Mathew

Ben explained the systematic exploitation and theft that he and Grant perpetrated. The visceral anger that flared in his gut was hard to keep as Mathew fully understood the situation from Ben's perspective. Reading minds would do that. That didn't make any of it acceptable, but Mathew knew it wasn't malicious, just misguided. It almost made it worse. To truly understand and empathize but not be able to back off on holding a line.

That was why he sat at the table, tapping his bone-encased finger against the countertop in the common area. This land was lawless. Not a problem with a handful of well behaved people who basically get along or leave the room. But it couldn't be lawless forever.

Outside of establishing safety internally, so survivors didn't have to contend with each other, there was the matter of right and wrong. Every theft could have been someone who made it long enough to change just like Mathew did. And even if Grant was right that they were going to die, that didn't give Grant or Ben the right to do what they wanted.

It was nightfall, and Grant hadn't come back yet. His danger sense had recovered from the attack against the Bramble Weavers. Was that what kept him away?

In the stillness of the Hub, where the loudest sound was of his own making, Harper quietly slipping from her room was a beacon of activity.

Concern laced Mathew's thoughts, "How is she?"

"Not well, to be honest. She had this spark at first that just seemed to fade out. We were making progress with her accepting everything for a while," Harper shrugged. "Found out what she crafted. The whole monster body, about the size of a chair, was compressed into a trophy. The best I can tell, she was rejecting the transition so hard an intelectus formed and did it for her."

"I used mental support after I terrified her. That was probably the spark that faded. Compressing a monster corpse into a trophy at level zero with her mind. That seems pretty strong,"

"You'd be surprised how determined someone can be at ignoring what they find uncomfortable," Harper squared her shoulders. "I think I can help her recover. We were making progress with grounding exercises before she faded. With your help, I think we can get her past this sooner than later."

"Thank you, Harper. Let me know when you want to have sessions, and I'll help. But we, I, have to be careful because I can empower the denial just as much as the strength to go on. So be patient with me. How's Rodney doing?"

"Whatever monster was in his transition specialized in leaving lasting wounds. Now that you gave him a bunch of reserves, Hint can hibernate him while stimulating his metabolism. Costs twice as much, but I can support that now. Besides that, I've been looking for medicines since Amber lost her hand. No health potion or restoration yet. Just a salve that promotes repair," Harper blinked and looked at him again. "Why the long face?"

"Right and wrong are tough. Ben and Grant. What they did before this," Mathew gestured around. "Heck, they planned on doing it here. Stealing your tablet and charger, probably Amber's gun, if they could get it. It's wrong, and I'm don't think I can stand aside. The best of people get involved where they aren't invited, and I plan to be that type of man. The right thing to do is to seek justice."

"But?" Harper sensed his hesitation.

"But they aren't going to do that anymore. New situation, new behavior. So I don't know what to do," Mathew finished.

Harper sat across from him on the bench, "After my incident, I spent a lot of time thinking about justice. Was it right for me to kill him? If he'd gotten help, he would have probably gotten along peacefully. Sorry, you don't know what I'm talking about." She took a steadying breath. "I thought I was wrong to defend myself, that I was a murderer. Until I found out that my house wasn't the first. I wasn't a murderer; I was a savior to the next victim. I don't know if you can draw the same connections I am, but in this case, I think justice looks like holding the real perp accountable."

"Leternum?" Mathew clarified.

Harper nodded, "It will raid again and push people to be their worst. Not that Grant and Ben have to get off scot free, but punishing them doesn't make you a savior. Punishing Leternum does."

"I know that, but it doesn't mean what happens to Ben and Grant isn't important anyway. Every little thing we do is the foundation for what's to come," Mathew struggled to find the words. "I'll keep thinking on it. Any progress on Grand Arrays? I don't think we can stay hidden for long with that current event system nonsense. Connecting to Earth is our only tool that others don't have."

"I'm only one person. Apothecary, alchemist, cook, and now a counselor. It'll take time," Harper sounded apologetic. "How much essence does your Territory produce?"

"Good question," Mathew pulled up his Territory interface.

[Territory management

Loyalties - Leternum

Reinforcement 100%

Essence income(daily):

Alpha spectrum conversion, 23

Visitors(0), 0

Citizens(6), 2 Essence, tax rate 5%

Beast(3), 4 Essence, tax rate 50% (default)

Essence expenses:

None

Class slots (1/2)]

Huh, that's new.

Mathew still boggled that the whole half a Territory measured in square miles and the recovering Spire only managed to barely surpass the Spire before it was plundered.

