Reihardt clicked his tongue, throwing the ledger away. These central district people, they were really insufferable, greedy bastards.
Unfortunately, the labor union was not the only problem the new Governor of the city had to face.
On the eleventh day, a grain dispute broke out. The merchant guild that oversees the trade and market of the city declared a shortage of food, claiming that the cargoes that came to the city were contaminated.
Food prices started climbing up like crazy. This put a strain on the budget he was using to feed the populace of the outer district.
That was not all, on that very day, a mysterious incident broke out, some of the people who came back from his mansion after receiving rations and new clothes, started disappearing.
.
.
Knights of the Order of the Temple of Light were gathered in the hall, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
"This is too much. Do they think we are just like those half baked Tinker Knights who used to maintain laws in the city under Baron Chetak?" One of the hot headed knight spoke out.
"So what are you suggesting we put the entire central district’s people on trial?" Another questioned.
"Why not? We are all clear by now who is behind all these problems. Let me go and get that labor union bastard".
"Don’t be hasty, we are knights sworn to protect the people of the realm. If you go out there and kill people thoughtlessly, it would only throw mud at the image of our order".
The knights were arguing fiercely, their opinions divided.
"Look at them getting so riled up. It looks like not being on the battlefield for some time has gotten into all of them".
"Well, can you blame them. We have never faced a situation like this. All we ever did since joining the knight order was go on expeditions, train, and exterminate demons. Haha, protecting a city that is actually hostile to us, is a first".
"Are you forgetting something? We are no different. It was the previous generation of holy knights before us and Lord Raymond who used to solve state affairs like these. At that time, we simply rode on their coattails and executed whatever command they gave".
On another corner, the holy knights like Bob, Grey, and Marcus discussed. The entire order was rattled.
"What are you going to do?" the new Holy Knight Zerina asked.
Standing by the window, reading a letter was Reinhardt. His face was expressionless and his aura calm, making it impossible to figure out what he was thinking.
’I’ll respect whatever decision you end up taking’. That was the end of the letter he got from his father, the duke.
It was not like he had no options available to him. However, as governing a city was not his expertise, he felt it appropriate to ask his father for advice. The latter provided him with various aid,s but when it came to the crux of the matter, he left it to him.
His words suggested that he knew what action Reinhardt would take. ’If even a duke is approving of this decision, that it has got to be right’ he thought, finally making up his mind.
He wanted to avoid taking such measures. However, it seemed like Baron Chetak’s populace was just like him, arrogant and blinded by greed. Some of them, like the union leader did not even care before threatening a Commander.
Perhaps it worked on those Tinker Knights who did not even possess a single ounce of dignity. Perhaps they thought it would work again, as Baron Chetak was an incompetent man who only pursued profits.
However, this time they couldn’t be any more wrong. The person who took the seat of the governor was no non combatant but the commander of one of the seven great knight orders.
By acting against them, the people of the central district have not only challenged the power of the Governor of the city, but also the order of the Temple of Light.
"Even if they are ignorant, this does not make them inexcusable," Reinhardt spoke and slowly turned away from the window, facing his knights.
"Karina, give me your report".
At this moment, his shadow quivered, and out from it came his most loyal aide, the Mad Blade.
He had sent her to gather information on the missing outer district people and the ones responsible for this incident.
The female assassin kneeled on one knee on the ground and gave her report.
"The ones behind the kidnapping are the owner of the Iron factory and the leader of the Mafia known as the Cosa Nostra. The Iron Factory uses the mafia members to exploit the outer district people and work them tirelessly"...
"As for Cosa Nostra, some of the knights of the now disbanded Tinker Knigths came from this organisation. From what I have seen, they are a group of level 3 and 4 goons".
As meticulous as ever, Karina finished her report.
Now the order was clear on who they were up against, and the expression that each of them gave was one of bewilderment. The opponent was acting so high and mighty with such measly strength?
"It baffles me to think that I was rattled by such foes even for a second," Bob laughed sarcastically.
"Weren’t these tinker knights defeated by our squires? It just goes to show how badly this city was managed. They don’t even understand the vast power gulf that exists between each levels".
"Don’t call them knights, if anything, they were just a bunch of militia".
Exasperated, the holy knights and the knights placed their attention on Reinhardt, waiting for his orders.
"Since our last raid on this city was carried out in the darkness of the night, the populace of the central district has no idea about the strength of our order. It’s time to teach these ignorant ones who is the new Governor of this city and what kind of knight order the Temple of Light is".
"Yes!!" the knights shouted in excitement. They were starting to get bored of the community service they were doing anyway. It was time to shake things up.