I decided not to tell them. I did not want four rouge Protectors rebelling against the city. Who knows what would happen if the Sage was forced to intervene in order to quell the rebellion. Instead, I looked at them and said "Why don't you just resign from your posts? If you four went together and told them that you wanted to leave without letting on that you learned about the conditioning, you probably will be able to go". They looked at each other and nodded. "Fine. We'll do it your way. Master will understand. There are lots of rumors about the elite mercenaries being Third and Second Class Protectors that had aged past their primes" Leon said. Abel nodded at him. There was a glimmer of hope that ran between them. "Go and give your reports to your commanding officer. When you are done, tell them you want to resign. Come by tomorrow and report back what happened" I instructed them. It took a second, but they all nodded and left. I wondered how long it would be until they got assassinated.
Luckily for all of us, it was not the case. Abel, Leon, Chien and Chat came by the next morning. They said that they were all allowed to retire from their service as Protectors. I thought that it was a little too easy. "The Sage let you go? You four spoke to her and she let you go?" I asked for clarification. Leon shook his head. "We only talked to our leader, Robin, and he reported it to her. She told him it was okay" he said. I nodded and then asked "What did Robin look like when he told you it was okay? Did he look upset or nervous? Did you tell any other members about it". Chat and Chien looked pale. Leon and Abel looked freaked out. "How did you know that!? There is no way to know what happened in that meeting!" Abel snapped. I looked at him in earnest. "Why do you think you were let go so easily?" I asked. "Because of the war and the recent increase in Devil activity on Pollo Island lately. She has no time to deal with Protectors who no longer wish to serve" Abel answered. I just smiled at him warmly.
The only thing I said to that was "I think you better sleep with one eye open and double check all your food and drinks until you can get off this island". I saw the chills run down their spines. "What is that supposed to mean? It doesn't help to be coy now" Leon snapped. I said "She is tasked with stamping out increased Devil activity and a keeping an eye on the war declared on one of the cities she is to protect. Will it be easier or harder to do that if four of her strongest warriors suddenly leave her service? She is no fool". The silence was deafening. "Either she assumes you will be bait for the Devils or she is going to eliminate you herself so you can't cause trouble or join up with them. Do not leave each other's side until you are off this island and out of her sphere of influence. You've been Special Ops for years. You would know way better than me the different ways she can get to you if she wants you dead. I'm sure you might have already seen some signs you didn't recognize from this side of the operation" I explained.
Chien was even more pale. He whispered "I saw Ange on the way here in the marketplace. I signaled to him, but he ignored me". "Th-that doesn't mean anything! He could have been undercover" Abel tried to rationalized. "If I were you, I would be on guard if I saw members of the unit appearing in places they shouldn't be. Or if the circumstances you interact with one of them resemble the times you had to eliminate a target". They got up and Leon said "There's nowhere to go where we can escape the Protectors". I nodded and said "I have a deal for you. I'll do my best to smuggle you out of here alive if you do me a favor". They nodded. "Wait in Epic City until I or a centaur named Althine comes to you and asks you to join a party of adventurers. Deal?" They nodded and the quest popped up. This time it was red on the fringes of the text box. I accepted it and I went to my chest. I had a few spare sets of clothes inside. I told them to wear my civillian outfits. They did and they looked uncomfortable without all the armor. I said "Follow me"
