CHAPTER 64: A POSSIBLE BLOODSHED

"The central districts are mostly under our control, and before the month is over, we’ll have them fully secured without any major complications," Frejlurd reported to the Baron, his tone steady with confidence. "Only a few scattered remnants remain, criminals who slipped away during the initial sweep. They’re hiding in pockets across the city, but thanks to the cooperation of the citizens, we already have intelligence on their locations."

"That’s good to hear," Estefan replied, lounging comfortably as he enjoyed a plate of honey drizzled with wafers alongside a glass of freshly pressed juice. "Before the month’s end, I expect your authority over this region to be absolute."

Frejlurd inclined his head in acknowledgment. "It will be done, my lord. Once the stragglers are gone, neither the Zorthar nor the Lutis will have any real foothold here."

Estefan paused mid bite, tilting his head slightly. "Don’t the Lutis still operate in this central area?"

"Yes," Frejlurd admitted. "They run around four to five brothels in various locations."

"That’s irritating," Estefan remarked, cutting into his wafer with careful precision while holding it down with a fork. "They’re conducting business right under the noses of your men in the very area where you hold the strongest presence. Feels like a direct message that they don’t fear the City Guard."

Frejlurd lifted a hand in a helpless gesture. "Well... brothels are legal in this country. That’s the main reason we can’t move against them outright."

The fact was undeniable, brothels were entirely legitimate under the kingdom’s laws. They weren’t merely tolerated but they were an accepted part of society, frequented by both nobility and commoners alike.

In every city, they functioned as pleasure houses where people of all walks of life gathered to indulge themselves, regardless of status. These establishments brought in staggering profits thanks to their constant stream of patrons.

Over time, the business had become so normalized that the darker side of the trade often went unchallenged.

Many brothel owners began to replenish their workers by kidnapping orphans, or worse, taking young boys and girls in a forceful manner to raise and train them for the sole purpose of selling their bodies once they came of age.

These unfortunate individuals were treated as nothing more than assets in a lucrative market, their worth measured entirely in the coin they could generate.

Beyond their profits, brothels often became hubs of information and influence. Wealthy clients, including nobles who could be persuaded, blackmailed, or seduced into sharing secrets or granting favors.

Those who controlled such places wielded quiet yet significant power. Angering them could be dangerous, as they had both the means and the connections to make troublesome people disappear without consequence.

The Lutis were no exception. Their rise to power began humbly with a single brothel, until it was seized in what came to be known as the Violet Uprising, a coup led by a former prostitute who became known as the Violet Matriarch.

Once in charge, she rapidly expanded her enterprise, absorbing rival establishments and founding new ones until her influence stretched across multiple districts in the City.

To her, the brothel business wasn’t just about turning a profit. She saw the potential for something far greater, an instrument for manipulating powerful men and women, extracting valuable secrets, carrying out assassinations after carefully orchestrated seductions, and weaving a network of debts and obligations.

In short, she was building not just a business empire, but a faction with the capacity to sway politics and perhaps even determine the kingdom’s future rulers.

For those trapped at the bottom of the social order, the allure of such power was intoxicating. The possibility of climbing above their betters and ruling over others was a dream worth pursuing.

"We could simply make it illegal," Estefan said suddenly, his tone bold and matter-of-fact.

Galliard, who had been listening quietly until now, almost laughed. "My lord, banning brothels would provoke the attention of the Royal Government. The pleasure industry is far too important to them, if one city outlawed it, it could threaten the livelihood of countless similar establishments across the kingdom. The backlash would be immediate."

"You’re right," Estefan conceded, dabbing his lips with a fine handkerchief. "But we could still find a legitimate reason."

"A legitimate reason?" Galliard’s curiosity was piqued.

"Of course," Estefan replied with a sly grin. "In fact, we have several like human trafficking, kidnapping, blackmail, murder, forming a private army without proper authorization... and most importantly, drugs."

At that last word, Galliard stiffened. The other accusations, while serious, were hardly surprising since many brothels have done it but the mention of drugs was another matter entirely.

The kingdom’s stance on narcotics was notoriously severe, especially regarding the infamous substance known as moondust. Possession, trafficking, or use of such substances could earn one a swift execution.

"If that’s true, then Lutis is walking a dangerous path," Galliard said gravely. "Not only are they risking the wrath of the City Government, but also the Royal Government, and especially the Duke, who is known to despise drugs above all else."

