Chapter 13: Ketu Town

Tulip County, Northwestern Border.

Ketu Town.

The setting sun cast a blood-red glow upon the dust-laden ground. The transparent motes drifting through the air shimmered with hints of iridescence. Nearby, the shadows of trees swayed, most of them shattered, and occasionally a dog's bark would break the silence, only to vanish swiftly into the dusk.

A troop of cavalrymen stood at the town's entrance, their armor emblazoned with the tulip sigil. Each bore a heavy sword at their waist and a long weapon strapped to their back, their faces set in solemn determination.

In front of them, seven or eight townsfolk of varied shapes and sizes stood sparsely. The leader was a man in his fifties, weathered lines etched deep into his face by the passage of years, his pale golden hair streaked with white in places.

He stooped, bowing respectfully to the young man clad in silver light armor at the head of the cavalry.

"Lord Linvey, Ketu Town welcomes your arrival. I am the mayor here, Shatur."

It had been nearly a month since Jon's assassination attempt, and in that time, a momentous event had shaken Tulip County.

Naken, commander of the Tulip Guards, had suddenly announced a sweeping purge of the Sword and Flower organization. Any civilian reporting the whereabouts of Sword and Flower members would be handsomely rewarded. Those who sheltered or protected them would face the harshest punishment.

The news spread quickly, causing an uproar across the territory. Driven by the threat of death and the lure of reward, over a hundred thousand residents became the Tulip family's most fearsome weapon. Hundreds of Sword and Flower members were dragged from the shadows—some to prison, others to the execution grounds. Panic swept the land, and it was said even the king took notice.

Linvey, personally nominated by the Tulip Count, naturally played a central role in the purge. Naken appointed him captain of the First Purge Squad, commanding more than fifty elite guards. His deputy, Wesker, was a knight-squire of considerable skill. Ruthless in method and decisive in action, the name Linvey of Nolan Mountain soon echoed throughout Tulip County. Some women described him as a terrifying executioner, invoked to quiet their crying infants.

The purge progressed rapidly. In less than a month, only a few fugitives remained active near the borders. Linvey's squad was assigned the task of eradicating the remnants of Sword and Flower in Ketu Town.

Seated atop his warhorse, Linvey looked down at Shatur. "Greetings, Mayor Shatur. The arrangements for lodging and provisions are yours to oversee."

Shatur and his companions bowed deeply to Linvey. "It is Ketu Town’s honor to serve you, my lord."

Shatur approached Linvey’s horse, bending low to flatten his back as much as possible.

Linvey regarded him briefly, then stepped down from his mount, his iron-booted foot pressing onto Shatur’s back with practiced ease.

Shatur maintained his smile, as if proud beyond measure of his gesture.

Linvey’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling in a slight, mocking smile. “Interesting.”

Led by Shatur and his group, Linvey and his men arrived at a rundown inn, its walls already crumbling.

“My apologies, Lord Linvey. This is the best accommodation we can offer. You must understand, the Sword and Flower rebels frequently raid us. With so few hands for security, we have suffered greatly; some residents have even left Ketu Town for good.”

As Shatur spoke, a fleeting melancholy crossed his eyes.

Linvey patted his shoulder, smiling faintly. “Rest assured, all will be well. Those marauders will pay dearly for their deeds. The Count will grant peace and freedom to every subject.”

When Linvey first learned of Sword and Flower's attacks on civilians, he was utterly shocked. He had thought them champions of the people, resisting the nobility. But closer contact revealed that, though they claimed to fight against noble rule, their own shortages were met by preying on the populace.

Trying to overthrow the nobles while exploiting the common folk—how could such an organization not be doomed?

Linvey entered the inn, assaulted by a pungent stench. He instinctively raised his hand against the odor, surveying the scene in the fading light.

Broken tables and chairs, snapped railings—everything reeked of decay and neglect.

Shatur looked embarrassed and anxious, as if fearing Linvey's displeasure.

“Is someone there?” Linvey suddenly noticed a pale face watching him from the stairwell’s corner. The eyes glowed with a faint purple light, unlike any ordinary person.

“Where?” Shatur followed Linvey’s gaze.

“Hm?!” As Linvey looked again, the eerie face had vanished.

With a swift motion, Linvey drew his new cross sword and leapt up the stairs to the corner.

“There’s really no one…”

Linvey’s pupils contracted as he licked his teeth. “Interesting. Perhaps this journey will yield other discoveries.”

“Core, scan!”

The entire scene within three hundred meters appeared in Linvey’s mind.

“There’s truly no one? Could it be… the power of a sorcerer again?”

This time, Linvey felt none of the fear he’d experienced with the emerald ring; instead, a restless anticipation stirred within him.

Shatur and Wesker, Linvey’s deputy, hurried after him.

Wesker was on high alert. “Captain, is something amiss?”

Linvey glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to Shatur. “Why are there no staff here?”

Shatur bowed his head apologetically. “Forgive me, Lord Linvey. Thanks to Sword and Flower’s rampage, our food stores are depleted. To meet your needs, the staff went to the neighboring town for supplies—they haven’t returned yet. But they should be back soon, and will prepare a sumptuous dinner for you all.”

Linvey was silent for a moment, then smiled again and patted Shatur’s shoulder, this time with greater force. “You’ve worked hard, Shatur.”

As Shatur had predicted, the inn staff soon returned. They prepared an array of meats and vegetables, and, accompanied by Shatur and his people, the group enjoyed a respectable dinner.

During the meal, Shatur introduced Linvey to Ketu Town’s security captain, Felro, and treasurer, Ramson, as well as the few remaining elite residents.

Their attitude toward Linvey bordered on reverence, treating him almost as if he were the Tulip Count himself.