Desolate Mage: A Legend Reborn! 81 What I Want Is...

However, this was only the case for the centre of government - chaos still reigned outside the relatively untouched royal grounds.

Maids, servants, butlers, groundsmen, guards, porters and all kinds of palace staff hurried about trying to restore a semblance of order to the place. They wrinkled their noses but huddled down to perform every task no matter how bloody or gory it was - such as lugging away the hundreds and thousands of dead devilkin corpses littering the palace grounds!

It was to this backdrop of noisy hustle and bustle that the Duke waited attentively for their guests to arrive.

Duke Leanne de Caldis' heart pounded as she saw the mysterious yet mighty mage approaching with his entourage of the red-headed girl sent by Duke Silvan, her gender-bender maid who literally rippled with muscles that grew larger every time she saw him, the controversial last remaining son of House Charlemagne and...

A flock of children.

Yes, a flock! Not any other word, but a flock!

What else could you call the group of pre-pubescents suspended in mid-air by flows of air to keep them immobilised and from fleeing?

But they were not JUST children.

They were the signs of the misdeeds of Gorun city; misdeeds committed right under her nose by the rich, noble and decadent families.

Misdeeds she had felt helpless to eradicate in her more than 20 years presiding over Gorun city!

And somehow, her name began to be related and made synonymous with those acts of depravity, those perversions... She had cursed as the populace and the merchant class began to attribute the deeds committed by the noble families to her, just based on the sole fact that her soul-imprint was the Concept of Distortion!

And she was certain that this was not just the actions of the common folk, but was also part of the schemes of the noble families who were eager to limit her influence and clout in the city.

The old snakes of this city would not so easily hand over the reins of power to a "Lord" they perceived as an upstart newcomer from the capitol! And they still held more power than her whether in politics, commerce or total military might.

As a result of their manipulations of the truth, she became known to all as the Pervert Queen of Gorun city! The very masterminds of the acts of evil had pinned their crimes on her, with even the second generation of the noble families believing their patriarchs' lies!

Though she could not blame the people of the city for their misperceptions towards her, she could do nothing but sigh and admit defeat. She was also culpable partly for the crimes occurring - for she was not effective in clamping down on the world of vileness hidden underneath the prosperous facade of the city!

Even the Laughing Man's network of underworld crime run by the wretched playboy Duke Silvan paled in comparison to the atrocities committed daily by the Four Great, Esteemed "Noble" Families!

And so she clenched her fists tightly and grit her teeth while preparing for a big showdown as the group of children approached. She shook her head in worry... She was in no way ready for another fight after depleting most of her powers against the Devil Prince's avatar!

"Duke Leanne." The taciturn dark-skinned Prime Minister arrived lightly at her side, obviously also foreseeing potential trouble from this coming meeting. He had changed out of his ragged gaudy gold and green minister's robes and was now dressed in a simple black pants and white tunic. His dull features were brightened up by a pair of eyes that were still sharp despite his advanced age and great fatigue.

And as the duo waited for their guest, Leanne could only quietly and surreptitiously begin channelling her power in the depths of her mana core and slowly stir up her blood energy to prepare for a grisly battle.

* * * * * *

Duke Leanne looked on tensely as the middle-aged man with a pallid complexion and a curved sword strapped to his waist landed in the palace outer courtyard. She had quickly instructed all the guards not to obstruct their path, lest they incur the mighty warrior's wrath and be wiped out!

She watched him slowly lower down the children by careful control of the flows of mana, then both she and the Prime Minister bowed and spoke first.

"Greetings, honourable benefactor. I am Duke Leanne de Caldis, representative of the crown and Kingdom of the Sands here in Gorun city. This is the head of all civil affairs, Prime Minister Gurdev."

The bald and aged man nodded and spoke at that point, saying, "Honourable one, it is my pleasure to be graced with your presence."

Leanne watched Lars, but seeing that he did not have any adverse reaction or objection, she continued.

"We of Gorun city welcome you, o honourable one, and are truly grateful for everything you have done for us. We hope that you will linger on with us and receive our hospitality as thanks, and we will surely reward you for your great contributions in saving our citizens and defending our city! Just... It will be some time before we can muster the funds to pay you back - we hope... That you would be able to understand our situation..."

Duke Leanne launched into a long greeting while the Prime Minister who also double-hatted as the Minister of Finance nodded firmly.

