Heidrick sighed, rubbing his temples.

“And Gareth? How is he holding up?”

“Barely,” Redel replied.

“He’s doing everything he can, but his forces are stretched thin. Morale is low, and the men are exhausted.”

Heidrick stood, walking to the window.

He looked out at the ocean again, as if seeking answers in its depths.

He asked about Gareth to Redel not because he did not know how Gareth was feeling, as he had just spoken to him. He just wanted to know Redel's thoughts about Gareth.

So that he can understand his men's state better.

“Two hundred dead Distantias,” he said softly.

“Three hundred Ferlo Boys. Five hundred others. And three hundred civilians.” He turned back to Redel. “Do you know what these numbers mean?”

Redel remained silent, waiting for Heidrick to continue.

Of course he knew as he read the report, as he said before.

But it has other meaning; Redel knew about it.

“They mean we’ve failed,” Heidrick said, his voice cold.

“Failed to maintain order. Failed to protect the innocent."

Redel’s jaw tightened.

“What do you propose we do, my Lord?”

Heidrick was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. Then he spoke, his voice steady and resolute.

“We must act decisively. No more hesitation, no more half-measures. If we allow this chaos to continue, the Blue Hope will tear itself apart.”

Redel nodded and asked

“What are your orders, my Lord?”

Heidrick turned to face him fully.

“First, summon Gareth about five hours later. I want a detailed plan for deploying the guards in a way that ensures maximum coverage of the lower levels. We need to establish checkpoints and secure key areas.”

Redel nodded, taking notes.

“Second,” Heidrick continued,

“We need to address the power vacuum in Distantias. Without a leader, they’ll continue to act like wild dogs."

“That will be difficult,” Redel cautioned.

“Distantias is deeply entrenched. They won’t go quietly.”

“Then we’ll make them go.”

Heidrick said firmly. “

But not through brute force. We’ll use their chaos against them. Let the other factions weaken them further, then step in when they’re at their lowest.”

“And the civilians?” Redel asked.

“They’re our top priority,” Heidrick said.

“I want patrols focused on escorting them to safer areas. We’ll establish temporary shelters in the higher levels. If we can’t protect them where they are, we’ll move them.”

Redel stood, saluting.

“I’ll relay your orders immediately.”

As Redel turned to leave, Heidrick called out to him.

“Redel.”

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Make sure Gareth knows this: I’m not asking for suggestions. I’m giving directives. If he has concerns, he can bring them to me, but he will act.”

Redel nodded. “Understood.”

Once alone again, Heidrick sat back down, picking up the report once more. He read through the numbers again, as if trying to burn them into his memory.

“This isn’t over,” he murmured to himself. “Not by a long shot.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Five to seven hours passed in a flash as the guards worked with the other labor force of the Blue Hope.

They even enlisted some people to work as guards.

Heidrick sat at his desk, his fingers steepled as Gareth stood before him, waiting silently.

“Gareth, “it’s time we dealt with the Distantias.”

Gareth’s posture stiffened.

“Understood, my Lord. What are your orders?”

“From this moment on, all members of the Distantias are to be arrested and placed in containment. Resistance is to be met with immediate force.”

Gareth nodded slowly.

“Immediate force, my Lord?”

“Yes.” Heidrick’s gaze didn’t waver.

“I’m giving you full discretion to handle the situation as you see fit. If containment is impossible, you are authorized to kill any threats. But ensure that it is done efficiently and cleanly."

Gareth straightened.

“Understood, my Lord. I’ll see to it personally.”

“I trust you, Gareth. Make it clear to the guards and the people that this is not just a purge—it’s the restoration of order. We must show strength, not brutality.”

“Of course,” Gareth replied. “I’ll ensure the men act with discipline.”

Heidrick nodded, dismissing him with a wave. “Go.”

----------------------------------------

The metallic clang of boots echoed through the levels of the Blue Hope as Gareth led a squad of heavily armed guards.

