The first step toward a new order

Alvin's execution had not brought the matter to an end. It had only marked the beginning.

The Reconstruction Institute swiftly froze the private warehouses belonging to Alvin and the principal suspects, traced the sources and destinations of the stolen funds through the evidence, and used the recovered money to handle the aftermath.

Following the evidence Alpha himself had provided, the Reconstruction Institute's staff opened the vault in his home.

Even Shien was startled by the mountains of gold coins and holy silver inside. That money could sustain three or four territories the size of Longmoon for a year or two.

The recovered funds went toward compensating the families of fallen officers.

Maren recalculated the amounts based on the repayment dates and notified each bereaved family at the Eternal Night Wall. For those who had no family there, the compensation was sent through the Church to their relatives in Inland.

They set up a temporary distribution point in an open space in the outer warehouse district.

A gray-haired woman approached the long table and placed her husband's identification badge on it. Doubt lingered in her eyes; she had already been turned away far too many times.

After checking the name, the Recorder placed a purse full of gold coins before her.

"Madam, this is the compensation for your husband's heroic sacrifice during the last blood moon season. It includes the unpaid death benefit and ten months of wages claimed by someone else. Please check the amount."

The woman took it in disbelief, examining the gold coins inside again and again before asking hesitantly, "Does all this money belong to him?"

"The Reconstruction Institute has carefully verified all of it," the Recorder replied.

Clutching the purse, the old woman slowly sank into a crouch. Tears fell onto her knees, her shoulders trembling