"May I know what is going on?"

Calm voice suddenly appeared, absolutely unbothered by the ongoing situation.

When Mike turned his head around, he saw unsteadily breathing Yrwa, standing behind a small group of four dignified men. The one standing at the top of their formation didn't wear any weapons – or visible ones at least. Leisurely strolling through the courtyard, they looked like some kind of special guests on the party, not onlookers they were.

Despite mind-numbing attitude of the group, their presence frozen Enforcers, while making Mike smile. Instantly putting satisfied grin on his face, Mike stepped forward.

"Thank you for your timely intervention. I was the one to request your presence beforehand! I vow to abide trail methods and follow the procedures!"

Immediately straightening up, Mike threw another formula that seemed to have some strange effect on the local forces.

While the merchant was speaking, rest of his group just stood in place, dumbfounded by the events. It appeared that Mike not only knew who the new guys were; he was the one to arrange their visit! While both Xyenna and Bern couldn't make a tin or tails out of the sudden change in environment, Veil looked like he realised something. He threw a quick look at Horien, who seemed like if he finally got rid of some kind of pressure on him.

On the other side, every single one of Enforces stepped down and sheathed down their weapons. Their captain at first furrowed his brows in confusion, but after looking at Mike content smile and quickly thinking things through, he followed his subordinates example and saluted to the elegant guy without speaking a word.

"I see that most of you understand what is going on."

Dignified official said calmly, with no hint of surprise in his clear eyes.

"Just the fact that the single party that seems to be confused is the accusing one, we have our caught our schemer. Any of you have anything else to say?"

"I agree. After Sirs arrival, everything makes sense. Forgive me for my previous behaviour."

Officer slightly bowed to Mike, as if ashamed by something.

"Men, arrest the fat merchant!"

Dumbfounded by the direction that the situation was heading to, Verkel stood frozen on the spot. Only when Horien readied his sword and moved to his front did he understand that something went terribly wrong.

"What is the meaning of this!"

Seeing how guards were swiftly closing on him, the fatso could only escape to his greatest weapon.

"Im the victim here, why won't you arrest those murderers!"

He screamed with a furious expression.

"Spare the guardian please."

Mike ignored his former companion and asked the Enforcers captain. Understanding the urgency of the situation and seeing merchant's resolute face, he swiftly halted the attack and gave the way for Mike.

"Under Nulifier influence, you are free from your obligations. There is no need for you to keep his side!"

Swiftly moving in front of the guards, Mike approached the burly man with no weapon on himself.

"I won't pry into your reasons for putting up with him, but no matter what they are, they don't matter anymore. This chance is all I can do for you my friend."

Young trader sadly shook his head.

"I don't know what is going on, but don't you dare follow his words!"

Verkel couldn't hold it anymore. His elaborate plot misfired, causing the rebound to hit him.

"You agreed to the contract, you have to do as I say!"

Flinching at those words, Horien disposition changed. Like if he resolved himself into doing something, he relaxed. After taking deep breath, his vision cleared, his hand lay on his sword handle and he shifted down his centre of mass. Any signs of regret disappeared as Horien readied himself for impossible fight.

"If it's about a contract, I may void it though?"

Previously mentioned Nulifier stepped forward with a kind smile.

"Be it mercenary, adventurer or professional, I'm authorised to… hmm… nullify them all?"

Man gigged a bit, as if bringing up the best joke in the whole nation.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Verkel burst out yet again. Unable to understand the flow of events, uncertain about his future, and dumbfounded by overall reality, his emotions were a mess. And the man that turned such a favourable situation into a deadly one was standing right in front of him.

"Who even are you to carry wear a haughty smile while framing me!"

"Who am I? Huh, it's been a long time since someone felt the need to ask for my name."

Man replied with a devious smile and snapped his fingers. Unbothered by hesitating Horien, a trio of Nulifier escorts suddenly appeared in front of fat merchant. His legs got kicked in an instant, as his hand got forced onto his back. Falling down on his knees, his head got brutally smashed on the stone street.

"I am Birken, Nulifier in the service of his majesty, the King. Currently stationed in this city and carrying out my duties. As to what happened, aren't you the one with the clearest image?"

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Man introduced himself with his head kept high as if every word he spoke added some intangible aura to his disposition.

"And no, no matter how your blessing works, it doesn't matter anymore. Im capable of screening all blessings and profiencies down. Now you understand what's going on?"

Birken yet again put his kind smile, as he looked at the fat merchant with eyes filled with disgust.

"While my ability works only since I arrived here, I believe that Enforcers already figured your scheme out. Don't take them too lightly!"

High official kneeled on one knee in front of a bruised Verkel face as he looked with curiosity at the guard's captain.

