The last attack was enough to drown the city in anger; even the house of the beloved Partheni family had been the killer's target. While the people were in this state, the City Lord, who took the real hit due to the deaths, was about to go crazy.
"What is the latest status? How much has our presence in the city decreased?"
In the secret room in the basement of the castle where he resided, Astute had organized an emergency meeting with the administrators of the Black Harbor Unit.
"Sir, our loss of life corresponds to ten percent of our total strength, but there is a much more dire point."
"Don't beat around the bush, speak quickly!"
The City Lord's temper was quite bad these days; the frequency of his impulsive outbursts had increased.
"Sir, although those who died were our members keeping a low profile socially, these people were managing most of our financial resources. The public only knows they died; they are unaware that the killer stole our assets."
The Black Harbor Unit formed the cornerstone of the city lord's plans to take over Parthenia. By running dirty businesses like murder, extortion, and usury through this organization, he could put himself in a bohemian mood indifferent to everything.
"In the attacks of the last three days, we have lost fifty percent of our total assets. What's even more interesting is that the gold we transported with dozens of people disappears in an instant!"
This last sentence would cause lightning to flash in the city lord's mind.
"In light of this information, the conclusion is this: our enemy consists of more than one person possessing interspatial transportation rings!"
When the people sitting on two sides of the long table nodded their heads confirming the determination, the same thoughts were passing through their minds too.
"Sir, in my opinion, the killers came from outside the continent and are enemies of our clan. I say we recall our forces distributed to noble families and protect our remaining financial assets!"
This idea appealed to the city lord. Even if they lost a small amount of manpower, their financial losses were large-scale. Any more meant the destruction of the unit he built by struggling for many years.
"Send messengers to noble families; inform them that all security elements will be gathered under the city army to find the killer. Let them provide their own security. We have to do this at the cost of losing our spies within them!"
While the City Lord said he decided to end the emergency meeting and stood up, a thin-built and sharp-nosed old man entered the conversation coughing.
"Sir, I have an important matter to ask you!"
The City Lord was looking at the speaker in astonishment. Even he had forgotten the last time he heard the old man's voice.
"Speak, sewer rat; I wonder what the subject is that even you couldn't find a remedy for on your own!"
Sewer Rat was the old man's nickname; he had been responsible for the city's sewers for longer than anyone knew, but this was only the visible part of his job. The man, whose real occupation was managing the usury section of the unit, had received his nickname for feeding those who didn't pay their debts to sewer rats he fed in special cages.
"Sir, Epiphanes, the young master of the Agustus house, lost a substantial amount of gold as a result of the bets he placed in the arena. He is in a position where he cannot pay the debts he took from us; I want to get your opinion on the path I should follow!"
The City Lord would be a bit surprised at what he heard; it was an interesting event for the arena owner's son to fall into such a situation.
"Old man, as you heard, we are in a financially troubled situation, and opportunity seems to have come to our feet. Kidnap the boy; demand ten million gold from his father in exchange for his debts!"
While Sewer Rat carried the subject to the meeting, there was only one question in his mind: could his lord's thoughts change because of Quintus, who was loyal to him like a dog?
"Yes sir, when the bodyguards withdraw from their houses, we will detain Epiphanes to host him for a while!"
When the meeting ended with the resolution of the subject, no one could guess that it was the beginning of the end for the Black Harbor Unit. While Nafız ruthlessly cut down its members, she had planned where things would go long ago.
The next day, news was reported to all noble families, including the city's three noble families, and the bodyguards allocated to them from the city guards had returned to the army. While the Black Harbor Unit turned its attention to protecting its own existence, active moments were experienced at the city gate held by Marcos.
"Boss, a merchant wants to use our gate for the delivery of slaves he brought to the Partheni house!"
The young man fell into some hesitation after his employee's words. The place he dominated was very close to the properties of his own house and the Partheni house; only merchants carrying special goods preferred this place. Slave traders stayed away from this gate, but today one was asking for passage permission with wagons full of slaves.
"Let's wait a while; I want to ask Uncle Niko the truth of the matter!"
While Marcos leaped from his seat hastily, the words of a familiar voice reached his ears.
"Don't panic, Little Tiger! Let them pass, no problem!"
When the young man turned around, his eyes were burning brightly. Since he received the gate as a fourteenth birthday gift, his father was coming to visit him for the first time.
"Old man, this is not your domain; you can't just give orders as you please!"
The customs officers, thinking the father and son's bickering was starting, were startled by Fernandez's cold voice.
"Everyone out!"
While everyone including Marcos froze, the face of the middle-aged man who let his long hair flow with the wind did not compromise. The people leaving the father and son alone by bowing respectfully had seen their boss in this state for the first time.
"Marcos, your Uncle Niko invited us to dinner and requested that these slaves be sent directly to his property without anyone knowing. After a while, another merchant will bring two wagons of slaves for the protection of our house; you will send them to the mansion as soon as possible too!"
Although the young man wanted to respond to his father speaking to him by ordering, words didn't come out of his mouth. What had happened that this man's attitude changed like this?
While the slave convoy passed through the gate, the tops of the wagons were covered with leather cloths; it wasn't possible for anyone to know the content of the incoming cargo.
As for the mansion of the Partheni family, only three people lived there these days: Niko, the most beautiful of beauties Eftelya, and Nafız. When other guards withdrew to the center after the massacre, in line with Nafız's request, Niko removed the servants from his property.
It was twilight; the caravan entering through the slowly opening gate had unloaded the orcs in its cargo and was proceeding towards the city exit. In the high-walled garden of the Partheni house, two hundred orcs were waiting lined up in regular formation.
When the father and daughter came in front of the group with Nafız beside them, the orcs knelt down and saluted. The scene seemed strange to Eftelya. In the moments she wanted to say a few humble words, her heart leaped into her mouth with the cries she heard.
"Blood God Nafız! Hail to you!"
When the father and daughter turned their gazes to the female orc beside them, they caught a fire in her eyes they hadn't witnessed before.
"Logistics orcs will take care of the mansion's affairs. Warriors, you are responsible for the security of the land. The penalty for unauthorized entries is death!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
While the warriors receiving orders dispersed accompanied by team captains, an orc with a massive shield started walking towards Nafız. The hearts of the father and daughter felt like they would pop out with every step of the approaching person. They had come face to face with a fully equipped and well-trained orc warrior for the first time.
"Commander, as per your order, an elite company has reached their target under Kuyag's leadership for the protection of the Cervantes house!"
While Vahşiduvar withdrew from the presence after presenting his short report, Nafız spoke accompanied by the blank stares of the duo beside her.
"Little Lady, there is a very important subject I need to discuss with you. After your dinner, let's meet at the stone house in the south garden together with your guests, please!"