Summoning Millions of Gods Daily, My Strength Equals Theirs Combined Chapter 4 -4-The Night Before the Storm

Upon departing from Valoria Palace, William chose not to head back to his residence.

He made a beeline for House Smith, his pace relentless, urgency burdening his thoughts heavily.

The profound shift he'd observed in Aurek—coupled with the perilous assignment from the emperor—were issues too weighty for him to handle solo. He required the guidance from House Smith.

Within the palace once more, quietness descended anew.

Solely Aurek lingered in its grand corridors, the expansive rooms resounding softly with the hush of a realm teetering on the edge.

Yet Aurek refused to indulge in laziness.

He drew the latest pile of reports William had delivered toward himself, laying out the documents over the table. With keen gaze, he examined each one in turn.

A clear trend surfaced swiftly.

The chief complaint recurring in the dispatches involved the unchecked proliferation of criminal groups across urban centers, their unchecked dominance crushing ordinary citizens into despair.

Repeatedly, regional law enforcement had launched suppression efforts. And repeatedly, those attempts collapsed in defeat.

Consequently, appeals were sent to the legislative body—begging for extra allocations from the coffers, asserting the necessity of more assets to enlist personnel and eradicate the syndicates.

Aurek's jaw clenched firmly.

He required no extraordinary intellect to pierce their scheme.

Should the funds be approved by the treasury, what portion would truly combat wrongdoing? Most would disappear into personal coffers. The purported enforcers would enrich themselves foremost—and regarding the syndicates, Aurek believed numerous were sustained by these very authorities.

Despicable leeches...

His fingers balled into a tight grip, joints paling.

However, the syndicates weren't the sole concerns highlighted.

Two additional elements in the summaries captured his focus.

The initial one: his betrothal.

His intended, Josephine from House Tascher, was celebrated across the realm. A vision of loveliness that myriad youthful aristocrats yearned to possess.

House Tascher ranked among the mightiest clans in Crossbridge. By every measure, the union ought to have occurred already.

Yet upon his initial entry into this realm, his forerunner lay in unconsciousness.

Evidently, the Taschers harbored alternative intentions. Thus, the nuptials had been postponed multiple times.

Aurek's mouth curved slightly.

While others might covet his engagement to the renowned enchantress, in his recollections, Josephine appeared merely as a mischievous child scampering through the palace grounds. Scarce the resplendent bloom of elite circles.

In truth, he felt little attachment.

The subsequent issue, though—this one gripped him intensely.

As it involved the heart of the realm: Eryndor.

Per the summaries, an exceptional syndicate had emerged in Eryndor. Known as the Blackfish Gang, they differed from typical ruffians by including empowered individuals in their midst.

After forming, the Blackfish proliferated like a scourge.

They demanded protection money and intimidated. They exploited the vulnerable. Their exorbitant lending shattered households. Males failing repayment were trafficked into bondage; females were hauled to their lairs and establishments, demeaned to playthings for clients.

Most heinous of all—they ran Eryndor’s sole venue welcoming beastmen, a haunt notorious for its corruption.

Within, they served human remains as gourmet treats—human remains fashioned into “exclusive fare” for beastmen to consume.

And regarding the source of that flesh? None ventured to voice it.

Rage quaked through Aurek's frame. His hand gripped so fiercely that nails pierced skin.

Beasts. They surpass beasts in depravity.

Nevertheless, amid his wrath, a thread of wariness emerged.

Since empowered members in a Eryndor syndicate posed disquieting inquiries.

Logically, the central city fell under the vigilant watch of Cardinal Austin, the Theocracy’s highest prelate in Crossbridge.

Thus, how had empowered ones infiltrated syndicate ranks so audaciously? Certainly such occurrences couldn't evade detection.

Did a superior power support them? And if yes... which group?

Aurek's gaze sharpened.

Irrelevant. Regardless of their patrons, it altered nothing.

Should they incite disorder in his central city, annihilation awaited—wholly and utterly.

Standing abruptly, Aurek marched from the palace rooms to the ramparts.

From Valoria's lofty defenses, he surveyed the vast metropolis below.

His vision extended past the core district, reaching Eryndor's peripheral zones where syndicates dominated.

Then, his command thundered forth, keen as a blade and laden with sovereign might:

“Wipe out the Blackfish Gang using the most brutal methods.

“Flay each one alive, pack their skins with hay, and impale them on poles for the entire city to witness!”

Instantly, his shadow operatives activated.

A pair stayed near to shield him. The remaining octet dissolved into obscurity, fading like fog in dawn's light.

The directive was issued.

The pursuit commenced.

Yet Aurek's mind ventured further.

Such syndicates couldn't thrive absent safeguards. Inevitably, they funneled graft to the Police Prefect.

And the Prefect, Aurek recognized, was far from a mere bureaucrat. He ranked among the innermost allies of the War Minister, Nock.

Might the Blackfish Gang's influence link directly to the Minister?

His jaw locked tighter.

At the same time, in another part of the metropolis...

Imperial Guard Base.

Commander Gaia remained in solemn quietude, his features etched rigidly as he addressed his second-in-command.

“Harland,” he intoned seriously, “intelligence indicates the outskirts seethe with syndicate unrest. And this Blackfish Gang... their outrages intensify daily.

“What’s your view?”

Next to him, Harland's forehead creased profoundly.

“Commander... doesn’t this whole affair strike you as odd?”

Gaia's eyes slitted, thoughts whirling. He stayed mute, urging his subordinate onward.

Harland inclined closer, tone hushed and strained.

“Logically, with Cardinal Austin dwelling in the heart, no empowered individual would risk such overt turmoil. Yet it unfolds. The Blackfish Gang parades its villainy without restraint.

“This... it defies simplicity.

“Furthermore—have you observed the unnatural hush from rival powers? Excessively still. Their muteness feels contrived.

“As though all have conspired to ignore it.”

Gaia balled his hands, tone laced with ire.

“Indeed. These foul creatures... pursuing their gains, they crush the masses like insects.

“Do they fail to grasp? Should chaos erupt in the core, the inferno will engulf them too!

“Foolish myopics!”

His words reverberated across the chamber, seething with passion.

The leader's anger flared vividly, though Harland's fatigued breath tempered it.

“Commander... you're aware, just as I am.

“The Guard possesses might, certainly. But moving sans command invites the Grand Marshal to undermine you. She's coveted your role for ages.”

Thereupon, Gaia's mandible stiffened more.

He acknowledged the verity.

The Guard constituted one of the scant units the monarchy could depend on still.

Losing his oversight would cripple the Royalists severely.

Harland continued, laden with concern.

“Moreover... the Blackfish includes empowered ones. Should they enjoy patronage from major entities, Guard action might prove futile.

“Honestly... this likely exceeds our capacity to mend.”

A prolonged hush settled between the pair.

At length, Gaia breathed out harshly, expression etched with vexation.

“...Thus, we refrain from haste. For now.

“We await William’s directives. Our prime obligation is safeguarding His Majesty.”

His grip tightened once more, utterance subdued and resentful.

“Yet the Blackfish Gang...”

He faltered. His speech dissolved into a snarl of impotent wrath.

Darkness thickened.

And amid Eryndor's gloom, the tempest amassed power.