Steel and Mana

Chapter 26 – Leon’s Laws

Inside one of the ramshackle homes, I felt like I was back on the front lines... As if we had just occupied a village and were squatting in a destroyed home. The only thing that was missing was the dead bodies, but I did have an unconscious woman lying on the floor with me. And... To be honest? It could soon have dead bodies in it, too.

Most of our men were outside, staring down the other group while in the house; Oleg was sitting next to me, looking at the, probably, second-in-command of the unconscious barbarian. She was examining Yuribisaida, and after making sure she was indeed alive, she said nothing, just looking at me with those dark eyes under her black bangs. All of the girls were Easterners, and it showed in their looks. I won't lie; I liked what I was seeing, but... Their eyes were like savages. Twisted... dark.

"Ugh..."

It was then when Yuribisaida was waking up, her moan replaced with a coughing fit, and when she finally managed to sit up and breathe, she looked at me with the eyes of a madman. Madwoman. Nah... with a beast's.

"Little bitch..." She spat, her voice hoarse, rubbing her bruised neck. "Afraid to off me, eh?"

"I need you and your hounds." I said, looking ahead, staring into her eyes, "And I am told your group is perfect for my goals. I am somebody who has a purpose, and I want to achieve it in the most optimal way. But if you continue proving difficult to deal with-"

"Like you would have the balls to kill me, you spineless fuck!" She giggled, and I had enough! With a nod of my head, Oleg acted without hesitating. He was faster than his bulky presence would suggest, surprising both women... and me.

His sword flashed and came out of its scabbard without a noise, then went through the woman's chest standing behind Yuribisaida. It was a perfectly delivered execution, impaling her heart, and with his hand on her mouth, she couldn't even scream while life left her body. Her blood spilled onto the head of Yuribisaida... but she didn't flinch. We kept looking into each other's eyes, ignoring the killing happening right next to us. Oleg gently laid down the dead woman, his sword now pointing directly at Yuribisaida, letting blood flow from its edges onto the tip of her head. If she made a noise, he would kill her without hesitation. Then? My people outside would finally engage the rest of her people, and we would massacre them.

It was at that point when I realized... Father's soldiers were eating beast meat... beasts that could breathe fire. I was sure it was what made them this big yet this fast! I will have to gather evidence of it! My conjecture was now almost certain: they were no longer ordinary humans.

"Listen..." I opened my mouth, speaking calmly, "As I said, I want your expertise. I am not afraid of killing you; I just don't want to go through the same hoops and loops to find someone perfect for my goals... Get it through your thick skull, or should I skullfuck you so your brain connects the dots?"

"That sounds like a wicked death!" She grinned, wiping a bit of blood off her face and tasting it. "Speak, I'm listening."

"Finally!" I sighed with an annoyed, tired voice, "Here is the deal! You come with your group, move to my border territory, and you will have to raid some nobles' little provinces. You can start with their trading routes that I will mark for you and keep half of the stuff you got your little bloody paws on! But the main course would be killing those nobles I send word about!"

"Hah, and why should I do it?" She laughed, licking her lips, but I saw it in her eyes: she was intrigued by the idea.

"You will earn a lot, and I will get what I want. Win-win."

"And when the Empire notices it, you will kill us all; how nice!" She smirked, catching on quickly.

"You can survive. The others?" I smiled back, lowering my voice, "Heads will have to be presented to the envoys, yes."

"No deal! Unless..."

"Go on!" I urged her, listening while Oleg kept his blade pointing at the now agitated woman who stood before me on all fours, wiggling her bottom like an actual dog.

"I want the power of one of the offed nobles! Make me replace him!"

"..."

"If you do that, deal! I will wag my bitch ass for you, and we will fuck up every last one of them; I will make a necklace out of their balls and pillows from their tits!"

"I don't need either of that!" I grimaced but then fell into deep thinking, which was interrupted by Oleg.

"You can't consider it, My Lord! A rabid beast can't be trusted!"

