FIRE!

THE RIVERSIDE INN IS ON FIRE!

GET OUT OF MY WAY! MY HOUSE IS NEAR THERE!

The crowd burst into chaos as the news of the fire by the Riverside Inn has spread. As the Captain of the Guards, it falls upon Dan to take control of the situation. "Stay calm, people. Stay here. The fire brigade will handle the situation." While he would want nothing else but to let the people go home and try to help quell the flames, the crowd scrambling about and causing turmoil on the scene would only make matters worst. It's best to let the fire brigade, the people trained by the town for such matters, handle the fire. "Brendon, Michael, grab five other men and come with me to the Riverside Inn and help the fire brigade. The rest of you, make sure that none of the crowd get close to the scene of the fire and impede the fire brigade from doing their jobs."

As Dan was about to march to the Riverside Inn, Artreus called out to him. "Hey!" Dan turned towards the man. "I won the duel, didn't I? Why am I still being detained?" He complained as two of the town's guards are holding him back. Like the two would be able to stop the man if he decides that he doesn't want to be restrained if the power he just showed during the duel is to be based upon. Only the fact that the man is clearly in a weakened state must have added to his men's courage to detain such a formidable warrior.

Signaling his men to let go of the victorious warrior. Dan spoke to Artreus. "I apologize, but I would ask you to stay here for a while. Not because we want to continue to detain you, no, but for your own good."

At first, Artreus looks confused. But as expected, he quickly gets what Dan was hinting to. "I see. Just because I won the duel doesn't mean that the public will see me in a new light. Me being here where everyone could see, your turncoat friend and his ilk wouldn't be able to pin this new incident to me."

It irritated Dan to hear his oldest friend being disparaged by someone, but after all the trouble that Negan has stirred, throwing his pride as a keeper of law aside to frame another man, Dan couldn't find the words to defend his friend. Still... "While I understand that you have some bad blood with guardsman Negan as it seems he's been impartial in trying to pin you a crime, he is still a guard, and if you can't give him respect, at least refrain from bad-mouthing him in front of me and the other guards. But fret not, we will look into guardsman Negan's conduct to find out if what he did is with contempt or just an honest mistake due to his eagerness to keep the safety of the town."

"What's there to investigate something so obvious? If he's not guilty then he should've stayed to face an inquiry. Instead, he ran away like the rat that he is, proving his guilt." A familiar voice said. It belongs to someone Dan doesn't wish to deal with right now.

Turning towards the owner of the voice, Dan called out his name. "Hans."

Hans didn't even bother acknowledging Dan and proceeded to question Artreus. "You, adventurer. Where did you learn that move?" He asked while staring intensely at the man.

"I don't like your tone. I don't feel like answering your question." Unshaken by the demand of the formidable warrior even while in a weakened state, Dan couldn't help but admire Artreus' courage. Not that it was wise since Hans is a man that holds grudges especially if he perceives that he or his master is being slighted, evident by his cold and antagonistic relationship with Dan. Indifferent from the seething Hans, Artreus bravely continued. "If you are going to help put out the fire, then I ask you to go immediately. I feel tired from the fight and I want to find my friends and take a break."

Dan could feel Han's killing intent building up so he quickly jumped in. "Indeed. We should hurry and help the fire brigade. I guess the esteemed Mayor has instructed you to assist us with the crowd control?" Dan asked Hans, placing one hand on the ma's shoulder while keeping his other hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword, hinting that he will not allow him to cause any trouble while he is around.

Not batting an eye on his threat, Hans batted Dan's hand away and started to walk towards the direction of the Riverside Inn. "Hide it if you will. Not that it's important. Come, captain. We have a fire to put out."

Dan apologized for Han's rudeness before quickly following the man. With the great job being done by his men in keeping the crowd, Dan and Hans quickly arrived at the scene of the fire, only to find that it was already in control by both the fire brigade who responded quickly, and some mages capable of using water magic that were probably sent by the Adventurers Guild, resulting to only the one building, the Riverside Inn itself, being swallowed by the fire.

