Harmony

"Help! Save us... a demon!! There's a terrifying demon hidden inside this man!!"

At the sight of the police officers arriving, wails filled the underground holding cells.

"What demon? Isn't this guy just an 'Escapee'?"

The fat Charles was truly stupid. Even at a moment like this, he had yet to realize what was wrong.

In his eyes, Han Dong was merely someone causing trouble in the holding cell... He only wanted to execute Han Dong on the spot and earn some credit in front of the knight.

Perhaps he could even get transferred to a better department.

As for the fat man's companion—the tall, skinny Brown—he had already noticed something.

"Could it be... he really is!"

When they had escorted Han Dong earlier, he had felt a similar sense of dread. Though it had only flashed through him briefly, he still clearly remembered the danger Han Dong had made him feel.

Just as Charles approached Han Dong with a club—

Smack! A resounding slap rang out.

Charles was sent flying.

The one who had struck him was Officer Days. He swiftly stepped forward, personally removed the shackles from Han Dong's wrists, and bowed at a ninety-degree angle in apology.

"Valen Nicholas, my friend.

"My two incompetent subordinates committed such a foolish act. They ignored the Charter and its laws, forcibly detained a Knight-Errant without cause, and endangered national security.

"I will immediately send them to the local court for judgment!

"Furthermore, on behalf of the authorities, I offer my apologies to you and your family."

Days knew perfectly well how serious this matter was. Under the current circumstances, this was the only and best way to handle it. All that remained was to see how magnanimous this young man, Valen, would be.

If things went badly, Days might truly have his Police Commissioner badge stripped away.

At the same time, the tall, skinny Brown was utterly dumbfounded, his body trembling slightly. "A... Returner. What... what stupid thing did I do?"

Having long abused their authority to oppress civilians, they had become accustomed to judging people by appearances... This sickly, frail-looking young man was actually a Knight-Errant.

Brown sat on the floor with his eyes wide, completely unable to speak.

As for Charles, who had been slapped flying, once he learned Han Dong's identity, he trembled from head to toe. He had even wet himself.

Han Dong, however, looked as though nothing had happened.

Other than the uncomfortable shackles, everything was fine... This was exactly the effect Han Dong wanted. He would use it to seize the upper hand, keep the local Police Bureau under his thumb, completely avoid exposing his identity, and gather more intelligence.

The only thing he had not anticipated was that this lofty knight would come as well.

"Valen, are you all right?"

Han Dong had been about to greet Knight Barton first, but the other man unexpectedly asked after him before he could.

"I'm fine. It was just a misunderstanding..."

Unexpectedly, Barton Foggs, who had looked perfectly ordinary moments earlier, suddenly became enraged.

Having removed his black iron mask, he glared hatefully at the two police officers who had committed such grave crimes.

"This is no misunderstanding... I came from the Slums too. I know exactly how disgusting these cowardly, timid wastes are—people who use their jobs as excuses to avoid entering Destiny Space.

"They use their grain-sized authority to oppress civilians! To exploit civilians!

"If the Knight Order did not have strict rules forbidding killing, I would have beheaded you in the street long ago and hung up your corpses for all to see!

"There is no need to escort you to court! I can serve as the representative, and judgment can be carried out right here.

"You detained a Knight-Errant without cause, threatened humanity's fundamental security, and disregarded the supreme Charter! Filth like you, maggots crawling through the Underground Sewer, deserve to die. Even after death, you should be cursed by ten thousand people.

"Valen, you have the right to take their lives right now."

The knight's fury shook everyone.

His words terrified every officer in the police station, and even the temporarily detained suspects all fell to their knees... As for the two offenders, they were nearly scared unconscious.

Barton appeared to be utterly furious.

In truth, he did not particularly care about such trivial matters at the bottom of society.

He was merely deliberately stirring up emotions, using this incident to learn Nicholas's true nature...

At once, everyone's attention focused on Han Dong.

Most people hoped Han Dong would kill the two blind fools who had dared detain a Knight-Errant.

But... Han Dong seemed to have no intention of killing them at all. He stood and walked toward the Staircase Entrance of the underground holding cells, smiling as he tried to ease the tense atmosphere.

"What's so good about all this fighting and killing? Humanity is already at a critical point between life and death. Harmonious development is what matters most... Tell me, how would they be dealt with through the normal legal process?"

Officer Days immediately answered.

"Once brought before the court, those who violated the supreme Charter will face one of three outcomes.

"First, they will be stripped of all rights and permanently branded as slaves. They will either work in the filthiest latrines or mine endlessly in the deepest pits.

"Second, they will serve as human bait and leave the city alongside an expeditionary Knight Order.

"Third, execution."

"Harmony, harmony... Don't resort to killing people at every turn. Humanity's population is already small enough. Everyone should make full use of their value to society."

When Charles and Brown heard Han Dong say this, a trace of gratitude actually appeared in their eyes. They thought this lord would show mercy and let the matter go.

Han Dong offered his own suggestion. "As for value... I think the first option is quite good. I hope it will allow them to turn over a new leaf and become decent people again."

They might be able to reform, but once they entered the mines, they would never come back out for the rest of their lives.

Officer Days immediately replied, "I will submit your recommendation to the court!"

He then had his subordinates seize the two offending officers and escort them to the local court.

"Friend Nicholas, shall we immediately handle the relevant procedures for you?

"We will place your family members on the special registry and unlock their files, allowing them to move freely out of the civilian districts! At the same time, your family will no longer be required to enter Destiny Space."

Han Dong said politely, "Knight Barton seems to have business with me, so you can handle those matters yourselves. If any decisions need to be made, just speak to my younger sister, Nina Nicholas."

"Of course. We cannot delay the knight's business!" Days immediately turned to his subordinates. "Someone, hurry and invite Miss Nina Nicholas to the bureau. Be sure to invite her politely."

And so, under the watchful escort of the Police Commissioner and every officer, Han Dong and Knight Barton left through the front entrance.

Just as Han Dong was about to ask Barton why he had sought him out, the knight spoke first again.

Barton said coldly, "You could have shown your Knight-Errant card and proven your identity the moment those two maggots came after you. Why did you deliberately do this?"

"...Haha." Han Dong gave a foolish laugh, as if he too felt that he had done something "bad."

"Well... I simply found those two very unpleasant to look at. Just as you said, sir, they used their tiny authority to bully civilians year after year.

"I was planning to visit the Police Bureau anyway. I could get rid of two maggots through lawful means without hurting everyone's harmony. Isn't that a good thing?"

Barton nodded slightly. "I suppose I now understand one reason you passed the four-star novice event... I came this time to satisfy my curiosity.

"Your schemes are decent, but what was the key to your victory?

"You frightened the temporary suspects held in the police station so badly that they foamed at the mouth. Every one of them looked at you as though they had seen a demon, terrified beyond measure. Can you explain that in detail?"