Corrupted bureaucracy

The sun rose over the city, marking the dawn of a new era under its new ruler. Estefan, now Baron of Rammstein, stirred as sunlight spilled gently across his face. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up just as a knock sounded on the door.

"Come in." He called out groggily.

It was a servant named Ericka. She stammered, her gaze accidentally catching a glimpse of his bare chest since he was unclothed, "M-My Lord... There seems to be a problem."

Estefan, unfazed, walked into one of the adjoining chambers and dressed himself in a simple black shirt and matching pants. He left the top three buttons of the shirt undone as he returned.

"What happened?" he asked, buttoning the lower part of his shirt.

Ericka hesitated, wringing her hands. "My lord... there has been some vandalism on the northern wall."

She braced herself, expecting to be scolded or slapped since no noble would like to hear bad news like vandalism especially on their Palace walls right after they wake up. But instead, Estefan gently placed a hand on her head. "Calm down." He said in a softer tone. "No need to fear your master. Take me there."

Her shoulders relaxed, though the tension was still visible. Despite his kindness, it was obvious most of the servants were afraid of Estefan for reasons he didn't yet understand but he believed the plausible reasons to be his status considering he not just was the Baron but also the son of the Duke and the very land they were on belonged to his father and family in the first place.

Moments later, Estefan reached the northern gate. It was already open. Outside, Galliard, the guards, and a few others stood staring at the high wall beside the gate.

"What happened?" Estefan asked again, stepping outside. His eyes followed theirs to the wall, splattered with paint and offensive markings with symbols of unknown factions or maybe the gangs themselves since he has yet to face them.

Galliard bowed deeply. "My Lord Baron, I apologize."

"I asked what happened and who did this." Estefan cut him off, directing the question at the guards instead.

One of them replied with open defiance, "We don't know." There was no attempt at explanation, no effort to show respect. Estefan immediately recognized it: insubordination even though the person in front of them was their direct ruler with absolute power but before he could react, a voice shouted from the distance.

"DEATH TO THE TYRANT!" A rock flew through the air toward Estefan, but before it could reach him, it was sliced into fragments by an invisible force as if there was a peerless invisible swordsman standing in front of Estefan and guarding him.

Everyone went silent and surprised to see not only someone threw a rock at the Baron but that very attack was thwarted because the rock simply couldn't reach him due to getting destroyed by something which they believed to be Estefan's power especially since he was an Angeras who did host some of the powerful figures in terms of fighting skills and aura in the Kingdom.

Estefan simply chuckled. "Tyrant?" he repeated with amusement. "I'm more like a villain to people like you."

He stepped forward toward the source of the rock, but whoever had thrown it had already run away from there after seeing their little mischievous act fail and how he was approaching them. "Cowards." He muttered. "Don't start fights you can't finish."

Then, turning back to the guards, he said coldly, "You two, just leave. The fact that someone managed to defile my wall while under your watch tells me everything I need to know."

They didn't flinch. In fact, they smirked slightly as if pleased. All Estefan saw there was a defiance in his authority as the Baron.

"Interesting." Estefan muttered, narrowing his eyes. "When you return, inform your commander that you've been relieved of duty. You're no longer City Guards."

The two guards blinked at the words but showed no panic, just a quiet, smug confidence and then they left without resistance. It was as if they weren't afraid of his authority as the Baron or of any repercussions they may have to face as if such a repercussion was non-existent in the first place.

Estefan frowned. "They know I'm their master, yet they act like they're immune to consequences." He felt his irritation rise. Maybe they believe the coin in their pockets is stronger than my title... Or maybe it's something worse.

He turned his gaze toward Galliard. "What's going on with them?"

The butler hesitated. "My Lord... it's hard to explain."

"Then explain it as hard as you can." Estefan snapped. "No more dodging."

Galliard kept his eyes on the ground. "If I say too much, they'll punish me."

Estefan scoffed. "And you think their punishment will be worse than mine? If you choose to stay silent and I find out myself, I'll personally see to your execution and that is after an intense torture which will make you beg for a merciful beheading."

The servants around them froze. The silence was deafening but finally, Galliard swallowed hard and said, "You should speak to the Administrative Council of Rammstein, my lord. They… control more than you might expect."

Estefan stood still for a moment. "I see… So that's what this is." He glanced back at the painted wall, his eyes cold.

"No wonder my father failed. He tried to destroy the weeds without realizing the soil itself was poisoned or maybe my father overestimated himself because he is after all an idiot." Estefan muttered, he knew for a fact that his authority over this city was weaker than he believed it was and he must grab it all back with an iron fist.

He walked back towards the gate, "Galliard, prepare my carriage. Time to meet the so-called Councillors because they have to meet their new owner… It's time for the stray dogs to be domesticated or culled depending on their behaviour.

He was planning to recapture the City by blood or diplomacy but it must start with destroying the very corrupt bureaucracy which can be more problematic than a typical criminal underworld.

[To be Continued]