Without anything to do but to supervise the scene, Dan was surprised to hear Hans asking him a question without his usual spiteful tone. "What do you think of that adventurer?" He asked.

While Dan doesn't really want to have anything to do with the man who has been rude to him ever since his perceived slight towards the Mayor, he knew that it would do him no good to have a bad relationship with the Mayor's disciple and probably the next in line to be the leader of this town. Thus, he answered. "He doesn't seem to be a bad man. Aside from what has happened recently, I haven't heard anything bad about the man."

"I'm not talking about that, fool. I was talking about his swordsmanship." Hans said rudely.

Reigning his temper, Dan answered. "You should have an idea of his sword skills, so why bother asking me?"

"It may only be for a year but you and I have studied under the same master, and while I hate your guts, I can't deny that you have some talent, learning that much in a short period of time to reach your current strength. Thus, I'm asking your opinion." Hans stated through gritted teeth as if even giving a backhanded compliment is causing him excruciating pain.

So, he's still holding a grudge on Dan for quitting from being Mayor Longley's disciple to become the full-time guard captain of the town, huh? While Hans may see it as a betrayal of Master's trust, Dan couldn't just sit back while the town they founded is being assaulted by enemies within and without. Thankfully, his other former brother-disciple is not as unforgiving as their senior brother. Reminiscing on the harsh training from their master and an even harsher treatment from his previous senior brother, Dan answered. "It was brief, but I saw a slight resemblance of master's swordsmanship."

"I see. You saw it too." Hans became silent as if deep in thought.

"I'm warning you now if you plan to harm Artreus or his companions in any way, I will make sure to make you pay." Dan threw a piercing glare at the silent Hans.

"Ha! As if you are in a position to threaten me. You may have Awakened and have learned master's swordsmanship for a year, but you are still no match to me who have honed the skills I have learned for years." Hans chuckled. "But fret not. I wouldn't harm them. Not because of your threats, but because the master has ordered me so. That is unless they try to harm Master first, then I would show them no remorse. I will destroy them any way I can."

Dan knew that it was no idle threat, but a promise. When it comes to Mayor Longley, Hans wouldn't spare anyone who dare slight him. His devotion towards Mayor Longley who have saved him when he was still a child was beyond admiration, its worship, to the point that Hans tried and almost succeeded to sever both of Dan's hands after he quit so that he wouldn't be able to use the swordsmanship that he learned from Mayor Longley. Only due to the intervention of their master did Hans spared him, and although he was safe from his hands being severed, their relationship has forever been marred by that event.

Knowing that no one other than Mayor Longley would be able to change Hans' mind, Dan tried to change the subject. "I hear that more bizarre events are occurring around town. More monster nests are found empty and two more villages with no inhabitants in sight. You think that the elves that came to town are somehow related to this?" What's weirder is the lack of signs of struggles in both the empty monster nests and abandoned villages. As if they just vanished all of the sudden.

Normally, Hans wouldn't bother replying to questions that don't involve him or the master, unless, the conversation is about elves.

That's because he hates elves. "I won't put it past those knife-eared bastards to stoop so low. I have submitted suggestions of kicking out those knife-ears number of times but unless we have solid proof that they are involved in the recent events plaguing our town, they are protected by the treaty, thus, there is nothing we could do but grit our teeth."

"Then why don't we just give them what they want? They want Eleanor right?"

Suddenly, Dan could feel Hans' killing intent bursting forth. "Suggest something like that again and I will kill you where you stand." He warned. "While I hate that bitch, I would rather die than to hand her over to her knife-eared brethren."

