Shatufan had suffered quite a bit in the past year. Jamshid’s coup and the riots that ensued, followed by the usurpation of the self-proclaimed King, and then Manuchehr retaking the city had all left their scars on the city, but when Leon finally got to his feet and turned his attention outward, he was startled at the devastation.

Some districts had been heavily damaged in the previous incidents of civil strife, but they had largely been cleaned up and were under reconstruction when he arrived. Now, he beheld not simply damaged districts, but entire districts that had been completely demolished down to the foundation. The city walls had largely been torn down, there were more than a few fires burning uncontrolled through the streets, and the Thundermen he could see were on an absolute rampage—the more martially inclined Tribes had led the rest in rounding up anyone they came across, cutting down the fighting-aged men, and seizing all pieces of movable wealth.

In short, the city had been quite brutally sacked, the only silver lining being that the sack seemed to be over, though no one was doing much to protect the city from the consequences of the devastation—namely, the fires. Though he was still weak, Leon reached up into the sky with his power, summoning clouds and rain. At the same time, a great cheer went up around the city, his army reveling in the display of his power.

Leon surveyed all of this from a balcony overlooking much of the city. He’d been taken to a large estate in the city built on the side of a hill, so he could see the results of his conquest with his physical eyes relatively clearly. Beside him stood his family and several Tempest Knights.

“How long was I out?” he asked, the last traces of his injury-induced weakness still lingering in his shaky voice.

“Almost two days,” Valeria answered. “It was… touch and go for a while.”

“That treacherous bastard!” Cassandra spat. “He accused me of ‘profaning a parley with violence’ when he tried to kill you! He tried to kill all of us!”

“Where is Manuchehr?” Leon soberly asked.

“Dead,” Valeria quickly replied. “You survived the blast. He did not.”

[That motherless coward was turned to ash by his own bomb,] Maia stated, some amount of satisfaction leaking through her and Leon’s connection. [He ended the way all of his kind should.]

As Leon stood on the balcony surveying Shatufan, he sensed the rapid approach of several powerful mages. He wasn’t concerned, however, recognizing them from their auras alone.

Xanthippe came flying full-tilt from the center of the city, both panic and relief writ large across her face. Marcus and Red hurried over, too, though Red looked marginally less concerned than the others—as far as Leon could tell, anyway, given she was in her wyvern form.

“Your Majesty!” Xanthippe cried out as she landed heavily on the balcony, shaking much of the estate. She fell to a knee in the same movement, causing Leon to wince slightly. He hoped she didn’t break her knee with how vigorously she genuflected. “It brings us all joy beyond words to see our King alive!”

Her adjutants and followers, having fallen behind her in her haste to reach the estate, likewise landed and took a knee, and Leon couldn’t see any disagreement in any of them with her sentiment.

“I awake to find a city in chaos,” Leon growled, and Xanthippe flinched. “I wanted to conquer this city, not burn it to the ground.”

“I personally ensured the protection of the most strategic areas!” Xanthippe declared. “This city should still be capable of producing Aurichalcum—”

“I wanted the city whole,” Leon interjected as Marcus now landed.

“King Leon,” Marcus whispered as Red landed on the roof and lowered her enormous draconic head over the balcony. “It’s good to see you up.”

“Where’s everyone else?” Leon asked.

“Alix is coordinating the Tempest Knights to secure the area,” Marcus immediately answered. “Gaius is trying to coordinate with Anshu, but… we’re having some difficulties controlling the troops.”

Leon turned his irritated gaze back to Xanthippe, who paled under his obvious displeasure.

“My King!” Xanthippe cried. “A rumor went around that you had been killed! The army was uncontrollable! Vengeance was demanded by all!”

Leon scowled, and a bolt of silver-blue lightning lit up the sky, reflecting his anger. But he controlled himself, and commanded, “Has order been restored?”

Xanthippe hesitated for a long moment before saying, “We’re still working on that. But now that our King has returned to us, the outstanding companies will return to order!”

“Get back out there and handle that. What remains of this city belongs to me and I will brook no further damage to it. Or its people.”

Xanthippe bowed her head. “Yes, Sire!”

While he gave her that order, Leon left little to chance, letting his tremendous aura expand to encompass the city. He exerted pressure upon those who were still looting and burning, making his displeasure known.

As he glared out over the city, Xanthippe and her followers took flight again, the Lioness shouting for order to be restored now that the soldiery was calming with Leon’s obvious recovery.

Leon then sighed, and Valeria laid a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get you back inside. You should rest.”

Leon didn’t argue, but he gave Marcus a look that had him following closely. Red, meanwhile, stayed on the roof and looked ready to settle in for a good sleep.

“This city will need someone to give it order,” he said as his group made their way to a comfortable sitting room. “You exceeded all of my expectations in handling the Common Lands back on Kataigida—and my expectations were high already.”

“You flatter me,” Marcus said in a humble tone, though there was some expectation in his eyes. Leon could tell that he’d already figured out what Leon was getting at. So, Leon got right to the point.