Civilians and members of smaller organizations watched from the shadows,

When they reached the central plaza of Level Four, Gareth raised a hand, signaling the guards to halt.

He stepped forward, his voice booming as he addressed the crowd.

“By order of Judge Heidrick, all members of the Distantias organization are to be detained immediately. Any resistance will be met with decisive action.”

Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd.

A man stepped forward from the gathered civilians.

“What about those of us who’ve done nothing wrong? Not all of us are criminals!”

Gareth’s eyes narrowed.

“This is not a negotiation. If you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear. Surrender peacefully, and you’ll be treated fairly. Resistance will only confirm your guilt.”

The man hesitated, then stepped back into the crowd, his shoulders slumping.

----------------------------------------

As the guards began their sweep, the Distantias members scattered like rats, disappearing into hidden corridors and lower levels. Gareth’s squad moved systematically, announcing the orders at every level and leaving no corner unchecked.

In a dimly lit corridor on Level Seven, two guards caught sight of a group of three Distantias members.

“Stop!” one of the guards shouted, raising his magical crossbow.

The Distantias members hesitated for a moment before bolting down the hallway.

“After them!”

The guards gave chase, their footsteps thundering against the metal floor.

One of the fleeing men turned and cast a rudimentary energy spell, but it fizzled harmlessly against the guards’ shields.

“Don’t make this harder on yourselves!” one guard yelled.

Another Distantias member skidded to a halt, raising his hands in surrender.

“I’m not with them!” he cried. “I was just caught up in this mess!”

The lead guard gestured for two others to detain him while the chase continued.

----------------------------------------

In a cramped storage room on Level Eight, more of a richer civilian area.

Gareth himself cornered a group of five Distantias members.

Their team leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, holding a makeshift club.

“You think you can just wipe us out?” the man growled. “Distantias doesn’t die so easily.”

Gareth drew his magical silver blade, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.

“Your leader is gone. Your organization is in shambles. Surrender now, and you’ll be spared. Fight, and you’ll meet the same fate as Alexander.”

The man laughed bitterly.

“Spared? You mean thrown in a cell until you decide we’re not worth keeping alive?”

“That’s your choice,” Gareth replied coldly.

The man lunged, swinging his club.

Gareth sidestepped smoothly, his sword flashing as it cut through the air.

The club splintered as Gareth’s blade met it, and the man staggered back, clutching his arm.

The other four Distantias members hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.

“Is this how you want it to end?” Gareth asked, his voice steady. “You can still walk away from this alive.”

Three of them dropped their weapons and sank to their knees. The fourth hesitated, then followed suit.

Gareth gestured for his guards to detain them, his gaze lingering on the scarred man.

“Take him to the infirmary first. He’ll face judgment when he’s fit to stand trial.”

----------------------------------------

As the guards continued their sweep, reports began to flow in. By the end of the day, dozens of Distantias members had been detained, and a few had been killed in skirmishes.

Civilians watched from the shadows,

Gareth returned to Heidrick’s quarters late in the evening, his armor scuffed and his face drawn with exhaustion.

“It’s done,” he said, standing before Heidrick’s desk.

Heidrick looked up from a stack of papers, his expression unreadable.

“And the resistance?”

“Minimal,” Gareth replied.

“Most surrendered once they realized they were outmatched. A few fought, but we handled them.”

“And the civilians?”

“No harm came to them,” Gareth assured him.

“But they’re shaken. This level of enforcement hasn’t been seen on the Blue Hope in years.”

Heidrick leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly.

“Good. Let them be shaken. Order is not maintained through complacency. You’ve done well, Gareth.”

Gareth inclined his head.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

-

Erick, a sharp-eyed guard with an instinct for strategy, halted abruptly outside a cream-colored door.

“This is it,” he said, his voice low but steady.

“This room was Alexander Distantias’s personal office, his command center. If there’s any stronghold left, it’s here.”