Chapter 59 - Not My Fire
Leon and his mother-in-law enjoyed a long conversation on lighter topics. They did not discuss unpleasant topics like the kingdom's corruption and state of the commoners.
As the top noble house just below the royal family, these matters shouldn't have escaped their ears and eyes.
The fact that they haven't done anything about it means that they must have their own ideas and plans... or so he thought.
Whatever plans they had, it should have been enacted long ago. They shouldn't have dragged it out for so long. Many commoners have suffered and the Lower District has become like a dried up lake.
If Rachel's mother knew his thought, she would have flushed with shame. They had realised the severity of the problem not longer ago.
The Lancaster Industries was a military enterprise. They had always been focusing on supplying weapons and equipments to the army, while researching more powerful tools at the same time. The airships were their proudest invention as it allowed the military to counterattack and not just sit behind the walls and stay on the defensive.
They had always looked at the bigger picture. If the wall was lost then it would spell the end of humanity.
They thought it was fine for some nobles to be corrupted as long as they didn't step over the boundary. After all, there would always be bad eggs among a bunch of good ones.
As long as they stood united whenever the war comes to them, which it will, they could turn a blind eye to some things. They had never once stopped preparing for the war that would come again.
But the years of preparation didn't prepare them for the war that would come from within. Their thinking was too naive.
Everyone had ambitions and when you give them room to grow their ambitions, they would no doubt betray you once they were stronger than you.
One could not rely on the words of promises and the rules they set to run the country. Rules are made by the strong and strength was the only absolute thing in the world. If one does not want to be betrayed, they mustn't give others a chance to betray them.
Amelia does not know how strong these corrupted nobles have become but considering they have not made a move, they must still have their misgivings. The metal palace was like an absolute death zone for those who treads inside with ill intention on the throne.
...
"What are you happily talking about, mother?"
"Oh I have some good news. We found the prince and I was just thinking of when to set the wedding date for you two, but I would have to visit your Queen aunty to discuss the details." Amelia said jovially.
Boom* It was like an explosion had went off in Rachel's head. It was good news for her mother, but it was like earth shattering bad news for her.
It's good that the prince was found but why is her mother already discussing marriage plans when she still hasn't met the prince yet!? Her mother seem so anxious about the marriage. It's not like she's is the one getting married, right!?
"Why are you already talking about marriage?I I haven't even seen who the prince is." Tears welled up in Rachel's eyes as turn around and run away.
"Wait. You know-" Amelia didn't finish her words when Rachel had disappeared out the front door. She was running away from home. "Aiyah... this girl. Won't even let her mother finish."
"I'll go fetch her...m-m-aunty."
"Hm?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"M-Mom." Leon sweated.
"Mn. Go." Amelia nodded with a pleased expression. It was unknown whether she was in a hurry to hold her grandson or the prospect of establishing a stronger bond with Elizabeth's family.
Mia wanted to follow after Leon but was held back by Amelia.
"Be good and stay here. They will be back soon." Amelia placed Mia on her lap and gave a good look. She was very adorable and grew increasing fond of her the longer she looked. Mia was very cute, a far cry from when Leon first met her. But she was able to draw the sympathy of others all the same.
Mia was alerted to be left alone with Amelia, but her guard was slowly lifted as she enjoyed the warmth from Amelia's touch.
It reminded her of her own mother and she grew emotional.
"There there, don't cry." Amelia's maternal instincts kicked in as she gave her gentle rubs on the back.
A cold light glimmered in her eyes. The corrupted nobles couldn't be touched, but the same could not be said for their pawns in the lower districts.
She plans to cut off their limbs they have extended there so there wouldn't be anymore tragedies like Mia's in Lower District.
...
Rachel did not have a destination in mind when she ran out the house. Before she knew it she had already found herself lost in an unfamiliar place.
Unlike her parents, she had never been to the Lower District, despite her home being situated in a relatively close proximity to the entrance.
Usually, the Red Salamander gang would do their best to cover up their dealings and make the district look perfectly normal on the surface for the passing nobles.
If one wasn't attuned to killing before, they would not be able to detect the lingering despair and resentment in the air.
However, the dead bodies of the Red Salamander gang was not cleaned up and their bloody stench filled the district.
Even someone like Rachel, who was inexperienced to fighting and killing could smell the blood in the air. The sickening atmosphere made her feel uneasy, but she did not leave.
As the duke's daughter, she could not turn tail and run without investigating the source of the bloody smell.
The term Noblesse oblige rang in her mind. Her curiosity and sense of duty to protect the commoners steeled her resolve as she wiped her tears and ventured deeper towards the source.
At the square where piles of bodies laid, the remaining members of the Red Salamander gang gathered around with a mixture of anger and fear.
"Who did this!?" Borden roared furiously. He was the last 2nd step awakener in the gang. He was guarding the east entrance against the White Ferret gang with his men when they received news of their main force being wiped out.
"I'm not sure but I heard there was an outsider. Should we contact our backing?"
"We can only do that."
The problem has gone far beyond what they could handle. The unknown enemy was very powerful. Able to slaughter the entire main force. They don't know when they would be next.
At this moment, Rachel appeared and saw the gruesome scene. She paled at the blood and dismembered bodies on the streets. She immediately started puking at the sight. She didn't know it was Leon's doing and thought the state of the lower district was far worse than what he had described it to be.
"Who are you? Did you do this?" They did not recognise who Rachel was.
They questioned her with threatening gazes and bloody auras. Although she was a 3rd step fire-user, she had no combat experience and was easily intimidated.
"I-I... didn't..." She subconsciously retreated a few steps.
"It doesn't matter if you did or didn't. We will use you to vent our frustrations." They smiled lasciviously. They wouldn't let such a beautiful lamb run away.
"Back off or you will get hurt!" Rachel threatened them with false bravado. She regretted coming here.
"Yo~ I'm so scared~." Borden said sarcastically. He closed in on her without stopping. The fires of lust burned in his eyes.
A wave of fire suddenly appeared and blocked his advances as he was forced to retreat.
"Shit! She's a fire-user!" Borden warned his men as he sweated. He would have been burnt to a crisp if he didn't retreat quick enough.
"That wasn't me..." Rachel was dumbfounded. She was indeed a fire-user, but that fire wasn't made by her.
"You sure know how to run."
A familiar helpless voice rang in her ears. She turned around much to her pleasant surprise.
Leon finally caught up to her. He didn't think she would run to the lower district, making him take his time to search for her.
She dived into his chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly without any other others. She was badly frightened by what she just experienced as her body couldn't stop shivering. The fear of seeing blood and dead bodies seem to hit her especially hard.
"It seems I have let you seen something unsightly today." Leon said gently.
Rachel was confused. What did it have anything to do with him?
Leon didn't explain as he carefully settle her aside and proceeded towards the gang. The fire wall parted ways for him before closing again.
One of the gang members didn't recognise his face, but manage to arrive at a certain guess when he saw his fire ability and unfamiliar face.
"H-He might be the-" The person didn't finish his words when a needled penetrated into his brains. He dropped dead on the floor. He was the messenger who relayed the news to Borden.
"Who are you!?" Borden's face was ugly as he wasn't able to react at all to Leon's sneak attack.
Leon didn't waste his breath as he waved his hand and another fire wall quickly spread out and surrounded them, cutting off all possible escape.
"Shit! There's nowhere to run! It's do or die brothers!" Seeing Leon's zero intention to talk, Borden rallied his men.. They raised up their ironwood swords and spears, ready to charge their way out.