Strike

Strike.

A truly unfamiliar concept to Ferda.

“A strike?”

“It means exactly what it says: declaring that I won’t work.”

“Why wouldn’t they work when they’re being paid?”

“They stop working for purposes such as asserting their rights.”

“A hostage situation, then.”

Ferda thought it was novel.

To think they would use a means of taking themselves hostage.

They were the ones whose heads would be cut off, so why would they do such a thing?

“I don’t recall anything like that happening when I was in the Empire.”

“It’s a matter of supply and demand. In the Empire, if anyone said such a thing, they could simply be replaced immediately.”

There were more than tens of millions of people in the imperial capital alone.

There, replacing someone without batting an eye even if one person died was an everyday occurrence.

It made him realize anew how blind he had been.

‘The emperor’s power is stronger than a dragon’s?’

Even if it sounded nonsensical, he could understand it.

A nearby kitchen knife was more frightening than a distant treasured sword.

In any case, Ferda asked her how they might resolve this issue.

“Who is that impudent ringleader?”

“A carpenter from the Empire named Hanson. He currently serves as the manager of the workers from the Empire.”

“Would it cause any trouble if I killed him?”

His solution was simple.

Strike off his head so he couldn’t harbor ulterior motives.

Ferda considered that the best option.

Isabella noticed his intent and answered.

“He’s not particularly competent, but killing him recklessly would cause problems.”

“Why?”

“Partly because he has connections with various influential people, and politically, there’s concern that your image could worsen.”

“If it’s already bad, how much worse could it get?”

Ferda said as though it were nothing important.

Isabella tilted her head, then suddenly realized something and asked him,

“……I’m asking just in case, but do you not know what your reputation is like right now, Lord Ferda?”

“No.”

Isabella blinked.

Thinking it necessary to make him understand, Isabella spoke seriously.

“You are taking in refugees and guaranteeing their right to survive, are you not?”

“That’s right.”

“There is no greater savior than someone who accepts refugees in a winter like this. Furthermore, since you guarantee them jobs, they can provide for food, clothing, and shelter through a stable income.”

“I see.”

“And because they were driven out by foreign powers they could not overcome, you have shown your determination to protect them from that threat, which has moved some people as well.”

“I did……hm?”

Ferda tilted his head.

“Did I ever say anything like that?”

“Since I made those words up, it is only natural that you would not know.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Because we needed a good reputation to counter the Red Dragon’s infamy.”

“Even though it isn’t true?”

“That is how the world sees it, so what else could we do?”

Isabella’s point was that Ferda needed to be able to counter Waldrova’s infamy for people to feel secure.

“Besides, you have no intention of driving them out, do you?”

“That’s true.”

He had taken in those who had fled because he had failed to manage things properly; what reason would he have to send them back?

In any case, he understood what she meant.

“So, in short, you’re saying I have a good reputation in the village.”

“Some people even go around proclaiming that you must be the reincarnation of a saintly sage.”

It was a strange thing.

Ferda was neither a saint nor a gentleman.

He was running solely for Waldrova’s sake, and would not hesitate to do anything for Waldrova.

They said life was full of twists and turns.

Wasn’t this exactly the sort of thing they meant?

Ferda set that aside and returned to the main subject.

“If cutting off his head is out of the question……”

Since the simplest method was not viable, he tried to find another solution.

“That is not the only problem.”

Isabella moved on to another matter without giving him time to do so.

“What else is there?”

“There are far too many to list if we include the minor ones, but notably, conflict among the wall builders is growing fierce.”

She pushed a sheet of paper forward,

“The adventurers are clashing with the shop owners because they are trying to extort protection money by district.”

Another sheet.

“And because some pink-haired person happened to walk past while everyone was praying, singing a strange song, they all burst into laughter and could not maintain a solemn atmosphere, so they are requesting that she be captured and soundly thrashed.”

“Pink hair……”

He could guess who that pink-haired person was without even looking.

“Amid all these complaints and disruptions, there is someone deliberately eating away at Your Excellency’s reputation. There is definitely an agitator.”

Agitators existed everywhere.

