Chapter 167: Day 352 (2) – Operational Reorganization

I could tell Clarissa was under a lot of stress. That was why I didn’t say anything. She needed to vent. There were no outlets here. Well there were, gambling and prostitution, but I didn’t think she enjoyed either of those things as an outlet. For me it was pouring my focus into my research to work out the underpinnings of the Systemic Lands and the Almighty System.

I took the time to reflect how much pressure she must be under. Pressure to meet my expectations. Pressure to hold the city together. Fear for her life from every direction. I was honestly surprised she hadn’t cracked before. I guess with me here, she felt safe enough to release the tight hold she had on herself.

After a couple of minutes of just sitting there Clarissa finally spoke up. “You like to just say things and want them to happen. Wrangling people isn’t simple. Even more so when the threat of death is on the table. People are irrational and prone to bad decisions,” her voice was back to her usual deadpan, as her control reasserted itself.

That was all true, but I didn’t have any other way to manage things. Being a leader was more than just melting people and shouting. Just telling people to do things and then leaving for long periods, wasn’t a good way to lead.

“The pushback from Laura is just one of many headaches. The Ritualist, he can come back any time.”

“You were the one who pushed me to make peace,” I said.

“I did. It was a bad idea. I don’t know.” I closed my eyes and slowly exhaled. It was frustrating that she was doubting herself. I didn’t like making peace, but one thing I had learned was not to dwell on the past. Learn from it of course, but I needed to keep moving forward.

“Clarissa.” She looked at me. “Clarissa, get your shit together. Hire people. Do what you need to do. I can’t have you falling apart.”

“Then you need to help me, right now. Laura needs to be replaced. We can’t continue with her. She needs to be fired at the very least. Otherwise, I can’t take control over the city as needed.”

“Who will replace her, you?” Clarissa already had enough on her plate. Dumping even more on her wasn’t the answer.

“Garrett, her assistant. The Union needs to be brought to heel. They are accumulating more and more power. We need to act. I can’t do it, you need to.” I didn’t want to. Things were working, kind of. But Clarissa was right that it was unfair to expect her to put the Union in its place with Laura as a roadblock. She didn’t have the personal power to act, even on my behalf.

“The teams? They might revolt and cause issues. That is why I left Laura alone,” I replied.

“But you also said they wouldn’t mess things up as long as things don’t change too much. You aren’t backing them into a corner,” Clarissa replied. “I am surprised you are hesitating this much.”

“I have three options. Kill her. Fire her. Or leave things the way they are. You clearly don’t want option three, which means I need to kill or fire her.” There was a long period of silence. That was when I figured out a fourth path, one used by dictatorships as a time-honored tradition.

“Fine,” I said resolutely. I stood up, time for option four. It would be a nightmare, but it should hopefully draw the rats out, while reducing the blowback that removing Laura would cause. Clarissa quickly followed me without question. I left the room, and she was right behind me. I stopped at my cart on the way and picked up a sword.

I left my home and made my way North to the Union. I entered the building. There were two guards in green, but nothing concerning. They didn’t even try to stop me as I made my way to Laura’s office, sword in hand, Clarissa and her guards trailing behind me.

She quickly stood up as I made my way into the room, Clarissa right behind me. Garrett was in the room as well and he quickly moved to the side as I walked right in front of her desk. “Champion Michael, what seems to be the problem now?” Laura asked.

“Laura, you are being taken into custody. For high treason. Specifically undermining Purgatory’s taxes in a time of crisis. Using the taxes to benefit and enrich yourself at the expense of the people of the city.”

“Really! That bitch put you up to this?!” she shouted at me while glaring daggers at Clarissa.

“You can surrender and be imprisoned. Or you can resist.” I tilted my head slightly and grinned. If she wanted to resist, she would die. No half measures. If I was the dictator, then I was the dictator. Disloyal elements would be purged. People either got on board and worked with Clarissa or they got replaced one way or the other. No one was indispensable and it was time I reminded everyone of that little fact.

Laura calmed herself and I carefully watched her hands. “And if I surrender, will I be taken as a human testing subject?”

“No. You will just sit in a room for a long time. Given food and water. With the occasional person checking to make sure you are alive and unharmed.” This was my fourth option. There was a reason why political prisoners were put into camps and not killed. Killing them would turn them into martyrs. “Think of it as a forced retirement.”

“To then kill me when people forget about me.” Was she really going to fight? “Fine, I surrender.” Ah, it was not to be.

“She is all yours Clarissa. Garrett, Clarissa is in charge now. You report to her. Understand?”

“Yes, Champion Michael,” he said with a tremor in his voice.

“Where will we keep her?” Laura asked.

“Put her in a room in my home for now. An empty room with the bare minimum. No window, no light. Also, a strip search, preferably by another female. Give her gray clothes. She also isn’t to be taken advantage of. Just left alone. Anyone hitting or abusing her will answer to me.” I turned to look at the two guards in blue behind Clarissa who quickly nodded.

