"Old man!"
"..." Sylvester looked behind himself and then back at the girl with blonde hair and golden eyes just like him. "What do you mean by old man? I'm not even thirty."
"I mean… In my mind, you are an old man," Diana replied and opened the door fully. "I didn't expect you to visit me… I thought that—"
"I forgot about you?" Sylvester finished her words. He could smell the nervousness despite her trying her best to appear calm. This was the little girl who, alongside her younger brother, tried to assassinate him all those years ago. Oddly, she and her brother had the rare golden eyes.
"Normally, anyone would."
"Normally, people don't adopt every orphan they meet," Sylvester said, walking into her house. "I knew you were taking the Judge recruitment exam, Diana. I was watching over you all this time and cheering for your success. I'm very proud of what you have accomplished."
The scent of happiness flared up in the air and a bright beaming smile lit up on Diana's face. She had grown up beautifully. Tall, fit, and pretty—any man would be blessed to have her by his side. Of course, they need to be vetted by the mighty Pope first.
"Ah… Please take a seat." She just realized they were still standing near the door, inside now. Quickly, she grabbed Sylvester's hand and pulled him over to the living room. "I'll bring you water and something to eat."
'Still acting like a kid.' Sylvester chuckled and took a seat while looking around. 'It seems Judges are granted pretty good houses.'
He noticed a few portraits on the wall as well. Some had her brother, and a few were his mass-produced images from the newspapers. There was even the special edition first page that had his entire face from coronation day. It was purposefully printed so people could cut it and keep it, remembering him firmly.
"I got some biscuits," Diana returned with a glass of water, juice, and biscuits. "Have you had dinner?"
"Calm down, girl. I came to see you, not to make you work. Just sit with me and talk," Sylvester said, perfectly sounding like an old man. However, he avoided saying her name, as it always reminded him of another Diana.
Diana sheepishly took a seat opposite Sylvester and kept her back straight. "I understand, Your Holiness."
"Just call me Sylvester or brother since I'm not that older than you," Sylvester suggested while sipping some of the juice. "What were you doing? Seeing all the lights on, I don't think you were sleeping."
She nodded vigorously. "I was writing down a few verdicts for tomorrow's hearings, Your… Brother. I'm a District Judge, and I preside over cases that are related to crimes less than murder, sexual assault, or slavery."
"All the crimes that don't involve a death sentence, you mean?" Sylvester understood. It was expected since Diana was still a new judge. "How is the new job? Anything you want to report to the Pope? Any suggestions? Or maybe some complaint?"
Diana looked down, rubbing her hands together. "I… I wanted to ask how you're going to stop judges from saving their families. I've heard that multiple judges have gotten together already to help each other as their families live in each other's jurisdiction."
Sylvester's brows rose in alert, "Did you notice a significant case?"
"A judge recently saved his nephew after he was caught drinking and beating a tavern waitress. She died as he slammed a bottle on her head. In normal circumstances, the man would have been sentenced to death, but instead, he was let go due to insufficient evidence. I read the case—there was more than enough evidence," Diana revealed with genuine worry in her voice.
Sylvester sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "I guess the Judge recruitment examination needs to include a better psychological evaluation. As for what you told me… That judge will be used to set an example. While all the others will be under strict surveillance. Don't worry, dear, I'm working on a method to solve these instances of corruption."
She breathed in relief and relaxed in her seat. "That's great to hear. I really love my new job and hope all the others can be as honest as I want to be. Even Max wants to join me… But as an investigator instead."
Max was the name of her younger brother. Indeed, it was a strange coincidence the two names had appeared together.
"That's a dangerous job. Perhaps you can hire him as your assistant first and let him experience various kinds of cases. I don't want the two of you to take unnecessary risks," Sylvester said, showing concern and taking out a piece of paper from his pocket before starting to write on it. "I'll write a recommendation letter for Max so you can hire him without anyone meddling."
Sylvester spent another hour talking with Diana, listening to her stories and anything she wanted to share about her life. He listened with full focus, giving her advice and sometimes laughing with her. It was nothing to him, but it meant the world to the girl. He was her role model, after all.
But eventually, he decided to get back to work and walked to the exit. "Take care of yourself, Diana. If you ever find yourself in trouble, contact me without any worry."
