Chapter 118: 122. Scornful Smile Part 2

Quinn isn’t done, frowning slightly.

“However, I expect you to train your guards better. You have been trying to do your job well so far today. Things were going adequately if not for that person ruining my plan. Prepare them for crises, Tom."

Quinn starts walking away from the center of the square. He’s done here today. However, before he goes, he asks Tom a question.

"How many people died in that stampede just now? Were any of your force or the statue marchers trampled to death while trying to escape that woman?"

"Y-Yes, sir. We're still trying to perform whatever healing we can, but they're likely already dead, sir. The total hasn't been finalized, but perhaps between two to four statue marchers died. Our guards were properly armored, none of them had anything more than mild bruises."

Quinn considers if he can make use of this for something. He’s one who likes working multiple angles.

"…Forgo the healing magic on the marchers. Take care of your men, but leave the marchers with their injuries, fatal or otherwise."

"Sir?"

"That woman who interrupted my brother will not be able to make any big moves in this city. We'll put out a warrant for her arrest, not for destroying the statue, but for being a cowardly murderer who killed people through her destructive actions. Well, that's all for now. I'll be leaving them."

At least it’ll annoy her. Might make her think twice about doing anything public. If we circulate her description, the guards will be able to compile tips about what areas she or suspicious women who look like her might frequent. Fuck. If only we knew more than just her height… and the fact that she’s a woman.

Tom stands there slightly surprised as his young noble master walks away. Leaving people to suffer and die in this manner… The young man is relatively polite in person, yet within his chest beats a cold noble’s heart. They are a superior existence, endless in pride and able to sacrifice his tools for reasons that fit him and his family.

I really hope he doesn’t change his mind and come after me.

Tom’s bluff that he would accept just punishment for the actions of his men and himself had paid off. He honestly didn't know how Quinn would react, but this incident would be at least career ending for him anyways.

By offering his life up for his men, he could save face with someone directly connected to the Baron. He still had a chance to continue climbing as far as he could go; rather, that was his sole chance and he had not blown it.

If he lost this bet, he would be punished by the Baron; the worst case outcome is either imprisonment or execution, for lèse-majesté. In that case, things were not completely hopeless for him. He had his ways to escape sentencing too, such as pulling favors from his allies in the force.

He might have to become a fugitive, but as a city guard he knew the right way to escape their eyes. He would not have to worry about his subordinates refusing to break the law to let him go free. As he rose to the rank of captain, he was still well-liked by the rank and file officers.

He protected them when they messed things up and they did the same for him. Luckily however, that outcome did not come to pass. He could focus his mind, not on the fear of being reduced in status, but towards the events of tonight.

Now that he's not under Quinn’s scrutiny anymore, he can vent his frustration in full. He feels absolutely humiliated. He just wanted to climb the ladder. He knew he was born a commoner, but his family was able to support his career in the force.

He was the first in his family to join the guards, his father being a merchant who operates a small family business. While his brothers had joined their father’s work, he had chosen a different path, one that he never considered any less honorable.

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He had done so much climbing to get where he is today. He kowtowed to so many more powerful than him for his own fief, one that he could rule with impunity. In his district, he was judge, jury and executioner whenever he walked the streets. 

He allows people to live or die based on what he's feeling that day, he loves that power. That was how he was a simple officer. But, when he became a sergeant, he gained the ability to use other officers as his pawns. As a Captain, he was given even more authority, one that he often abused.

But, this world is not made for me. 

That woman and Quinn Tritol. The world is their possession, the possession of any noble. Before their power, his authority is nothing, a house built on a foundation of sand. He worships Osva with his whole heart. He understands that their place in the world is given to them by him.

But, is that what Osva wants for Tom as well? Wouldn’t Osva believe that he deserved something for his place in the world? Osva rewards effort and intelligence. Yet, Tom could have died today, blown out like a flickering ember in the wind.

I was… scared. I've never felt scared like that before. I'm not supposed to feel scared!

It makes him wonder why Osva has put the heroes in his path. My children walk upon the face of the world, is that what he’s trying to say? Is it a lesson in humility? Tom wouldn’t believe that. He is one of the most humble people he knows. 

He has always stayed within his boundaries, he’s only ever moved in service of God and country.

I’m going to need to pray on this. Are you telling me I need to serve the nobles better, Osva? *Sigh* In that, I might have failed you.

Tom mulls over his thoughts as he informs his men to gather themselves up and stop offering treatment to the trampled marchers. After doing this, he takes a look over the crowd. They’re in a lot of chaos. He looks towards his people of interest.

The worst part is however the old draconid man, the disruptive element. This interference made Tom’s plans to catch him completely fall apart. He watches the old man. Someone is touching his neck, or rather, holding their hand over it. He has a wide grin, his sharp draconid teeth visible.

Wait. What's he…

"Ha… hahaha… ahahahahaha… ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

The old man starts laughing. He appears more jovial than he's ever been today. Tom watches him laugh and laugh, his voice amplified by the sound magic that was just reapplied to him. The guard captain grits his teeth in anger.

Tom and his men had shown their own mortality today, their own obvious, pathetic cowardice… his own utter lack of true power… This man is laughing at him. Laughing at his subordinates, their pain… 

The loud, anxious crowd becomes quiet as they hear the laughter of the demihuman, old man. He laughs just long enough to get his point across. Then, he pauses, treating the tension of the audience carefully. There are still many human supremacists here. Could he really afford to piss them all off?

He opens his mouth to speak once again.

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