Chapter 443: Vige of Earn [Conclusion]


    Smoke rose from the silent port. Those allied with ‘the fake Dark-Guild’ burnt to ashes. The man responsible all but sat with feet dangling off one of the concrete docks. Cigar in hand, the sea breeze, differing from thend breeze, carried with it the salty aroma of the ocean. The life beyond human observation – the aquatic realm. For some reason, the mind wanted to take a break. A peaceful moment of rest, watching and sensing, feeling the world.


    “Master,” intervened éir oblivious by the current mindset.


    “Yes?” replied Staxius crushing the cigar onto the slightly damp berth.


    “Preparations for ending the Cult are in ce.”


    “How so?” he asked now stood and retracing the steps.


    “The video and information gathered for thest week are ideal to bring their secret to light. The disappearance of people has local public safety in peril.”


    “And where might we find the nearest station?”


    .....


    “At the central district, the station in charge of Earn have sent announcements of the missing people.”


    “Oh,” paused to check for survivors, “-Jeen’s Shipping has been taken-over. I’ll go visit the station, meanwhile, contact Cake. Phantom needs to acquire the warehouse as well as the private docks.”


    “On it, sire,” the line cut.


    The capital province of Elendor was divided into 5 districts. Thetter was ruled by the district council who were in charge of the viges. Simr to how Hidros ruled by having differing provinces over massivends – the districts here were of the same method though on a smaller scale. The line ofmand was as so: populous, vige leaders, district advisors, district leader, minister(noble of rank Viscount and higher) to the court of Elendor then finally, the Queen. A well-established chain ofmand unique to how Elendor was managed. Any trouble would be sent in the same order. If thew was broken, the respective tier would intervene. For example, murder would be managed by the ministers while thieving would be handled by the district leaders. In the case of treason, the court would give primary sentencing to then have the Queen decide whether the punishment be too lenient or vice-versa.


    The vige of Earn was located at the edge of the Central District. Thus, upon sprouting wings, Staxius made due Northeast to the city of Asol. The journey took long for a mountain range stood between the vige and the City.


    Upon the crack of dawn, he arrived rather hastily at the city. Most of the buildings were erect with sun-dried bricks coated with cement. The warm beige color with strong contrasting dark-wood squares. The city itself was built over a canal – the water City of Asol. The towpaths, neat and cleaned around the edges of the waterway gave onto arching bridges to the bigger city. Boats with people inciting others to enter for a nice trip. Contrary to what one might have thought, the city remained odorless. Trading caravans were often spotted alongside the ‘dried’ part of the city. Built over the massiveke of Egoulo, Asol was in every sense of the word, a city. The point of ess for the traders remained at the outpost of Conden, at the shallower ends towards the west. Build and made to lock the city in case of an emergency, the gate was the only defense.


    ‘Beautiful,’ thought he promenading along the elevated paths. Restaurants were obvious in cing their tables and chairs into the open. Visitors would most definitely walk and be pped by the aroma of the opened style cooking. A lovely view behind, and sulent taste in front, what more could one want.


    Hours prior, éir sent an anonymous tip of the cult’s involvement in Earn. Public safety didn’t respond nor take heed of the information. Crossing multiple bridges, getting lost into dark-alleys, Staxius arrived at the station. A three-story building immediate to a bridge. People strolling past didn’t bother to stare at the building. The gaze would most often be on the ground. Opposite the stationid an open yard hidden by walls and two rough-looking guardsmen.


    ‘The air feels tight,’ thought he looking to the left. *District Council,* was engraved into a wooden post. Not wasting time, the door opened with countless men and women halting their activities. Signs above the halls showed where what was. Thus, following the trusty help, he arrived at the helping desk.


    “Good morning,” scuffled he who stood listlessly to browse papers littered around.


    “Good morning,” returned Staxius sharply.


    “How can I help?” the voice felt even more so tiresome.


    “I have information on the many disappearances in Earn.”


    “Information?” he yawned, “-sure, please fill this form. We will contact youter.”


    “Surely you jest,” he fired back, “-does thee not realize how valuable my intel is?”


    “Sure is,” glossing over what was said, “-fill the form, we’ll contact you.”


    “No thanks,” the papers flew across the desk, “-thank you for the worthless help.” Sharp and direct, the man thundered across the building. ‘There’s no way they’ll take me seriously.’


    “Hey you!” shouted one of the men across the street,”-why did you m the door behind?” they approached with broad shoulders.


    “Because public safety is worthless.”


    “Mind your tongue,moner,” voiced the man loudly, “-there’s no way the words of a pawn is going to be taken seriously. Tis thew of the town of Asol. We have daily reports of more serious happenings. Go apologize to the station.”


    “Commoner?” he chuckled.


    “Hey!” the man’s eyes spread as if he would eat the man alive, “-such insolence. We’ll have you locked up.”


    “Let me guess,” ending the enragingughter, “-Asol works on a ss system, the nobles are given priority and such?”


    “Yes, you catch on quickly,” they smirked, “-now then, scurry along the path.”


    “Oh, that I will,” a step followed by, *smack,* the two guards flew across the street to crash inside the station.


    “Hello everyone,” said he ominously stood in the broken-doorway, “-I demand to bepensated for the disrespect I’ve endured.”


    “Who the fuck are you?” came another officer.


    “Someone who thee mustn’t address with such familiarity,” *smack,* another punch had thedynd at the same spot. The stomach-turning sound of bone breaking had heightened their senses.