"Please take care of yourself, Brother." She waved merrily, her mind refreshed and her will to strive for the best reinforced.
It was a simple meeting, nothing too personal or important. But Sylvester appreciated it, as this was the proof of his successful policies.
"Chonky, let's go and eat at the Bard's."
"This late? Won't they be closed?"
"No, there is one outlet that remains open at all times in this new city. It caters to the night owls and the massive number of city guards throughout the night." Sylvester had already memorized the map and made his way toward the place.
"Banana shake and fish," Miraj instantly chirped. "Ten plates!"
"You're being greedy again."
"Because I am!" Miraj didn't hold back his shamelessness.
…
"I do not conquer because of greed."
"I only see a liar hungry for power and wealth," King Keilib of Norland growled at Leyon The Conqueror, who had defeated him to his knees. "You will never find peace. You will never be their ruler—an animal. That is what they will consider you."
Leyon shook his head and kicked King Keilib to the ground. "People don't care who rules them as long as they don't suffer. As such, you are meaningless… Every noble is meaningless… Every King is meaningless."
"And you?"
"And am the result of all the unheard cries of commoners by the likes of you. I am the answer to the pleas of the people. All are equal before me—your status and wealth will be quashed if you stand against me, or my people," Leyon replied with resolution in his eyes. His blade already rested on Keilib's throat, and there was no doubt he was going to kill the King.
"All I hear are contradictions…" Keilib coughed out a mouthful of blood. "What next? Did you take the Warsong Kingdom? Going east? You will have to battle the Holy Land."
Leyon smiled under his armor helmet. "Warsong is already mine, my naive friend. All it took was a little spark to start a peasant uprising. Do you think people lived a happy life there? Do you think the rulers there were any different than all other places? King Omshi Warsong has abdicated to me."
"Haha," Keilib laughed in reply. "In that case, you will be clashing with Gracia? Good luck, because you will need plenty of it. The Queen's husband-to-be is Saint Viceman of the faith. You'll be dead before you ste—"
Leyon smacked the butt of his sword on Keilib's head and knocked him out. "You foolish man. Despite having been a slave, you misunderstood the combined might of the people. The east shall fall, just as the west did."
"What of the faith?" A man voiced from behind Leyon, donning loose noble robes of white and red, with a mask of a golden crow on his face. "I have spent too much money on you for you to lose now."
"Pope Sylvester can't be taken lightly, of that I agree. But even he requires a reason to meddle, and I won't give him one. Use whatever means you have and ensure no civilian dies, no atrocity is inflicted, and no Clergyman is harmed," Leyon ordered the mysterious figure. "Do that, and you shall have the prize you so dearly desire."
"Good." The mystery man turned and left, "I will see you in Gracia then."
…
At the same time, in Beastaria, the son of the King of Giants tried to make his way toward the western shore of the continent and catch a ship to the Holy Land. But somewhere in the middle, he lost all his money and had to look for it.
"Wraaaa!" He roared and slammed his metal club on the tiny, green creature with long ears and nose. There were so many that, even after having created a mountain of their dead bodies, more had come and climbed over.
Boom!
"What are these dumb things? They're like ants!" Prince Castell Gralith wondered while massacring the creatures, who, to their best attempts, tried to stab him with their little daggers but were unable to.
"Goblins." The wonderful, huge eagle sitting on Castell's shoulder replied. "I know their kind. They are evil, and they breed faster than rabbits. Nor do they taste good."
"Aaaaarh… Die, you worms!" Castell left no stones unturned and used Earth magic as he kicked the ground and sent out a wave of earthquake, creating small cracks in the land that devoured the goblins. "Give me my money back! I know your kind stole it!"
Boom!
Unstoppable, he was a force of nature before the horde of goblins.
But what Castell didn't know was how his actions would alert the elves. After all, the sudden vanishing of half of the goblin population was a concerning instance.
Although, even Castell the giant had no idea how many he killed. It wasn't that hard.
"Give me my money!" Castell kept killing them and headed towards the path they'd appeared from. "And yours too!"
"Kehehe…" Bajj, the eagle on the giant's shoulder, laughed. "I'm proud of you, Cas."
Thank you for reading. Gifts and GT votes are highly appreciated.v
