Let's go to work, partner! (2)

I had completely drained myself of energy during the travel, even though we hadn’t yet begun our mission. Finally arriving, we left our mounts at an equestrian facility at the entrance of the city of Cerem. This was where our mission would take place, in one of the marquis’s many secondary residences. To reach our destination, we had to cross a large part of the city, especially its massive commercial district. However, there was a huge crowd, and the sheer number of people threatened to break the illusion hiding our uniforms. Because of this, Aurora tried to avoid the busiest paths, taking us through narrow side streets.

"Welcome to the capital of magic!" Aurora exclaimed, arms spread wide. "Before arriving at the Capitol, this is where royal magicians' equipment passes through. Only the finest gear here!"

"What do you think? I know exactly what Cerem is! Every noble has heard of its grand fairs!"

"What’s said about it doesn’t compare to reality! It’s something you have to see at least once in your life. Too bad it’s not the right season..."

Cerem was founded to accommodate traveling merchants heading toward the capital from the northern lands. Most foreign traders used magical teleportation circles to instantly cross our country, which was unsuitable for their vehicles. However, our own merchants took the time to stop in small villages. This allowed them to make their trips profitable and gather precious information on market fluctuations.

I took a glance around. All the ground floors around us had been converted into storefronts. The shops gleamed with a thousand colors, overflowing with exotic products. I lingered on a perfumery that claimed to reproduce culinary scents through magic, then on a hairdresser offering improbable shades of magical dyes. These concepts were beyond my imagination, and I had to admit I was very tempted to try them out. Aurora was right: no tale could capture something this extraordinary.

"Will we be able to visit these shops after our mission?”

"Work and pleasure don’t mix."

"But it’s not work anymore once the mission is done!"

"Would you stop to shop right next to a crime scene you were responsible for?"

"...No," I admitted, disappointed.

"If it means that much to you, we can come back when this city has regained its freedom. I’ve seen it more lively—it’s really depressing, all these closed stalls..."

I looked more closely at the shops and noticed many facades with their shutters down or marked with "For Sale" signs. Some had large cracks in their windows, and half their shelves were completely empty. The shopkeepers were doing their best to hide these signs of decline with distractions, which had worked on me until now.

On reflection, it didn’t make sense for a city under tyranny to be doing so well. It was all just an illusion, a way to save what little appeal they had left, and now that I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.

"Are we really their last hope?"

"I’m afraid so. There aren’t any peacekeepers here, probably on Marquis De Ritella’s orders. That means no crime gets reported to the higher authorities. And if no one talks, nothing changes. Do you understand why we need to act quickly?"

I nodded timidly. Deep down, I felt the same crushing weight I’d felt when seeing Mother. Being unable to do anything about it... It was unbearable.

As I was lost in thought, distant cries reached us, "Sir Gardevoie, I beg you! We’ve never broken any laws! We’ll pay back our debts as soon as possible! You know our situation, please!"

Across the street, a merchant couple, both in belted jumpsuits, clung to each other as if their lives depended on it. They were facing off against a group of ten guards in gray uniforms who were trying to enter the cobbler’s shop. Their two children, terrified, hid behind the woman’s legs.

"Why don’t you arrest the Marquis? He’s the real criminal! Has he bought you off like all his other dogs?"

A crowd had gathered around the scene, though the onlookers kept their distance.

"Silence!" the creditor cut in sharply. "I’m only enforcing the new royal decree. This is your third notice. If you refuse to pay the patronage tax within the hour, I will be forced to seize your business and send you to perform public labor as repayment."

Infuriated, the cobbler stepped closer, his face inches from the official's. His bulk and determination made him particularly intimidating.

"I’d rather die than be sent to forced labor! A royal decree? Don’t insult us! This is just another of the Marquis’s schemes! What will be left when he’s arrested all the city’s business owners? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! If he keeps this up, the Killer Wind will come to deal with him!"

At the mention of our organization’s name, Aurora paid them her full attention. Everyone froze as though the cobbler had just crossed a forbidden line. That simple name had caused half the crowd to scatter. Was the Killer Wind truly that frightening?

Panicking, the cobbler’s wife desperately tried to smooth things over. "Please don’t listen to him, sir, he’s just overwhelmed. Take everything we own, but I beg you, our children need their father..."

"You should’ve thought about that before causing trouble!" spat Sir Gardevoie. "I’m not paid to listen to your sob stories. If you want to see your husband again, why don’t you sell yourself to the Marquis, you filthy wench!"

Mocking laughter erupted from his subordinates.

"You bastard! Don’t talk to my wife like that!"

No sooner had the cobbler grabbed Gardevoie’s collar than the bailiffs accompanying him seized him.

"I’ve seen enough. Take him away and close down this dump. The whole place reeks of leather!"

Strong arms roughly threw him into a barred carriage. It bore a red and black crest of a raven beneath a crescent moon. I recognized many insignias, but the De Ritella family’s symbol was unfamiliar to me until now. The cobbler’s wife screamed and struck the officials as they entered her shop without a word. Deeply shaken, I instinctively gripped the knife Aurora had given me.

"I forbid you from interfering," the mercenary snapped, her grip so firm she was nearly crushing my bones. "The only way to save these people is to complete our mission. Let’s go—it’s about to get troublesome."

When I turned, I met her red eyes, more menacing than ever. Suddenly, I realized how reckless my impulse had been. Just because Aurora was on my side, I’d thought I could make a difference. Instead, I’d almost gotten us arrested, thrown in jail, and probably executed.

At the same time, war cries echoed through the air: a brawl had broken out between the citizens trying to free their fellow and the gray-clad enforcers. The latter had no hesitation in striking innocents curled up on the cobblestones with their electric sticks. This horrifying scene faded beneath a thick fog, likely from magic smoke bombs to disperse the crowd.

This kingdom is nothing like the peaceful haven I was told about. The media never reported anything like this… Does this happen often? Does Father know?

Aurora ripped the knife from my trembling hands and dragged me away. Sadly, I knew that no matter how far we went, I wouldn’t be able to forget what I’d just seen. If De Ritella was the source of all this misery, then I wish the Killer Wind would come soon for him.