The God of Jesters
Chapter 74 - 2.20.3 Martial Law

Chapter 74: 2.20.3 Martial Law

"You are one of the knights?" Remira asked, curious why a blue eye would hold such power, unless they are part of the regiment of knights that recently entered Durum.

But the man called Three just shook his head. "Not truly... I was just thrown here as an eye for punishment. But won’t lie, I am enjoying this work a bit too much." With those words, Three looked at the sky and continued. "But we should talk later, the others should be coming here soon."

Then he picked up the body of One while Number Two helped Remira on her feet, while they exited from the back, leaving Levon on the floor with a broken face.

At the end of the day, without distance, Levon just had a normal physique, getting punched by an adept knight was enough to take him out. And unlike other Knights, this one just happened to love sneak attacks.

One of the many reasons he was punished to work here as an eye. Though, those details were for later. One can just say, Levon’s luck was not good this time.

"Even in that carriage, they will hunt us down."

"I don’t think such is the case. It would seem the Marshall you were working with did something crazy."

"?"

Before she could ask what that crazy thing was, a couple of men came from the dark, and stood in front of them, each wearing a hood and hunched back, which hid something akin to the sword.

Though, as for their identity, there was no need to question it. With a bit of will, they released the aura of their blood, making the group learn of the identity of the two men.

"You came a bit late." Number two said, sighing while looking at Number One who was still out.

"We can talk later, move for now."

******

With the group disappeared in the dark of night, the piece of police that arrived at the scene and recovered the injured Levon only amounted to 11, their arms were shaky and worried their faces, while looking at the devastation.

Though what worried them more was something else. As it turns out, the army had surrounded the eastern front of the city. As for their reasons?

The officers of their level were not aware of such, they just know that something big is going to happen.

Which was why the whole city was in darkness.

While Reina was running away, the confusion due to Army’s bizarre action spread through the city, worrying the mage council and forcing the many police activities to come to a halt.

And when it was dead of night, a jeep left the army encampment and entered the city where a meeting place had been organized between the army and the leaders of Durum, which included the Mayor, the mage union and the police chief, who was sweating hard at the arrival of the leader of this army.

Who just happened to be someone he had offended this very morning.

And then the man came, followed by a few high ranking officers, Maisel walked in the room with calm eyes, as he gave every man a look, before glaring at the Police chief.

"Marshall, can you explain what is going on outside? Why did you turn the army against your own people?" The Mayor asked in anger, this is just what he was fearing might happen if someone of Maisel’s authority entered the streets of Durum.

Making him somewhat regret his previous choice. If he hadn’t wished to use Maisel to suppress the mages in the city, he wouldn’t have the right to use that very same authority now and just be Varkus Maisel, instead of a Marshall. A civilian without much authority.

Though it was too late to regret, things have backfired and if he wished to retain control over this city, he had to work with the very same hateful mages.

And Maisel, hearing such questions, just threw the file with all his findings. "You ask such questions, while allowing the Blue Lotus Cult to grow so bigger... Do you treat me like a fool?"

"Marshall, are you accusing me of working with terrorists?" The mayor asked in anger, fuming at Maisel.

But Maisel just shook his head. "No... but I know some who might be working with them." With those words, Maisel’s eyes turned to the two mages that came here for a dialog, before turning to the Police chief Ramroa. "And I might know for certain who it is." With those words, Maisel stepped closer to the Police chief, who started to sweat heavily before shouting.

"Marshall, I have tried to cater to your orders, I don’t know where I offended you?"

"I never said you offended me, all I know is the knight for Radiance, who was working alongside me has disappeared from the hospital. The very same place where you barred my men from entering before."

Hearing such words, the Mayor turned to the Police Chief, his eyes widened with surprise as he asked. "What did you do?"

Eyes that made Ramroa understand one thing. His life would be destroyed if he didn’t explain here properly.

"Mayor, there was a reason for why we did it. That woman was one of the suspects for the Explosion disaster that happened this morning. One of the prime suspects at that."

"And in truth, I was going to allow Marshall’s men to meet her. But before we knew it, she sneaked away from the hospital... And.. and we hid the fact out of shame." His words were filled with lies, which Maisel didn’t buy one bit. But considering the lack of evidence over what actually happened in the hospital caused by lack of time. Marshall chose to abandon this talking point for now. He just needed to use Remira’s fate as an excuse to pressure the Mayor further and he did it.

"Chief Ramroa might have made some mistakes, but he had also done a lot good..." the Mayor, knowing this fact, defended Ramroa, even though he was starting to suspect Ramroa himself.

He even wondered if it was the right choice to give Ramroa a seat in this discussion. But he can’t turn back time.

And Maisel on the other hand, giving one last look at the Police chief, turned to the mages. And threw another file at them.

"Open it, I want your opinion on it.’

The two mages were Professors from the tower of Arcana of Durum, Elemental mages just like Maisel. Acting as the face of Mage union, the authority the two held at the moment was immense.

Though, with this authority as the face of the mage union and responsibility on their shoulder was immense. Before the meeting the group was already aware that it would be next to impossible for them to stop the military. But it didn’t mean they won’t be able to gain some respite if they worked their side perfectly.

Though, all of their preparation became for naught the moment they saw the report.

Making the situation a lot more serious and worse than people have previously assumed. The Blue Lotus cult was not the only thing mentioned in the report, but a direct attack on barracks that would have turned lethal if not for some special members of the army that came to rescue.

A lie that didn’t happen, but the giant curse that sent the army into deep sleep was still mentioned there, a curse that can change the directions of victory.

"This... this is serious."

"And your inactions allowed this." Maisel called the mage out.

The following discussion turned one sided soon after. The mages tried to defend their side, tried to gain immunity from Military occupation of the city, but none of that worked.

There was not much to be done, and when a call from the ministers of the Prince came, Maisel repeated his findings, shutting him up as well.

In front of concrete evidence and national security, the freedom of mages didn’t matter at all. And when the news of the results spread to the mages, some of them had regret on their faces.

Many even wondered why they needed to defend Kairut before? The man whose resignation letter arrived not so long ago, almost confirming his involvement with the terrorist.

While causing those that tried to defend Kairut, they also came under scrutiny and suspicion. Wasn’t it the same as accepting their involvement with whatever Kairut was in.

Though, the majority of mages didn’t hold such guilt in their heart.

"We will see if they dare to step one foot in the campus. Seal the gates and turn anyone that tries to enter. The colleges are free from the city and are an entity on their own" These were the consensus that many came with. Choosing to shut their gates and hiding like a turtle while everything was over.

While sending news of the injustices in the city to the other Mage towers around the Principality. All in an attempt to force the Prince to deal with this issue directly and send Maisel away.

But all of it would still stake time.

A time in which the Military entered the streets of Durum, the rich districts as well the poor ones. They spread like ants into each part of the city, pushing the civilians in their home, as they established a martial law in the city.

Which caused a mass panic initially, mostly from the refugees and the poor, who didn’t have the luxury to stay inside their home while the military dealt with the problem. People like them only earn enough to fill their stomach and without work due to this, they would starve for who knows how long.

So they fought the military with sticks and stones, but were forced to surrender after the Army stopped holding back.

But Maisel, knowing their situation, also forced the Mayor to empty the warehouses to feed the poor until the situation was settled.

And two days after the situation stabilized, Kairut walked out of his hiding place and took in a fresh breath of air.