The Montablinlock Duchy produced nothing but extremes: either an overbearing brute like the Mad Dog Duke or a softie like Grand Duke Girardi.
Did everyone with Demon Blood have something wrong with them?
But they could hardly stand by while one ally was swallowed up by another. "Can we help him?"
"How much more help can we give him? We helped build his city walls, First-Day Road leads to Watchhold, and we don't even charge tolls on goods bound for the duchy."
Olmedo leaned against the windowsill helplessly. "We can't govern the duchy for him."
Annan laughed. "Maybe that's exactly what Girardi wants."
Olmedo kept a straight face for a moment, then burst out laughing too. It took him a while to compose himself. "So what do we do?"
"Claire's at the Devil Notary Office, isn't she?"
"Mm. I saw her there a couple of days ago."
"Let's ask her to straighten Grand Duke Girardi out."
"Will that work?"
"It should. Revenge is the strongest emotion. Have Claire threaten him: if he doesn't toughen up, she'll bring the Mad Dog Duke back from Hell."
"Fear is strong too."
Annan spread his hands. "How much worse could things get?"
"He could surrender and make peace with the ratfolk."
"Then we'll have to accept having ratfolk for neighbors."
City Lord's Mansion, Devil Notary Office.
As Free City developed, it added more departments and officials. The City Lord's Mansion, once small and efficient, was growing increasingly cramped.
The Devil Notary Office had been allotted a room barely larger than a lounge.
On ordinary days, three Apprentice Devils worked through stacks of Devil Contracts in the office. When a major deal came along, they went out to notarize it in person.
Thanks to their connection with Free City, their business had grown wildly.