Dear Baron Smith,

  Due to the recent robbery at the Roosevelt Bank you have lost some holdings in your personal vault. Whilst we cannot replace what you have lost, Duke Roosevelt promises to not rest before all thieves are found and hanged at the main square, he puts his honour and word on this.

  In the meantime we ask you to do business as usual. Many small factions are growing in strength and whilst they still would be crushed under the foot of the city strong City Guard, it would be best that they don’t grow in the first place.

  We also apologise for the incident with your House Doctor, whom had been cleared of suspicions and such an incident will not happen again unless indisputable evidence comes to light of his collusion.

  The Duke himself wishes your health the best,

  From Knight Captain Gale Erving, of The City Guard and Subordinate of Duke Roosevelt.

  Now that was interesting. Malum assumed the first two paragraphs were sent to every Noble house and large merchantry in the city. It seemed like they weren’t blind to the cities ills and such wanted the Nobles to stop their greedy actions.

  Alas Malum reckoned just a suggestion wasn’t going to be enough to get them to calm down. They would need benefits or their treasures back otherwise it was the commoners that would bleed for them to get them back their wealth.

  It seemed they would use the first hanging the day before the letter was sent to improve the response to the letter and Malum assumed that the pressures of the factions in the city had calmed considerably.

  This was just at the top though, at the bottom tensions couldn’t be higher, hence the danger pervading through the city.

  Just how much of that danger though was part of that, and then how much was down to that single Knights suspicions. It was nice to see that he was, in writing, cleared of suspicions as of now but that lose end was causing him a worrying degree of danger, or was it?

  It came to Malums mind that perhaps the danger wasn’t largely coming the Knight anymore, and instead from the growing tensions of the lower class.

  If a revolt did happen, he was inside of Barons mansion. Not exactly the safest place to be.

  “Let me hear your ideas of this Jameson, you’ve had more time to think it through.”

  Jameson nodded, “I’ve reached out and every Noble received such letter at around the same time. With contents similar for the first part and a specialised message for the second half. It eased many of my Noble peers’ hatred and it seems the bridge between them and the Roosevelts healed for now.

  The Peasant part is interesting. I sent Florence to collect some data and I myself sent some letter for even more data and what I found wasn’t pleasant. Across the board, people are working more for less and with prices increasing they are not happy.

  For now they keep their heads down. A few factions make little movements but generally people are seeing if this treatment continues. They tell themselves lies and when it becomes too much to ignore they burst out in a flurry, protests then revolt. History repeats itself yet again.”

  Malum forgot sometimes but Jameson was far more educated then he was. Whilst he had his wise Uncle to teach him, he wasn’t a proper teacher. As a Noble Jameson would have had tutors round every week since he was a child and he likely went to a proper school with several educated Scholars answering every one of their questions.

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  “It’s worrying. I don’t like the idea of being inside of this Mansion if such events where to occur.” Malum said, to which Jameson gave him a smile.

  “Whilst I do think lowly of many Nobles they clearly see the problem. I don’t doubt they will only do something when it gets bad but when they do I expect them to do it properly. There are entire books on how to quell public anger and they would have been forced to do so during their education. We will be fine,” Jameson saw Malums continued worry,

  “Tell you what, if it ever gets that bad we can certainly move for a week or two. We haven’t had those gorgeous eggs for far too long.”

  Malum salivated at the thought, “Good idea.”

  Jameson had a drink of his hot chocolate whilst Malum sipped on his ice cold beverage. Then they continued to discuss.

  “What are you planning going forward, ignoring the suspension of that Knight.” Malum asked Jameson.

  “Ah, I’ve had so much time to think and you’ve finally asked me. Well now that I have ample funding I will slowly begin to start building up my wealth. I don’t know how much it will cost but the prison of my eternal service will eventually be paid off.

  That’s part one, during which I will also slowly pull back what my house previously owned by let go to save during our fall. Many assets was let go and held by those loyal to the House so that they would no longer be targeted by our enemies.

  I will need to build back a set of Knights loyal to the house and those will come from my old army buddies. I’m sure many need good jobs as they rather indulgent in their pleasures. A good lesson on discipline will be needed but I’m sure I could make it stick.

  With money coming in from business, and security provided already I will have regained what I had lost before and will begin to make moves to climb the hierarchy.”

  Malum nearly applauded the ambitious man. It seemed almost full proof but Malum was sure issues would arise, but he was also sure that Jameson was well equipped to handle them. He was a good man with a good head on his shoulders.

  He was large reason for his current success as how he would have started back up without him practically making his current identity.

  “Sounds about right. I’ve already told you a few times about my plan but know that if you ever need help I can make time whenever.”

  “Don’t say that like I wouldn’t do the same. Me and you Malum will take this Kingdom for all its worth.”

  They shook hands and decided to from that moment forth they would forever remain friends. With the future planned for, now they needed to take on the present.

  Jameson could now focus on recovering and Malum focused on ending his saga with that annoying Knight. He needed an end to the bastard before he could move on so he got to thinking how to end it once and for all.

  He thought and starred at the night sky. A warm cup of water helping his fingers fend of the cold nights air.

  He sipped the warm drink every now and then as he let his brain churn.

  Plans fell through, some never even getting past the initial stage.

  It took 4 days before thought of near perfect plan, now all that was left to was enact it.

  He woke early to get ready for a busy day. He got dressed and headed downstairs to see Florence already in the kitchen.

  Malum sat at the table and found himself looking at the reports on the centre of the table. Some of them were for Jameson but Malum reckoned he wouldn’t mind if he read them.

  Some of them were old companies that Jameson were reaching out to, others were letters between him and high command. It seemed he was already bargaining for his freedom but looking at the responses he wasn’t having any initial luck.

  The others did concern him as they were updated reports on some of the rising peasant factions. Increased membership, and events were all things that pointed towards a growing future for the revolt.

  Then it was onto the responses of Nobles and Merchants to the letters, as expected there was a universal indifference to the warning. They believed in the power of the City Guard and they themselves had several guard who would protect them if the worst came.

  They had enjoyed being in power for to long and with nothing major occurring for 200 years the kingdom had enjoyed its prosperity for too long.

  Malum then enjoyed himself a lovely breakfast, with a cup of tea of which leaves came from a distant city.

  He then opened another letter of which’s content he found much more interesting.

  Monthly War Report : Commander level

  Casualties last wave are up more than 50%, with a rise of sightings of high variants from every Section.

  Commanders are advised to double down on their groups, making a few stronger and joining an Section themselves.

  Causes of the increased demonic activity has been rumoured to be an approaching Baron. However these rumours are unconfirmed and could just be a dramatic increase in a natural variation. Until a Baron has been sighted, spreading such rumours is against the law and if caught could lead to disciplinary action.

  High command has asked for increased recruits which will only arrive in 3 months, hold strong and do the best you can.

  For King and for country.