Dan hoped that the reason why Hans wouldn't want to hand over Eleanor was because of her and her husband, Melchior's, invaluable contributions to the founding of Mukala when it was still a humble little village made up of refugees. A peculiar pair, those two. From the stories that he heard from Melchior when they were still fighting both monsters and bandits that infested the area around Mukala, they were former enemies, one was a former soldier and one was an elf who was said to be a spiritualist, one of the rarest and strongest classes of magicians. With the help of those two and their adventurer group, the people of Mukala were successful in eradicating both men and beast who posed threats to the safety of the people of their newly founded village. The people were thankful to the two and their group for their contributions, unfortunately, their gratitude ended at the death of their leader, Melchior. Melchior was strong, but most importantly, he has an aura that draws people together. He was the glue that kept their group made up of conflicting philosophies intact. With him gone, the group expectedly fragmented, until only his elven wife Eleanor, and the half-elf Amara were left. With only those with Elven heritage left, the grudges of the people who have lost their loved ones in the war resurfaced, Eleanor and Amara, who should've been hailed as heroes of their town for their part in founding the village, were ostracised.

While Eleanor and Amara don't seem fazed by this, with the former being used to being treated with scorn from the people due to the losses they endured because of people of her race while the latter doesn't seem to care, opting to retire from the adventurer's life to become the 'perky' receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild despite having the skills of a top A-rank adventurer, the children are another thing.

Dan couldn't even begin to imagine how devastated the siblings have felt to see the people who treated them with warmth and love for all their lives turn into cold and hatred, and while Dan's childhood was filled with hardship, living in the streets where no one cares if you either live or die, at least he was ignorant of the good side of the world thus not knowing what I don't have, but to know and felt what good the world has to offer and lose it, it was more devastating, especially to someone as young as them.

But unlike others who are triple their age who would've cracked under the pressure, those kids soldiered on. They didn't bear any grudge with those who have treated them bad, if they did, they are doing a good job of not letting it show, instead, they do everything within their power to survive, to build their own future with their little hands despite being surrounded with people who wish for nothing but to see them suffer.

Dan's thoughts were interrupted when he felt a piercing glance directed at him. Turning towards the man standing beside him, he could sense the irritation of Hans rising. "Don't think that I have no idea what's going on through your head right now," Hans stated. "Master has ordered everyone not to harm the elf and her spawn and I intend to follow. That much we owe to Melchior." Then with a low voice, he added. "It's not like we have lost anything of importance with the recent events. Those ungrateful bastards deserved whatever has happened to them."

So, that's what Hans was thinking about the villagers that have disappeared. Still, it was unusual for Hans to blurt out words that people may use against him and Mayor Longley. Making sure that no one is listening to their conversation, Dan whispered back. "You don't mean that."

"No, I mean it." Hans answered in a serious tone.

"How can you say that? They're our people."

"No, they're not. The moment they started to undermine master, the one responsible that they are thriving instead of dying of hunger in the cold capital, they stopped being our people."

Dan heard about it. How quite a few of the villages have stopped paying taxes to the town of Mukala. With the Grant's selling a vast swathe of land to a wandering swordsman, Elder Adam Longley turned the previously thought untamable lands into a thriving city. Smelling an opportunity to expand their lands, nobles who would never dare cross a well-established household like the Grants, found a tempting prey. Unable to act openly due to fear of the Grants, those nobles opted for a more subtle way to take control of the town of Mukala and its villages. The method they picked was to slowly take control of the villages by offering to buy their produce at double the rate that the villagers would earn by selling it in town, thus ingratiating themselves to those villages and cutting the source of income of the town of Mukala. Blinded by the amount of money they would earn, a number of villages turned their backs to the man who have helped them escape poverty, Those villages declared that they had a poor harvest or that their livestock was struck by some kind of disease, only to hide and send their produce to the scheming nobles.

