Chapter 669: Reason for Loyalty

With Albert in charge of this city after the lord’s arrest, the situation returns to normal.

No, not normal. It just returns to how it’s supposed to be. Free of slavery. Though it was just for a few days.

Many slave merchants got captured. Captured slavers were freed and returned to their families. But that only happen to the slaves in the city.

There are many slaves who were taken away from the city. And there’s nothing we can do. And even if we find them one way or another during our tour, we can’t do much unless Albert is with us. So maybe I can just bring Shirley around for the tour so she will act as Albert’s representative.

For the slaves with families, they are not much of a problem. But for those without family, they might become a problem in the future if we don’t take care of them well.

Those with family can be returned to t heir family, and they can hopefully have a good life. But those without family can only look for job. It will be good if they find a good job. But if they can’t, they might end up becoming bandits. And that will give us more trouble.

Some slaves were even raised to expert level. If they know that Randy is alive, they will take revenge on him. So it’s best if Randy hides his identity before he goes to his next mission. Let’s have Albert recruit them to join us. We will get stronger with their help.

.....

As for Randy’s possession, most of them will be auctioned. But those are not important stuffs like jewelries or properties. The important stuffs like magic stones or magic items will be taken by us to strengthen our troops. That’s also Randy’s intention when he bought them.

“So, how do we disguise him?”

After the discussion is over, we need to figure out how to put disguise on him. Though it will be a few months later when he can take his next mission. He needs to learn more so he can become stronger.

“I can grow my beard and hair. That’s the reason I always have this short hair and clean shave. But I don’t think that’s enough. Roy, you can use sword, right? Then, I want you to put a lot of scars all over my body. Even in the prison, I don’t think there will be anyone who got tortured that much and escape from the prison,” Randy said.

“Wait, you want to put scars on your own body?!” Shirley asked.

Not just Shirley. Everyone else also shocked with his statement. To think that he would be this strict with himself.

No, this is beyond strict. This is madness. And I like it. This guy is so amazing. To think that there’s someone this resolute with us. I’m glad that I found him.

Let’s ask Albert later if we can find other extremely loyal people like him. If we can find more, even if their magic level is not high, they will still be great additions in our alliance.

“It’s just scars. If Roy is as good as you all said, he can do it. Especially since he’s also a doctor. But just scars from blade might not be enough. So I will need to add some scars from magic as well,” Randy said.

“Ah, don’t worry about it. I can give wounds similar to that of Wind Slash magic cast by wind mages. And if you want, I can give you scars from piercing attack. You can lie and say that you got pierced by Ground Spike from earth mage or Ice Spike from ice mage. Though if you want to have more, I don’t mind,” I said.

“That’s good enough. Let’s do it after we leave this place. Before I learned what you call as magic control,” Randy said.

“...When crazy people meet together, they will do even crazier things. Randy, I have never asked you before so I will ask you now. Why are you so loyal to the kingdom? We haven’t done anything to you. And just now, we almost decided to give you a public execution if we didn’t plan for your escape from prison. Just why?” Albert asked.

Right. Someone this loyal must have his reason.

He willingly do crimes knowing that he will get punished. Not like those evil who do it for money or other things. He know that he will get punished, but he still did it and wont refuse punishment if given. Allowing slavery, corruption, bribes, and maybe other things that I don’t know of.

Gathering most crimes into this city, and then we capture them all. Is that how it goes? Well, there are still some people who left this city. But Randy has noted all of them.

“The reason? It’s simple. The people I love are all in this kingdom,” Randy said casually.

Well, make sense. Even for the simplest reason, anyone can do anything. Either it’s something crazy, something amazing, or something amazingly crazy. Even I want to destroy the cult because of my trauma.

Hmm... I don’t think fixing a trauma is something simple. But whatever.

“It was back when I got appointed as the lord here. Knowing that the female slave might be dangerous, I decided to sacrifice everything before she or anyone she’s connected in this place can do anything. I need to protect the people I love,” Randy said.

“...As expected, you are more suited to be the king than I am. If it’s me, even if I want to protect everyone I love, I don’t think I would be able to put myself in your position and sacrifice myself,” Albert said.

Saying that he’s sacrificing himself... that’s an overstatement. He’s still alive, right? And even if he did a lot of crimes, he will be freed since he’s the king’s cousin.

“And who is this people that you love?” Kayla asked.

“My family and friends. I think that’s all,” Randy replied.

“Do you have wife and children?” Kayla asked again.

“I do have a fiancee. But I have never met her again after I moved here a few years ago,” Randy said.

“And you’re willing to get scars on your face before meeting her. Should we bring him to meet his fiancee?” I asked Albert.

“...Actually, Randy’s fiancee’s parents were related to the cult,” Albert said.

“What?!”

Of course he’s shocked. Randy is trying to protect her from the cult here, but the cult has spread their influence to the capital. But that’s before I met Albert. And now, Albert has cleared the capital from the cult. Though some of the cult members were actually Randy’s fiancee’s parents is surprising.

“Though for her, she doesn’t know about it at all. Since her family doesn’t have any heir other than her, and it won’t be good if we choose her to inherit his father’s title, I decided to revoke her family’s nobility. As for the person herself, Marie decided that Randy’s fiancee will be her assistant. I think you have meet her several times, Roy,” Albert said.

“So she’s safe, right? That’s all I need to know. Though I don’t think I will meet her now. The world is in danger. I want the world to be safe for her,” Randy said.

So he doesn’t want to meet her yet. But I don’t care.

“Rejected. After this, I’m thinking of getting you to meet Marie so you can have a gun. Since you’re strong and smart, I’m sure there are things that you can do with guns. Especially if your magic is blocked for some reason. So I will bring you to Marie and you will probably meet your fiance,” I said.

“What?! Wait, don’t do that! I haven’t seen her for years! And after everything that has happened, I’m not ready to meet her ye-”

“The portal is open!”

I ignored Randy and opened a portal to Marie’s location without anyone’s permission. At this time, she should be in her lab to create more amazing stuffs.

“Hey, Marie. How was the project?” I asked.

“About making more guns? Smaller and easier to hide. That’s what you want, right? And you want to give them to everyone?” Marie asked.

“Yes. That’s right. Though I want to have an extra order for that guy over there,” I said.

Marie then looked inside the portal and see Randy. Her cousin that she hasn’t met for a long time.

“Oh, Randy! It’s been a while! Roy, it shouldn’t be long since you met him, right? And you said you only want to give the guns to people you trust. But you already trust him enough to give one to him?” Marie asked me.

“What he did so far was worthy enough to receive my trust. Though if Albert never told me about him, I would never know and there’s no doubt that his head will be separated from his body by now,” I said.

I actually ordered a lot of guns for everyone. Angela, Kayla, Sophie, Wendy, Candy, and the others that I trust. It’s a gun that doesn’t need air mage to compress air inside the barrel to shoot. It can be used if they somehow have their magic blocked.

And now, I asked for an extra order for Randy who is no longer looking at Marie, but he’s looking at someone next to her. I guess she’s his fiance.

“...Randy?”

“...It’s been a while, Sheryl.”

Now, the two meet again after so long. But it’s an awkward reunion.

“You both are being awkward,” I said.

“It’s your fault! Neither of them prepared for this!”

And now Albert is angry at me. It’s not my fault. It’s Randy’s fault. Because if he’s just a little less capable, I won’t ask Marie for an extra order.

...I’m so good at making excuse.