I Married the Dragon I Killed
Chapter 104
Chapter 104. Strike
Strike.
To Ferda, it was a truly foreign concept.
“A strike?”
“It means exactly what it sounds like—declaring that they will not work.”
“Why refuse to work when they are being paid?”
“They stop working for purposes such as claiming their rights and so on.”
“A hostage situation, then.”
Ferda thought it was quite a novel idea.
To use oneself as a hostage.
They were the ones whose heads would roll, so why would they do such a thing?
“I don’t recall such things happening back in the Empire.”
“It is a matter of supply and demand. In the Empire, if someone dared to say such a thing, they would simply be replaced immediately.”
There are over tens of millions of people in the Imperial Capital alone.
It was a daily occurrence there to swap people out without so much as a blink if someone died.
He realized anew how narrow his perspective had been.
‘To think the Emperor’s authority is stronger than a dragon’s.’
Even if it sounded nonsensical, he could understand the logic.
A kitchen knife held close is always more terrifying than a legendary sword far away.
At any rate, Ferda asked her to resolve the matter.
“Who is this insolent ringleader?”
“A carpenter from the Empire named Hanson. He is currently acting as the foreman for the laborers who came from the Empire.”
“Would there be any problem if I killed him?”
His solution was simple.
Strike off the head so no one else could harbor ulterior motives.
That was the best course of action in Ferda’s mind.
Isabella, sensing his intent, replied.
“His skills are mediocre, but killing him recklessly will cause issues.”
“Why is that?”
“Partly because he has connections among the people, and there are concerns that our political image might deteriorate.”
“It is already bad; how much worse can it get?”
Ferda spoke as if it were of no consequence.
Isabella tilted her head, then suddenly realizing something, she asked him.
“…I am asking just in case, but do you happen to be unaware of what your current reputation is, Ferda-nim?”
“Indeed.”
Isabella blinked.
Thinking he needed to be made aware, Isabella spoke seriously.
“Are you not taking in refugees and guaranteeing their right to survival?”
“I am.”
“There is no greater savior than one who accepts refugees in a winter like this. Furthermore, you are guaranteeing jobs, allowing them to solve their needs for food, clothing, and shelter through a stable income.”
“I see.”
“Moreover, since they are those driven out by foreign powers, you have shown the ambition to protect them from those threats, and some people have been moved by that.”
“That… hmm?”
Ferda tilted his head.
“Did I ever say such a thing?”
“I made it up, so it is only natural that you wouldn’t know.”
“Why did you do such a thing?”
“Because of the Red Dragon’s infamy, we needed a virtuous reputation to counter it.”
“But that is not how it is in reality.”
“The world sees it that way, so what can be done?”
Isabella’s point was that people would only feel at ease if Ferda could stand as a counterweight to Valdroba’s notoriety.
“Besides, you have no intention of kicking them out, do you?”
“That is true.”
He had taken in those who fled because their previous rulers failed to manage them properly; what reason was there to return them?
In any case, he understood what she was saying.
“The point is that I have a good reputation in the village.”
“Some go as far as to clamor that you must be the reincarnation of a sage.”
It was a strange thing.
Ferda was neither a saint nor a sage.
He moved solely for the sake of Valdroba and would hesitate at nothing to achieve that end.
They say life is full of unpredictable twists and turns.
Perhaps this was exactly that.
Brushing it aside, Ferda returned to the main point.
“If taking his head is not an option…”
Since the simplest method was off the table, he tried to seek another way.
“That is not the only problem.”
Isabella moved on to the next topic without giving him time.
“What else is there?”
“There are many if we include the minor details, but most notably, there is a fierce conflict of opinion between the wall architects.”
She pushed a sheet of paper forward.
“Adventurers are clashing with shop owners by trying to extort protection fees by district.”
Another sheet.
“And while people were praying, some pink-haired person passed by singing a strange song, causing everyone to burst into laughter and fail to maintain their solemnity. They are requesting that the person be caught and punished.”
“Pink hair…”
He felt he knew who that pink-haired person was without even looking.
