Ashes and Kingdoms

Part iv unforgettable

A chapter

The tide stirs. Repeat, repeat. Come on, come on, as if to invite you.

Do you feel that way because you grew up in a seaside town? Or will Audia, the mother of all things, call upon everyone's heart in this way?

Finn stood on the sandy beach, meditating his eyes in the blue blue light all over his body.

Katoon, Katoon...

Hammer sounds arrive from the city. A slight person's blurring, the sound of life.

Three years after the arrival of the new inhabitants, the population of Nanais had recovered to roughly one thousand and five hundred. Though not as vibrant as it once was, it is in a state where it can be said that it is' the city 'at first. The influx of people and supplies into Nanais increased, as Vertia restored its function as a relay site, allowing it to safely circle coastal cities by boat.

Naturally, then, the problems associated with it also arise.

"Master Dragon Hou!

The boy, a choreographer in the city hall, called as he ran down the dirt stairs. Finn opens his eyes and looks back, nodding gently and walking out to you.

In the beginning, Finn also asked the newcomers to be disciplined enough not to call me by name or make me big, but in the meantime, I gave up knowing their mood.

The newly arrived citizen of Nanais admired him as the Dragon Marquis, the Dragon Marquis, not because he expected to be the guardian of omnipotence. Of course, it's fascinating that the city was protected by Dragon Horse, because everyone knew that Nanais was an abandoned place in the first place, not safe and secure.

What they sought was Dragon Marquis as a spiritual stronghold.

To return once to ashes, to live anew in a city with constant history and blood muscles. There was a need for a civic bond, and the presence of Dragon Hou was perfect there.

Then let's get spoiled and overrespected, Finn decided to be so prepared. You just have to work as well as you want and respond to them.

"Here comes that vendor. I'm keeping you waiting in the reception room. And now that Master Islev has seen you, he's in the office."

"Okay. Thanks."

Finn thanked him and went back to the city hall with the boy. It's a small government building that faces the square, but it has a meeting room with an office room, a lounge room in the reception room, and a whole street. Recently, the office was almost becoming Finn's private room. Something is so busy that when I have short free time, I fall asleep sitting in a chair all the time.

Either way, there was now an Islev in that office, reading and fishing for this and the paperwork. He is usually in Winnea, but he visited Nanais regularly and stayed for a few days to consult with the administration. Citizens who were initially grateful, but these days they have also appeared in the shadows, whispering about how long they will be watched by the emperor, etc. Finn was working hard to contain those voices, including listening to citizens in the square with Islev.

"Good morning. I just wanted to ask you to be present."

When Finn greeted him, Islev flickered the paperwork he had in his hand.

"This is it. It's frightening to see the buzz of reconstruction."

"Yeah, not at all. It's just that he says there shouldn't be a legal problem."

"Sure, you can't punish this vendor under the laws of the Empire. But this is an autonomous city. Why don't you enact ordinances at your discretion?"

"I can't do it right now. I need to call the council. So..."

"Am I supposed to be present and exert pressure? Okay. I've been working to regulate the way this hand works in my own country. While I've been in the North for the last three years, there seems to be no progress there."

Jesus Christ. Islev shook his head in mourning and came to Finn with the paperwork down.

"Is this vendor already here?

"Yes, I'm keeping you waiting in the reception room. Let's call it in."

Islev painstakingly stopped Finn, who nodded and was about to go.

"Nothing will ever come for you. [M] Whatever the guest is, if His Excellency the Dragon Hou goes out and does it, we'll just have to put him up."

That's also true, while Finn and others were saying things that were missing between them, so many choreographers "called me to come" and left agile.

While waiting for the vendor in question to come, Islev said looking at Finn as merciful.

"As always, you seem accustomed to the status of dragon marquis."

"I'm used to being called backwards. But... well, I'm not sure how to use authority."

"You'll see by the accumulation of experience. In the last three years, you've gained a more grand atmosphere than ever before."

"Is it?

Finn leans his neck in confusion. When he did that, he had a slightly rustic flair for Dragon Marquis, and Islev laughed bitterly.

"That's not the same place. That's what's good about you. [M] As soon as I started to stand on top of people, people who mistake me for being different from the rest of us would end up... Well, it looks like one of those hands is here"

With the boy's guidance - it's not even a building big enough to actually need guidance - it was the man who obviously stuck the grin of creation on his face.

"Thank you, Mr. Dragon Hou, for coming to the auditors of my country. What can I do for you?"

To the man who said whitefully, Finn and Islev poured a chilling obsession. (i) Put it between breaths, then skip the greeting and Finn cuts it out.

"You have been entrusted with the construction of the Municipal Co-Housing, but if there is a problem with the way the work is proceeding, a corrective recommendation must have been made by the Congressman"

"Were you? But I didn't do anything against the law. I want you to tell me what the problem is."

Only a man can get away with it. Finn turned out to be a tough face and took the paperwork Islev had just seen and read it out.

"… 'The person above was determined to be unduly exploiting his salary by deliberately causing him to pay for food and accommodation by setting a waiting date while providing for payment on a daily basis to those employed'. In other words, you are detaining workers who are supposed to be employed on a daily basis until unpaid days, sucking up the cost of living from them, and taking back the salaries paid, says this investigation report. Is there anything that goes against the facts"

"That would be a distortion!

The man pretended to be overwhelmed and spread his hands.