Beast was an intriguing addition. Sure the tax rate was part of why they generated more essence with fewer numbers. It would be easier to scale up his Bone Weaver and maybe some other converted monsters than the time it took people to become full warriors. Hell, Mathew wasn't a warrior yet; he was merely strong enough to face the animals.

Digging deeper into the information, it became clear that this option was due to his expanded cultivation spectrum. Not all beasts would be able to generate essence for his use, but these were aligned to his hybrid self, so his Territory could harvest it.

"Twenty-nine a day, that's only nine and a half thousand years," Mathew lightened up with a wry smile.

"That isn't any way to perform data analysis," Harper's hazel eye unfocused as she performed mental math. "If we can increase the essence production at a steady rate, let's say eight every other day. Then we'll be there in like two years."

Mathew chuckled, "Infinite unrestrained growth, huh?"

"It isn't that unrealistic. Eight every other day may be way too low for what we can accomplish." Harper pressed.

"Sounds nice," Mathew said.

He tried to follow her thought. Compounding math wasn't his strong suit but with his cognition he could brute force his way through it. Completing the quest wasn't the pipe dream he'd worried it would be. Mathew thought she'd need a bunch of perks to lower the cost before it became a real option. A fire to fight for more land kicked off inside his gut. Was it wrong to be more excited about the Grant Array than saving lives?

Through the Alpha spectrum, weight suddenly pressed at him. The squishy feeling of Clare's reinforcement pressed against his interlocked plates.

"Excuse me," Mathew stood up. "Clare's calling. I'll ask if she knows any way to build up power faster. It's the opposite of what she focused on, but she's our best expert."

"What'll she charge you this time?" Venom leaked into Harper's tone.

"Hopefully nothing, just like all our deals," Mathew felt some tension and spoke carefully. "It's a risk, but I was thinking of using mental support on Clare. Yeah, if she ever turned on us, she'd be that much stronger. I heard your warning loud and clear... but if it helps her stay more human, that's a price I'll gladly pay."

"I think that's an excellent idea, but how will you break your mindreading powers to her?"

Mathew said with his most charming smile, "With style like I always do."

"That doesn't work with the zebra teeth. Thought you should know," Harper came around the table and started pushing him. "Alright, get going. You have work to do."

Complying, Mathew couldn't help but think that her behavior was odd. Is this because she opened up about her past?

The clear night sky was bright with stars and the nearly full moon. Mathew could see his path to the top of the Spire. Thoughts of justice in a lawless frontier were replaced by the simple joy of body sledding towards his destination. It was more difficult now that fissures and walls dotted the fractured stone. Maybe I'll get the Spire sledding skill.

Clare was waiting at the border of their Territories when he arrived, wearing a new leather corset she oozed victorian charm.

"You knocked?" Mathew got to business straight away.

"You have been weakened and then in a vexed state of mind for so long. I was," She paused. "Concerned."

Matew hadn't realized he was projecting so much of his inner struggle into the Alpha spectrum. He'd have to get ahold of that.

"Just trying to sort some heavy stuff. Law and order at the size of a handful of people. I don't know what to do," Mathew shrugged. "Anyway, if you have time, I have some questions about this world?"

"A walk then?" Clare gestured to her land.

"Sure."

They walked across the barren rocks. Clare's arm strung through his. It didn't bug him this time. Strolling across the web highways and bridges, Mathew better understood how her Territory worked.

Roads of web segregated the land into different functions. Odd blood plants chewed at the ground to grow as best they could. Tended by worker spiders, it was more a plantation than a monster nest. Every now and again, there was a nest of webs. It felt as though there was little activity, but the occasional worker would drop off some harvested reeds, and a warrior would go to patrol.

Clare broke the silence after well over five minutes, "So law and order. What troubles you about it? It is your Territory. You are the law."

Mathew wanted to disagree but worked his way through it carfully. Her words were right. "That's exactly what troubles me. The law is supposed to be rule of law not the rule of man."

"Maybe I have left too much of who I was behind, but the rule of power is the first law. It is the law of nature and all reality. Even being taken here was the rule of power," Clare's grip creaked his armor. Only mild hints of her anger filtered out for Matehw to sense.

"Clare, that's where good law starts. After everyone sees that power is the first law, they get together to make a bully bigger than any one man. Enough humans of sufficient level and skill could beat any one Alpha," Mathew sighed. "That isn't really my concern. I want that biggest bully to only oppress those who hurt others."

"You are making a more complex group than mine. My children will not suddenly overthrow me. I will not be caged like they did in The Colony," Clare let out a breath and relaxed her hand. "If you want to make sure justice is carried out according to your will being the judge and jury seems idea. So what is holding you back?"

"Who am I to judge them?"

"You are a mind that can think and a heart that can feel the weight of a decision."