“This city will be the seat of a new Exarchate. Given that it produces Aurichalcum, this place will be critical for my future plans, and so it’ll not only need someone competent but also someone I can trust. You fulfill both criteria.”

Marcus took a knee. “You honor me, my friend.”

“I’m offering you a lot of work,” Leon said. His golden eyes flickered toward the sitting room’s window, through which he could see the fires starting to die down, quenched by his summoned rain. “More than I planned for. Still, let’s make this clear: Marcus, I’m offering you the position of Exarch of Shatufan. Or whatever we end up calling this place.”

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. Marcus grinned and stated, “I accept.”

Leon nodded gratefully. “I don’t plan on staying long in this city. I want to visit Lancefoot personally, not to mention we have to handle Krizos. But I need some time to fully recover, and I’m hoping Clear Day will finish with his part in this conquest before too long, so I’ll be here for a few more days. When I depart, I’ll leave a few Tribal Clans behind that will answer to you. They’ll garrison the city, enforce your will, and help with bureaucratic duties. You will command them in my name. I have several in mind, but I want you to pick three.”

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The intention was for Marcus to think about it, but again, he answered without hesitation. “I’d have the Tigers, Ravens, and Harts act as my garrison, if possible.”

Taken slightly aback, Leon whispered, “That was fast. Why those three?”

“There will be instability,” Marcus answered. “The Tigers are a warrior Tribe. The Black Horn Clan, in particular, are known for their martial prowess. They’ll be integral to keeping the peace. But… given the scale of destruction that was left by taking this city, I fear that the garrison might be too heavy-handed. The Harts are gentler by nature, and should act as a moderating influence on the Tigers.”

Leon nodded in agreement, liking Marcus’ logic so far.

“Finally, the Ravens will be needed to keep the Aurichalcum plants running. Hopefully, they’ll quickly figure out how it all works and will be able to help the Kingdom to build more.”

For a long moment, Leon stared at his friend, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He reached out and lightly clapped Marcus on the shoulder. “Keep that up and I’ll have to find some way to reward you beyond your current salary and privileges,” he said.

“Being part of this is enough of a reward,” Marcus humbly stated.

“Nonsense,” Leon replied with a wave of his hand. After another moment’s thought, he said, “Think of a weapon. I’ll personally forge one for you from the finest of materials. Even Adamant, if you’re willing to not only help in the forging, but shed a little blood, too…”

Marcus’ eyes widened in shock. “I… that… Leon, I don’t know what to say.”

“Then just accept it and make sure you do the best damn job you can. I want this city rebuilt and productive again as soon as possible.”

Marcus nodded and bowed.

“And one last thing,” Leon said, his demeanor turning deadly serious. Sensing the change, Marcus met his gaze, his own brown eyes reflecting the same seriousness. “The people of Shatufan are to be treated as our own. Now that the city belongs to me, her citizens are to be treated as mine, with all the protections and privileges that entails. So treat these people well.”

He didn’t think Marcus would abuse his position, but he wanted to make it clear that the people weren’t to be mistreated—at least, not any more than they already had been. He didn’t begrudge the people for the attempt on his life, as much as he felt a bit bitter that the man responsible was now beyond his grasp.

Marcus agreed, and Leon sent him off to get started. Setting up a proper administration was going to be hard, and he’d need all the time he could get. Leon, meanwhile, settled in to rest and finish healing, confident that now that he was awake, his people could finish bringing Shatufan back under control.

—

It only took a day for true order to return to the city, but it took two more to fully catalog the damage done while Leon had been unconscious. A full quarter of the city had been burned down, and much of the remaining three-quarters had been severely damaged. Temples had been ransacked, men slaughtered, and women and children had been rounded up and imprisoned. In total, Shatufan had been a city of half a million people before Leon arrived during Terris’ siege. Now, it was barely half as many. Many of those losses came from citizens who’d fled rather than those who’d been killed, but it was still a staggering depopulation.

For his part, Leon was glad that he awoke as quickly as he did, though he regretted not striving to take control sooner. Leon wasn’t sure what would’ve been done with the imprisoned citizens of the city had he never awoken, but after taking time to rest, he began meting out justice for the worst offenses. Two hundred Thundermen lost their heads when he learned of their specific crimes, but the rest of his army was pardoned. The bodies of those executed were left in public view, making it clear that his justice was both blind and ruthless.

Perhaps that was the reason why the city calmed quickly once order was restored to the army. Or perhaps it was because Leon ordered the clearing and construction of what had been destroyed, starting with shelters for the survivors. With the giants and his engineers, he didn’t think it would take that long.

Still longer than he might have to remain in the city, but such would be Marcus’ responsibility, and he trusted the man to do his duty.

On the evening of the fourth day after waking up, word came in that Clear Day was on his way. The tau was escorting two small delegations from Elegan and Hosragan, made clear enough by the distance between these two rival groups.

