Aurum the others returned to Hiro their burden ever lighter. Although they knew the Standar's debts were insignificant compared to many others. All three were terrified of the notion of Don Carlo's gang coming after the now peasant Standar or even the low noble Renacida.
Now that the main creditor is dead, and the strongest member of his faction is gone, they would soon be swept up in a power vacuum. Trying to manage it would ensure they would be busy trying to stay alive for a long while.
Actually, those who knew how the underworld and society interacted felt horrified of the coming months. The power vacuum not only was limited to Don Carlo's gang but each and every participant of the black market auction. Now that the heads and the strongest members were dead.
Their subordinates would see this as a chance to grab hold of the leadership, next they would be targeting the rival gangs. For each group weakened, others would capitalize. The blood that would be spilled as the underworld stabilized itself would be something never seen before.
Naturally many of the smart people here knew this. One couldn't help but ask. "DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?! The infighting to come will destroy entire cities. Millions would be affected and hundreds will die, and thousands will suffer. How many families will get swept up by the coming storm? Are you proud of yourself?! Their blood is on your hands!"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHiro then faced that man and spoke calmly. "Of Course I know, that was the intention. Didn't I say it before? I will remove all the rotten flesh in order to strengthen the kingdoms. But on a personal note. I don't give a damn, let everyone know that this is what it means to anger me."
The butcher then pulled out a great sword and carved out a huge symbol on the wall with sword beams. It looked like three unsheated long swords raised to the sky enclosed in a circle. It could not get any more basic than that. Yet the people present felt the majesty of the symbol.
It meant change, it signified a culling. And no one knew yet how many would perish under this flag. "Listen here, I am Sabacthani the leader of Redeemed tell everyone that I have arrived in Valorious. My mission is to annihilate the [Forsaken] anyone who gets in my way will die under my boot!
"Tell anyone looking for redemption to come find me. But do so only with the intent to die. As for you all. I have placed on you a mark of pure calibers inside your brains." At Hiro's words, the entire group of survivors felt their brains get branded with a symbol. The same symbol on the wall in front of them.
"From this moment on, you all are part of Redeemed. Betray me and your heads will explode. Tell anyone about me or my men and your heads will explode. Try to remove the brands and your heads will explode. Do you understand?"
"This is tyranny! You are a fucking lunatic! Do you honestly believe I will listen to you? I would rather die!" shouted one of the forty still present.
"As you wish." The man's head then erupted like a balloon filled with too much water. The abrupt explosion caused the people to shout in panic. Blood and flesh splattered the ones around him. Witnessing the power of the brand none made any further complaints. In the face of absolute power freedom, justice, equality even righteousness became afterthoughts.
"I have only one mission for all of you. Find me everything to know about the [Convent of Shadows]. You will be rewarded for your service. And I will personally save you should you come into peril."
"Master Sabacthani how would you save us when we separate? I feel like this is just lip service and you will be leaving us to die."
Hiro then threw his greatsword with so much force it looked like a bone missile. It slammed into the forehead of the unbelieving man, yet the sword could not penetrate it. A wave of energy then erupted from the man's forehead causing the sword to lose momentum and fall to the ground.
"This brand is not only a bomb but a defense mechanism. It will negate any life-ending attack on your body so long as the stats involved in the attack does not pass 4000 points. It allows me to read your mind when I wish and will defend you three times. If I do not renew the calibers in the brand it will explode.
"In a month I will come back here and I expect you all to be present. Exactly thirty days from now if you do not have your brand renewed you die. If anyone asks tell them you all survived due to being cowards. The one who destroyed the auction is a group called Redeemed and you do not know anything else. Understand?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmA woman then prostrate herself and asked in a solemn voice. "Master if we wish to contact you what should we do?" Hiro answered as he started walking towards the exit. "Recite out loud 'For I have been Forsaken' then I will know you call for me."
When Hiro deactivated the skill [Cavea No Regeneratio] the isolated space broke, and the butcher and his group went outside. This allowed fresh air to finally enter the iron-filled stench of the auction hall. Together with Hiro were his three men and his new nanny they moved toward the city. Fregit actually felt left out when she noticed the San-Baka all have re-worn their skull masks.
As they left, the remaining members of Redeemed stayed behind and started to introduce themselves to one another. Now that their lives hung in the balance, trying to please their tyrannical master naturally became everyone's highest priority.
There were a mixed group of nobles, slaves, merchants, and mercenaries. Some of them the servants specifically didn't even participate in the fighting and just stayed out of sight. Despite the wide gulf in occupations and social classes, this group all were relatively high in consideration. Once introductions were over they did not establish a hierarchy but got to work immediately.
This group will soon become the most sought-after intelligence organization on the entire continent. But that is for a later time. For now, they tried to establish what everyone knew about their target the [Convent of Shadows]. And the embers that would light up the continent ablaze got gathered one by one.
Outside Hiro removed his blood-soaked outfit and slipped into the suit he got from Alan. It was only now that the San-Baka understood why Hiro intentionally hid his battle suit. Theirs on top of being covered in dirt sweat and grime, had the arrays and enchantments powering it completely destroyed.
While they were millionaires, to buy another battle suit seemed ill advise if it could not endure arduous battles and became scrapped after one evening. Hiro then closed his fist as his party felt an overwhelming amount of calibers suddenly leave Hiro's body.
After using what looked like 10 times the group's calibers, Hiro didn't bother explaining and nonchalantly walked towards the towns exit. He made a simple explanation before disappearing. "We are running to Partisan. Keep up."
Five minutes after they left, the magnificent auction building fell apart. Multiple explosions destroyed its columns causing it's weight to crumbled on top itself in a devastating collapse.