Chapter 567 – Sign On The Dotted Line.

“You want me to request assistance from you? But… who are you? How did you get in here?”

“Sir, stand back!”

Two guards moved to shield the acting mayor, leveling their spears at the armored figure standing before them. It was Roland. He had barged into the partially deserted mayor’s mansion for a specific purpose, and he needed to fulfill one final requirement to truly begin his mission. Saving the city from monsters was only part of it. For his plan to succeed, he needed this man’s cooperation.

“Who am I? I am High Knight Commander Wayland. I serve under Lord Arthur Valerian, and I have come to aid you.”

“L-Lord Arthur Valerian? Not Lord Theodore Valerian?”

“Indeed.”

The young man was clearly confused. This land officially belonged to the older brother he was supposed to serve. Arthur was a new name that had only recently emerged. However, as the acting mayor, this man had the authority to act in the mayor’s absence and could legally fulfill his duties. That included granting permission to defend the city during a crisis.

There were many rules surrounding nobility, especially in times of political conflict like the current squabble between brothers. Normally, it would not be possible to seize a territory without open battle, but there was one exception. If a disaster occurred and the ruling lord failed to offer assistance, the city’s leader could request aid from another lord. Doing so would signify that the city was accepting the new lord’s protection and, in effect, changing sides.

It was an obscure law, rarely invoked, but now all the conditions had been met. The city was under attack, Theodore’s forces were tied up defending more important settlements within his territory, and reinforcements would not arrive for days. This was exactly what Roland and Arthur had planned for. Once the acting mayor gave his consent, all that remained was to turn the tide of battle, occupy the city, and announce that, due to Theodore’s failure to protect his people, the city was now under Arthur’s rule.

The acting mayor swallowed hard, his grip on the rapier trembling even more. His eyes darted toward the shattered windows, beyond which distant screams and the thunder of battle echoed. Yet still, he hesitated, the weight of the decision paralyzing him. Accepting aid from a new lord was tantamount to treason against Theodore. If reinforcements did arrive in time, he could be executed for betraying his rightful lord. But if he refused, there might not be a city left.

“I… I can’t.”

The young man stammered, stepping back.

“If I accept help from another lord without permission, it could mean my head! Lord Theodore will send soldiers! If I just wait…”

It seemed this man was aware of the law that Roland was trying to invoke. Even though he was only a temporary replacement, likely meant to be discarded later, he knew the rules. Roland had expected the mayor to immediately ask for help to save his life from the immediate danger, but this young man clearly understood the long-term consequences of agreeing to it here.

“Wait?”

Roland’s voice was cold, sharp enough to slice through the panic thick in the hall. He took a step forward, his armor gleaming with an eerie light. His drones hovered menacingly behind him, a silent threat as much as a defense.

“If you wait any longer, there won’t be a city left to protect.”

Roland said, his voice low and menacing.

“Do you hear that? The gates are buckling. The walls are falling. The monsters will break through at any moment, and when they do, hundreds of people will die before Theodore’s soldiers can even cross half the distance here.”

The young acting mayor flinched visibly, the weight of Roland’s words crashing down on him harder than any sword. His guards glanced nervously at each other, their hands tightening on their weapons, but even they knew the truth of what was happening outside these walls.

“You have two choices.”

Roland continued, raising a gauntleted hand and clenching it into a fist.

“Either you request my aid right now, or you can pray that your rapier will protect you when the monsters come clawing through those doors.”

For a moment, no one spoke. Only the sounds of death and battle in the distance filled the heavy silence. The acting mayor’s lip trembled. His fingers loosened around the hilt of his sword. His voice cracked when he finally spoke.

“But if I do this…”

It was clear he was still hesitant. Although the young man was clever enough to grasp the long-term consequences, he had missed one crucial detail.

“I think you are misunderstanding something.”

Roland said, his voice cold.

“You are already dead.”

“Huh?”

“The city will fall without our help. That is certain.”

As he spoke, he stepped forward. The runes on his armor pulsed, sending a wave of force that flung the two guards aside. They crashed into the walls, groaning, held in place by a strange, magical aura that paralyzed them. Roland approached the deputy mayor, who stumbled back, dropping his sword in his panic. The weapon clattered to the floor.

“And who do you think they will blame for all of this? Why do you think your mayor ran at the first sign of danger and left you behind?”

“N-no, the mayor would never…”

“He would not? You seem like a smart man. So tell me, who do you think they will blame? You, the man left behind to fail, or the mayor who is no longer here? I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure this out, your only chance at survival… is me.”

The young man’s face was completely drained of color. Roland could see the exact moment the full horror of his situation settled onto his narrow shoulders. His rapier lay uselessly on the ground, forgotten. His trembling hands clutched at the fine silk of his ruined jacket as if trying to hold himself together.

Outside, another crash echoed through the city. A distant scream carried on the wind. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and dust fell from the cracked chandeliers above. The monsters were all around them, clawing at the gates and ready to kill anyone still inside.

“You were left here to die.”

Roland said, his voice softer now, but no less intense. He leaned in closer so that only the acting mayor could hear him.

“You are already the scapegoat. If you refuse me and survive by some miracle, you will be executed for incompetence. If you refuse me and die, no one will even remember your name. But if you accept my help, I will guarantee your safety. Lord Arthur and I will protect you.”

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The acting mayor’s breathing turned ragged. His mouth opened once, closed, then opened again. His heart hammered so loudly in his ears that he almost missed the chaos raging outside. Roland watched him carefully, seeing the shift in his eyes as the words sank in.

“I… I… I, Joseph, Acting Mayor of Aldbourne, formally request aid from Lord Arthur Valerian and his forces. Please, save this city.”

He finally relented, sweat beading on his forehead. Roland gave a small nod at the request. Before moving out, he quickly produced a set of papers for Joseph to sign. Although he already had a recording of the conversation, it was always safer to have a written contract, complete with a signature and a mana fingerprint.

“T-this is?”