Chapter 42: Build-up (6)

Everyone in the room turned to look at the man who had spoken, including Rylan. The man was tall and handsome, with grey hair and beard, and dark eyes. His most notable feature, however, was the serenity he exuded as he donned a calm and collected expression. He continued to speak.

“Evenon’s death or imprisonment won’t instantly dismantle all that he’s built. His absence will only mean that everyone he’s associated with will try to occupy his position. Most likely, the Lady will take over and nothing will change.”

The men looked at one another, nodding to themselves. Calan shook his head.

“No. This operation isn’t related to Evenon alone. The City Guard will target the entirety of his empire, as we have shown by raiding and shutting down his dealing spots. Naturally, the more information we have, the better the results will be.”

The grey-haired man rubbed his chin.

“You’re making this seem much simpler than it really is. Evenon and his associates have wrapped their tendrils around a large part of the underworld of several cities. Rooting everything out is impossible. Someone even worse than Evenon might replace him.”

Calan narrowed his eyes.

“So you admit that Evenon is at the helm?”

The man shrugged.

“Yes. That’s not the point, however.”

“Over the past few years, we’ve scoured Cantavega and the nearby towns for any trace of Evenon’s criminal activities. While we lacked a way and evidence to connect him to the criminal underworld, our knowledge about its extent and his workings only grew. You’re right; it is impossible to quickly destroy the underworld. Nonetheless, we do have plans on how to make a significant part of Evenon’s empire crumble. Even if we can’t get rid of every possible criminal, the less of them around, the better.”

“And I suppose that includes us?”

“In a way. The choice is yours, as I’ve already said.”

Rylan spoke, looking at the grey-haired man.

“I’m no expert on dealing with criminals, but in the end, the best way is also the simplest one.”

The gazes of those in the room turned to him. With crossed arms, he continued to speak.

“We’ll kill Evenon. If someone tries to replace him, they will invariably be in a much weaker position. Our damage to the entire organization will be significant, and it will take time to rebuild or even to get things up and running again. Time we can use to further dismantle their network. Even if it’s the Lady, don’t we just need to take them down too? With the City Guard’s knowledge about Evenon’s workings, it’ll be easier the second time. If all else fails,” His eyes narrowed, “We can just kill the people who try to replace him.”

His voice was completely firm. As he finished speaking, Evenon’s men visibly shuddered. It was as if the atmosphere in the room had shifted and become heavier. Calan and Thomas widened their eyes. The grey-haired man blinked and stared at him. The man spoke.

“…You’re willing to butcher your way out of this?”

Rylan looked directly at him.

“I have no need to be merciful against criminals who thrive on destroying others’ lives. The only reason why you’re still alive is because I thought the City Guard could use your information. Besides, killing isn’t my first choice. It can be considered a last resort.”

Calan’s expression twisted into a mix of several emotions. The grey-haired man stared at Rylan for a few seconds as the room went silent. Rylan continued.

“The choice you face now is very simple. Accept the offer or face the weight of your crimes. Why are you worrying about a power vacuum that won’t involve you?”

Self-preservation. It was the only language people like Evenon’s men understood. The grey-haired man had attempted to undermine Calan’s proposition by raising one of the problems with it, but it was the wrong approach. None of the others cared about the large-scale consequences of Evenon’s elimination in the least. What mattered the most was what would happen to them, both immediately and in the near future. Rylan knew this well. He had met far too many similar people as Roland.

The grey-haired man smiled.

“Good. I couldn’t really trust that kid,” He pointed at Calan, “But as long as you’re involved, I think the situation can be resolved. I’ll cooperate with the City Guard.”

Rylan raised an eyebrow.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know how you treat your allies, but you’re decisive and ruthless towards your enemies. It’s a trait I didn’t expect to see in someone so young. Such methods are the only way of effectively dealing with people like us; make us fear retaliation more than we desire money and power.”

Rylan disagreed. It wasn’t the only method. It was just the one Roland had been the most familiar with. He had been a man who lived and died by the edge of his sword. It wasn’t the correct way to do things, nor the most efficient, but it was all he knew. At that moment, Rylan realized his thoughts and frowned.

I need to be better than Roland was.

It was the only way to avoid the same mistakes. Could he really tackle things the way Roland would have? Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed the other men voice their desire to take Calan’s offer. In the end, as he expected, the result was a unanimous decision to comply. None of the men wanted to face the full consequences of their actions. Calan looked at Thomas.

