Chapter 26 - Volume 2 (1/2)
Isaac had finally arrived at his destination Out of habit, he pulled out a cigarette froh the two cities To the east was Port City with its clean streets and elegant manors To the as New Port City where countless warehouses and loading stations lined across the canal Isaac glie that it was akin to a dragon’s lair
“What a fucked-up place”
Just like Isaac’s first impression of the city, New Port City was a fucked-up place The two cities were situated on the edges of the Minolen Mountains, which lay on the boundaries between the middle and southern territories of the Empire Between the Minolen Mountains and Lake Levonen was a small plain where Port and New Port City existed The two cities were a prireed could be when pushed to its limits
Lake Levonen was naturally connected with straits which branched out to the west, east, and south,it the ideal hub for transport and trade within the Eoods froh here to reach its destination
When only Port City existed on this place, a crazy ated the populace to support the construction of a new canal This canal was to be dug through the Minolen Mountains which acted as a barrier to the north,a direct trade route toward the centre of the Ereed to the idea, and an official plan was soon in the project This was a project funded purely by the citizens without any support froovernuilds went bankrupt during its construction, and only after fifty years did hureed triumph over nature That was just 10 years before Isaac arrived here With a direct connection to the centre of the continent, it proudly proclaireatest cities within the Ee after the construction had finished
The fifty year construction period had forced the workers to settle in a nearby area Workers who couldn’t find a place in the affluent Port City with its rich soil and excellent view had to settle on the western side of the Lake The place was not suited for a co rivers and hills, but the poor workers gathered here regardless
The real problem was after the construction was completed All of the workers had suddenly becoenerations of workers had started to call this place hoinal workers of the city stayed put, more people from across the Continent ca in overabundance of labor Only the landlords and merchants of Port City were happy about this, since this resulted in a sharp decline on the wages
As unhappiness grew as and difficult work, Port City requested to split the city into two separate econoions in fear of riot from the workers This was quickly accepted, and so a hundred thousand citizens were split away and founded the no Port City
All of the properties within New Port City were already owned by the landlords who lived in Port City, so all of the hard earned money within New Port City naturally flowed back to Port City The people of New Port City struggled to earn enough e More and more citizens became destitute and soon the slums within New Port City expanded
At first, mayors ere transferred into New Port City were filled with deterainst its poor conditions and financial issues, they all disappeared The seat of the Mayor had been e slu authority s The rough sailors, workers, pubs and brothels were great targets to fund their sinister deeds
The lack of public order led to an increase in criration of what little middle class citizens there were The empty houses were in turn filled by people of the slums It was a doard spiral which saw no end, and no Port City as a whole was a giant sluet stabbed in the streets if I tried anything rash”
Isaac nodded and stoarette He re his brief visit in Gabelin
It was the cradle of corruption and crime With the lack of a mayor or an administrator, it was the cri the e syndicates that spread across this city, there were five syndicates which truly ruled this city Isaac couldn’t stop hi when he heard that out of the 5 syndicates, four of them were connected to the four prominent faction leaders of Port City while the last syndicate was the police force of New Port City
When Isaac questioned why the Empire didn’t put at least the police force into custody, Mazelan smiled bitterly and pleaded hi some form of its corruption as the mere presence of the police force helped to stop the cri further But Isaac was ready to bet his life that Mazelan’s eyes were s
New Port City followed the Ey and split the city into five regions The Ceta District was in the centre, the Alpha District in the East, Beta to the West, Zeta in the north and Meta district in the south The four prominent cri districts for the the citizens dry while the Police Force of New Port City took over the Ceta District in the Centre
Most of the city was in a co was made in its construction, but at least the City Hall and the neighbouring regions see for its construction
Isaac arrived at the Ceta District and looked at the City Hall It was a s which seemed to be in decent shape, at least on the outside
“It seeht it’d be couess the people still treat this as a governot up the stairs to open the doors The door opened with an irritating creak and Isaac sighed when he looked inside
“It only looks fine on the outside”
It was akin to an abandoned house inside Not single furniture was in one piece and a table sat in the s of rubbish were stacked near the s, suggesting that people have been secretly throwing their trash in here Meanwhile spider ere spread across the entire building like a giant fishi+ng net… Isaac didn’t even want to step foot in this place
Isaac conte it would take to clean this place up He shrugged and turned around
“I guess I need soyou don’t want to do With this place being a giant slule loaf of bread
Isaac got back outside and sat on the steps which lead to theto eat and looked around the area
The City Hall was situated in the plaza which was circular in shape To the left of the plaza was a building cleaner and fancier than the City Hall It seemed to be the Police Headquarters, as there was a uard see at Isaac It was understandable, since in his eyes Isaac was so only to co on some food
“What a perfect place to have those”
Most of the buildings which stood next to the plaza were brothels Many headstrong police officials would go ht that the police headquarter stood in the centre of so many brothels
Isaac looked around the plaza which seemed quite eienic place around seemed to be the Police Headquarters, while the rest of the area seemed to be filled with trash In every alley there was at least one body lying on the ground, and Isaac couldn’t tell if they were just drunkards or corpses
Fro the barren plaza with their es of those who had passed out in the alleys, the plaza was everything you’d expect fro that this was one of the richer districts in the city, Isaac could only iine just what the remainder of the city looked like
“Hm?”
