I sat, positioned to watch the chaos unfold.
It wasn't a particularly comfortable position but it would do for my purposes.
I watched the various messes that the others had inflicted upon this kingdom play out.
Massive swaths of soldiers and people retreating and advancing to various positions yet it wasn't my time to strike yet.
I was tasked with taking down the leader, the king.
However he had not deigned to show his presence yet. Not even after all of the chaos that we had caused.
No wonder this place wasn't that happy, their king was a coward.
He didn't have the balls to come into the gray. Or maybe it was just that he was stuck in his little court.
Though no matter the reason he would still have to be drawn out eventually.
If he wasn't then I would be disappointed. Hundreds of his soldiers were dying by the hour and if he didn't come out soon I would start to come after him.
I know that I should be patient but it was hard to be when my target wouldn't help for the well-being of his people.
"Hmm…" I silently hummed, spotting something.
It was faint yet for a moment I could just barely perceive it.
A figure, standing on the edge of the castle and looking down. A sad look on his face.
"Gotcha" I whispered, my finger in the trigger as I adjusted the rifle so as to aim it straight.
I tested the wind, calculated the trajectory and distance. And once that was done I fired.
Smoke filled my vision for a second as the power of the bullet sent the dust around me flying into the air.
However when it cleared I narrowed my eyes, trying to see the results of my shot.
To my surprise the shot had connected. The face of the king was blown straight off revealing his skull.
However for just a moment I could have sworn it kept standing as if reaching for something.
Though that was quickly discredited by the wind blowing his corpse from over the ledge.
I set the rifle down, a smile gracing my gestures as I looked to where the Lord and his retinue were.
…
A bullet traveled, its path headed directly for the king.
For a second it seemed as if the king had noticed it yet that was all. As a moment later he was dead. Falling off the balcony where he stood.
I smiled, looking down at the soldier that had taken the shot.
He was hidden well but to my eyesight he might as well not have been hidden at all.
A smile popped up in his face as he looked directly back into my eyes before setting his own rifle down.
I jumped from the ledge that I was in and into the city.
People noticed me yet they didn't. It was a weird state where they noticed that I was here yet ignored me in favor of retreating outside of the city.
'Heh… as if I'd let them, they are to be my population'
I blinked at that thought, my feet stopping in their place. Where had that come from. I had never been particularly evil like that but it was a bit of a line that I had crossed with that thought.
Shaking my head to get rid of that though I make my way towards the corpse of the king.
A simple slash of my spear takes his head from his shoulders.
With a careful hand I take his head into said hands.
"Ahem-" I say, my voice resonating throughout all of the citizens and soldiers around me.
My own retreat from where they were and fall back towards me.
While that happens the citizens are pulled from where they stood and gathered into one massive crowd around me.
Raised as I am in my platform I give them a good look at their king.
"I do not care for your previous allegiance's nor of your biases." I began my eyes glaring over the crowd that shrunk over my gaze.
"You all are mine now, this kingdom and your livelihoods belong to me by right of conquest."
The mutterings began silently but soon grew to almost deafening noise as they realized I was not going to kill them for the noises they made.
However one of the guards seemed to not have gotten the memo as he took it upon himself to leap up to my stage and take an attempt at my life.
I just scoffed and raised Memoria in my hands.
A slash to the side and his head went flying. There was no fanfare, no epic fight for the crowd to cheer onto.
It was a brutal death that gave no room for retaliation.
"Any others…" I say sweeping my gaze over the ones that dared to look defiant.
"Remember that you are not as valuable as you seem to think you are."
I let the murmurings continue for a moment before I get back on track.
"Any advisors or nobles, step forward."
I watched as some of the more opulently dressed ones looked towards each other before gulping and accepting my order.
They marched forward as if they were marching to their deaths.
I suppressed a small snort that came from their postures. They were afraid and rightfully so however I was not going to stoke the flames of that fear with needless mockery.
Instead I gathered them in front of me all the while holding out my hand.
A stack of documents was placed in them and with a quick look through of them I knew most of what I needed.
"Fal Al Brown, step forward."
A man and two others stepped forward, their interpretation as if I was calling forth the whole family.
Another glance to the documents and I confirmed all that I needed.
"For your crimes you and the two beside you shall be executed. Four counts of bribery, three counts of exploitation of the labor of the good citizens, and lastly ten counts of slavery. For those crimes committed by you and your men at arms you are hereby sentenced to death."
It was a radical decision but not one that I couldn't stomach.
It was why I stepped forward and drew Memoria from its sheath.
A stab through the heart of all three and they were dead.
…
The proceedings stayed about the same. Some were less severe than the others yet I still killed most of them.
If they weren't to severe then I would exile them, having Tama teleport them into the wilderness. If they survived would all be up to their skill and luck.
However more than likely they would die with the amount of skills they actually had.
Eventually though the showing came to an end and although Jose of the normal citizens were horrified and scared I could also see looks of respect.
Of growing loyalty at rooting out the causes of curryption and starvation. The starvation was most likely the leading cause however.
With one last look I dismissed the citizens and allowed them to leave back to their abodes. For the time being I had done what I wanted.
They would fear me yet they would also respect me, it was enough for me to but the time to actually establish myself.
I turned my back to them and headed into the castle where I found all three of them waiting for me. Aoif was sitting, bored, at the table. Both Delta and Tama were reading some reports as they waited for me.
I collapsed into the chair and sighed.
"Did I do good!" I ask the room, not looking for an answer for any particular one of them.
"Yes, Darwin, the fear they felt for you will allow for time that can be used to worm your way into their hearts."
I nod at that, taking in the praise. However I couldn't bask I it for long as I needed one more thing.
"Delta, could you help with farming instruments and the construction of a good defensive wall."
She nodded before leaving the room, a couple words on her mouth.
"Yes, as long as you are fine with me borrowing your newly conquered subjects."
I didn't say anything to that letting the silence show my implicit agreement.
With that out of the way she closed the door, leaving the room in silence. Documents were turned as we read through them yet that was all that was heard.
Nothing else until a movement. One sudden and drastic.
I felt as Aoif moved her body around me. Her legs wrapping around my waist as she littered kisses against my face.
"That was so…" she trailed off, her eyes turning dreamy.
I turned to respond but was silenced by more kisses. A hand was placed in my back, caressing it George I didn't care.
I just enjoyed the kisses as my eyes gradually fell.