NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Purge
Kael sat in his study, the flickering light of a single candle casting shadows across the stacks of documents in front of him.
Each paper bore a name, a connection, a betrayal.
The investigation into the grain theft had finally yielded its results, and the evidence was damning.
His steward, once trusted to manage the barony's stores, had been siphoning off grain to merchants tied to the Elstrands
Worse, other merchants had conspired to inflate prices, destabilizing the local economy and lining their own pockets.
Kael leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening as he stared at the list of names.
These were not just criminalscthey were parasites, draining his struggling barony of resources and sowing unrest among his people.
He had spent days uncovering this network of corruption, and now it was time to act.
Lysara, his trusted aide, stood silently by the door, awaiting his command. Kael finally spoke, his voice cold and steady.
"Call the guards. Begin the purge."
----
The night was quiet, but the manor buzzed with activity as Kael's orders spread.
Guards armed themselves, swords glinting in the torchlight as they prepared to march into the homes of the guilty.
Kael joined them in the courtyard, his presence commanding.
Clad in his dark cloak, he mounted his horse and addressed the assembled men.
"These men and women have stolen from us," Kael said, his voice carrying over the courtyard. "They have taken food from our people and sold it to our enemies. They have tried to destroyed the life you live. The way you live and with that they have weakened this barony, and tonight, we reclaim what is ours."
Determination of taking down these corrupt people passed through the ranks.
Kael raised his sword. "No mercy for traitors. Bring them to justice."
With that, the company set out, the thundering of hooves echoing through the quiet streets.
The first target was the steward's home.
A large, well-kept house that stood in stark contrast to the crumbling buildings around it.
Kael dismounted, his boots crunching against the gravel as he approached the door.
He didn't bother with subtlety his guards kicked the door open, and they stormed inside.
The steward, a portly man with graying hair, stumbled into the hallway, his face pale with terror. "M-My lord!" he stammered. "What is the meaning of this?"
Kael stepped forward, his expression icy. "You know exactly what this is about."
The steward fell to his knees, his hands clasped together in a desperate plea. "Please, my lord, it was a mistake! I only—"
"Enough." Kael's voice cut through the man's rambling. "You've stolen from my people. You've betrayed your barony. There is no excuse for what you've done."
Kael nodded to his guards, and they hauled the steward to his feet.
He screamed, begging for mercy, but Kael didn't flinch.
His gaze swept over the house, taking in the luxurious furnishings, the gold trinkets, and the barrels of grain tucked away in a backroom.
The wealth the steward had accumulated through his crimes was staggering.
"Seize everything," Kael ordered. "The grain, the gold, the documents. Strip this place clean."
As the guards moved to comply, Kael turned back to the steward. "You will face trial, but your punishment is already decided. The people will see what happens to those who betray them."
The steward's cries echoed through the night as he was dragged away.
From there, the purge continued. Kael and his men moved swiftly, targeting the homes of the merchants implicated in the scandal.
Each raid revealed more evidence of the conspiracy hidden ledgers, bags of stolen coin, and letters linking the merchants to the Elstrands.
At one house, Kael discovered a secret room filled with valuables.
Gold coins, jewels, and fine silks that could have fed dozens of families.
The merchant, a man with shifty eyes, tried to claim innocence, but Kael silenced him with a glare.
"You've bled this barony dry," Kael said, his voice low and dangerous. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"
The merchant's protests turned to screams as the guards dragged him away.
Kael remained behind, inspecting the room. He picked up a letter addressed to the Elstrands, detailing the profits made from the grain trade.
It was proof of the larger plot against him, and Kael's anger burned hotter.
"Take everything," he said to Lysara, who stood at his side. "This wealth belongs to the barony now."
By dawn, the purge was complete. Kael stood in the manor's great hall, surveying the spoils of the raids.
Tables were piled high with gold, grain, and other goods seized from the traitors.
His guards had rounded up nearly a dozen conspirators, who now knelt in chains, their faces pale and hollow.
Kael stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the prisoners. "You thought you could betray me," he said, his voice cold and steady. "You thought you could steal from my people and profit from their suffering."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "You were wrong."
He motioned to the guards. "Take them to the dungeons. Their trials will be swift."
As the prisoners were led away, Kael turned to Lysara. "How much have we recovered?"
Lysara consulted a ledger she had been keeping throughout the night. "Enough to cover the losses from the grain theft, my lord. And then some. The barony's coffers are stronger than they've been in years."
Kael nodded, satisfaction flickering across his face. "Good. Distribute the grain to the villages immediately. Let the people know that the theft has been dealt with."
"And the gold?" Lysara asked.
Kael's gaze hardened. "Use it to rebuild. Repair the roads, the fields, the homes. This barony will rise again. Pay salary to the soilders and start working on equipment, I want all my troops to be well equipped also later bring me the proper detialed of my territory"
With that Kael sat alone in his study.
The NTR system made noise faintly in the back of his mind,
A notification appeared before him, translucent and glowing.
---
System Notification: Quest Complete: Purge the Traitors
Objective: Root out and eliminate the network of corruption in the barony.
Reward: 50 SP
Bonus Objective: Recover stolen wealth to strengthen the barony.
Bonus Reward: 30 SP
Total SP Earned: 80 SP
---
Kael leaned back in his chair, the numbers burning in his mind.
The system was pleased, and so was he.
This was more than just a victory it was a statement.
To his people, his enemies, and himself.
He glanced out the window, the faint light of the moon illuminating the fields beyond the manor.
There was still so much to do so many threats to face, so many challenges to overcome.
But for the first time in weeks, Kael felt a sense of control.
The barony was his, and no one would take it from him.
Not the Elstrands. Not the Crown. Not anyone.
Kael's hand tightened into a fist. The game was far from over, but tonight, he had taken the first step toward winning it.
And he wouldn't stop until he had claimed everything.
The crown, Gold and their Wives.