The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 90

One of the identities Si-on assumed for this mission was that of Hender’s deputy, representing the Duchy.

Although Hender himself was the “Duke’s representative,” making Si-on the deputy of a deputy, no one in the Duchy had any objections or raised issues about this peculiar position.

Most importantly, Rozin had already pleaded for mercy through the tax collector: “Great Lord! We’ll bow our heads! Please just spare us!”

Thus, Si-on and the Peregrine Division, a monster-hunting force, had been sent to Rozin. Who would dare oppose them?

Even if people didn’t understand exactly what had transpired, overnight, the mayor had completely changed his stance, now groveling to the main family. Any resistance was out of the question.

“Something… something’s happening!”

“I-I’ve got to get out of here!”

Unable to confront Si-on or appeal to the mayor, and with even the Yazan representatives turning their backs on them, the corrupt officials who had taken bribes tried to flee.

But escaping through the crowd of enraged residents surrounding City Hall was impossible.

From the moment Si-on had arrived in Rozin, the guards under his command had begun rounding up these officials.

“Hey! Do you know who I am!?”

“Hey, Captain! I had stew with your uncle! We went to the tavern just yesterday! We’ve done everything together!”

Some tried to use their connections to hold out.

“Yes, and we took bribes together. I arrested my uncle too.”

“Wha…!”

It was no use.

The situation had been building for a year, and public sentiment in Rozin had worsened significantly.

Even the guards, who had normally used their authority to intimidate and show off their power, turned into helpful protectors of the people when faced with thousands of angry residents.

And so, all the officials were tied up and publicly displayed.

“Sir, Deputy Hender, we’ve captured all of them. Shouldn’t we hold formal trials to deal with them?”

The officials who hadn’t taken bribes cautiously suggested this, as the scene unfolding resembled a medieval witch trial, though in Si-on’s eyes, this world had always been medieval.

But Si-on shook his head.

“Do you think telling the residents there will be a formal trial will make them disperse? If you have any objections, go out and tell them yourself.”

“Public sentiment is said to reflect the will of the heavens.”

Seeing the thousands—possibly tens of thousands—of angry residents gathered outside the terrace of City Hall, the official quickly changed his stance.

On closer inspection, it seemed some residents were holding spears.

Fortunately, the Peregrine Division, mounted on their powerful Gau and exuding an extraordinary aura, guarded the main entrance of City Hall. Otherwise, the building might have been reduced to rubble, and the officials might have been speared to death by now.

“For now, keep them tied up and whip them a bit. Just don’t let them die.”

“Understood.”

At Si-on’s command, the captain of the guard stepped forward with a solemn expression and began whipping the traitors.

Crack!

“Screeeam!”

Although their fine clothes were torn, and blood and flesh flew, a whip alone wouldn’t kill them.

But as a punishment that didn’t involve cutting off limbs, whipping provided a flashy performance that delighted the crowd.

Every crack of the whip drew cheers from the onlookers.

Of course, the other officials watching from the terrace were pale and drenched in sweat.

‘They’re showing us this on purpose. It’s a warning that if we step out of line, we could end up the same way.’

‘I didn’t take bribes… Oh wait, I did take some from others. I’m screwed. But at least I’m better off than the mayor, right?’

‘Where is the mayor anyway?’

As the officials nervously looked around for Calbert, who should have been present, they saw someone escorted by the Peregrine Division heading toward the entrance of City Hall.

“Is that… the mayor?”

“What is he doing there?”

The officials’ eyes widened in disbelief.

Creak!

The iron gates of City Hall opened, and Calbert stepped outside.

Although the Peregrine Division surrounded him protectively, they couldn’t shield him from the icy glares and hostile aura pouring from the furious residents.

“Sir, Deputy Hender! The mayor is in danger!”

No matter how strong the Peregrine Division or their Gau were, they would be powerless against a rush of thousands.

The officials panicked, fearing the unprecedented scenario of a sitting mayor, a direct descendant of the Si-on Rozin family, being trampled to death by his own people.

“Sir, Deputy Hender!”

“Let it be.”

“…What?”

Startled by Si-on’s cold tone, the officials flinched.

Si-on, looking down at his descendant with a frosty gaze, spoke.

“He who creates the knot must untie it. No one can do this for him. He has to do it himself.”

“…!”

The officials gathered on the terrace were all those who hadn’t taken bribes from Yazan.

They weren’t particularly exceptional, but neither were they incompetent.

However, they had remained loyal to Rozin and the Si-on Ducal family.

Whether out of loyalty or pride, it didn’t matter.

What was true was that their loyalty or pride was tied to the name “Si-on.”

And so, the officials understood Si-on’s words deep in their hearts.

Their mayor, dressed like a commoner in simple pants and a shirt, was about to take responsibility as a member of the Si-on family.

“You useless fool!”

“Are you really the mayor of Rozin!?”

“Mayor! What have you been doing to let things get this bad?”

Though the crowd stopped short of swearing outright, harsh voices filled with anger and scorn rang out.

Calbert’s legs trembled.

Facing thousands of citizens, he wanted to turn back immediately.

But the memory of the Founder’s face flashed in his mind, and he clenched his teeth.

Was he afraid of the Founder?

Of course, he was.

Just recalling the look in the Founder’s eyes made his knees buckle.

But what kept Calbert from running wasn’t just fear of the Founder.

