The manhunt

"Commander Axel, over the past two days, our eight registration stations have registered almost everyone in the city. We've taken in nearly two thousand homeless children. But the nobles in several estates had already fled by the time we finished surveying the city and reached them!" Mina said worriedly, holding a thick stack of documents.

"Don't worry! Those rats won't escape. Tomorrow, go door to door and issue everyone their identification cards. Boss Ria should arrive in a couple of days. We have to get this matter wrapped up properly!" Axel said calmly.

"Yes, Commander!"

The next day, a large force of Knights began knocking on doors throughout the city. At first, the residents thought that after handing out food yesterday, these people had come to cause trouble today. But when they summoned the courage to open their doors, they found white-clad people who introduced themselves as Priests handing them faintly glowing cards. They were told to keep the cards safe, as they would need them to enter or leave the city. Otherwise, they would have to apply for temporary identification.

They did not need to panic if they lost their cards, though. They only had to bring along a family member who also had identification to apply for replacements. After explaining this, the Holy Light Clerics hurried to the next house, leaving the residents standing dumbfounded in their doorways.

As the Holy Light Clerics conducted their citywide census, the criminal forces that had oppressed the people from the shadows were forced into the light. At first, they tried to deceive the Holy Light Clerics with flimsy lies, but under the Priests' lie detection and the Holy Knights' fists, they confessed to everything.

Watching the villains who had once bullied them being arrested one after another, the nearby residents excitedly gathered around. They threw rotten eggs and stones, venting their pent-up anger.

The Holy Light Clerics also made sure to announce loudly that anyone who knew where such villains were hiding could boldly report them to the city lord's manor. Any report that proved true would earn a generous reward!

"Damn it! They're leaving us no way out!" Caesar viciously slapped the battered mahogany stool beneath the table.

"Quick, before they reach this slum! Come with me to General Tiemu's place!" Caesar ordered his loyal servants to carry him on a makeshift litter to Tiemu's residence. He had always traveled in a four-wheeled carriage before, but now he had to rely on men carrying a rickety wooden frame. With every jolt, he felt as though his whole body would fall apart.

After finally reaching his destination, Caesar let his servants help him to the door. He knocked with an aged hand that resembled withered wood.

Knock, knock!

"Come in!"

"General Tiemu, what are we going to do now?" Caesar quickly opened the door and saw that seven or eight other nobles who had received the same news were already inside.

"Lord Caesar, don't panic! Aren't we discussing a plan right now?" Tiemu remained as composed as ever.

Seeing Tiemu's calm demeanor, the flustered Caesar finally settled down.

"Everyone, tell me what you think we should do!" Tiemu tapped the table lightly and spoke in a low voice.

The nobles gathered there all furrowed their brows, seemingly lost in thought.

After a short while, a square-faced noble stood up and said, "Why don't we fight our way out of the city under cover of darkness? Once we're out, everyone can fend for themselves. Whoever can escape should do so!"

The other nobles blanched at his suggestion. He wanted them to risk their lives!

A sharp-eared, monkey-faced noble immediately slammed the table in anger. "Yamada, you think I don't know your family keeps two wandering ninja on retainer? You want us to fight for our lives so you can escape!"

"Exactly!"

"That's right! Isn't that far too selfish?"

The other nobles joined in condemning him.

Yamada gave a slight shrug and said helplessly, "Then what do you suggest?"

The nobles who had been raging a moment earlier suddenly fell silent.

Tiemu watched them fall silent again and continued tapping the table with a calm expression.

As the silence dragged on, the seated nobles grew increasingly impatient. Tiemu slammed the table, silencing the restless group, and said loudly, "Enough! Since no one has another plan, we'll do as Yamada suggested!" As he finished, he discreetly gave Caesar, who had remained silent beside him, a meaningful glance.

Caesar met Tiemu's eyes and immediately understood, giving a slight nod.

The other nobles still wanted to say more.

Tiemu immediately said, "There's no point talking any further! Go back and prepare. Once it gets dark, we'll gather here and set out!"

Hearing what amounted to a dismissal from Tiemu, the nobles had no choice but to leave and make their preparations.

After everyone left, Tiemu sat quietly in his chair, taking drag after drag from one of his few remaining cigars. As its tip burned, the room filled with the strong smell of tobacco.

Tiemu was nowhere near as calm as he appeared. He was deeply troubled. Using the tobacco to ease his stress, he slumped comfortably in his chair. A little while later, a knock sounded outside.

"Come in, Father-in-law." Tiemu forced himself to sit up.

Creak!

"Tiemu, what did you mean just now?" Caesar, who had returned after leaving, asked anxiously. The thick smoke in the room suddenly caught in his throat, sending him into a coughing fit.

"Father-in-law, are you all right?" Tiemu hurriedly extinguished his cigar.

"Why are you smoking again? Didn't I tell you to cut back? Has Jiali stopped keeping you in line lately?" Caesar demanded angrily.

