Chapter 312 - Rhyner's Tardy Policy

"Anyone who fails to arrive in the next minute will be tested before moving on to question and learn about you all. But I wouldn't pity those that don't arrive. Most of them probably won't feel any pain!"

That declaration stole the growing confidence of the crowd. Some weren't too conflicted by the statement since they had already arrived. Others were still trying to accept the drastic changes that were occurring. And a few were like the man who had asked that last question, getting more and more uneasy about the situation as the final seconds passed.

"Ten, nine…"

All eyes turned and faced the most grandiose entrance of the courtyard. There, they spotted a human man in a plain white shirt and plain black pants dragging the enormous head of their fallen king. It was the final nail in the coffin for the hope of many servants as they began to question what would become of them.

"Six, five, four…" Rhyner continued as he now stood before everyone. He also chuckled while glancing at one of the other entrances to the room. "Three, two, one… zero!"

Just as the countdown ended, three more servants charged into the room, breathing frantically. They were tense and unsure of themselves as they heard the echo of the countdown and now spotted Portro's decapitated head. 

"What took you so long?" Rhyner asked, already demanding attention and respect as the newly founded king. "Speak!"

"We were rushing as fast as we could!" one of the three answered, stepping forward and dropping to his knees. He was practically kowtowing as he addressed Rhyner. "Coming from the outskirts, we weren't sure of the order until a few minutes had already passed. Please, forgive us for not acting without seeking clarification first!"

"Hmm… A fair story…" Rhyner shrugged, relaxing as he looked over everyone in the tense crowd. "Technically, you arrived just in time. So I can't fault you for your unlikely timing."

"Thank you, Master!" that man kowtowed again, along with his two acquaintances. "Thank you!"

"But please tell us about the conversation you had before following the order!"

Blinking, the leader of that small servant group looked up. He was caught off guard by the man floating overhead "Forgive me, but I don't know what you're speaking of."

"Perhaps some clarification is in order then…" Rhyner loudly sighed. "Jarrit, please explain."

"These three men exited the palace's perimeter before returning here."

"We did no--" 

"They exited and reentered my sensory formation, so I'm certain it was them," claimed Jarrit, glaring down at the three servants on the edge of the room. "I have no clue what they talked about, but leaving my formation led me to notice a hasty conversation they had with some anonymous folks before scurrying back here and letting those people speed out from the city."

"So, what was the conversation about?" Rhyner asked, looking back at the leader of the three.

"Master, there was no such--"

"What was it about?" demanded Rhyner, unaccepting of any answer beating around the bush. "And why was it so important that you nearly got yourselves killed by being late?"

"That's not--"

"Are you guilty or innocent?"

"We're innocent, of course, Master!" replied the man. 

"Then explain the conversation."

"There was no such--"

Before being able to reply and justify their tardiness, the man's head rolled off of his shoulders while a thin wind blade faded away. 

"Hmm… He was strong for being a no-name servant…" Rhyner jested, now looking to the remaining two servants. "What were you three talking about?"

"We didn't talk about anything, honest!" another stated. "We merely pondered fleeing for our lives in case that the new king would just slaughter us all!"

"A fine excuse… But what about your conversation?"

"We had no-- PLEAS--"

That man again denied the accusation but immediately changed his tone as another wind blade silently decapitated him. He had no chance to take back his words and could only join his lifeless acquaintance on the ground.

"So, will you answer or not?" Looking down on the shiftiest of the three servants, Rhyner began walking toward the man. Yet Rhyner continued to drag the head around, making sure everyone understood Rhyner's new position. "Speak clearly. Share any unnecessary information, and you already know what will become of you."

"I-I'm innocent, but they did have us meet some people!" shouted the man, kowtowing out of desperation.

"And who were these people?"

"Bandits and thieves, mostly! We were following orders of King Portro!"

"Ahh… So you'll admit to working secretly for your fallen king? Will you do so before a prefectural tribunal?"

"I-I--"

"Either accept being a criminal of the prefecture and cooperate for better terms, or I'll just kill you here and now."

"I'LL COOPERATE!!"

"Good. Then come with me. Make sure to stay close so no hidden operatives in the crowd try and do you in." Rhyner was chuckling as he dragged the head back to the front of the room. He was closely followed by the jittery man, unsure of what future was awaiting him. 

"FOR ALL CURIOUS, I'M YOUR NEW KING, RHYNER TRIGHTON!!!"

That declaration resounded throughout the courtyard. Everyone clearly heard the name and committed it to memory. No one wanted to act out or draw attention after seeing the deaths of two servants occur so easily. 

"From now on, this region will be known as Trighton Region. We will be interviewing you all and making sure that you're all properly committed to serving me and my people, becoming my people in the process. I don't seek rule through cruelty but through the same fairness that life offers everyone, that which constitutes loyalty and good service being rewarded properly while dissemination and disloyalty shall be punished."

At the same time, multiple people stepped out of the courtyard's entrances, one guarding each. Rhyner's wife and Bastol were among those people, as were others from Trighton City like Tranton Forell and even the Libarn Patriarch. 

Everyone from the palace quickly understood that there was no going back to how life was just that morning.