Unfortunately for them, their plans only lasted for a few months as the wagons carrying their goods were started to get attacked by bandits. Dan was aware of the situation since those same villagers rushed to seek aid from him, complaining that he, as the Captain of the Guards, is doing nothing to keep the roads safe for hard-working people. An idiotic move since it only led Dan to unravel the shady things that they have been doing. Dan reported his findings to Mayor Longley only to learn that the mayor already knew of the conspiracy and prohibited Dan from doing anything to the conspirators and instead ordered him to put patrols on the very roads that the villagers use to smuggle their goods. While guards being posted along the road and checking the contents of the wagons passing through would stop the villagers from continuing their shady business, Dan knew that it wouldn't take long till the malcontents find another way to resume smuggling away their goods. If he have to bet on how it would be that their homegrown underground organization, the Bräken Organization, would be involved.

Suddenly, he could hear a loud commotion coming from the vicinity of the burnt-down inn, just outside their line of sight. Something must've happened. His men would've been able to sort the situation out, but just to be sure, Dan should head over there in case the men needs his help. But before he could excuse himself to Hans, someone came running towards them. "Captain!" A man from the fire brigade called out to him. Judging from his expression, something bad must've happened.

"What happened?" Asked Dan.

Panting from exhaustion and covered with soot, the man wiped away some of the ash from his face only to spread it more before answering. "The fire has been extinguished, sir. But we have another problem. Someone is causing a scene at the burnt down Inn."

"If you're here rather than sorting it out, then I suppose you were unable to handle the situation?" Questioned Dan. The look of shame on the man's face confirmed his suspicion.

The member of the fire brigade bowed deeply at Dan. "We deeply apologize, Captain Dan. We, along with the town's guard tried to stop him but he overpowered us. WItnessing the ruckus that the man is causing, the crowd is starting to get rowdy. Please, lend us your strength."

"I see." For a single person to overpower the members of the town's guards and even the fire brigade who have undergone physical training which earned them strength substantially above normal people, Dan's gut is telling him that this rabble-rouser is going to cause him a lot of headaches. "Then, we have no time to lose." The masses are already on the edge with all the recent events that happened in town. If they don't act quickly and enforce order, the crowd might be driven into a frenzy, something that the town of Mukala couldn't afford. Turning towards the man beside him, Dan asked. "Are you coming?" While asking Hans for help doesn't sit well with Dan, he couldn't deny the man's domineering presence which will help quell the unrest that is brewing.

Surprisingly, Hans accepted his request. "Lead the way." the man replied.

"Honestly, I expected you to decline," Dan uttered with an eyebrow raised.

"Don't be mistaken. It irks me to do so. But what I feel is not important, Master's will does. His order is for me to assist you, thus, I shall." He said with a deadpan expression on his face. "Enough dilly-dallying. The sooner we settle the situation, the sooner I will be rid of your company."

"Here I thought we are getting along better." Seeing Hans ignore him, Dan knew he should not push the man further. To be honest, Dan doesn't hate Hans. The man might treat him badly, but he is extremely loyal to Mayor Longley and saw Dan's departure from being Mayor Longley's full-time disciple as a betrayal. But just as Hans has his loyalty to their master, Dan just couldn't look away and ignore the plight of the people.

When he was living in darkness, with his young eyes witnessing all the vile atrocities that human nature has in store the Order of the Blazing Sun has showed him that in darkness, there was still light, that Justice and Order still remains. Dan may have turned down their invitation to join their rank when they refused to also accept Negan as a member, but that doesn't mean that Dan doesn't believe in their cause.

If he can't be the sun that drives away the night, then he will be a star twinkling in the night sky. Then who knows, maybe he could inspire others to be like him, and with enough stars in the sky, even the darkest night could become as bright as day.

"My friends! My brothers! Why did you have to die!" He heard the suspiciously familiar voice of the man causing the commotion. "I'm sorry! I have failed to avenge your humiliation. But I swear, as long as I draw breath, I will avenge you if only to grant you your last wishes!"

Upon seeing the identity of the wailing man, Dan rubbed his temple for he knew that more trouble is brewing.

It may be his goal, but keeping the law and order sure is hard.