The wooden chair scraped loudly against the ground as the mayor sprang to his feet. All the muftis turned to look at him, their eyes paying close attention to his mouth to see what words would come out of them. All of them but Mufti Sayid, who calmly dropped his eyes and sipped from his teacup.
To everyone’s relief, no spell was uttered from the mayor's lips. He clenched his fist tightly and repeated the question back at Mufti Sayid, “You want me to suspend Yue Ran from his position as the captain of the enforcers?”
Mufti Sayid nodded and said nothing else.
“Why?” asked the mayor.
“Why?” Mufti Sayid’s calm demeanor suddenly shifted to one of outrage and anger as he shouted across the table, “Because Captain Yue’s fragrant violation of protocols lead to the deaths of the people under my care, Wei De Xin! Because there are fifty people out there who can no longer work and provide for their families because they are dead or injured! Because I need to answer to them about what happened! They need an explanation and I will give them one!”
The mayor clearly had not expected this turn of events. He paused for a moment and tried to reason with the mufti, “Sayid, you know as well as I do that it is utter madness to suspend the captain of the enforcers at this juncture. We are two months away from the Darktide. We already don't have enough men to guard all the mines.”
“Someone needs to take responsibility,” said Mufti Sayid curtly.
The person in question, Captain Yue Ran himself, sat stoically in his chair and said nothing. Tian Yi looked at him and realized that he was prepared for this outcome.
“I’m sorry, Sayid, but I cannot and I will not suspend the captain of the enforcers.”
“The Malay Union supported your assumption of the office of mayor with the understanding that we would be cooperating for the future of the Undercity and for the survival of the people. The Union tolerated the formation of the enforcers, knowing that it was meant as a force of order and justice. And now, you are trying to bend the laws and make an exception for your subordinate? If I didn't know better, I would say that you are trying to turn the enforcers into your own private soldiers!”
“You know that that is not my intention—”
“Given your unwillingness to work with us and your reluctance to make any compensation for the mistake of the enforcers, the Malay Union sees no reason to continue working with the mayor’s office. All civilians under our jurisdiction will stop working in your mines, while all individuals in the military will be recalled along with our peacekeepers.”
“You can’t be serious. How are you going to feed your people that way?”
“We will manage one way or another. You, on the other hand, should think about your next move.”
Mufti Sayid’s threat was no empty threat. It was a serious ultimatum that would have devastating consequences. The Malay people under the Malay Union’s governance accounted for over 50% of the workers and 50% of the city guard. If the Undercity was to splinter into two completely separate factions, it would mean a complete breakdown in their mining operations and severe dysfunction in the defensive efforts against the Abyss creatures.
A move like that was calamitous, not just for the mayor’s office, but for the Malay Union itself, which lent all the more weight to Mufti Sayid's threat. Everyone at the table could tell that Mufti Sayid wouldn't actually go through with his threat, but it was nevertheless a show of force. He was reminding the mayor of the Malay Union’s influence within the Undercity.
The mayor sighed and said, “We cannot suspend Captain Yue, for the sake of the city’s security—”
Mufti Sayid rose from his seat and turned to leave.
“—However, I am willing to make concessions on other matters to compensate for the losses of the Union and its people.”
Mufti Sayid stopped mid-step and turned to look at the mayor.
The mayor pulled at his mustache uncertainly and glanced at Lin Zheng Yao. The chief administrator of the Undercity stood up and whispered something into his ear.
“The mayor’s office will pay twenty gold coins to the families of the deceased and ten gold coins to all the injured as remuneration for the enforcers’ mishandling of the incident.”
Mufti Sayid stroked his own snow-white mustache and straightened his back to stand up tall. The wrinkles on his forehead scrunched together as he frowned and said, “Not enough. What good is money when you can’t buy food with it? I want a twenty percent increase in the rations supplied to the Malay Union.”
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“Food is scarce everywhere, Mufti. If I gave you that much food, the people under my care would starve.”
Mufti Sayid turned around without any hesitation.
“Five percent, Mufti Sayid. That's all I can offer.”
“Fifteen percent. My people are already starving. The closure of the mines has put hundreds of people out of jobs. Even with the rationing keeping prices down, they can hardly afford anything to eat and we have to feed them.”
“Eight percent. You know that is the maximum I can offer you, Mufti Sayid. The projected mining output of all our mines combined is not looking good. It’s doubtful we will be able to have enough to trade for food with the British in July. We are expecting to ration well into December.”
Mufti Sayid said nothing, but he seemed to be pondering the proposal very carefully. It seemed like the mayor wasn’t lying about the numbers.
Finally, after a long pause, the elderly mufti spoke, “Eight percent increase in the rations supplied to the Malay Union and increased enforcer oversight while operating within Union territory. In addition, I want to appoint an individual of my choice to the city guard as deputy commander.”