"Strength is everything!" Yuribisaida countered, still looking at me, "I want a noble's power... I know which hand to bite and which hand to lick... give me what I want, and I will lick your hand, your cock, whatever you put before me!"

"I wouldn't trust you with that... I would be afraid of you biting it off!" I snorted, hearing her remarks.

"Yeah, I may do that... but isn't it more exciting that way?"

"Let's do it my way..." I murmured, thinking about it, "I will see how your group operates. Keep within limits and only hit the targets I select for you. Only them! Be a good bloodhound, and you may get your own doghouse. Deal?"

"Woof~!" She grinned, and I felt she was someone I could barely read.

When we left, I was in deep thought and ignored Oleg, who was trying to persuade me to not do this. That it was way too risky... but... it was my quickest option to deal with the nobles who were sure to oppose us.

...
....
.....

"She got you?" Was my Mother's first question, noticing the thin line on my neck.

"If she did, I wouldn't be here. No, it is nothing."

"Your father would have gone after your soul and spanked you if you lost to a mere bandit!" She added in a strict voice, but I knew she was simply worried.

"Heh, worry not, Mom! I can defend myself! Anyway, that woman is crazy... Probably her gang, too; they are not right in the head!"

"And you will use them?" She questioned me, and I knew this type of tone... she used it when she was testing others.

"There are things that can't be done honorably and must be dealt with under the table. Every Empire needs forces that can be deployed and tasked with missions that will be forever forgotten. Never to see the day of light."

"Empire... You have big ambitions!" She chuckled before pulling me into an embrace and rubbing my head. "You are definitely my son, ahaha!"

"Err... really? What about-"

"Your father wouldn't dare look that far! Not by himself!"

"Ehhh... okay..." I chuckled, shaking my head, and was surprised by the letter she pressed into my hand."

"You were too busy building the city, and now, with this, you probably didn't follow what was happening back home. We enacted some new rules, and it slowly drew out the nobles who gave us pushback. Out of the eight noble families in our region, six did it."

"Daaaaamn!" I grunted, looking at the multiple pages detailing their names and their assets. "That many?"

"Vying for power is as such. They want to be the new viscount after we are replaced. That is what they are thinking about."

"Tough luck! Okay, the moment my newest rabid strike force is ready, I will sick them onto one of these idiots!" I hummed, putting the letter away for further study. "This meeting also made me think about laying down a new governing system and laws. I will write it up while I am here and give it to you to look over it! I am still an amateur, so I need some extra input~!"

"I wouldn't call you that..." She smiled gently, caressing my face, "I am curious what you will come up with next!"

Well, she didn't need to wait for long... As I just couldn't sleep, my head filled with thoughts, and I wrote up my laws, presenting them to her in the morning.

1. The Law of Two:
- There are only two ranks. The Sovereign, the ruling family, and the Citizens, the people living under the Sovereign. The latter is not forbidden from gaining wealth and power on their own merits, but in the Empire, no nobles exist besides the Sovereign.

2. The Law of Loyalty:
- Loyalty to the ruling hegemony is the highest virtue.

3. The Law of Skill:
- All positions of power and influence should be filled with skilled members and masters of their crafts.

4. The Law of Ambition:
- Citizens are encouraged to be ambitious and to constantly strive to improve their own and their fellow citizens' lives.

5. The Law of Prosperity for All:
- The Sovereign shall oversee and promote an economy that generates wealth and opportunities for all of its citizens.

6. The Law of Progressive Taxation:
- A fair and progressive tax system shall be implemented to fund public services and welfare programs while ensuring that the wealthiest contribute proportionately more to support the less fortunate.

7. The Law of Workers' Rights:
- Comprehensive labor laws will be enacted to protect workers' rights, including minimum wage standards and safe working conditions.

8. The Law of Accessible Healthcare:
- Universal healthcare shall be provided to all citizens.

9. The Law of Education Equality:
- A high-quality and equitable education system will be established, offering free education from kindergarten to high school level, empowering citizens with knowledge and skills. Higher education will be provided for free for those who show exceptional skills and talents.