“Let me through!” I knew that voice. I turned and it was Gertrude. A pleasant or unpleasant surprise depending on how one considered the situation.

“Let her through,” I said and she entered the room. “Gertrude, welcome to this arrest.”

“Arrest?” I could see was confused. The only concern I had was how the narrative of what I was doing would play out. Personal feelings for Gertrude couldn’t weigh down.

“Arrest. Laura is guilty of high treason. Specifically embezzling tax revenue for her own gain. She will be imprisoned and kept alive while the Union undergoes a reorganization,” I replied.

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“Laura, what is going on?” Gertrude asked. Ignoring me when I just explained things. How rude.

“A power play by Clarissa,” Laura replied and I frowned at that statement.

“No. This is my decision and I take full responsibility for it,” I countered. “Let me be clear here. Laura enabled the theft of millions of points. Take her away.”

“You will regret this. All of you!” My guards moved in and grabbed Laura. She began to struggle and resist. “Let me go!” I walked around the desk and put my hand on the back of her head.

“Let her go for a moment.” The guards backed off.

“Let me go! You can’t do this! I am-“ I slammed her face on the desk. I then gently slammed it a second and a third time. I let the back of her head go and she collapsed on the floor, crying and moaning. Blood poured out her nose. She was lucky I didn’t fracture her skull.

“No food for three days. Now take her away.” I stepped away as the guards came back over and began dragging her out of the room. I looked over at Clarissa. “Problem dealt with. I hope I don’t have to deal with any more problems.”

“That should be more than enough. Thank you, Champion Michael,” Clarissa replied.

“Michael!” I looked over at Gertrude. “This…why…Laura was keeping everything together for the Union. She supported you.”

“It is Champion Michael.” I stared at her. While we had a night together, that wouldn’t cloud my judgement. She shouldn’t expect special privileges just from that. If she was, she was deluding herself.

“Champion Michael,” Gertrude finally said. I nodded at that.

“It is simple. She was looking out for the Union and not the city. She was undermining my leadership and was instigating rebellion. She was stealing crystals that were meant to help defend this city. I would even go so far as to say, that the Ritualist only had the success he did due to her embezzlement.” That wasn’t true, but it sounded good, so I said it. Put the city’s and my personal failures on her.

“I know her. She is a good person. Locking her up, without a trial or anything isn’t right.” Well Gertrude had a point.

“If you push for a trial and she is found guilty, the sentence will be death by extreme torture. Do you want a trial?” I asked. There was silence at that. I let it stretch out and Gertrude finally spoke up.

“Why are you like this?” Gertrude finally asked.

“Because this city would fall apart otherwise. There would be anarchy as everyone thought their way was the best way to do things. I may not always make the best decisions, but it keeps people organized and chaos at bay. Now, do you want a trial or not?”

“How would it even be done?” Gertrude asked and I looked at Clarissa. She had a better idea of how things were currently organized.

“With the current process, under the Constitution, there would be a hearing by a magistrate that is appointed by President Bob. Both sides present their case, and the magistrate would decide. Since she is not an elected member of government, on the Immortal Council, or part of the RMPF that would be the process. The sentence in all cases where guilt is determined is death, but the process of carrying out the sentence may vary.” I nodded at that explanation.

“She deserves a trial,” Gertrude said.

“Deserves? No one deserves anything here. Regardless, I am invoking my war time powers. I believe, that is written down?” I asked Clarissa.

“Technically yes. Your title of Champion is recognized even if the Immortal Council hasn’t formed. You can make any determination in defense of the city. Including having a summary trial. Since she is not a member of the Immortal Council or elected, then she has no standing to object.” I knew I included that bit for a reason. No drawn-out court cases here.

“There, she already had a trial. I was the judge and jury. No need to get bothered. I suggest you focus your thoughts on something more productive like grinding,” I suggested with a harsh tone as a warning.

“If I object?” Gertrude asked. Was everyone forgetting what I had done in the past? Was there a case of amnesia going around that I had missed?

“The weak have no say. Only one opinion matters, and that is mine. Unless you killed a level 4 monster to be appointed to the Immoral Council and didn’t tell me?” I waited for a few seconds and Gertrude looked away. “No? Then shut up your opinion has no weight.”

“She is my friend,” Gertrude said with a sigh. “Fine, but I will check up on her.”

“That is fine. She will be kept alive as long as no one causes any trouble. If a Union team revolts or defects, her life is forfeit, or at least there will be torture involved. Now, that we got all the uselessness out of the way, anything else Clarissa?” I asked.

“No Champion Michael. I will go see to Laura’s accommodations.”

“Good.” I left the office. Naran was waiting for me outside. I noted Gertrude’s team standing around.

“Michael, I saw something interesting get dragged past my cart,” Naran said.

“Just a problem that needed to be resolved,” I replied.

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