What had been in the Founder’s eyes the day before was not just anger but disappointment.

Calbert couldn’t bear that disappointed gaze.

He couldn’t face it again.

No, he didn’t want to.

To him, it was like a death sentence.

“People of Rozin.”

Calbert’s voice, cracked and trembling from nervousness, finally broke the silence.

Countless eyes, in different shapes and colors, turned toward him.

In the illusion that every one of those eyes belonged to the Founder, Calbert bit his lip.

Without even thinking to wipe away the blood now running from his lips, he continued, his voice still shaking.

“I… I was incompetent. As your mayor, and as a member of the Si-on family, I failed to fulfill my responsibilities. N-no, I tried to avoid them.”

The crowd, who normally wouldn’t even get a glimpse of their lofty mayor, fell silent at his confession.

In that oppressive silence, Calbert Si-on Rozin, widely acknowledged as a useless man, tearfully continued his long, emotional confession.

* * *

The people of Rozin forgave their incompetent mayor.

Or rather, it was more of a decision to keep watching him for a little longer.

In truth, the residents had no authority to forgive or not forgive.

Calbert hadn’t even needed to ask for forgiveness.

This wasn’t a democracy.

Despite his title as “mayor,” Calbert Si-on Rozin held a position no different from a governor or lord.

But he had done something he didn’t need to do.

Was it because Si-on, standing there with piercing eyes and the Peregrine Division at his side, had forced him?

It would be a lie to say that thought didn’t cross their minds, but Si-on hadn’t given Calbert any orders.

All Si-on had done was give his pathetic descendant one final chance. He hadn’t even told him how to do it.

Yes, today, Calbert had faced the residents as a mere “man” and confessed, seeking their forgiveness.

And that had been entirely his decision.

And it worked.

The people of Rozin, who had been ready to overthrow their mayor, calmed down.

Even Si-on, who had the right and authority to punish him, was moved.

“Boohoohoo!”

Calbert eventually collapsed to his knees, weeping uncontrollably, as the crowd looked on with mixed feelings.

Some still shot him angry glares, but most of the residents quietly turned and left.

The lingering embers of their wrath were redirected toward the traitors tied to the posts, who were now squealing like pigs as they were whipped.

Spittle and insults flew at them, along with small stones (large rocks were banned to prevent death). Over time, even the once-massive crowd began to disperse.

“……”

The officials stood in silence, gazing down at the plaza in front of City Hall, which had become a scene of devastation.

They hadn’t been able to hear every word Calbert had said, given the distance.

But they had seen him sobbing and kneeling like a wounded animal.

They had all considered him incompetent, ridiculing him behind his back, but now, seeing his pathetic figure, they couldn’t help but feel as if they were looking at a reflection of themselves.

No one voiced it aloud, and even the residents had focused their anger on the mayor and the traitors, paying little attention to the officials.

But each official on the terrace found themselves reflecting on their own actions as they stared at Calbert’s miserable figure.

“What are you all doing?”

Si-on’s voice snapped the officials back to reality, as if doused with cold water.

“Aren’t you all officials of Rozin City? Things are mostly sorted out now, so go fetch your mayor and get back to work.”

“Ah… y-yes, sir!”

“Understood, Deputy Hender!”

The officials hurried off the terrace.

“Let’s offer the people some kind of incentive.”

“Incentive? What we need right now is incentives themselves.”

“First, we should assess the number of neighborhood watch groups. That’s the top priority.”

As the officials, seemingly ready to finally do their jobs, scurried away, Si-on smirked.

Next to him, Stelman nodded continuously, while Piotr appeared deep in thought, as if he had just realized something important.

Feeling uncomfortable under the bear-like Piotr’s bright gaze, Si-on called for Friel.

“Friel.”

“Yes, Lord Si-on.”

“Quietly go and bring those people.”

“Which people…?”

“The ones from Yazan.”

“Yes, sir.”

Friel bowed and swiftly left the room.

Just as Piotr finished his thinking, he cautiously approached Si-on.

“What do you intend to do with the Yazan people, Grandfather?”

Given what the Yazan representatives had done in Rozin, execution would be more than justified.

But two of them were special envoys.

Considering the relationship between Yazan and the Si-on Duchy, it would be a bit tricky to execute them freely.

Still, letting them go was not an option.

“What else? I’m going to send them back.”

“What…?”

Piotr, along with Stelman, who had also been observing Si-on’s usual behavior, widened their eyes in surprise.

“Ah!”

Stelman suddenly seemed to realize something and, with a strange excitement in his voice, exclaimed.

“You’re going to send them back… by cutting off their heads? That’s exactly like you, Grand Duke!”

“…Is that really how you see me?”

Si-on, feeling slightly irked, restrained himself from responding harshly, maintaining at least some dignity as he continued.

“No, I’m not cutting off their heads. I’m sending them back unharmed.”

“What!?”

Why were they acting like they had just seen a ghost?

Annoyed but determined to stay calm, Si-on explained further.

“Yazan will become a dog with its leash firmly in my hands. Plus, they’re now an important customer. You could call them early adopters. They’ll be the first to try out all the new products and report back on their pros and cons, so they should be treated well.”

And at five times the original price, no less.

But there was no need to say that.

Neither Si-on, the seller, nor Yazan, the buyer, would have any complaints about it anyway. So why bother?