Aililan had someone bring over a round table.
“Sit down!”
Renata and Milisanel were the first to sit. The Twelve Knights hesitated for a moment, but at the signal from their Squad Leader, they finally took their seats, their hearts uneasy.
Aililan offered reassurance.
“There’s no need to be formal.”
“You are all the people I trust the most since coming to Atester City.”
“I don’t want to say anything that might harm our unity, but it’s a fact that there are divisions within the Chastity Knights. Pella, Morphete, and Yarvis all lean toward Captain Fina Nisi, while Squad Leader Linuor remains neutral.”
“Only you have shown loyalty to me. I, Aililan, will never let down your loyalty. Pella became Vice-captain—are you any less capable than she is?”
As usual, Aililan started by drawing a grand vision.
Don’t think it’s tiresome—anyone in a position of power needs to paint such visions often. And Aililan wasn’t just talking idly; she actually had the ability to make her vision a reality.
Upon hearing this, all the knights couldn’t help showing looks of longing.
Renata and Milisanel’s ambitions were obvious: the captain’s seat. The Twelve Knights’ goal should be Squad Leader. Now, all of them gathered under Aililan’s banner, everyone saw a bright future ahead.
Provided, of course, they weren’t wiped out by that so-called ‘Phoenix Overlord’ blonde with a ‘finishing move’.
Knight Arkernard handed over a dossier and introduced it: “This is the information we’ve gathered over the past few days about the Slums and the businesses of the gangs.”
“This includes, but isn’t limited to, collecting protection money, smuggling contraband, Enforcer work, as well as running Casinos, controlling prostitutes, and trafficking people, and so on.”
One after another.
One item after another.
There was no lowest limit to the moral bottom line—only lower.
Now the problem before Aililan was whether or not to take over the gangs’ businesses.
Aililan could only say that some of these operations were necessary and unavoidable, because keeping the gang running required money, and that money couldn’t come from the knights’ order.
After a moment of contemplation, Aililan gave her first command: “From tomorrow onward, the protection fees in the Slums are abolished! Those people are dirt poor—what profits could there be to squeeze from them?”
“Prostitution is also forbidden.”
“And no more trafficking in people.”
Knight Arkernard hesitated, then asked quietly, “Saintess Aililan, I know you mean well, but if you forbid prostitution, how will those women survive?”
Aililan waved her hand. “I understand your concern. I’ll try to introduce some handicraft industries into the Slums. They can earn a living through honest work. If there’s anyone who still thinks it’s easier to earn money by lying down, well, let them be. But prostitution is not allowed within the Slums under my control—because the Church of Light forbids such things.”
At that moment—
Milisanel finished reading the dossier and heard Aililan’s resolve.
She thought for a bit, then asked, “So, Saintess Aililan, you’re in favor of smuggling, Enforcer jobs, and running the Casino?”
Aililan smiled. “Smuggling takes money from the merchants, the Casino takes money from the city’s rich and noble, and the Enforcers ensure the gang’s strength.”
In short, there may not be money to be squeezed from the poor, but a little profit from the rich could be enough to let the Slums live comfortably.
However, there were still many issues.
According to the dossier,
The gangs did the most dangerous smuggling work, but only took a small cut of the profits.
“Saintess Aililan, have you considered—” Milisanel voiced her doubt, “the gangs do the most dangerous work and get the least reward, because no matter if it’s merchants or rich folks, they can always abandon the gang and find someone else to do the smuggling?”
“O(∩_∩)O haha~” Aililan couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle.
It took her a while to calm down.
“How rude of me!”
“But your worry isn’t unfounded, Milisanel. Still, what I want to tell you is—right now, in Atester City, both the ‘white road’ and the ‘black road’ are my people. What do they have to fight me with? Unless they’re willing to pay big money to hire mercenaries or adventurers to do the smuggling.”
Referee, judge—they’re all mine. What are you going to use to fight me.jpg.
As long as the enforcement agency cracks down hard on smuggling, and only Aililan’s gang can run the business,
Anyone who wants that service will have to do it by Aililan’s rules.
After doing so much, could anyone really think she was simply addicted to running a gang?
Ultimately, everything she did was to prepare for the day she completely took over Atester City, so that these businesses could be integrated into the city’s official finances.
Aililan looked at the Twelve Knights with satisfaction. “You’ve done very well so far. I’m satisfied. I’ll remember your achievements and efforts.”
“If you wish to return to the knights, you may apply. If you wish to remain in the gang, I’ll give priority to promoting you to any vacant knight positions.”
“So, my knights.”
“What do you choose?”
Knight Arkernard was the first to stand up.
‘Pa-ta!’
Standing upright, face solemn, he declared, “I am willing to devote my life to the Saintess!”
What an international joke! Among the Twelve Knights, he was the one who’d spoken most often with Aililan—if he didn’t seize this chance, he’d regret it even on his deathbed, slapping himself for missing the opportunity.
The Saintess had given him a chance.
He had to make use of it!
The remaining eleven looked at each other.
They soon made their choice as well, all willing to continue working for Aililan in the gang.
After all, as long as there was no war, there weren’t many chances to earn merit. Besides, this job reported directly to Aililan—a perfect chance to show themselves before her. Anyone with sense would choose to stay.
“Very good.”
Aililan nodded with satisfaction.
“My friends, let me give you one last word: Even though you are working in the gang now, you must always keep your sense of justice.”
“Our cause is for the Liberation of All Humankind… mm, ahem… I mean, to spread the light of God to every corner of this world.”
Aililan paused.
“Everything.”
“Is for the Light!”
Everyone answered in unison, “For the Light!”
Everyone was united, rallying beneath the banner called ‘Light’. Though most didn’t quite understand what Saintess Aililan meant by ‘Liberation of All Humankind’, they knew all they had to do was follow in her footsteps.
Aililan’s face showed satisfaction. She wasn’t all that fond of the church’s style, but she had to admit—the church’s methods worked very, very well.
Just shout some slogans.
Paint them another grand vision.
And one by one, they would start to convince themselves!
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