    ” ARREST HIM!” screamed a superiorly dressed officer. One after the other, people went flying until the supervisors stood as ofst. Walls were broken, some thrown into the canal, others hung headfirst into the ceiling.


    “Asol is a fun ce,” heughed to grab onto the remainingdy-officer, “-thee live in the age of hierarchy. Thus, my actions are justified,” slowly choking the life out the officer. “-PLEASE, MY LORD, THERE’S NO NEED FOR SLAUGHTER,” rushed another to kneel at his feet.


    *BANG,* a sudden push had the officer’s head crack opened, “-INSOLENCE,” yelled the king.


    “Enough ytime,” voiced a man with a gun, “-you’ve recklessly killed and assaulted people serving for the safety of the populous. It’s time to give it up, you’ll be killed right here and now.”


    “Killed?” a blinkter, “-kids should not be ying with guns,” said Staxius now aiming the weapon at the other officers.


    “Who are you?” asked the superior officer unbothered by the gun.


    “King of Arda, Leader of the Argashield Federation, Staxius Haggard.”


    “A-Argas-shield f-federation,” the bravado cut short, “-m-majesty.”


    “Yes, I’m he who is known as the Hero King.”


    “W-why a-assault us so badly, majesty?” the few remaining prostrated themselves.


    “For the simple reason of being ignored. I came with information of the happenings in Earn, regardless of my station, thee should have taken time to hear the voice of one of thine people,” emotionless and cold, “-your head will be a most fitting apology.” The king ced his foot atop the head of the supervisor, “-you, and you,e lick my shoe!” pointing to two others, they could but obey.


    Just as they were to touch the shoe, he kicked sending them across.


    *Present and never changing, present and never yielding. All who wait break and all made are subjected to thine will. I, God of Death, the humble inheritor of thy power; call upon thee to have mine will answered: Time Control – Reversal.* A green-hemisphere engulfed the building, the cracks and break rebuilt themselves. The people on the verge of death returned to normal, their injuries heal – the few who died were given life anew.


    “What happened?” screamed one of the officers,”-I’m sure I died!”


    “Nothing much,” smiled Staxius, “-does thee understand mine station?” Utterly shaken by the events, some were scared whilst others hurled right where they stood. The man to first raise his gun apologized thoroughly.


    Broken to be fixed, the king sat in thepany of the supervisor named Ecual. A man in histe forties with a buff body and grey hair. Other officials were called from the district council.


    “Majesty, they have arrived,” said Ecual.


    “Thank you,” courteous and diligent, a slideshow disyed the events of Earn. “I’vee to give my observation of the vige. The Krestonian Holy Invasion took a lot from us which is why I’ve endeavored to track the remnants of war. Intel suggested that Kreto otherwise known as Kreton, to have made their way in to Elendor. Therefore, I’vee to public safety. I want them arrested and put to trial. A quick and painless death isn’t the punishment for them, especially since the Vige leader is involved. The matter goes far deeper than wanting to kill the evil-doers. Thus, advisor of the district council, what does thee propose?”


    “It was wise of you,” said a man with sses and curled blond hair, “-killing the vige leader isn’t going to stop the Cult. It would only aggravate their lust at killing,” frequent to touch his sses, “-Majesty, there’s only one way I think this issue can be resolved.”


    “Leaking the message to the media?” asked he rhetorically.


    “Yes,” grinned the advisor, “-we can’t take action. Tis the people who elected their leader, and tis their right to fight for the correct cause.”


    “Understood, can I count on the support of the public safety and district council?”


    “Surely you jest, majesty,” intervened the advisor, “-you have close rtions with our monarch. A simple request and the whole cult could be killed without one being the wiser.”


    “I suppose so,” he stood, “-the demonstration earlier must have enlightened the officers, isn’t that right, Ecual?” a nce had the officer cough.


    “Y-yes majesty.”


    Although the killing and destruction were real, Staxius voiced that it was but an illusion spell. Arguing against the word of nobility, let alone the king, would be disrespectful. On that, the ever-flowing city of Asol witnessed the fear of the Hero King.


    “Majesty, I’ve noticed something,” voiced éir.


    “What is it?” asked he whilst eating along the bank under the nicest restaurant around.


    “You’ve grown lesser tactful when ites to human lives. Thee seem to not care about who dies and who lives. Is everything ok?”


    “I suppose so,” elegantly wiping his mouth, “-tis the appearance of Snow. I felt something break inside. Who knows really. We’ve sessfully destroyed those who imported the narcotics. Lord Elon mentioned a war between the rivaling gangs, a war that concluded so many weeks ago. Snow sent guards to assassinate the other factions. They’re adamant about staining our name in Elendor. There must be other simr ns around the continent.”


    “About the Cult,” interjected éir, “-I have a suspicion of them being tied with Cimier. Else, why would they only go after the ‘tainted’? ”


    “Probably to have someone else link the events. The drug being ‘tainted’ thus some are killed. It’s a good n, associating the DG with the thought of Kreton burning one to the stakes. Too bad, we intervened first.” On that, what was meant to beplete in Earn came to an end. Staxius would soon return to Lazuli for the confirmation of the contract between Phantom and Elon’s Empire.


    Meanwhile, inside Rotherham, Cake worked tirelessly to acquire Jess’s shipping. Her efforts were trampled by the intervention of another force, anotherpany quicker to jump into the fray. A subsidiary of Kura’s Trading Cooperation stole the property from under her nose.


    ‘It’s bad. We’re being watched by Patek. The alliedpany between us and Elon’s Empire might fail before it starts. What a pain...’