CHAPTER 57: MUST FIND THEM

Under the stern command of Commander Frejlurd, the City Guard launched a massive operation.

The directive was unambiguous, locate those responsible for the destruction of the Gate and, more critically, rescue the abducted women. All restrictions were lifted, the guards were authorised to enter any premises, homes, and districts that fell under the Baron’s dominion, as the entirety of the city was effectively his property.

Within the City Guard’s central fortress, their operational headquarters, a strategic meeting unfolded in the main hall.

Commander Frejlurd stood at the helm, joined by high ranking officers seated around a broad wooden table that showcased a detailed map of the city.

At the center of the table gleamed a magical gemstone, used as a communication device. Through it, images of speakers could be projected using mana, an advanced form of magical technology developed to replace slower means of communication like messenger birds or human couriers.

The technology allowed mana signals to be transmitted rapidly across vast distances, with the central gemstone linking to smaller ones held by field operatives. This system ensured that vital updates flowed continuously between patrol teams and the command center.

"Make sure to find them," Frejlurd ordered through the gemstone, his voice projected to every patrolling unit scouring the city.

Guards stormed through homes, some based on suspicion, others selected arbitrarily since after all, the criminals could be hiding anywhere. Every shadowed alley, locked cellar, and abandoned property was considered fair game in the escalating search.

One officer cautiously proposed, "What if we comb through territories controlled by the smaller gangs? They might be involved, even if just as pawns."

Frejlurd shook his head. "It’s not conclusive. The thunder barrels were used to create chaos, that level of distraction demands serious funding. Only the two major factions in the city have the resources to pull off something of this scale. Besides, evading our heavily armored guards isn’t easy, especially kidnapping three of them, considering the fact that they came from the outer slums."

In his heart, Frejlurd was almost certain that Zorthar was involved. While he hadn’t gathered concrete proof, past suspicions lingered. He recalled an interrogation where a petty criminal, beaten and bloodied, confessed that Zorthar had been collaborating with the Revolutionary Army, the infamous insurgents known for their opposition to the Monarchy.

At the time, Frejlurd had dismissed the claim since the person who revealed it was a lowlife who wasn’t even part of Zorthar. After all, the gangs in the City had a habit of infighting so it could have been a lie to instigate a battle between Zorthar and them.

But now, in light of recent events, that unconfirmed statement felt more plausible than ever since Zorthar was the richest in terms of making money amongst the group of evildoers.

"This entire ordeal is tragic," Frejlurd admitted, looking solemnly at his fellow officers. "But if we manage to rescue the girls, and better yet, capture some of the attackers then we might finally prove a connection between this city’s criminal underworld and the Revolutionary Army."

The revelation hit the room like a thunderclap. The Revolutionary Army was no minor rebellion, they posed an existential threat to the aristocracy and the ruling royal family.

This faction also possess weapons such as thunder barrels which were smuggled from the Army barracks by people who have pledged their allegiance to the Revolution.

Their rallying cry, "Down with the King, down with the Nobles," had spread like wildfire, prompting the nobility to pressure the crown into taking harsher measures. But those harsh actions only fanned the flames. The rebellion swelled, its influence growing stronger than any noble had anticipated.

So far, their presence had been little to less in the Angeras Duchy. That was largely because the people genuinely respected and adored the Angeras family. Under their rule, the common folk had flourished more than those in the outer regions of the kingdom.

This made it harder for their preachings against the nobles to be not supported in the Duchy although the City of Rammstein is unstable enough for any outer faction to try and create a foothold.

Ironically, the current Duke had treated his subjects with more care than he did his own eldest son who was after all an heir he abandoned solely because of his mother’s status of being a commoner, unlike the second son, born of the King’s own sister. The politics of lineage ran deep.

"We cannot afford to let this go unresolved beyond sunrise," Frejlurd warned. "If we fail to rescue those women by dawn, the citizens will lose all remaining faith in us. How can they rely on us for protection if we can’t even safeguard those within our own rank?"

His warning rang true. The City Guard had long suffered from a fractured reputation. Before the Baron’s arrival to the City, they were regarded as little more than errand boys for the gangs and ignoring the civilian cries for help while doing the bidding of local crime lords. Their image was tarnished beyond recognition.

This public mistrust discouraged recruitment. With fewer men and low morale, the Guard became incapable of truly policing the city.

Many districts essentially were under the control of the criminal factions, while the Guard clung to dwindling authority which remained at the central region of the City and two major roadways connecting the City to the outside.

But everything changed with the arrival of Baron Estefan. In a single blood soaked night, he executed thousands of thugs and murderers, restoring a sense of justice. Citizens began to believe in him, and the Guard’s reputation slowly recovered.

Yet Frejlurd now felt that fragile respect slipping through his fingers. If word spread about the attack on the Palace and the kidnapped women, the people might assume the Guard had grown complacent or worse, that the so called purge of criminals had been a farce.

Whispers of weakness would turn into public outrage, and criminals would seize the moment to reinforce their influence, especially in areas still contested by proxy gangs.

The Guard controlled only parts of the city directly. In others, their authority was overshadowed by middlemen of the local thugs who reported back to the powerful crime families of Zorthar and Lutis along with the mysterious third faction.

It was a city constantly teetering on the edge of collapse and Frejlurd knew that one misstep could cause it all to fall apart.

The only solution was swift, decisive action. They had to capture those responsible. They had to save the victims. And they had to show, no matter the cost, that the City Guard was not the weak, corrupt force it used to be, but instead a force reborn.

[To be Continued]