“Amidst this dissatisfaction and confusion, there is someone intentionally eating away at the Regent’s reputation. There is undoubtedly an instigator.”
Instigators existed everywhere.
Those born into wealthy families or places where they could receive sufficient education, using their knowledge and silver tongues to draw in the commoners.
In a city like this, with a short history and a lack of established systems, the commoners were perfect prey for instigators.
“Can I crush that one?”
“I am trying to do so as well, but no clues have been found.”
That was somewhat surprising.
“You are unable to track them?”
“That is correct. It is embarrassing to admit, but they are truly elusive.”
“Hmm…”
She was a descendant of Iorga, the Aspect of Magic.
The fact that she couldn’t track them meant the opponent was no pushover.
‘They aren’t just a simple instigator.’
Likely a pure, devilish sort who enjoyed chaos more than power.
“In any case, it would be best to settle the accumulated matters in a single format.”
Isabella said as she set the documents down.
“Hold a council.”
“You mean I should face the commoners and talk to them.”
“It is the smoothest way to settle things.”
Settle things smoothly.
Ferda did not particularly like the word ‘smoothly.’
Did a person leading a multitude really need to be soft?
Rather, he believed one should be firm.
‘But Isabella is superior in these matters.’
Isabella must have also considered the idea of normalizing things by striking the head.
If so, she wouldn’t have come to say this.
The council was a matter worth considering.
‘Come to think of it, it might not be bad…’
There are times when there is more to be gained by leaving someone alive than by killing them.
Perhaps this was exactly such a situation.
“Understood. We shall proceed with the council.”
“Yes. Then I shall arrange the schedule.”
Isabella bowed and withdrew.
Ferda immediately took out a communication crystal and connected it somewhere.
—Liese, liaison for the Pascal Merchant Guild, greets the Regent. How may I assist you?
“This is Regent Ferda Valdrova. Is the branch manager in?”
—The branch manager is present. Shall I connect you?
“Please.”
A moment later, Stefan’s voice was heard.
—Greetings, Regent. Are you contacting me regarding the strike incident?
His sources were fast. To think he would jump straight to the point.
“Indeed.”
—I was actually thinking I should take measures regarding that. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to speak!
His confident voice was truly reliable.
“I do need your help. I intend to hold a council; how do you think it will play out?”
—A council… I have conducted many myself. In cases where they oppose a lord like this, I suspect most of it is directly linked to power.
“Power, you say…”
Where there is power, money naturally follows.
The feeling of being looked down upon was unpleasant.
“You mean it is a matter of simply granting that power.”
—You may not like the idea of giving it, but there are ways to preserve your authority while doing so.
“What do you mean by that?”
Stefan spoke with a voice full of confidence.
—Just trust me. I will turn them into puppets that you can torment for a long, long time.
Hestia Village, construction site.
The place where the Hestia Merchant Guild was scheduled to move in was currently occupied under the name of the Far East Labor Union (Provisional).
The leader there was none other than the foreman, Hanson.
He had succeeded in persuading other foremen and site leads to establish the provisional union.
“Will… will they really listen to us…?”
One site lead, sitting on the floor, asked cautiously.
“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think the high and mighty folks will allow this kind of thing…”
“Hey, don’t start losing your nerve now.”
“You came along saying you wanted to get paid more, so why are you saying that now! Pull out now if you want!”
“No, I’m just uneasy…”
He had no choice but to back down under the fierce rebukes of the other site leads.
Hanson waited with his arms crossed, his face stoic.
‘I’m scared to death too.’
Before he had committed to this, he had been full of dreams.
But now, he felt much like a death row inmate awaiting execution.
Even so, there was no stopping now.
Already riding the tiger’s back, he had no choice in the matter.
‘Still, they won’t be able to just do whatever they want to us…’
The reason Hanson could be so bold was that he had a reliable ally.
‘The Armor Knight.’
Superhuman strength capable of lifting eleven logs with bare hands!
Martial prowess great enough to slay two monsters alone!
Though the knight inspired fear, they were the most respected figure in this village.
The biggest reason Hanson could commit such a reckless act was that the Armor Knight had also agreed.
