Money and Power Are Not the Same

"Kyle Dokavich - I'm the districts acting-Praetor."

It had been know that Kyle's family was a fairly propionate and wealthy one, while Kyle himself had been a privileged kid, he wished for his own mark and becoming a good swordsman had drawn him to the Sword Skill School, were he'd stayed when he found the company better than those who'd try to use him for their own selfish wants.

But he'd offered to throw his family name about, to secure the peace of Yarn, from any would be power grabbing people, with less noble intentions, but meaning he'd probably have to stay in the area, for a long time too.

"Dokavich huh..."

Even the Bolt family didn't have a better standing back home, so the pushy man reluctantly stopped angling for a forcible way to take control of the land, like Amanda had correctly guessed would happen.

But after another glace, he instead tried a different approach.

"How about some gold - five solid bars I'm offering to take that role from you, but no more for this remote dump..."

Five bars was an obscene amount, as enough regular coinage to have just one was well more than sufficient to retire to a cushy life, even at the Empire's capital.

If he's offering five, it must be worth at least three times that amount... if the rumours are correct about his practices...

"I'd rather not..."

"But the dangers, the stink of this place..."

The rich Noble tried in vain.

"What can I say - I like the climate here."

He didn't hide his annoyance at the untaken offer, but perhaps he didn't care all that much for the area, so went for another money gathering angle.

"Then we can happily return the collected taxes back to the Empire... minus a slight fee of course..."

But the dubious looks made him rethink his words.

"You've collected taxes surely?"

"I'm also afraid they use a different currency here, so any gathered for the Empire would be useless there."

He only realized that then, but moved on quick.

"I see... then why not take some of these..."

He pointed at Shizuka, but then looked particularly unhappy.

"Not a good example there... and you allow it to be armed?"

"She's not a slave."

He just passed by that comment from Tracey, and continued.

"You have many others here... proper slaves, in better conditions? Some we can take back and sell for a handsome price?"

Shizuka's tails flicked at that, but Amanda voiced the truth to him.

"No. They're not slaves - these are all the local residents and workers... and we expect them to be treated as such."

"Preposterous... treat these animals..."

He pulled himself up, possibly realizing who he was talking with, and while others from the Empire would exploit the lands and people they conquered, Tracey's people wouldn't.

"No harm, of any kind, will be tolerated under my supervision - understood."

Tracey sternly warned, giving her most authoritive and angriest face she could muster.

"I wonder what the Emperor will say about this."

He withdrew and deflated slightly, since he wasn't getting anything or anywhere with them.

"I got my mission straight from him, and his words were very clear; it is my decision and say - until I hear otherwise from him or his representatives."

It would be very unlikely that a Senator or the young and unexperienced Emperor himself would come into Alama and countermand Tracey - which had been her defiant thought the moment she'd been tasked to take control there.

He held back further words when he realized the multitude of glares he was receiving.

"Do whatever you want. But me and my men here will be moving along anyway... but I'll need food, provisions, and whatever slop passes for wine out here."

Of course there'd be more fronts than just from Yarn, but to prevent more innocent lives being ruined, she wanted whatever information, and possible targets this pompous Lord had knowledge about.

"We'll fetch what you need, as soon as you tell us what that is."

He huffed loudly, and waved for his attendant to hand over a list, after he sat at the sturdy table that had been set up behind him, right in the middle of the squashed field.

"I want some good food and wine immediately."

He ordered, as the blonde toped Isaac jogged off back towards town with their demands, before sniggering at the small fox.

"Get your little lap dog there... to bring some for me."

Shizuka's fur visibly bristled all over.

"Fetch us the best wine this hole has..."

She remained firm, keeping pretty calm in the face of the rude newcomer.

And while the new group laughed a little, Tracy and her escort did nothing to intervene, as he disregarded her wish for the locals to be treated fairly.

I'm afraid this will just happen... and keep on happening... unless...

"Maybe you didn't hear me... I said fetch little one..."

The commander of the group shouted and antagonised Shizuka some more - getting a small but heard response.

"Pig."

She growled quietly.

"What was that mutt!?"

Shizuka turned her nose away.

"You little yappy disgrace, I told you to fetch... or can you only bark... and beg..."

Something finally snapped.

"I am not a mutt or a dog - you ignorant, rude pig!"

Shizuka dropped her calm professional stance and flicked her tails with anger as she barked the 'commanders' way.

"You want to play... doggy?"

The curly bearded and bald topped man stood again and tapped his heavy looking sword, while Shizuka slowly reached for her own blade, as Tracey and her team did absolutely nothing.