10. The Law of Philanthropy:
- Encouraging individuals and guilds to engage in philanthropic efforts, contributing to social welfare and community development.

11. The Law of Fair Competition:
- Businesses will compete in a fair and regulated marketplace, with anti-monopoly laws and consumer protections to prevent exploitation.

12. The Law of Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
- Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation by providing resources and support to individuals and businesses striving to create economic opportunities.

13. The Law of Empowerment:
- Encouraging citizens to participate in their communities, fostering a sense of ownership, and providing opportunities for civic engagement.

14. Centralized Military Authority:
- The Sovereign has direct control over the military. Soldiers receive their pay and benefits from the Sovereign and will remain in the Sovereign's service even after leaving the armed forces, be it due to age or injuries.

15. Military Loyalty:
- The military is expected to pledge loyalty to the sovereign and uphold the Sovereign's authority.

16. National Security:
- The Sovereign can use the military to protect the nation's security and interests, ensuring stability and safety.

17. Defense and Deterrence:
- The military's primary role should be the defense of the domain and deterrence against external threats.

18. Humanitarian Military Interventions:
- The Sovereign may also employ the military for humanitarian purposes, such as disaster relief or peacekeeping missions.

19. Professionalism and Training:
- A well-trained and professional military is essential to ensure that it serves the nation's interests. Any soldier must go through basic training and evaluation before joining the military.

20. National Defense Council:
- A body of advisors, military leaders, and experts who help ensure military decisions are made with absolute certitude.

21. The Law of Magical Registry:
- All individuals with magical abilities must register with the royal magical authority, providing information about their powers and capabilities.

22. The Law of Magical Education:
- All witches and wizards must receive formal magical education and training under the supervision of the Sovereign's magical academies.

23. The Law of Magical Military Service:
- Witches and wizards are considered a vital part of the kingdom's military forces and are subject to conscription when the ruler deems it necessary for the nation's defense.

24. The Law of Magical Research:
- Magical research and experimentation are considered top priority for any capable witches and wizards.

25. The Law of Magical Oath:
- All witches and wizards must swear an oath of loyalty and obedience directly to the Sovereign, pledging to use their magical abilities in the service of the Empire.

26. The Law of Magical Council:
- A council of magical advisors, including representatives from different magical schools and disciplines, assists the Sovereign in making informed decisions about magical matters.

27. The Law of Magical Equal Rights:
- Non-magical citizens are protected from magical abuse or discrimination, and any use of magic to harm or exploit them is strictly prohibited. This is also true in reverse. No magical individual can be the target of discrimination.

28. The Law of Magical Citizenship:
- Witches and wizards are granted a unique status as magical citizens, allowing them certain privileges and responsibilities within the kingdom.

29. The Law of Magical Rehabilitation:
- Individuals who misuse their magical abilities may be subject to rehabilitation and re-education to ensure their loyalty to the Sovereign and the Empire's well-being.

30. The Law of Magical Inheritance:
- Inheritance laws may govern the transfer of knowledge and artifacts, ensuring that they remain under the control of responsible individuals.

"Is... is this all?" She looked at me, blinking her eyes rapidly.

"Nah... this is just the first thirty... I am still writing the other parts and expanding on them. This is just... the rough sketch!" I answered with a huge yawn, rubbing my eyes and trying to wipe away the giant bags under them.

"You do know that there are words in here that I do not recognize... You should start writing your own encyclopedia for your made-up stuff!" She laughed, hitting my head with the papers playfully. "Your brain outshone your Mother's this time! Hah! Good, good! It is best if you are more like me! I will chew through this again and get back to you with some modifications... things you mentioned here will only be possible if you build a striving empire... Son. I'll be honest with you here: I don't see you succeeding with half of this! Not to mention the crazier parts with educating the masses and paying them? For their work? From where? We can barely keep our soldiers fit and ready!"

"It will happen!" I smiled confidently, "It won't work from the start, of course not! But give it time... it will work, and when people get a taste of it... they will be the most loyal servants, never wanting to leave my little corner of the world! The only place where they will have these benefits!"