Chapter 576 – Sealed Envelopes.

Back in Aldbourne, the celebrations continued late into the night. Food was handed out from the stores, torches lit the streets, and even the noble quarter was opened for citizens to admire. Despite the festive atmosphere, Arthur remained on edge. He had brought in his own people to serve as the new local leaders, since the previous ones had proven themselves untrustworthy. The only exception was the deputy mayor. Roland had assured Arthur that the man had been successfully persuaded to support their cause.

Even so, the city’s bureaucracy was in shambles. The tax ledger had gone missing, and most of the treasury had disappeared.

“This is most displeasing.”

“Please forgive me, my lord. I didn’t know…”

The voice came from the young deputy mayor, who now stood before him. His name was Joseph. He was not even thirty, unusually young for his position, and the perfect candidate to take the fall. Arthur suspected that the true mayor was already far away and would never return. Both his personal funds and the city’s treasury had likely been emptied and sent to his brother. That was the only way he could escape without being branded a criminal for stealing from a Valerian-controlled city.

“Sir Gareth, Sir Moiren, please give our Mayor some room to breathe.”

“Yes, Lord Valerian!”

Both knights nodded and stepped aside. Joseph was ordered to sit on a chair before Arthur, who had just finished reviewing the last of the documents the city official had managed to produce. Although the treasury was nearly empty, not everything had vanished. There were still reserves of food and medical supplies, along with a few hidden stockpiles of construction materials scattered throughout the noble quarter.

“We’ve taken control of the thieves’ guild and a few other source.It’s not ideal, but it’s a start.”

For now, it would have to suffice. He had spent over a year preparing for this campaign, and the first stage was complete. The next steps were already set in motion. With a quiet nod to himself, he rose and looked down at Joseph.

“Joseph.”

He said, his voice softer now but still commanding.

“You will stay on. Not as deputy mayor, but as the new Mayor of Aldbourne.”

“No, please, good lord, I will do anything…”

Joseph dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead against the wooden floor, convinced he was about to be struck down by one of Arthur’s rapiers. His voice trailed off as he realized what had been said.

“You wish me to become the Mayor?”

“Yes. We need someone familiar with this city. You’ll be assigned an assistant, and we will choose a new deputy mayor for you to mentor. If you prove yourself loyal, you may keep this position permanently.”

“I… I’ll do my best, Lord Valerian!”

Joseph, who had been terrified just moments before, now seemed to realize the situation might not be as dire as he had feared. He was being promoted to mayor—at least for now. And there was a real possibility it could become permanent. Most importantly, he understood that as long as he remained useful, he would be allowed to live. That, above all else, was his priority.

“I’m sure you will, that will be all.”

“I… I understand, my lord. Thank you. I won’t fail you. You will not regret this, I will prove myself to be useful!”

The man continued to bow, over and over, like a madman on something far stronger than just fear. Arthur felt a flicker of discomfort at the display. The man’s groveling made him seem like some bloodthirsty tyrant tormenting a helpless commoner. He had hoped people would respond to his leadership with respect, or at least cautious trust. Perhaps Joseph’s fear had less to do with Arthur himself and more to do with his encounter with Roland. Arthur couldn’t help but wonder what exactly his friend had done to convince the man to sign over all the necessary documents.

“Someone will be waiting outside. She will be your new assistant. Start by finding the families who lost someone during the city’s defense and compile a list, no matter how small. Also include those who lost family in the months leading up to the dungeon break.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Joseph didn’t ask questions. He simply listened and obeyed. Arthur knew people had been captured and sold into slavery in this city. The more witnesses he could gather to testify against his brother, the stronger his case would be. Moments later, the young mayor exited the room, clutching the ledger Arthur had returned after reviewing its contents. As the door closed behind him, a female voice spoke from the shadows.

“I’m not sure we can trust him, Lord Arthur.”

“That’s why one of your maids is shadowing his every move.”

A robed figure stepped forward from the darkness, her voice instantly familiar. As she neared, she lowered her hood, revealing orange cat ears atop her head. Her movements were as silent as ever, so much so that even the two Tier-3 knights had failed to notice her presence until she was already inside the room—something that clearly annoyed her.

“You two need more training. What if I had been an enemy assassin?”

“…My apologies.”

Both knights lowered their heads like children being scolded by their mother. Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of his most trusted retainers interacting. He knew it had been Mary who allowed Gareth and Moiren to land their blows on Alphonse, the high-ranking knight who had once seemed far beyond their reach. Though their strikes had connected, it was one of the leaders of the prosthetic-using knights who had delivered the final blow.

Arthur crossed to the window, hands clasped behind his back as he looked out over Aldbourne. The city glowed softly under the moonlight. It was quiet now, though far from still. Somewhere below, plans were already unfolding. Some were his, others were not.

Alphonse’s fall had been swift and public. Thanks to Roland’s recording, there was no ambiguity about the legality of Arthur’s takeover. The recording clearly showed Alphonse rejecting Arthur’s claim and refusing to recognize the charter that granted him the lawful right to assume leadership.

This technology, the ability to record and replay the past, was both powerful and unsettling. It far surpassed the traditional use of powerful mages to glimpse into past events. That method was extremely difficult, unreliable, and accessible only to a few noble houses. The new recording technology had its own limitations in that it required a recording device to be present at the time of the event. However, once captured, the memory could be freely copied and replayed by almost any rune mage.

One of such mages, a trusted friend of his High Commander, had already made his way towards the place Arthur needed to tackle next, the noble court.

“How long until the noble court reviews the matter?”

Arthur asked quietly. Mary stepped beside him, her feline eyes glowing faintly in the low light.

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

“A few days at most. Sir Wayland sent the recording through the approved channels. By now, perhaps even the High Seat will have seen it.”

Arthur gave a slow nod.

“And Theodore?”

Mary’s expression darkened.

“Just as we expected. He’s not sending more troops. Reports suggest he’s redirecting his forces to the northern passes and the main roads. It seems he expects his older brother to act, but our spies have confirmed that Julius has made no move. On the contrary, Lord Arthur…”

Mary paused, her expression shifting as concern crept into her features.

“What is it?”

Arthur asked while raising his brow.

“It’s better if you read this yourself.”

She handed him a few pages from a report. Arthur scanned the contents quickly, his eyes widening with each line.

“This… Isgard, how could this be? Was the dungeon break truly this devastating?”