Isaac turned around when he sensed soroup of starved children with sweat covering their filthy clothes revealed themselves to Isaac These were the children ere at the bottom of the food chain in this city, those who couldn’t even join the others who looted the trash or dead bodies Their only choice was to rely on the pity of others to extend their miserable life or succuht within the slums
The children sucked on their thu When Isaac finished the entire thing in a single bite, the children simply turned aithout a hint of disappointment For the victims of this cruel world, even disappointment was a luxury they couldn’t afford
“Wait”
Isaac called out to the children and took out another bread froht on the children’s feet
“Hm?”
Isaac couldn’t hide his surprise when he sahat the children did He had seen how people turn into demons when they’ve suffered the pain of starvation He had experienced it hi in a company that had been cut off frohouls and fight for a larger share Isaac didn’t intend this out of mean spirit He just wanted to entice the children to clean the City Hall for hi for the bread, they carefully looked at their surroundings They picked up the bread, and after bowing at Isaac in gratitude, they started to share the bread with each other They were careful not to waste any of it, not even its crumbs Their shares were so s of starvation worse, but still they shared with each other The bigger children would give a larger portion to the smaller children, and Isaac was shocked that these children were doing this with a smile on their faces
“Kuk!”
Isaac let out a small noise It turned to a snicker, then into a full blown laughter
“Ahahahah!”
The sight of Isaac laughing out loud had gathered everyone’s attention, and the children who received the bread frooing to do next
“Ahehter, and Isaac turned to see where it was coed man with a face of anature The children’s faces went pale at the sight of him and quickly scattered away
Isaac talked to the man as he watched the children disappear
“Who are you?”
“Eheh Do you happen to be Sir Isaac, the newly appointed Adood to see you I am Ratt, vice-captain of New Port City’s Police Force”
As he introduced hilimpsed at the left chest of Isaac He flinched when he saw the eolden stars The College was so he never wanted to encounter, let alone work under He didn’t knohy a graduate of the College was appointed to New Port City, but there was no harood first impression
Isaac briefly looked at Ratt’s face before ht now”
“Eheh, that’s good to hear”
“Yes It’s a very good thing And because of that, I want to tell you that I know nothi-”
“That’s why I’m here I am here to explain to you how this city is run and also to throelco his ut his finger, telling Ratt to come closer Ratt was offended by this, but he kept it inside and did as he was told
“Eheh, is there so you’d lik… Kuk!”
Isaac slammed onto Ratt’s nose with his fist like he would with a hammer
“Aaah! My nose!”
Isaac said to Ratt as he struggled with his bleeding nose
“I’ood ain I will fry your throat with the sludge from the sewers”
“Kuk! What have I done to deserve this?! You’re going to have a hard ti to start your career!”
“That’s none of your business but I do agree that a welco party is necessary Sadly, I a to have the party here”
“…What?”
