“Hey, what’s going on over there?” “What happened to those guys?” “Is this a War Game or something?” “Don’t be ridiculous.
War Games aren’t fought inside the city, and there would’ve been an announcement.” “The Ganesha Familia’s military police are here.
Let’s wait and see.” Pedestrians on Northwestern Street stopped what they were doing and stared at the commotion in the middle of the road.
Eight men had been tied into a bundle and were being dragged along like dead dogs by a single rope.
The person pulling them was Fujimaru Ritsuka!
Eight men had attempted to rob him.
After knocking them all unconscious, Ritsuka ordered his clone to find some rope and bind them together.
He then dragged them straight out of the alley and hauled them toward the Adventurers’ Guild.
His journey across Northwestern Street left a long trail of blood on the pavement, leaving the surrounding pedestrians dumbfounded.
Ritsuka continued dragging them until he reached the Guild entrance.
“Stop!
Stop immediately!” The Ganesha Familia’s military police, responsible for maintaining order inside the city, rushed over and ordered Ritsuka to halt.
Since he had already reached his destination, Ritsuka dropped the rope and casually dusted off his hands.
The military police captain wore an ivory mask.
He inspected the eight men behind Ritsuka, frowned beneath the mask, and turned toward him.
“Who are you, and what happened here?” Instead of introducing himself, Ritsuka pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the eight robbers.
“It’s simple.
These people tried to rob me, so I beat them up instead.” Robberies were an everyday occurrence in Orario.
Although the military police constantly warned people not to commit such crimes, those warnings had never stopped them from happening.
Today’s case, however, looked rather different from usual.
The captain examined the eight men and unconsciously swallowed.
He was not hungry.
Their miserable condition had simply startled him.
At first, he had only glanced at them without noticing the details.
Now that he looked carefully, every man was bruised, swollen, and bleeding continuously.
They appeared to be on the verge of death.
“You defeated all of them by yourself?” “Yes.
It happened in one of the alleys up ahead.” Ritsuka pointed behind him again.
“I won’t bother identifying which alley.
I’m sure you can figure it out.” Of course they could.
The blood trail extended from the eight battered robbers all the way back to the crime scene.
They only needed to follow it.
“There’s no need to inspect the alley.
I believe your account.” The captain could not be bothered to visit the scene.
Unlike outsiders, he understood Orario’s situation perfectly well.
“Did you recently arrive in Orario?
Are you Level Two or Level Three?” The captain had spent the entire day patrolling and had not heard the latest news, just like the adventurers who had remained inside the Dungeon.
Since Ritsuka had never introduced himself, the captain was naturally curious about his identity.
“Allow me to explain.” The Guild hall had already become lively because of the disturbance outside.
Eina, who was assigned to Ritsuka, hurried through the entrance.
“Captain Lain, this is Fujimaru Ritsuka-san.
He only arrived in Orario today.” “He isn’t Level Two or Level Three.
He’s Level One.” “As for his identity, he belongs to the reborn Astraea Familia.
He is a follower of the Goddess of Justice!” “The reborn Astraea Familia?
You mean that Goddess Astraea?!” The captain stared at Ritsuka in shock.
“That’s right.
It’s the same Astraea Familia you’re thinking of.” Ritsuka nodded before folding his arms.
“That’s enough about me.
Now it’s your turn!” “Us?” The captain and Eina froze, unable to understand what he meant.
“Fujimaru-san, is there a problem with us?” “I’ve only been in Orario for a short time.
In fact, I arrived this morning, but I’ve already learned the basics of how this city operates.” “The Ganesha Familia is the largest Familia in Orario.
The Guild pays you to serve as military police and maintain public order.” “Since no other Familia possesses that authority, calling you Orario’s official law enforcement wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Correct?” “That’s correct.” The captain nodded proudly.
The Ganesha Familia was one of Orario’s most influential factions.
They were paid by the Guild to maintain public order and held an extremely respected position within the city.
“Are you proud of that?” Ritsuka saw his expression and immediately mocked him.
“Are you proud of the terrible job you’re doing?” “What did you say?!” “I was robbed outside the city this morning.
Eleven men who didn’t even hide their faces surrounded the carriage I was riding in and tried to kill everyone.” “If I hadn’t been there, all six newcomers aboard that carriage would have died.
Your people only appeared when I had nearly finished dealing with the bandits myself!” “That…” “You could argue that the area outside the city was too distant for you to manage.
But surely you’re responsible for what happens inside Orario.” “I had barely left the Guild before this garbage targeted me.
What do you think would’ve happened if I weren’t strong enough to defend myself?” “I…” “Before attacking them, I even asked whether they were afraid of the military police.
Can you guess how they answered?” “They said you couldn’t touch them!” “They said you only patrol the gates and major streets, while ignoring everything that happens inside the alleys!” “If you refuse to patrol the places where crime is most likely to flourish and merely guard the main roads, what purpose do you serve?” “Any Familia could stand around watching a street!” “You!” The captain tried to respond, but Ritsuka had already dismissed him and turned toward Eina.
“And then there’s the Guild!” “Eek!” Eina let out a small cry when Ritsuka’s imposing gaze landed on her.
“The Ganesha Familia claims it only has the authority to maintain order.
What about the Guild?” “You possess the authority to issue judgments, don’t you?” “The Guild collects entrance taxes, commercial taxes, and even takes a portion from adventurers’ magic-stone exchanges.” “With so much money passing through your hands, what have you done for the ordinary people who work honestly and follow the law?” “We…” “I’ve personally experienced two robberies on my very first day here.
How many robberies happen in Orario every year?” “The Guild controls the resources and records of every adventurer in the city.
Is it truly so difficult to spend money dealing with adventurers who break the rules?” “Are you afraid to do it, incapable of doing it, or simply unwilling?” “And what about the punishments given to criminal adventurers?” “Those bandits murdered people outside the city, yet your harshest punishment would only be stripping away their Falna and exiling them.” “Is that fair to the people they killed?” “I…” Eina’s mind went blank, and she nearly wanted to cry.
‘Why am I being interrogated like this?
I’m only a receptionist…’ “If you refuse to truly preserve fairness and justice in Orario, and refuse to protect ordinary people from abusive adventurers, then stop acting like superior administrators!” “The lives of ordinary people matter too!” That final declaration silenced Eina completely.
The captain beside her was equally stunned.
While they remained frozen, Ritsuka drew a dagger and flashed toward the bound robbers.
His blade moved repeatedly, severing every robber’s thumbs from both hands.
When Eina recovered, she immediately shouted.
“Fujimaru-san, what are you doing?!” “What am I doing?
I’m upholding justice!” Ritsuka crushed the severed thumbs beneath his boot, ensuring they could never be reattached.
“As a member of the reborn Astraea Familia, I, Fujimaru Ritsuka, hereby declare that justice and fairness will return to Orario!” “What the Guild is too afraid to handle, I will handle!” “Those the Ganesha Familia is too afraid to arrest, I will arrest!” “Every evildoer who preys upon the weak will be brought to justice!” …