“I’ll keep watch of them. Contact the Guard and ask them to send a squad here. There’s much to do.”

Thomas nodded and bowed, quickly leaving the room. Rylan walked forward and sat next to Gerard. The man looked at him and spoke in a low tone.

“I don’t agree with you. Not entirely.”

He let out a small sigh.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

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His father nodded.

It’s likely that Thomas knows the same spell as Sarah.

It seemed to be the standard way of long-range communication. The only factor at play was the distance between the caster and the target.

Time passed by slowly as Evenon’s men stood silently, shifting uncomfortably. Calan kept his eyes fixed on the men, while Gerard and Rylan simply waited. After a while, Calan’s eyes glowed blue. As the hue subsided, he looked at Gerard, who waved his hand. The man’s eyes were the next ones to glow. He spoke.

“I’ve let them in. They’ll be here shortly.”

Calan looked at Rylan.

“Thank you, Rylan. Regardless of your reasons, which I still don’t understand, you’ve done us a great service. We’re now much closer to finally dealing with Evenon, after several years of failed attempts.”

Rylan nodded.

“Don’t worry about it. If you need a reason why I’m doing this, just know that it’s also in my interests if Evenon is eliminated. Besides,” He flashed a bitter smile, “It’s the right thing to do.”

Calan raised an eyebrow. The grey-haired man turned to him with a calm expression.

“People like us can’t talk about what is right, kid.”

Rylan looked at him, still keeping his bitter smile.

“That’s true. I have no right to discuss what is right and wrong. However, Evenon has ruined too many lives. Destroying all that he’s built is the right thing to do, even if I have no right to talk about righteousness.”

“Is it? There are countless people under Evenon’s command. Many of them turned to criminality because they had no option left. The moment Evenon falls, their entire lives will crumble. How will they be reintegrated into society? How many of them will lose their lives in this crusade? It isn’t as simple as you’re making it out to be.”

Rylan frowned, then shook his head.

“Regardless of their reasons, what they’ve done is undeniable. Everyone’s got their own story. They’ve destroyed others’ lives for their benefit at Evenon’s orders. That is enough. Those we manage to catch will be judged under the law.”

Just like his underlings, Evenon’s story wasn’t pretty. It was a convoluted mess of trauma and doggedly trying to survive. Nonetheless, it didn’t justify his actions, as Rylan had realized before.

The grey-haired man stared at him, then shrugged.

“We’ll agree to disagree. You’re the one who has power right now. My thoughts don’t matter.”

“We’ll ensure your safety. Isn’t that what you care about?”

“Yes.”

A knock on the room’s doors resounded. Gerard spoke.

“Come in.”

The doors opened and a group of men in robes and leather armor walked in with Thomas in tow. They bowed.

“We’re here, young master,” One of them said.

Calan nodded as Thomas returned to his side.

“Take these men to the estate. I’ll go with you in a bit,” He looked at Rylan, “You’ve done us a great service, but I need to talk to you.”

Rylan nodded.

“Sure.”

The guards left the room with the men. Calan immediately looked at Rylan and Gerard and took a deep breath.

“We need your help,” he said in a low voice. “I trust you already know that Evenon is fighting back?”

Both Rylan and Gerard nodded at the same time.

“It’s getting worse than we thought. I didn’t think he was this influential. We’ve received reports that many men have arrived in Cantavega from the nearby towns. We think they’re part of his forces. Not a single part of town is safe anymore. The people are afraid and the pressure to quickly deal with all of this increases by the day.”

“Just capture them all,” said Rylan with a shrug.

Calan shook his head.

“We’ve captured many, but it’s as if they’re endless. Besides, just arresting three or four at a time does nothing to solve the root cause. Evenon has spoken with other business owners and is effectively destroying this city’s economy. I’ve received reports that the Lady’s prostitutes are trying to get their clients to go against us.”

“In short, it’s a shitshow.”

“Yes.”

“If that’s true, I might be able to act personally now that the situation has reached this point,” Gerard suddenly said. “As the Family Head of the Flamehearts, I needed justification to act. But now, there is one. Don’t worry. My Mages will deal with as many of Evenon’s underlings as we can.”

