Capítulo 127: Securing
In the scene, Artemis had the unconscious Count Tyrian dragged from the back of his throne. The guards were disgusted when they handled him, he was as wet as a rug due to his sweat.
Artemis had Jord and Toby drag the Count to the courtyard. Artemis then stood in front of the throne and looked at Reinhard and the knights in the room with him.
"Wart..." Reinhard said.
"Wart is your master?"
Artemis nodded.
Reinhard and everyone thought Wart died in the forest because once the people are exiled to the Forest of Death, they won't be seen again because of countless magical monsters in the massive forest.
He sat himself back on the throne and raised his leg over his other leg.
"A few days ago. I proclaimed Wart as my king, and so, he shall be a king. But how can he be a king without a proper fief?" Artemis said.
"But why us? Why did you choose us? You could've just made your own fief and lured the people away," Reinhard said.
"It's simple. It's because Wart himself was the one who told me to liberate you," Artemis said.
Reinhard and the rest of the soldiers felt something warm in their chest.
"Is that so..."
"Indeed, he is a man of honor, dignity, and kindness. A man like him deserves to hold the mantle of King," Artemis said.
"But..." Artemis frowned. His frown exuding an aura of terror.
"He is a dwarf, I know most of you are aware but just because he is a dwarf does not mean he does not have the qualities of a human king, say that to the Meccan Kingdom. You are all the same, the only difference is the name of your race but in mind and soul, all of you are equal," Artemis said.
Everyone then looked at each other.
Most of the knights were humans but Artemis noticed that there were a few Beastmens and different races in the mix.
"And if any of you defy him, I will end you at the spot," Artemis said.
Reinhard bowed his head further.
"I promise you, I shall not let that happen!" Reinhard said.
Artemis nodded and then looked at the soldiers behind him.
"Well?" Artemis asked.
"We will follow your example!" They shouted.
Not because they genuinely wanted to change their perception, no, Artemis knew they only compiled out of fear.
But Artemis was going to change that. Despite ruling through fear and bloodshed himself, ever since his encounter with the Goddess left him scarred and the dreams he had been having have returned to his memory, he felt a slight tinge of humanity return to him.
But he was still all for bloodshed, the only difference was that it had to be justified.
Artemis stood from the throne and began walking down the red carpet.
"Come," He said as he passed by Reinhard. Reinhard immediately stood and followed closely behind Artemis.
"Tell everyone to round up every noble family and bring them to the outer district's courtyard. But none of them shall be mistreated, I will handle them personally," Artemis said.
"Understood," Reinhard said. "All of you! Round up the nobles and their families and bring them to the courtyard in the outer district, now!"
The knights and mages immediately stood and stormed out of the throne room as soon as Reinhard and Artemis exited.
Artemis and Reinhard walked down the bloodied halls and into the messy streets of the inner district.
With their leadership gone, the forces loyal to the Count had either surrendered or tried to flee.
Sporadic fighting continued but only from the merchants who tried to put up a fight. Artemis had to make sure no atrocities were committed by the rebels or the image of his righteous uprising would be tainted.
But, Artemis, unlike when he controlled legions of his Drones, could not fully control the tendencies of some of the soldiers.
When the two of them were about to exit the inner district through the same gate they used to enter, two knights dragged out the wife of a merchant from one of the gallant houses nearby and tore her clothes off.
"Hey! Stop that!" Reinhard shouted.
"Back off, this is revenge!" The man said.
Reinhard was about to draw his sword when two small red beams of light pierced both of their chests.
"Huh?" Reinhard looked at Artemis.
He had two of his fingers pointed at them. The knights fell down on the ground. The others that saw what the man in black did cowered in fear, fearing that they would be next.
"Discipline," Artemis said.
"Yes..." Reinhard answered.
"Fret not. I do not mindlessly kill without reason. But I do not like how you humans are too drunk in your emotions and forget logical reasoning," Artemis said.
Hearing his words, William then thought about something one of the words he caught.
Was the man in black not human?
Reinhard then realized that the man in black had not told any of them his name even though he had done so much and accomplished plenty.
His moniker as The Man In Black spread like wildfire throughout the City of Diadel. Many have come to look up to him as their great liberator while others doubt that he'd be any better than the Count he had just deposed.
But words of his strength that tore down the southern wall was enough to quell any potential dissent as long as he was inside the city.
Artemis headed out to the Southern gate that he had blown up. This confused Reinhard, it was as if Artemis was going back into the forest.
"Milord, if I may, why are we leaving the city?" Reinhard asked.
Artemis looked at him.
Artemis said nothing and pointed over the grassy fields. Reinhard looked on and saw two figures standing by the clearing.
"Is that?" Reinhard said.
"A week ago, an elf by the name of Pandora was running through the forest in the middle of the night under the heavy rain. She was chased by knights that resembled those from this city," Artemis said.
Shit! Reinhard thought
He and the others first thought the goons and the Elf died besides Wart by some magical monsters.
So that was what happened to the goons Ava sent out, the man in black killed them and saved the elf!
But this presented another problem.
The man in black was bound to ask where Pandora's accomplice was. Reinhard was not confident that the girl was still even alive.
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