Chapter Forty: Arm Yourself-Vinte e sete anos(Rongke)

Daniel stepped outside to keep watch and prevent any sudden emergencies.

"Good evening, everyone." Villack walked straight up to the makeshift long table and greeted the six solemn figures illuminated by the lamplight.

"Chris." A man stepped forward and embraced Villack.

Villack returned the embrace. "Boyne, long time no see."

Boyne, who was embracing him, was the only one among the six survivors who had once been a classmate of Chris and Francis. He understood Chris exceptionally well, making him the person Villack was most afraid would see through his disguise during this trip.

"As long as you're alive," Boyne said, his voice choked with emotion.

Villack forcefully suppressed the unease in his heart. "Even if I were to die, all of you are still here, and the unjust system still remains, so everything will continue as before."

"What nonsense are you talking about? We cannot afford to lose you," Boyne said earnestly.

"I understand," Villack smiled. Eager to avoid spending too much time interacting with Boyne, he quickly steered the conversation to the main point. "I don't have much time. Let's get the meeting started."

"Everyone, please take a seat," Chloe invited, signaling the others to sit around the long table.

Villack sat down, took a deep breath, and glanced around at the six solemn individuals, taking the initiative to drive the meeting forward. "There are two issues we need to discuss today. First, the naming of the organization. Second, the planning for its subsequent development. Let's first hear your thoughts on the organization's name."

"I have two name proposals," said Shrief, who was responsible for propaganda affairs within the organization. "The Workers' Federation or the Workers' Rights Protection Association."

"Neither of those is quite right." As soon as Shrief finished speaking, Usolov, a man with a receding hairline sitting opposite him, vetoed the idea. "We aren't just leading workers to eliminate inequality; there are millions of other lower-class citizens currently suffering from discrimination and oppression."

"Workers make up the majority of the lower-class population, and the vast majority of our current members also have working-class backgrounds," Shrief explained.

Chloe chimed in with her opinion. "I think the Workers' Federation is good. As Comrade Shrief said, workers make up the largest portion of the lower classes, and our organization's goal from the very beginning has been to fight for more of the rights and interests they rightfully deserve, so this name is very fitting."

Furthermore, as soon as people hear it, they will instantly know what kind of organization we are," Shrief continued, seeing that someone agreed with him.

The others also began to express their opinions. Boyne, sitting next to Villack, leaned over and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"I'd rather hear yours first," Villack replied, not daring to voice an opinion rashly.

"I don't think the Workers' Federation is a good name. Right now, we desperately need to mobilize every force we possibly can, so our positioning should be broader," Boyne began. "As for what Shrief said about people instantly knowing what the organization is, in my view, that name sounds more like a government-run association. We need a clearer name that makes it immediately obvious to anyone with the same needs."

"And your idea is?"

"The Equality Society," Boyne said. "Very simple and straightforward."

Villack wore a surprised and pleased smile. "That's what I thought, too."

Villack hadn't expected Chris's former classmate to share the exact same thought. He had indeed considered this name before attending the meeting, figuring that since everyone wanted equality, calling it simply the Equality Society would be best.

"That makes things much simpler." Boyne signaled for silence, cleared his throat, and shared the idea he had just discussed in a low voice with Villack to the rest of the group.

While reviewing Chris's past meeting minutes, Villack had discovered that Chris and Boyne's views were highly compatible, and Chris would usually strongly support Boyne's proposals during meetings. Therefore, he chose to follow Chris's habit and said, "I support Comrade Boyne's proposal."

"This is good, too," Chloe agreed.

"Seconded."

Because the proposal itself was solid, coupled with the support of 'Chris', the naming of the organization was quickly concluded. From this day forward, they had a formal designation: the Equality Society.

The efficiency of the meeting somewhat exceeded Villack's expectations. He hoped things would continue this way so he could finish his contact with these few individuals sooner, avoiding any slips that might occur over time.

Once the organization's name was finalized, the core members began to reassign each person's duties in the wake of the devastating blow they had previously suffered.

Chris, impersonated by Villack, served as the leader of the Equality Society, and the others were also assigned clear regions and responsibilities. Among them, Chloe was responsible for recruiting new members in Lezein, while Boyne was in charge of organizing related activities there.

"Comrade Chloe mentioned that you want to change our current direction of development, is that correct?" asked one of the cadres.

"Yes." Villack still remembered what he had told Chloe. He said, "A lot has happened in Lezein over the past year, and we have lost hundreds of members, including Francis. I hope everyone understands our original intention: we want to lead everyone in pursuit of equality, not to have people throw their lives away. Everyone who is oppressed is our ally, and we all face the ultimate enemy. Therefore, we cannot go toe-to-toe with the Bregxi government right now. The urgent task is to rally the strength of the entire country and the entire world."

Hearing this, Moray, who had a hardline approach to things, let out a cold snort. "In struggle, bloodshed and sacrifice are inevitable!"

Villack was stunned. "...Of course."

"Comrade Chris, I agree with what you used to say—that 'the belief we hold will lead us to ultimate victory'—but after this government crackdown, haven't any of you reflected on it? Do you really just think we should be more cautious from now on?" Moray spoke with a hint of excitement as he shared his views. "That treats the symptoms, not the root cause! Can we hide in the shadows forever? Can an army of justice hiding in the shadows defeat a government and financial conglomerates operating in the light?"

Moray's words left everyone stunned.

Villack recalled Moray's profile and understood his reaction. Among the six individuals, five were intellectuals, and only Class was a former soldier.

Having been tempered by the baptism of the battlefield, Moray would naturally not choose a gentle and mild approach to confront the government. In fact, in his eyes, even the radical Francis was nothing more than a weak scholar who only knew how to clutch his pen and write stern protests over and over again, without truly making the government fearful.

"Ladies and gentlemen present here, haven't you sensed anything from past history?" Moray's emotions flared. "Why should the government and financial conglomerates sacrifice their massive interests to compromise with us? We must recognize that this bunch of politicians and businessmen only bully the weak and fear the strong! Voicing opinions for the common people is not enough to make them feel fear! Only by arming ourselves and possessing the strength to at least inflict real pain on them will they look us in the eye and seriously consider the opinions we have always put forward!"