They walked around in silence again. It was a lovely night. Mathew didn't have any answers, so he pushed it off for another time.

"I've got two things to talk about. One, I want my Territories to kick out a lot of essence. What do you know about growing the value of a Territory?" Mathew asked.

""It is dangerous to own a wealthy Territory, but it can also be easier to defend. Vibrant life and the sacrifice of death will empower your domain," Clare let go of him and practically floated with grace to one of her farms.

She held up a reed that seemed to have veins crawling up the outside of each tubular leaf. "This is something I made from my power mixed with the Alpha spectrum. I cut off a part of my health. The spider side and sacrifice it to our captor. Not only do these spontaneously appear, but the land grows richer harvests. I do this as a last resort for my sanity as it makes me weaker and means that side grows faster. I do not recommend you try it. Your monster side will become a problem more quickly that way."

Mathew grunted non-committaly. I'm not you. My struggle is with the world more than myself.

"You said there were two things?" Clare faced him with her ruby eyes.

"So I think I can help you, but you have to trust me. I've been keeping something secret from you."

Hortel

Finishing the stroke of his quill, he force dried the scroll with an application of willpower. Other lesser scribes would transcribe everything without a quill at all. Functional to complete the job and maintain the status quo. Within their casual acceptance was a rotten stagnation. He'd seen it everywhere in this little hamlet. People just went about their sleepy lives. Happy and content with their lot in life. It twisted his stomach to think of it.

The head branch of the Crispalid Knighthood may have sent him here because of his ambitions, but they would be sorely mistaken if they thought he'd be swept away by a romantic life in the sticks. No his ambition got him here, and it would get him out.

Taking spiral stairs down from the high tower of the castle, he couldn't help but appreciate the one thing his predacessor had gotten right. Putting him above the rest of the monkey headed rabble. Except for that one.

But he wouldn't have to worry about Knight Vegar when he left this pit. Hortel's lofty dreams may have sent him to this pit temporarily, but Knight Vegar had worse sins. Integrity and a foolhardy lack of tact. Hortel would leave here, and Knight Vegar would stay forever discarded by the powers that be.

Arriving outside the lightly used court of this hamlet, Hortel held his patience for the count of three. One, two, three-

"Aheem," He raised his brow at the door guard.

"High Accountant for the Crispalid Knighthood, Hortel Gerd Thanbow," The guard announced in a booming voice.

I swear he makes me get his attention every time on purpose. Hotel prickled into the court. Its walls were adorned with trophy heads of hunts, primarily old trophies that outdated the living, but Knight Vegar had added a few.

"Sir Knight, the report of essence and currency distribution," Hortel dropped to a knee as custom dictated.

"I told you not to do that," Vegar groused.

"Yes you did, Sir," Hortel was not about to get caught breaking customs.

"I was reviewing some accounting in my off time, and I found something unusual," Vegar watched him like a hawk. Unusual compaired to his usual dismisal.

He can't know about it! Hortel's paniced mind went back to a quest notification that had triggered twice. A mistake that looked every bit like embezzlement, including a ludicrously low payout for actual quest completion. Plus no one showed up for the physcial pay out of wealth.

Hortel hadn't done it, but he also couldn't prove he hadn't done it. The various skills to embezzle inside the system did not act uniformly. So he did the only thing he could think of and buried it the best he could. Vegar didn't care about anything outside of the wilds. He would never do that comprehensive a review of accounting. This had to be a setup. Vegar knew where to look because he'd put it there.

Hortel was probably being recorded right now. He'd play the flawless part of ignorance. If a truth seeker showed up, he'd insist he didn't do it. No need to offer that he hid the event. "What is the matter?"

"The Wurtran Knighthood was caught collecting monster born from the divide. Rather than leaving them to live and die with their monster kind, they were being used as SE generators. Integrated into their edge Territories," Vegar leaned forward and stabbed a parchment with a runestone dagger.

He had no connection to any monster born nonsense, so his worry vanished to be replaced by irritation at the dagger stabbed through his hard work.

"Right here our tax collected changes," Vegar's knife indeed pointed to a sudden but small drop.

"The monster born die all the time. It is not uncommon for the taxes placed on them to fall away," Hortel wasn't following Vegar's logic.

"Do you know why their tax rate is 95%?" Vegar didn't pause. "Because it lets us collect death energy from them. The drop should come after a spike, unless..."

"Unless..." Hortel cursed his younger self for skipping Territory distribution tax law at the university.

"...A neighbor is stealing them." Vegar finished.

"So what is to be done about this?" Hortel asked. "Do you know who the culprit is?"

"No, but I'll find out," Vegar gave Hortel a dark grin. "Make funds ready for an expedition. We go hunting."