook her head as we got behind the large rock we used to chat with. "Not because of his psychic activity, but peeking into the minds of that many people is a very stressful job for me."

"I'm sorry. I know this execution looks cruel...."

"No, I understand." Gwen massaged her forehead. "We can't let people like them run around. Well, I hope something like this doesn't happen again, where I have to check the minds of so many people."

I was stunned to hear that answer. "I'm surprised you said that, Gwen."

"If you could also read people's minds, then you would understand. The men brought here are almost all evil. They have bad intentions." Gwen sighed. "I'm not saying all men are crooks like them. They might actually be influenced by that guy named Jia. However, you'd be surprised how many humans have the seeds of evil in their hearts... Not only men but women too."

"Ah, you know that from your experience in the experiment." I rubbed my chin. "I'm sure it wasn't fun at all."

"You've no idea." Gwen laughed bitterly, but it was only for a moment. "However, I didn't bring you here to talk about this. I have a question."

"Because of that one person, right?"

Gwen slightly approached me. "That's right. Among the four people who have been released, there is one with evil thoughts. But, why would you just let that person go?"

"I can't tell you right now. But someday, you'll know." I stroked the woman's cheek. "You only need to know one thing. I'm doing this for a reason. A very important reason."

You wouldn't understand, Gwen.

Gwen closed her eyes. "When? When are you going to tell me? Don't make me think about this all the time, please. Soon I'll have to leave here and join the mermans. After that, we won't be able to communicate anymore."

"Soon." If I had a mouth, I would smile at this woman. "Now rest. You deserve it."

"I will." Gwen took a deep breath. "But don't you really have anything else to tell me?"

I paused for a moment, shrugging. "No."

Shaking her head, Gwen left me speechless.

***

The fire had soared high, burning the corpses of Jia's men. The mermaids chose to retreat and watched the giant flames from a distance.

Almost all of my colonists gathered there or rested in a temporary shelter near a big tree.

Only one still separates himself from the others. Seb was sitting beside the river, looking into the distance.

Eric kept looking at his father. At first, I asked him and Manu to oversee the cremation, but now there might be something more important.

"Looks like your dad needs someone to talk to," I whispered to Eric. "You'd better go where he is now. Talk to him."

"Manu, I'm going to my dad," Eric told his partner. "See ya."

Manu just gave a thumbs up, and Eric left the place, went to his father, who was still sitting by the river.

"Son... I mean, Eric. Have your wounds healed yet?" Seb asked without seeing his son's face.

Eric slightly rubbed the bandages on his face. "At least I can move."

Seb took a deep breath. "Eric, I want to ask you. Did you also see that many people died after arriving at this place?"

"Well, several times." historical

"Why does everything have to be resolved with violence? Can't we just sit down together to talk about the problem at hand? Wouldn't everything be beautiful if it was resolved peacefully?"

This naive man irritated me so much. After all that had happened, how could he still think like that? I didn't care anymore and asked Eric to say what I wanted to say.

"When the enemy is about to get violent, where do you usually go, Dad?" Eric did ask that, but his tone sounded doubtful. "You didn't even talk to them. You ran away. It was only recently that you didn't hide, and even then, you failed miserably."

Seb winced.

"We saved Kat by fighting. In fact, we saved not only Kat but many other women. They are very grateful to us." Eric then massaged his forehead. "Did you think talking to Jia's group would be easy? While we were trying to persuade Jia's group to release Kat and the women, they might continue to be tortured. Or maybe they would already be dead."

Seb squeezed his head, and Eric's chin is down.

"Sorry, Seb. I-I didn't mean to say that. I don't know why I said that myself." Eric sounded very confused.

No. Seb had to understand. Not everything can be resolved peacefully. Sometimes violence is necessary. It's undeniable.

"I just feel... All of this doesn't suit me." Seb's voice began to tremble. "I don't want other people to die. What if there is still light within them? It's about morals, Eric. What kind of humans are we without morals?"

"Wake up, Sebastian!" Eric snapped, and this time it wasn't at my command. "Aren't you using your brain? Think! You've seen some examples of why we had to do this. If your friends didn't raid my colony, they would starve to death, right?

This colony will not survive if no one dares to resort to violence. On this planet, there are no police who will imprison the guilty, who will destroy the evil organization. We have to do it with our own hands."

Seb rubbed his face. His tears began to flow. "So, you're saying violence is good?"

"It's necessary." Eric's tone became firmer. "Look, you have to accept this, Seb. Or you will continue to suffer like this. Earth is full of rules, but things can't be completely peaceful, let alone here."

Slowly, Seb turned his head to his son. Smiling faintly, he said softly. "I just want to be alone, Eric."

Eric massaged his forehead again. "Look, at least think about what I just said, Sebastian."

Saying no more, Seb looked ahead again.

"I'm worried about your mental state. I'm afraid you'll be broken ....." Eric choked, then moved from that place.