People who grew up in wealthy families or places where they could receive sufficient education, then used their knowledge and eloquence to draw in commoners.

In a city like this, with a short history and little-established system, commoners were easy prey for agitators.

“Can I beat the hell out of him too?”

“I am trying to beat the hell out of him as well, but I cannot find a lead.”

That was a surprising thing to hear.

“You can’t track him down?”

“That is correct. I am ashamed to say it, but he is practically a ghost.”

“Hmm……”

She was a descendant of Ioruga, the supreme being of magic.

If even she could not track him, then the opponent was no pushover either.

‘He isn’t just a simple agitator.’

He must be a pure devil who preferred chaos to power.

“In any case, it would probably be best to settle all the matters that have piled up this time in a single stroke.”

Isabella said as she set the documents down in front of him.

“We should hold a council.”

“You mean I should face the commoners and talk things over with them.”

“It is the way to resolve matters most smoothly.”

Smoothly, huh.

Ferda did not like that word, “smoothly.”

Did someone leading a multitude really need to be gentle?

He thought they ought to come down harshly instead.

‘But Isabella is better at this sort of thing.’

Isabella must have thought of striking down the top brass and restoring order as well.

If so, she would not have come to suggest this.

It was worth considering holding a council.

‘Now that I think about it, it may not be so bad…….’

Sometimes keeping someone alive brought more benefits than killing them.

Wasn’t this one of those situations?

“Very well. Proceed with the council.”

“Yes. Then I will arrange the schedule.”

Isabella bowed and withdrew.

Ferda immediately took out a communication crystal and connected it to somewhere.

-Lize, liaison officer of Pascal Trading Company, speaking to His Excellency the Regent. How may I assist you?

“This is Regent Ferda Waldrova. Is the director there?”

-The director is here. Shall I connect you?

“Please do.”

A short while later, Stefan’s voice came through.

-Greetings, Regent. Are you contacting us about the strike incident?

His informants were quick. He had gone straight to the point.

“That’s right.”

-I was already thinking we should take action regarding it. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to tell me!

His confident voice was truly reassuring.

“I do need your help. I’m going to hold a council; how do you think it will proceed?”

-If it is a council…… I have held many of them myself. I suspect this type of confrontation with a lord is usually directly tied to power.

“Power……”

When one had power, money followed automatically.

He did not enjoy feeling as though he was being looked down on.

“So you’re saying this can be settled by giving them that power.”

-You may not like the idea of giving it away, but there is also a way to preserve your power by doing so.

“What do you mean?”

Stefan spoke in a confident voice.

-Just trust me. I’ll turn them into puppets you can torment for years to come.

* * *

Hestia Village, construction site.

The place where the Hestia Trading Company had been scheduled to move in had now been occupied and transformed under the name Far Eastern Labor Union (Temporary).

Its leader was none other than Hanson, the site manager.

He had coaxed the other site managers and foremen into helping him establish the temporary union.

“Do you think they’ll listen to us……?”

One of the foremen sitting on the floor asked cautiously.

“No matter how I think about it, I don’t think the powers-that-be will allow us to do this…….”

“Come on, don’t say things that take the wind out of us.”

“You came here saying you wanted more money, so why are you saying that now? If you’re going to back out, do it now!”

“No, I’m just worried, that’s all…….”

Faced with the rough foremen’s objections, he had no choice but to back down.

Hanson waited with his arms crossed and an impassive expression.

‘I’m scared to death too.’

Until he carried it out, he had been full of dreams.

But now he felt much like a condemned man waiting for his execution.

Even so, he could not stop.

Having climbed onto the tiger’s back, he no longer had a choice.

‘Still, they probably won’t do anything rash…….’

The reason Hanson could act so boldly was that he had a dependable ally.

‘The Armor Knight.’

Superhuman strength enough to carry eleven logs with her bare hands!

Martial prowess enough to kill two monsters single-handedly!

Though she inspired fear, she was the most respected person in the village.

The biggest reason Hanson could commit such a reckless act was that the Armor Knight had agreed to it as well.

And the other site managers and foremen trusted the Armor Knight too.