"Yes sir! With Your arrival, we realised all the stuff that was blocked from our sight before. He claimed that two of his people got murdered, yet there is no sign of fighting on the carriages. According to his testimony, those two traders supposedly ganged up on him to steal his goods. Then where does their guards come from? This story is so far-fetched that only someone ignorant and arrogant could ever get this kind of idea! Im really ashamed of not noticing it before, sir!"

Enforcer who behaved a lot different compared to his previous self, quickly explained.

"Why didn't you ask for Nulifer mediation before then? That would save a lot of troubles for both of us!"

Officer asked Mike with a face twisted in grief. That was the expression of someone saved from the trouble yet fearing consequences of his actions.

"I'm sorry, but his blessing is too unpredictable. I figured out various scenarios how the situation would go, unsure how it would influence the events. I decided to leave nothing to the fate."

Mike answered as he looked at the Verkel pushed on the stone floor of the courtyard.

"Some kind of argument on the road?"

Dignified Sir smiled sympathetically at the young merchant. Despite his lofty position, he appeared really likable.

"You are right, sir! He overused his luck by relying on the blessing. When we pointed it out, he acted as we denied the core meaning behind his existence. Just from how he acted later on, I knew he would try to cause some trouble."

Mike explained himself while keeping polite and respectful tone. Nulifier attitude might be friendly, but as someone from a far lower social position, Mike couldn't act the same.

"It seem my first evaluation upon hearing this beautiful lady explanation was not far off the mark!"

Birken exclaimed with joy, as he put his hands together.

"Those cases are getting easier and easier! I was expecting some real fun in this situation, and here I am, cleaning up small civilian outbursts..."

Suddenly losing energy, official dramatically felt on his bottom. Act truly unassociated with such a high bureaucrat, yet man didn't seem to pay it any mind.

"For the matter of false accusation, this merchant cargo will be evaluated and after covering the costs of civilian affair meditation, wares will transfer its ownership onto the victims. They will also receive a government claim card. As for the perpetrator..."

Birken hesitated after looking at the fatso guard. He looked at the names on the new report combined swiftly by enforcers.

"Horien is hereby freed from his contractual and spiritual binds to the Verkel, the merchant. Supporting the scheme will be forgiven by the subordinate law from a civilian book. Government will provide claim card."

After thinking it through, Birken decided against taking any actions against poor bodyguard. Forced to obey absurd and unmoral orders, acting against companions… What happened made him go through so much, that any additional sentence would be pointless.

"It's time for the main dish. Verkel the merchant, born into Empire, Merchant's guild member. I hereby sentence you for five years of forced labour in the Kingdom mines. All your possessions will be confiscated and given to the victims. Would you like to protest?"

Official asked politely after announcing he verdict.

"To hell with you all! Yes, I protest! Ha, if my cargo belongs to them, you need to arrest them for oversupply breach!"

Fatso shouted few phrases, trying to slow down incoming ordeal, or at least to drag his opponents to hell with him!

"That's actually quite problematic. Even if it sounds ridiculous, the judgement has passed so according to the City law's you are responsible for acquired wares…"

Nulifier suspended his voice, as if hesitating for a bit

"But looking at the matter at hand, I think no one here have enough time to count all the stuff from both carriages to check if the total mass exceed the threshold."

"There will be no need to avoid this problem!"

Mike swiftly interjected, with a resolute look on his face.

"I believe that we should abide the laws, and no matter how did I gain my profits, they need to be fully legal."

"I would like to politely ask Enforcers troops to count the exact amount of wares in both wagons and calculate standard fine. Adding trial fine and tax alinement cost should add up to around half the worth of the newly acquired cargo."

Merchant straightforwardly expressed his views on the matter.

"Are you sure about this kind of conclusion?"

Surprised, Nulifier asked. He gave this young man a way out of the trouble after considering all ups and downs, but he still wanted to pay?

"I prefer to have a clean hands. In the end, those wares didn't belong to me in the first place, so making the profit from smuggled goods would only bring me more harm."

Mike shrugged slightly, as if brushing this kind of annoyance off himself.

"Additionally, if the situation remains the same as three years ago, your post should be heavily underpaid Sir, while your service helps those in unjust troubles. This way, I can still get some gains while helping one of my friends from your ministry, that used to worry about this matter!"

Dejected voice of the young merchant spread through the location.

"Cronyism! Corruption!"

Verkel's shout erupted in the area.

"You dare to speak about justice, while using your personal connections to sway the judgment into your favour! Such injustice! Treason!"

Fatso kept struggling heavily under the arms of the Enforcers, as he shouted his lungs out.

"Silence him!"

Nulifier ignored Verkel's screams and harshly ordered the troops. Next moment, one guard smashed handle of his sword on the merchant's head, effectively cutting his cries down.

"It is as you say."

After the troublemaker finally fainted and fell on the street, Nulifier turned back to Mike with faint shine in his eyes.

"And it only got worse since the beginning of the war."