Estefan’s eyes darkened slightly at that. He had, after all, glimpsed a small pouch of white powder in his father’s chambers, something that strongly resembled moondust.

The discovery had left him unsettled. How could a man who publicly condemned drugs keep such things in his private quarters? And if the Duke himself was compromised, how far had the corruption spread?

It was one thing to ensnare ordinary citizens, but if nobles became addicted, the problem would worsen exponentially. With their wealth and influence, such individuals could pressure the King to soften the laws, perhaps even legalise certain substances altogether.

The consequences for society would be catastrophic, leaving a populace dependent on chemical escape, their will and independence eroded.

"So, yes, we do have justification," Estefan concluded. "What we are missing is evidence. But I’m confident we can find some in the local brothels, especially given their clientele. Rich merchants prefer the safety of the central district, and they’re frequent visitors. Then there are the nobles who slip in anonymously for sex and other entertainment."

"That’s correct, my lord," Galliard confirmed. "The brothels here are especially popular among those types. If they’re seeking more than just physical pleasures, they might be drawn to... other services."

"Exactly!" Estefan snapped his fingers in satisfaction. "The wealthy often want stimulation beyond the physical. The Lutis may be experts at satisfying the body, but for the mind, they might offer something more... exotic. And that’s where we catch them."

"My lord," Galliard asked carefully, "would they truly take such a risk?" His question came after listening to Estefan’s speculation that the brothels within the City’s central region might be distributing drugs.

It was a fair doubt. After all, the central district was where the City Guard’s authority and influence were strongest.

Introducing contraband there would be a bold gamble. Still, the potential rewards could be tempting. Wealthier patrons, those with the means and curiosity to sample such illicit pleasures were common in these areas.

A new, mind softening drug could become the latest vice among the elite, offering sensations unlike anything they had known before and if the Lutis could keep such clients addicted, it would mean a steady stream of income and influence.

For them, the cost of supplying the drug would be negligible compared to the leverage they could gain over such powerful individuals.

"You are correct, it is indeed a dangerous move," Estefan replied evenly. "But you must also consider that they may have begun these dealings long before my presence altered the balance here. In those days, all it took was bribing the right officials to turn a blind eye. Now, however, they can’t rely on that as easily or perhaps they still persist in doing so. You must understand, Galliard, human greed rarely allows itself to be restrained."

"I would like to think Commander Frejlurd has instilled enough righteousness in the City Guard to resist such temptations," Galliard said, hoping to defend the honor of the men under City’s banner since Frejlurd wasn’t there to defend it as he left shortly after reporting.

Estefan’s lips curled into an amused smile before a quiet laugh escaped him. "Righteous? Frejlurd has accepted bribes before, same as any man who has walked these streets. The difference is, he understands his place and the limits of the Guard. What set him apart, and what earned him my trust, was his determination to change those limits without overstepping my authority. He knows precisely what will happen if he defies me, and that knowledge ensures his loyalty. The same principle applies to the Guard as a whole. Yet, soldiers at the lowest ranks are prone to taking risks for personal gain. That, Galliard, is simply human nature."

There was no argument Galliard could muster against that reasoning. The Baron’s words rang with uncomfortable truth, leaving no room for polite denial.

"Then," the butler ventured, his voice tinged with unease, "does this mean you will be forced to conduct more purges, my lord?" The thought alone conjured visions of the bloody campaigns that had already reshaped the City.

The people, however, saw Estefan’s purges differently. In their eyes, his actions had been entirely for the City’s benefit.

He had never turned his hand against the innocent. Those who fell under his reign were criminals, gang members, corrupt officials, predators, and the streets had grown safer because of it.

In an era when most noble houses were regarded with suspicion or contempt, the Angeras family stood apart. Their autonomy and tight control over their duchy had fostered prosperity and stability for their people, earning them respect few aristocratic lines could claim.

Estefan, as the eldest son of Duke Gerin Angeras and presumed heir to that legacy, was expected to act with such resolve. For many, his relentless pursuit of order was simply in keeping with the Angeras tradition.

"A bloodshed will come if there are those who disrupt the flow of my plans," Estefan said at last, his voice low but edged with iron. "I do not care who they are. If anyone dares to hinder my vision for this City’s greatness, their end will be certain, and it will be a fate far worse than death."

The weight of his words pressed heavily in the room, leaving Galliard with no doubt that the Baron’s threat was no idle boast.

[To be Continued]