Calan blinked, then bowed.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Focus on getting the men I captured today to testify against Evenon, Create a connection between him and his crimes,” Rylan said. His gaze sharpened. “Once you do, I’ll kill him.”

Calan looked at him with a complicated expression.

“Are you sure you can do it?” Calan asked.

“Yes. Absolutely,” Rylan replied.

“Have you ever killed someone before?”

“Yeah. The leader of the men I brought.”

The room went silent for a few seconds.

“But there’s something you need to know,” Rylan said with a serious expression. “I think Evenon is more powerful than we know.”

Calan tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“We fought for a bit, and—”

“You fought him?”

“Let me finish. We fought and at one point, his mana surged unnaturally. It happened as the ring he always wears cracked. Be careful. Let me be the one to fight him.”

Calan scoffed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“Why do you think you’d be able to take him on if we can’t? It’s well known that Evenon is just a Third Circle Mage.”

Rylan shrugged.

“Just trust me. Besides, I need to be the one to sever my connection with him. I was his greatest customer and ally. It has to be me. And I don’t think he’s only at the Third Circle, but I can’t be sure.”

The two of them stared at each other’s eyes for a few seconds.

“Fine. But,” Gerard said from the side, making Rylan and Calan turn toward him, “I’ll step in if it looks dangerous.”

Rylan shook his head.

“You can’t. It will probably be dangerous, but I’ll come out on top. Trust me, Father.”

Gerard frowned. Calan’s gaze alternated between them with a confused expression. Was he unable to understand why Gerard had agreed?

“I won’t compromise on this. I won’t watch you get killed in front of me.”

“Then how about this? I’ll call out your name if I think I won’t be able to handle whatever comes. However, if I don’t say anything, it means that I think I can overcome Evenon, no matter how dangerous.”

Gerard went silent for a few seconds. Truthfully, Rylan had no desire to rely on his father for help.

Evenon is the strongest enemy so far in this life.

He wouldn’t throw away the chance to push himself to his limits and win at the end against a powerful foe. No matter how dangerous, he wouldn’t call out his father’s name. Telling this lie was the only way to ensure he would get a good fight.

“…Okay,” Gerard replied after some time. “But I’ll also rely on my own judgement.”

Rylan let out a small sigh. This was the best deal he was going to get.

“Alright.”

Calan’s eyes still alternated between the father and son. His expression of confusion had only intensified. Gerard looked at him.

“Go home, Calan. There’s a lot that you need to do.”

The boy remained silent for a few seconds, took one last look at Rylan, and bowed.

“Then, I’ll be going now, sir.”

Gerard nodded. Calan left the room, leaving behind only Gerard and Rylan. Silence reigned. After some time, Gerard spoke.

“Your way of dealing with things is crude and barbaric. Killing everyone who tries to rise to Evenon’s position won’t solve anything.”

Rylan turned to him with a complex expression, deep in thought.

“Maybe. But it’s the only way I know.”

“Ruthlessness and cruelty breed suffering and rage, which in turn breed more cruelty. It’s an endless cycle that only results in the escalation of the conflict and its spreading.”

He silently considered his father’s words. In a way, they were true. The situation’s escalation was one of the possible results of his methods; he wanted the criminals to fear his retaliation and hesitate to take over Evenon’s enterprise, but was that really the best way to handle things? Did he really want to be as feared in this life as he had been in the past one? Hadn’t Roland’s death been the exact consequence of his way of dealing with things?

I don’t know.

Rylan sighed, then spoke.

“I think you might be right, Father.”

Gerard stared at him.

“…Was that how you used to handle things in your past life?”

Rylan sat next to his father.

“Yeah. It was probably what led to my death. I was admired, but also feared by too many.”

“Might doesn’t always make right. Remember that. This is a world where power is the highest priority, but that doesn’t mean it is the best way of tackling a problem.”

Rylan flashed a bitter smile.

“…Yeah. I think the Vaard family and the City Guard will be able to handle this better than I can.”

“Probably.”

The two spent a few seconds in silence. Dragging himself out of his thoughts, Rylan stood up.

“Now, it’s only a matter of time before the Guard reaches Evenon, but he won’t go down without a fight. I need to prepare.”

Gerard also stood up.

“Let’s go over the spells Evenon might be able to use one more time.”

Rylan nodded.

“After that, I’ll focus on leveling up. It’s the best way to increase my current self’s power.”

The day of Evenon’s reckoning approached.