Ratt looked blankly at Isaac as he held on to his bleeding nose
“Didn’t you hear ht Tell everyone who calls themselves the rulers of this city to attend the party Anyone who fails to attend will be carved into ive them a bad time Ah! In addition, I prefer my table to be so full of food that it looks as if I haven’t even touched it by the time I’m done Understand?”
“Huh? Yes”
As Ratt scrarabbed onto his shoulder
“And where do you think you’re going?”
“Huh? To send your uess you’re as duone, who am I supposed to use for my chores?”
“I, I will make sure to send some men to serve you”
“But I don’t want that?”
“What?”
“I don’t want that”
“…”
As night approached, the Ceta District plaza, which was usually populated with custoion, was instead occupied by thugs with their threatening appearance At the plaza in front of the City Hall was a circular table and the bosses of the five cri to the plaza were ts of tables where the subordinates of the bosses sat Their food, which was transported fro to be consumed Yet, no one was able touch it All they could do was look at the City Hall’s doors
Many eyes could be seen in the gaps of the alleyere teed on the tables, but no one was brave enough to beg the most infa for this party to finish so they could clean up whatever was left behind
Meanwhile, Ratt was having the worst ti of orders fro in his subordinates to clean up the City Hall But this was quickly folloith Isaac scolding Ratt in front of all his subordinates asking why he wasn’t doing any work Isaac ordered Ratt to join in on the cleaning and as Ratthis boiling anger in check, he demanded a bed be transported into the City Hall Isaac spoke with all seriousness that he will kill anyone who comes to wake him up and then locked himself into his room
Ti party was over long ago Even all of the guests have arrived, yet Isaac still didn’t see Ratt to wake Isaac up with their stares
Just when Ratt was about to break fro stuck between a rock and a hard place, a loud creak echoed and Isaac stuood nap “
Isaac appeared out of the gates with a bushy hair and his eyes still half asleep He looked around the plaza then got to the table in front of hi the others who also sat on the table His actions were quite insulting to the bosses of the syndicates, and the mood of the entire situation worsened
“Kyaa! That water tastes nice Well then, let’s see how the food is”
Isaac began feasting on the food that has been well seasoned withwith a side of bread and soup The others, however, grit their teeth in anger as their murderous intent rose
“Huhu It seems our Administrator is quite peckish Why don’t we have ourselves a meal too?”
An old man with a respectable aura tried to ease the tension in the air as he spoke with aat Isaac After afor their utensils when Isaac suddenly stopped his feast and looked at the five who sat with hi?”
The old man replied as if he was ready for this ise for e of the New Port City’s Police…”
“I don’t give a fuck about what you are I’ now”
“…”
Many ore police uniforms rose up in protest to Isaac’s words The oldtheir swords with a wave of his hand, and replied to Isaac without a hint of e party for you It see to delay our introductions after you’ve enjoyed the…”
Clang!
Even before the old man finished his words Isaac threw the fork in his hand and spoke as if he’s lost all interest on the food in front of him
“Ah, you just ruined rit their teeth at Isaac’s ied his men to be patient and bowed respectfully at Isaac
“I will introduce ain I am Dinozo, Captain of the New Port City’s Police Force This is…”
“I don’t give a daht?”
“That is correct”
“You’re a coht?”
“That I am”
“Everyone else on this table are also coht”
“I’m a noble you see”
“…”
“Since when did a noble share the same table with a coet everything they want You keep on giving, and soon enough they want to be above you”
Slam!
A muscular man covered with scars slammed onto the table with his fist even before Isaac was done with his words He stood up and growled at Isaac
“I see you’ve lost your fuckingto stop a knife fro s stood up with hi the situation
After watching the man, Isaac turned his head to Dinozo and asked
“Who’s he?”
“He is Foxt, president of the Alpha District’s Youth association”
“What do you mean a ‘Youth association’? He seems more like a fucker who steals money from workers in the name of protection”
Foxt pulled out a knife from his pockets and slammed it on to the table
“You better watch what you’re getting yourself into You think the title of Ad to protect your life?”
“Wow! I’ to kill me? Here?”
“Huhu, it won’t be my first time”