And the other foremen and site leads also trusted the Armor Knight.
In effect, the knight was the focal point of the bond they had formed.
And that focal point was sitting right next to Hanson.
‘Yes, because the Armor Knight-nim is here.’
‘Nothing bad will happen.’
Though they had never once shared a conversation due to the Vow of Silence, there was a belief that the knight would help in an emergency.
A moment later, someone opened the door and entered.
Sharp glasses and an intellectual gaze.
The sight of her in a red uniform embroidered with the Valdroba crest gave a professional and overbearing impression.
A chill ran down their spines.
They were all wearing headbands that read, ‘Life or Death!’
“I have finished speaking with the Regent,” Isabella said.
“Prepare your demands. We will hold a council in one week.”
“A council… do you mean we will face the Regent and proceed with the discussion?”
“That is correct. He will listen to your grievances, so I would appreciate it if you prepared in the meantime.”
Their faces showed skepticism.
In the Empire, they would have vanished without a trace; in any other village, they would have been forcibly disbanded by a raid from the guards.
Yet, he was offering to listen instead of using force.
“And since he has agreed to negotiate, I expect you to end the ongoing strike and return to your livelihoods.”
At those words, the site leads shifted restlessly.
“We cannot.”
The one who said that was none other than the labor union leader, Hanson.
Hanson spoke with strength in his voice.
“To tell us to work when you haven’t even offered us any terms yet. Does that make any sense?”
The people looked back and forth between Hanson’s face and Isabella’s face with troubled expressions.
Isabella replied calmly.
“We cannot leave the construction site neglected when there are no immediate replacements. Wages will be increased to 150% of the current rate and paid—”
“Wages are not the issue. In a situation where people have died, what will you do if the same thing happens again?”
“Hey now…”
The site leads watched the two of them, their hands hovering awkwardly.
Hanson was escalating the situation.
When he had listened to the young mage, it went like this:
—They will tell you to return to your livelihoods.
—Then what should I do?
—You must never accept. If you return to work, you will be looked down upon. They’ll say, ‘Ah, those primitive fools will risk danger again as long as they’re given money.’
—Hmm…
—Most importantly, the power you stand to gain will be weakened.
Hooked by those words, Hanson had responded exactly as the mage suggested.
Of course, his current ‘do or die’ attitude played a large part.
His liver had already swollen outside his belly; what was a little more?
Isabella stared intently at the man making such claims.
The children of Iorga, representatives of coldness.
But this coldness was of a different sort.
It pierced the heart and brought everything to a halt.
The moment Isabella was about to say something, Hanson felt a sharp poke on his shoulder.
Startled, he turned around to find the Armor Knight there.
Hanson, clutching his startled chest, asked.
“Phew, phew… What is it, Knight-nim?”
The Armor Knight had taken the Vow of Silence.
So, instead of speaking, the knight simply shook their head.
Hanson grasped the intent instantly.
“Are you saying we should go to work?”
A nod.
He hadn’t gotten what he wanted, but he couldn’t push any further here.
How could he refuse when the person serving as their focal point said so?
“Since the Knight-nim has said so… very well. We shall return to work immediately. If the demons appear again and things become dangerous…”
“I shall take responsibility as myself.”
A chill settled in Isabella’s eyes.
“What responsibility will you take?”
“I…”
Hanson did not answer.
Despite the words ‘Life or Death’ written on his headband, he could not affirm anything.
Isabella let out a sigh as if the tension had fizzled out.
“Fine. Let’s end the bickering here and go back.”
Isabella spoke shortly and clearly before disappearing.
The site leads, who had been holding their breath, let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Phew!”
“My heart was really racing.”
“It’s a good thing it worked out; if it had gone wrong, we wouldn’t have been able to work here again…”
“Come on, let’s get to work. Oof! Sitting like a scholar has made my whole body stiff!”
The site leads filed out the door one by one.
Then, a middle-aged man standing at the very end glanced around and approached Hanson.
He was a man who had come here as a refugee and worked diligently to reach the position of site lead.
“Foreman Hanson, don’t do that again.”
He warned with a murderous expression.