The experienced player in the game of politics had spoken carefully, making sure to slip in promises of compensation to deter any potential wrath the man might have towards her and the city and to tie his benefits and prospering of the city. If his rewards depended on the city recovering, he wouldn't be likely to stir up any trouble, right...?

Even if somewhere deep in Leanne's heart, she hoped he would - so that she could trample on those dastardly nobles once and for all!

But she restrained her wild imaginations and bowed courteously - an action that was unbecoming of a Duke, the third highest ranked position in the nation after the King and the Prince and Princesses!

Mikael/ Lars merely nodded and grunted, waving his hand to dismiss the pleasantries which he had no time for.

"No need for that, your Grace. Yes, I understand the need to save the city and its citizens first, any rewards can come later." His stiff face stretched tight, making it look like he was grimacing. In fact, Lars was trying to smile, but his disguise made the expression less than friendly...

"Honourable one, we thank you for your generosity and magnaminity. Might I ask - how may we address you...?" Seeing his assent and preference to do away with formalities, Leanne questioned carefully.

"Your Grace, there is no need for honorifics; just Mikael will do. I'm merely a common wandering cultivator, I am no one special for such a welcome..." He spoke as he thought about what backstory he would provide if pressed further.

"Yes, honour--Mikael. In that case, please call me Leanne as well, there is no need for formalities between equals!"

The beautiful raven-haired woman spoke pleasantly and tried to make her guest feel more at east. Then, relieved that the conversation had gone relatively calmly so far, Leanne gulped slightly but hid it well. Then she pressed on and broached on the topic at hand, the glaring elephant in the room - the children.

"Mikael, I would love to delve deeper into knowing you better, so that we could be of service and mayhaps find mutual points to collaborate and benefit one another. Only, I notice that the children... Need succour and assistance? Might I ask - what are your plans for the children...?"

Leanne was tentative and treaded carefully, for despite the so far amicable discussions, in the world of politics and grandstanding, it was unknown just when a laughing friend would turn into a smiling tiger and devour you!

Lars coughed, clearing his throat as he spoke. In truth, this was his first time interacting with people of such high stature! And that as an equal, instead of being a subordinate!

"Hmmph!" He harumphed loudly, displaying his displeasure as an opening card. Then he flung his arms outwards, beginning to bring the terrified children down towards the floor.

The throng of kids had been held "captive" for now nearly 15 minutes and were trembling, relieved to finally be back on solid ground! But they were still holding themselves back, not letting any sounds except for a tearful sob here or a frightened whimper there.

They were afraid of just what their fate would be at the hands of the Pervert Queen Leanne de Caldis.

Once they were safely lowered down (and he could finally relax his mana flows for awhile), he began to speak.

"What a grand city! What an institution of nobility! What an establishment of integrity and honour! Upstanding and upright in your conduct! Why, I have never seen nor do I wish to ever see again such appalling and devilish a scene such as what I saw!"

He raised his voice to resound throughout the palace courtyard, his dramatic words striking blow after blow on the reputation of the city and shaking the conscience of the two leaders!

He continued, shaking his head in from disappointment, then raised gaze to the night sky, eyes flashing with fires of righteous anger!

The children behind him were confused. Why was their captor now speaking in poems? Wasn't he here to subject them to greater injustice and torture?

Then Lars announced theatrically, his voice gritty and solemn, "For such cruelty to be found carried out openly...! For innocent children to be captured and treated like less than cattle...!! For it to be happening and going on under your very noses...!!!"

His voice rose higher and higher, louder and louder as he got worked up and finally shouted.

"What have you been doing all these years, huh?!? Have you been sleeping with the devil...?? Or are you the devil yourself!!? What I have found is just one place with already several hundred children, AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE DOZENS OF DENS OF EVIL ARE STILL HIDDEN OUT THERE!??"

Lars' words rang out defeaningly to the Duke and Prime Minister who, despite being shaken emotionally, maintained their cool exterior and a calm facade. They merely frowned and shook their heads in pity, as if shocked upon hearing this for the first time and sympathetic to the plight of the children!

But their hearts and pulses were racing as they feared just what this man intended!

"Duke Leanne! Prime Minister Gurdev! My demand is simple! So listen carefully! I care not for your promises of rewards or hints of sweeteners for me! What I want is only one thing!"

"What I want is..."

Chapter end