"I serve sleeping beds and meals to people who don't have a place to live. That's cheap, too. You have no idea what they're accusing me of!

"But as a result," Islev roars. "It seems that whoever is with you, whether he works or not, will not have a single piece of copper left in his hand. This isn't exploitation, it's something."

"It's a proposition! They're just wasting it. By and large, I'm not forced to wait for the day. It's raining, there's nothing you can do for the convenience of your work, or you can't help it. Or do you want me to work without a day off?

The man says back like infidelity and wrestles with indignation. Finn stared at it. I see a cloudy cloud of greed and deception, but it's not very thick either. Easily loosen and change colors and shapes. Foolish, shallow sexual roots were the ones I heard whispering in the shadows.

(I didn't do anything wrong. I just know a smart way to do it) (Shit, what the hell, I'm gonna tell you this shit anyway)

He wants to believe it isn't, though he thinly realizes that his actions are evil. In the end, I guess he's just a caretaker.

Shocked by the dragon-powered gaze, the man gradually lost his composure and wandered around. Finn held his eyes relentlessly and told him quietly.

"But you did not allow them to go elsewhere to make money on a day without work. If you go, you don't have to come here the day after that, make a threat. Besides, if anyone was injured while at work, they were allowed to stay in the dormitory even while they could not work for treatment, collecting money in the name of hygiene in addition to food and accommodation"

"It's..."

"Though I seem to be mistaken," Finn also threw away all the courtesy of shape no longer. "Nanais is not a hunting ground. I won't allow the weak to be fed and only some to gain weight."

Cold and heavy voices, like the bottom of a deep sea. Twenty years old. The man was frightened and lagged behind by the intimidation that he did not think the young creation there would emit.

"What we need is a healthy cause to develop with Nanais and its bearers. If you don't understand it and say you only pursue profit, then this job turns to the others. If you want to continue working in Nanais, you need to improve the situation quickly."

When Finn strictly commanded him, Islev also came beside him and pursued him.

"I work in my own country to regulate similar matters. More quickly in this city, an ordinance would be enacted by Parliament. Then, no doubt, it applies retroactively to the past - you know what I'm saying?"

Asked spicy, the man hatefully distorted his face and dropped his eyes on the floor.

Change your methods now, or you will not only take up your work, but you will also apply the penalties laid down by ordinance, you will lose enormous sums of money - that's what you two are threatening.

Finn got sick of it and took a deep sigh as the man left with a promise of disapproval, improvement.

"I'd like to beat you out of Nanais if I could. If the people who came to Nellis for treatment hadn't spilled their stupidity, we wouldn't have been able to grasp the reality here."

It is the report now on the desk that Oandus, hearing from his daughter, secretly conducted an investigation as a member of the city council and prepared as he raised the hot air from his head.

Islev also agreed on the dark side.

"I agree. I know how it feels, but if you're knocking all the little villains out of the city one way or another, people won't get together, and most importantly, the whole city won't be able to breathe. There's more to mentoring."

"... right. I guess there's no choice but to have a code of weak and strong eating there if people get together. Unlike when we rebuilt three years ago, there are not many people in this city who have just flown by."

People who don't have a clear will to work for anything, and just stop by for a city spill with the momentum of the Asahi sun, are easily fed.

Back when more migrants were coming, the Plastos decided to pull their hands off the civil engineering work and be thorough in their role as vigilantes. I do my best to keep order and safety by looking around the scenes of various businesses and the lives of people, but there are still things that go wrong.

Finn sighed and properly aligned the paperwork. I can see it on the desk I cleaned up, and Islev can flaunt his mouth "Well".

"I can't help but mourn the status quo. Let's get back on our minds and get started with the usual guy"

"Yes."

Finn also softened his expression and took a round map and a small crate from the interior of the wall. Spread the map on the desk and remove the pawn from the box. Painted in red and white, they include wooden horses, luggage, and several types of infantry. Islev conceived of Hmm, then pointed to a point on the map.

"Let's do it here today. It's an ancient battlefield, northwest of Quanos. You come from the west, I come from the east."

At the designated location, the two will assign their respective battle forces to form a formation. Since Nanais settled down, Islev had taught Finn his tactics in a mock battle on the map. Most of the time, he often went out of line and talked about his experiences for a long time, but he didn't intend to raise Finn as an officer by putting his back down.

"It's time for me, too, to go home. This is the last time."

Moving the pawn, Islev said subtly. Finn stops tightly and stares at him like he suddenly thins. Islev laughed unexpectedly.

"Will you make me look like a dumped dog! I still don't think the North has completely recovered, but I have to say, the councillors in my country are so loud. You're going to sit here as the Lord of the North, or you're not going to admit independence. Besides, His Majesty the Emperor seems to have had fewer allies in the Imperial Capital these past three years. If you don't go home and support me, the council will drag you off the throne."

"That's true... I'm worried too"

Finn entertained the pawn and thought of Varys' face, which he hadn't seen since he broke up in the Imperial Capital. Finn is still not sure if his governance is right. But anyway, the emperor recognized the autonomy of Nanais and lent him a faerendaine. I even bowed my head to ask for it as an individual.

At least he seems to be a much more decent person than the senators who came quickly when Finn and Varys came into the Imperial Capital with all of them. Aside from whether those after the cauldron are better or not, Finn just wanted Varys to be safe, as one of his acquaintances.