In effect, she was the center of the bond they had formed.

And that center was sitting beside Hanson.

‘Right, because the Armor Knight is here.’

‘Nothing will happen.’

Though they had never spoken even once because of the vow of silence, they believed she would help them in an emergency.

A short while later, someone opened the door and entered.

Sleek spectacles and intelligent eyes.

Wearing a red uniform emblazoned with the Waldrova crest, she looked professional and imposing.

A chill ran down their spines.

They were all wearing headbands bearing the words ‘Life or death!

“I have finished speaking with the Regent.”

Isabella said.

“Prepare your demands. The council will be held a week from now.”

“By a council, do you mean we are to discuss matters face-to-face with the Regent?”

“That is correct. He will hear your grievances, so I would appreciate it if you prepared them in the meantime.”

Their expressions were skeptical.

In the Empire, they would have disappeared without a trace and it would have ended there; in another village, something like this would have been forcibly disbanded by a raid from the guards.

Yet she was saying they would hear them out instead of using force.

“And since he has agreed to negotiate, please suspend the ongoing strike and return to your livelihoods.”

At those words, the foremen began to fidget in their seats.

“No.”

The one who said that was none other than Hanson, the union leader.

Hanson spoke, putting force into his voice.

“You’re telling us to work when you haven’t even offered us any terms yet. Does that make sense?”

The people looked back and forth between Hanson’s troubled face and Isabella’s.

Isabella answered calmly.

“We cannot leave the construction site unattended when there is not even a replacement ready. We will raise your wages to 150 percent of their current level and—”

“This isn’t about wages. Someone died. What will you do if the same thing happens again?”

“My friend……”

The foremen watched the two of them anxiously, while their restless hands abruptly stilled.

Hanson was making the matter much bigger than it needed to be.

This was how the conversation with the young mage had gone.

-They’ll tell you to return to your livelihoods.

-Then what should we do?

-You must never accept that. If you return to your livelihoods, they’ll look down on you too. They’ll think, “Those benighted fools will risk their lives again as long as we pay them.”

-Hmm…….

-More than anything, your power will diminish.

Taken in by those words, Hanson had responded as the mage instructed.

Of course, his current couldn’t-care-less mindset had played a major role too.

His liver had already jumped out of his body; surely he could let his gall jump out too.

Isabella stared directly at the face of the man making that claim.

The children of Ioruga, who embodied coldness.

But this coldness was of a different kind.

It burrowed into the heart and brought everything to a halt.

Just as Isabella was about to say something, Hanson felt a sharp poke on his shoulder.

Startled, he turned around, and the Armor Knight was there.

Hanson asked, trying to calm his racing heart.

“Huff, huff……. What is it, Knight?”

The Armor Knight had taken a vow of silence.

So instead of speaking, she merely shook her head.

Hanson immediately understood her intent.

“You mean we should go back to work?”

Nod, nod.

They had not obtained what they wanted, but they could not press the matter any further here.

What could they do when the person who served as their center was saying that?

“Since that is what you say, Knight…… Very well. We will return to work at once. If demons appear again and put us in danger……”

“I’ll take responsibility for my part.”

A chill entered Isabella’s eyes.

“What responsibility will you take?”

“I……”

Hanson did not answer.

The words ‘Life or death’ written on his headband were rendered meaningless by his inability to affirm anything.

Isabella sighed as though her spirits had been dampened.

“That will do. Let’s end this quarrel here and return.”

Isabella spoke briefly and clearly, then left.

The foremen, who had been holding their breath, rubbed their chests in relief.

“Phew!”

“My heart was really pounding.”

“Thank goodness things worked out. If it had gone badly, I suppose we’d never be able to work here again…….”

“Come on, let’s get back to work too. Oof! Sitting around like a bunch of soft-handed scholars has made my whole body stiff!”

The foremen filed out the door one by one.

Then a middle-aged man standing at the very back looked around cautiously and sidled up to Hanson.

He had come here as a refugee, worked diligently, and risen to the position of foreman.

“Manager Hanson, don’t do that again.”

He warned him with a murderous look.