The mayor scoffed and said, “You intend to dip your fingers in the military as well?”
“Our peacekeepers are already helping with the defensive efforts. It makes sense to give them a commensurate title as well. Of course, the Union will also double the forces we have been sending to your aid. The city guard will remain well within your authority, the only difference being that we will now have a bit of influence and say in its activities as well.”
The mayor huffed and clenched his fist tightly. He shot a brief glance at Kharak Singh. The commander of the city guard nodded subtly but confidently at him. Taking a deep breath, the mayor asked, “What kind of increased oversight are you thinking of for the enforcers?”
There was no mention of the appointment of a deputy to the city guards, but both parties understood that the mayor had relented on that front.
“All enforcers must be accompanied by a member of the Union or a peacekeeper while operating within Union territory. If the case they are pursuing involves an individual or location under the jurisdiction of the Union, they will be expected to divulge all details of the case to the Union. Of course, we understand the importance of confidentiality. The Union will set up a special office to liaison with the enforcers in this regard. Here are the specifics written out in a document,” said Mufti Sayid as he took out a stack of papers from a pocket.
One of the younger muftis took the papers respectfully and gave everyone at the table a copy. The mayor picked up the paper, still taken aback and shocked at how well-prepared the Malay Union was. It was odd that they had such thought-out conditions, almost as if they had been preparing for a moment like this, where they had leverage over him. As he read through the document, his face turned greener and greener with anger and humiliation.
Tian Yi noticed that Captain Yue’s unshakeable and impenetrable exterior cracked slightly when he read the Union’s terms. He seemed slightly surprised and frustrated.
It was apparent what this agreement would do. The enforcer would be practically stripped of all authority within Union territory. Even search and arrest warrants would have to be pre-approved by the Union. In addition, Union peacekeepers would be granted authority to take over a case at any moment. This was a blatant attempt at giving the Union its own enforcers and would further widen the divide between the two governing factions of the Undercity. Above all else, it was a slap across the mayor's face. A sign that they did not trust him in the slightest.
While the city guard agreement had been acceptable as it would increase their strength and numbers, there was no benefit in agreeing to this additional enforcer oversight.
“You are crossing a line here, Sayid,” the mayor said through clenched teeth.
“Am I? This whole incident was the result of your enforcers going against protocol. I suggested that you suspend the main person in charge, but you refused and so, here we are. This is my final, final offer, Datuk Wei, and I will not budge on this. It is either this, or you suspend Captain Yue.”
The mayor had turned as red as a lobster. Tian Yi couldn’t help but wonder how much restraint it took this powerful sorcerer not to mutter a few words and instantly murder everyone at the table.
This agreement was what the Union had truly been after. Everything leading up to this moment, from the demand for the captain’s suspension, to the negotiation, was all to build up to this. This one agreement would greatly expand the Union’s influence and make them a practically separate governing body from the mayor’s office.
The mayor looked over at Captain Yue and back at the document in his hands, then back at Captain Yue again.
Captain Yue had noticed the mayor's gaze. He looked down at the document and read through it one more time, his expression turning more solemn and grave with every line. Finally, he let out a great big sigh. He met the mayor’s gaze and tore the piece of paper in half. His meaning was clear: reject the offer and suspend him.
This didn’t seem to have helped the mayor come to a decision at all. In fact, if anything, it only made him more agitated. He grabbed his mouth with his large right hand and paced in front of the table impatiently. Sometimes, he would shout vulgarities, which always caused the muftis to jump in their seat. No one knew if the word that came out of his mouth was gonna be a swear word or a literal curse.
Mufti Asri, who was sitting to the side of Mufti Sayid, had a worried expression on his face, quite unlike the arrogant smirks of his colleagues. He opened his mouth and said reluctantly, "Mufti Sayid, perhaps some of the terms in the agreement—”
“The others agree with this decision. Perhaps you should consider where your allegiance lies, Asri,” said Mufti Sayid as he shot the other mufti a stern look.
Mufti Asri replied boldly, “Discord and division is not the right path, Sayid. For the Undercity or for our own people.”
Mufti Sayid did not respond. None of the other muftis appeared to side with Asri either. Defeated, the mufti simply sighed.
After what seemed like an eternity, the mayor finally stopped in his tracks. He marched up to the table with his chest puffed up and pressed his palm firmly into the table.
His cheeks were tense, as if doing their best to hold back something. At last, he said, “Fine.”
The mustached sorcerer then slumped into his chest limply, as if all his strength had left his body with that one word.
Across the table, unseen by anyone but Tian Yi, Captain Yue seemed to share an unfortunate, knowing glance with Mufti Asri.