The Captain looks over at the old draconid as well. His face is annoyed more than anything else, but he also understands the opportunity here. If he's right about that draconid's worth, the Captain might be on the fast track to becoming a Tritol Guard Commander.
There is a problem plaguing the city of Tritol. There are some organized groups of unknown scale and power working in the city, and they are made up of demihumans. These groups have been agitating the workers at the Baron's alchemical factories and other factories within the city that have war contracts.
Since the announcement of the Final Crusade, one factory's workers had already formed an illegal union. Another factory had started agitating management for safer working conditions and more pay, while threatening a wildcat strike.
At the center of both situations, there were unknown demihumans who were seen talking with the factory workers. One or two of the workers who were arrested by the guards admitted during their interrogation that strangers had provided help, sometimes monetary, sometimes to boost morale, sometimes instructive…
Of course, those two groups of factory workers are in the process of being crushed and harshly punished to make an example out of them. However, their actions resulted in war-time production slowing down. Those unknown groups could still be trying to convince more of Tritol’s factory workers that they can and should act like those punished agitators.
On the eve of a war too! When will the Baron publicly declare such actions as illegal and traitorous? He really needs to make a big speech about it so more people are aware of how this could be hurting our chances in the upcoming war… Wait, stop, calm down…
The Captain takes a few deep breaths while considering how the old draconid man could fit into this picture. Someone like him, a public and (by now) well known individual could be approached by those groups. The group or groups are surprisingly strict and secretive, making infiltration by the guards virtually impossible. But, someone like him could have a way in.
All the guards have to do is grab that draconid man, place some hidden tracking spells on him and throw him back out into the city. There is a danger of such spells being discovered and removed, but that in itself will be a clue as to how dangerous he is as an individual. People like that will need to be silently tracked and disposed of at a later time anyways.
With the draconid’s ignorant help, the guards could finally get some meaningful information about the agitator groups. If the Captain's hunch is correct, the old man is probably already a member, a high ranking one as well.
The fact an orator of his caliber would reveal himself here when the Baron’s family is funding and supporting a public display like this shows how careful he is to keep hidden most of the time. People who are smart enough and careful enough to show themselves only when the time is just right are dangerous to the Baron’s interests.
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The Captain's subordinates also plan to apply similar location tracking spells to other people of interest at this protest, but they are of secondary importance. Considering how many people are at this gathering, capturing even the few they need could prove challenging.
Still, if he's right about that draconid's importance, the Captain might be on the fast track to promotion. He just has to successfully capture him today. Having the eyes of the noble Quinn on him does make him feel nervous though. The Captain absolutely has to succeed today, it could determine his future and the future of his family.
He has already made his move to create a big enough distraction so his men can grab the draconid when they need to. He was saving a special card just for an event like this.
"So, when will you be capturing him, Captain?" The crystal mage asks, breaking his silence.
"It will be a few minutes before sunset. I already have some of my men in position undercover in the crowd to make sure he doesn’t leave before then."
"Why not just take him now then? What are you waiting for?"
"I gave instructions to one of my sergeants. He has the means to carry out a certain prerequisite assignment. However, the less you know about that, the better."
"...I understand. I expect good results, Captain." The heroic crystal mage looks the Captain directly in his eyes.
The Captain can see a bit of the light purple of his noble eyes through the crosshatched eyeholes of his mask. God has touched the man in front of him. The Captain bows and walks away with his lieutenant following him.
***
An hour and a half earlier.
A city guard sergeant walks away from Maz square. He is wearing a cloth mask under his helmet to cover his entire face. The badge in the center of his crimson chest plate is that of an sky-blue orda shell. His Captain has given him the task of creating a distraction.
In order to carry out this task, he is going to have to call in some special players to cause a little mayhem, just as the Captain expected.
This city guard sergeant has been working an undercover operation for a few years now. He has been cultivating ties to a certain extremist organization, named Osva's Twin Moons, a task given to him by his city guard superiors. They provided him with money and weapons to give to their group in order to form a strong bond between himself and the Twin Moon's members.
The Twin Moons is somewhat eclectic in the beliefs that its members have, however they are all united in the cause of human supremacy through violence and terrorism aimed at demihumans.
Additionally, unlike other human supremacist groups, they kept both male and female members among their ranks, though the hierarchy is still man over woman. Men assume the higher positions in the organization while the grunts are about 60% female, 40% male.
A violent organization run by demihumans against humans would not be afforded the same kind of material support as the guards had given the Twin Moons. But, the Twin Moons never did anything that would harm a wealthy commoner, let alone a noble. A terrorist organization that knows their place is a perfect tool to carry out some of the city guards' black book operations.
Today, they would be called out to cause some trouble, perhaps more than the sergeant was expecting.