They arrived the morning of the fifth day and were brought straight to Leon’s base in the hillside estate. Leon didn’t meet with the delegates right away, however, and left them to contemplate their next course of action on a terrace overlooking the city where they could survey both the damage and Leon’s arks hovering overhead. Clear Day, however, he met alone.

When the tau was shown into his room, it was evident that he was in a good mood. He was smiling almost from ear to ear, his red eyes shining like stars. His attitude was a far cry from the much dourer and less self-confident man that Leon had sent out barely a week before.

“Leon!” Clear exclaimed as the door closed behind him.

“Clear!” Leon replied as he clasped the tau’s offered hand.

“You’re looking chipper,” Cassandra said smilingly.

“Good news?” Valeria asked.

Clear bowed to them, then to Maia, and nodded at Anzu—they were the only others joining the meeting.

“I believe so,” he stated. “The ease by which Sentudon was taken left them stunned. The sacking of Shatufan has left them willing to negotiate. I believe they’ll surrender without a fight, should they see the benefit in doing so.”

[The benefit in doing so is that they get to live!] Maia declared, her mental voice tinged with irritation.

“That’s… certainly one benefit that they’ll see,” Clear replied. “But… fear will only take one so far…” He glanced pointedly at Leon.

“To get someone to do what you want,” Leon said, “they have to be properly incentivized. Carrot and stick. They’ll see what happened to Shatufan and think, ‘What if that happens to me?’ Then we show them what they can gain by being our friends, and if the offer is good enough, they’ll offer themselves without much hassle.”

Anzu cocked his head and asked, “But what if the offer isn’t good enough?”

“Then they’ll dig in and resist to the very end,” Leon stated matter-of-factly. “Or… maybe they’d abandon their cities. Hard to say. Better to maximize the chances that they’ll accept my overlordship.”

“Do you have a plan for doing so?” Clear asked.

Leon grinned and answered the question.

—

Leon met with the delegates in the largest hall in the estate. He didn’t sit on a throne, but he still stood on a raised platform with most of his present advisors and family around him. Marcus and Anshu were present, but Xanthippe was out overseeing the city’s reconstruction under the purview of the army—best to make use of the manpower while they were here before handing things off to Marcus.

When Clear escorted them in, Leon noted that one of the leading delegates’ eyes widened at the sight of him.

“King Leon,” Clear began, his voice loud and declarative, “I present before you the Azadan Drusis, from the city of Hosragan, and the Azadan Soraya from the city of Elegan.”

Leon nodded as Clear then introduced him to the delegates. It was Drusis who’d seemed surprised to see him, which piqued his curiosity.

He didn’t have long to wait for his curiosity to be satisfied as once Clear was finished, Drusis took a step forward irrespective of the way the Tempest Knights watched him closely and demanded, “How do we know you are who you say you are? Anyone could be trotted out here and declared to be King Leon!”

Leon blinked in surprise. That wasn’t what he was expecting. Drusis’ words weren’t taken well by the others in the room as the shouted threats and baring of steel testified. However, Leon released his aura, freezing everyone in place as he glared imperiously down at the rapidly-paling Drusis.

In a flash, Leon’s body shifted into his Thunderbird form, just barely able to fit in the high-ceilinged hall. Still, his ladies had to make a bit of room for his bulk.

Leon stared down at Drusis, fixing him in a paralyzing glare. His aura then surrounded the man, and silver-blue bolts of lightning rippled across his feathers.

[Good enough?] he mentally spat.

After Leon eased up on the weight of his aura, Drusis hurriedly nodded.

[Wonderful.]

Leon shifted back into his human form.

“What made you think I was an imposter? If you’ll indulge my curiosity.”

Drusis gasped as Leon’s aura fully retracted. He was only a seventh-tier mage, unable to stand long under the weight of an eleventh-tier mage’s power.

“I… heard that you’d… been hit by one of the Sen’uus firebombs! No one survives those!”

Soraya’s eyes widened at the admittance, and her eyes flittered rapidly between Leon and Drusis.

“Sun’uus firebombs…?” Leon whispered.

“Sen’uus,” Drusis corrected. “Named for the mad geniuses, Nora and Kaifa Sen’uus. They live in this city providing alchemical services, though their more… explosive wares are usually sold abroad.”

All Leon needed was a glance at Marcus, and the newly-made Exarch grabbed several of his staff—including Lucianus—and made for the door.

“I was hit by something rather deadly,” Leon said. “I survived, as you can plainly see. Now, instead of talking about me, why don’t we talk about you instead? Specifically, your cities, and how we’re going to deal with each other in the future…”

As Leon spoke, Clear stepped forward, eager to take charge of the negotiations and make up for his perceived mistake with Sentudon. Leon was content to let him work. These negotiations might take some days, anyway. Still, they were crucial. Leon wanted all of the Far West under his control, and getting these cities to agree to vassalization would be a massive win.

Still, as the first arguments were made, he couldn’t help but let his mind wander. An alchemist couple who lived in this city was capable of making bombs that could hit someone’s soul realm…

The ghost of a smile played at Leon’s lips as he thought, ‘I can’t wait to meet them.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep