Enlightened Empire

The same evening, inside the 'Gilded Pheasant'

"In that case, let's order something. I'm starving," Killari said, and buried his face the menu again. However, while the topic of Kyunya's character had been solved for Killari, Alcer wasn't done yet. After all, he still had an ace up his sleeve.

"Wait, what if I had some proof for Kyunya's claims. Would that change your opinion?" he asked.

"Proof? Like what?"

"I have a reliable source. Can't tell you who, unfortunately."

In response, Killari stared at Alcer for a few seconds, before he sighed deeply and threw his menu back onto the table again.

"Why did you even ask for my opinion if you already had your mind made up?"

Faced with Killari's accusations, Alcer remained calm. The veteran knew that his friend was just worried for him, so the policeman was frustrated when he didn't heed his warnings.

"I wanted confirmation from multiple source," Alcer explained, before he quickly added: "That's standard for intelligence gathering in the army. Of course, if you and my other source had told me different things, I would have believed you first, for caution's sake alone. But it looks like you didn't discover anything to incriminate Kyunya, at least nothing beyond a few rumors and conjectures. Together with the statements from my other source and my own judgment, I think he's been telling the truth."

"I did tell you he is involved in the stealing incident," Killari insisted once again, though it was a weak argument.

"Yes, but you also said it was probably just some power politics between Kyunya and his master. That was almost exactly the same story Kyunya told me, wasn't it? That his master framed him and then fired him," Alcer pointed out. "Now that I've got confirmation that he tried to enlist, and that he did even greater things to support our efforts on the front line, don't you think your conjecture should change to reflect that? For example, don't you think it's more likely that he got framed like he claimed, rather than getting his own ploy turned on himself by his master like you thought?"

For a few seconds, Killari's frown grew. He even pursed his lips in frustration, before the exacerbated policeman fell back into his chair and crossed his arms like a little kid.

"In the end, you'll do whatever you want anyways," he said. "But don't forget that I warned you if your business blows up on you or this Kyunya betrays you."

"Haha, yes. I'll be fully responsible." Alcer's wide smile mirrored Killari's frown perfectly. He knew his friend had given him his blessing with this strange, roundabout reply, and even offered to protect him again. However, Alcer would much rather have his friend by his side, so he tried again to recruit him one more time. "Now that I believe in Kyunya's character, I've decided to start a worker cooperative. You're free to join whenever you want."

"I just don't understand why you would have to share the fruits of your labor with others. It's a waste." Rather than take the deal, Killari complained instead. Clearly, he wasn't interested in joining, and only worried for Alcer's benefit. However, the ensign felt that his friend had missed the point.

"I think there's more important things in life than money. Like those around us, or helping others like us."

As Alcer thoroughly explained his vision for his company, Killari finally had nothing left to say. After all, he himself had been helped in the same way. Back when he had been injured in his leg during the war against the central kingdom, he had been forced to leave the army, and Alcer had managed to get him a job with the new Saniya police force. Just how Alcer had helped Killari back then, he would now help other veterans who had nowhere else to go. That was his goal.

"Fine, do what you want."

After he had firmly declared defeat, Killari was ready to pick up the menu for a third time. However, Alcer still wasn't quite done. Shamelessly, he leaned forward and interrupted his friend's dinner one more time, though it was for a good reason.

"In that case, I'll need your help one more time."

"No abilities, but more rage and self-entitlement than sense. In fact, I think you especially could learn a thing or two from that apprentice of yours."

Just as Alcer was gearing up to teach these two villains about the errors of their ways, two figures entered through the front door and interrupted his speech.

"That's right, you tell 'em!" Mallku shouted, sporting a wide grin. In comparison, Kyunya's face was full of anger.

"It is just what they deserve," he growled. However, even though he finally had superior numbers, Alcer wasn't happy with the reinforcements.

"Why are you two complicating things here?" he asked, and finally stepped off Rimaq's chest. "I thought we agreed that you'd wait outside."

"No way in the world would we ever miss a show like this. And in the Royal Theater no less," Mallku said, and hit his elbow into Kyunya's side. "Isn't that right, friend?"

Yet his friend didn't seem to hear him at all. Instead, he was fully focused on his old master. While the three of them had been talking, Rimaq had finally stood up again, and his head looked red like an apple. His hands balled into fists as he marched towards Kyunya, mad from anger and ready to pounce.

"You slovenly sobs! Thieves! Bandits! Return to me what's mine! Now! Else I-"

Yet before he could even finish his villain speech, the craftsman was floored once again. Surprisingly, the one who had brought him to the ground with a well-placed tackle wasn't one of his perceived enemies, but his only ally in the room.

"Shut up!" Sawo boomed, as the warrior's large figure loomed over the craftsman. "You stay out of it, you useless bastard! As always, I will clean up your mess for you! So just stay in the corner and keep quiet, before you do any more damage with your nonsense!"

Finally, Rimaq seemed to have learned his lesson. His fear once more overpowered his anger, and he curled up where he sat. Once the nuisance had been dealt with, Sawo turned towards Alcer again. At last, his hypocritical smile had disappeared. Instead, he looked serious, as if he was facing an enemy in battle.

"Now then, what gives us the honor of being tricked like this? What is it you three want to do here?"

With the appearance of Mallku and Kyunya, it seemed like Sawo had finally let go of the last hope. There had never been any misunderstandings. From the very start, he had been cheated. Alcer, for one, was glad that he could stop pretending. He really didn't enjoy this kind of foul play, even if it served a good purpose this time.

"All we want is justice, for those present, and for all the veterans who suffered in the war," a serious Alcer replied. He thought that maybe, if he could explain things properly, Sawo would understand their position. Althogh they would certainly not become friends, they could at least come to some kind of peace deal. There was no reason to antagonize this rich and powerful warrior any further. However, before he could continued his explanation, Mallku had to butt in, of course.

"Here's the deal, money man," he said, as he arrogantly stepped forward and poked the warrior in his chest like a fool, unaware that Sawo could snap him in half. "Now that we've taken over your precious client's business, I think we'll need to look through all the books and such first, to see if there are no problems. I mean, there have been some pretty bad rumors floating around, right?"

Again, Mallku poked Kyunya in the side, whose face was a mask of cold anger, as he stared down at his two tormentors.

Oh brother, what a mess, Alcer thought, before all hell broke lose.

For a few seconds, the confusion was back on Sawo's face, before he put everything together in his head. Now that Mallku had openly threatened him with blackmail, there was only one option left if he wanted to escape the fate of being exploited. The experienced businessman immediately understood and executed this final option without hesitation.

Seemingly ignorant of the pair of snide and angry men before him, Sawo simply plowed through the two like an angry bull. His goal, of course, wasn't to harm them. Rather, his goal was the exit.

After all, the paper manufactory would have evidence of Rimaq's crimes, how he had embezzled the king's money, and how he had manipulated the market to lower the property's auction price. Of course, Kyunya would know exactly where to find these things. All Sawo could do now was rush over to the manufactory itself and destroy anything incriminating he could find.

Even Rimaq seemed to have understood as much. Half a moment after Sawo had rushed ahead, he scrambled back onto his feet as well, and followed his creditor outside. For now, the workers of the manufactory were still under his control, so they could act with impunity if only they acted fast enough. However, for that, they would first have to get there.

"Halt! Police! Not a step further!" a booming voice shouted as soon as Sawo took one step out of the door. Once more, the banker came to a standstill, and subsequently, Rimaq ran into him from behind. Of course, even Rimaq's mass didn't move the warrior forward one iota.

Instead, Sawo slowly moved back as he stared at the police officer who was walking towards them with his baton drawn.

"You are?" he asked the man who was blocking his path. In response, the policeman offered a nasty sneer.

"Officer Killari," he said. "You're under investigation. I'm sorry about this, but I'll have to keep you here for a bit. Wouldn't want you to tamper with evidence while my colleagues are looking around that workshop of yours, right? Anyways, just stay put and don't make trouble. This'll all be over soon."