"No, no! I've been hiding it from her!" Tiemu hurriedly waved his hands.

"Enough! A woman can never truly keep a man in line. What exactly did you want to tell me in private?" Caesar took a deep breath and sat down in a nearby chair.

"Father-in-law, let's surrender."

"What did you say? Tiemu, have you gone mad?" Caesar suddenly sprang up and berated him.

"Father-in-law, calm down! Do you really think we can fight our way out of the city with those fools?" Tiemu pressed firmly on Caesar's frail shoulders.

"But you still have several hundred warriors, and with the wandering ninja the Yamada family employs, we do have a fighting chance!" Caesar said coldly as Tiemu forced him back into his seat.

"Heh. That's because you haven't seen how powerful those rebels are. I had far more than two hundred men back then! We suffered devastating losses in a single clash. Those were over a thousand well-trained warriors! Do you think Yamada's two wandering ninja could kill hundreds of my men in a single encounter?" Tiemu asked wearily.

"But we still can't surrender! You know that under their terms, we'll lose everything once we surrender! We might not even keep our lives!" Caesar wailed.

"Don't worry, Father-in-law. I've already thought it through. Aren't those nobles gathering here tonight? I'll have my men lie in ambush and capture them all. Then we'll hand them over to the new lord in the city!" Tiemu narrowed his eyes and lightly stroked his beard.

Caesar stared at Tiemu in astonishment. "Will that work? Yamada has two ninja, you know, and the other nobles have plenty of servants!"

"Heh! Don't worry, Father-in-law. How strong can two wandering ninja be? A few warriors will be enough to take them down. The other servants are even less of a concern!"

Seeing Tiemu's confident expression, Caesar thought for a while, then nodded slightly. At this point, he understood perfectly well that it was better for someone else to die than him.

"Then I'll leave everything to you, Tiemu. I rather miss Jiali and my two grandsons."

"Father-in-law, they're in the back courtyard. Go and see them! Just yesterday, A-Da and A-Xiao were clamoring to see you!" Tiemu said lightly.

Caesar suddenly seemed to have aged many years. Bent-backed, he walked toward the rear courtyard one step at a time. After this, his noble status would never be what it had been. Even if the daimyo eventually reclaimed the territory, saving his own life would cost him his viscount's title entirely. From now on, he would likely have to depend on this son-in-law he had always looked down on.

That old fool really thinks I treat his daughter well. If I hadn't needed him to make the introductions so I could become General Tieyi's adopted son and advance in the army, I would never have married his plain-looking bastard daughter, born to who knows which woman! I've long since had enough of that woman throwing her weight around at home every day!

At that thought, Tiemu could not help wondering whether he should find a way to get rid of the woman and her father together.

But when he thought of his two obedient children, he ultimately abandoned the idea.

That night, all the nobles arrived with their servants, fully armed, crowding into Tiemu's rather small courtyard.

"General Tiemu! When do we move?" Yamada asked from the front of the group.

"For this journey, I hope we can all work together and escape with our lives. Here, let me offer everyone a drink. Once we've drunk, we'll be brothers who share life and death!" Tiemu clapped lightly, and a large group of warriors brought out bowls and wine, distributing them to everyone.

"Pour the wine!"

Splash, splash.

Standing on the steps, Tiemu watched his men fill everyone's bowls and nodded in satisfaction.

He raised his wine bowl, took a bottle from the warrior behind him, and filled his own bowl.

"Come on! Bottoms up!" With that, Tiemu boldly drained it in one gulp.

The nobles below were swept up by Tiemu's bold manner. Their earlier unease gave way to hot-blooded excitement, and without thinking any further, they downed their wine.

"Bottoms up!"

Tiemu looked up and felt even more pleased when he saw everyone had finished drinking. But when he turned his gaze, he noticed that the two masked ninja beside Yamada had not drunk. Their bowls were still full.

Tiemu cursed inwardly. Are all ninja this cautious? He discreetly signaled to his subordinate behind him.

Seeing Tiemu's signal, the warrior silently withdrew with the empty wine bottle.

"General Tiemu! We've drunk the wine and said our piece. When are we setting out?" Yamada pressed again. All he wanted now was to escape this city as quickly as possible and return to his luxurious life. He had had enough of this filthy, stinking slum!

"Soon. Just wait a little longer! I'll go notify the troops!" With that, Tiemu retreated into the house.

Hearing Tiemu's reply, Yamada instinctively sensed something was wrong. Why did Tiemu need to notify the troops himself? He was just about to call him back when his head suddenly began to spin.

"Damn it! Poison!"

The two wandering ninja beside him saw their noble employer suddenly collapse and immediately realized something was wrong. They were about to rush inside and take Tiemu hostage, but before either could move, a dense volley of arrows flew out of the house! Before they could even draw their Kunai to fight, both were struck by several arrows and collapsed helplessly!