Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 326

Chapter 326: Mayhem IV

The doors of the hall burst open as Lady Durnham stepped forward, flanked by her soldiers and the hired mercenaries she believed to be allies. She scanned the room, her eyes narrowing as she searched for any sign of Aiden or the Loain family.

“We’ve come to take back Moon City,” she declared, her voice steady but filled with underlying desperation. “We won’t stand idly by while the Loain family destroys what we have built.”

The Loain forces moved swiftly, surrounding the nobles from every angle. With a single signal from Aiden, the Crimson Blades turned on their employers, drawing weapons against the very nobles who had hired them. Shock and betrayal flashed across Lady Durnham’s face as she realized the mercenaries had been bought by the Loain family.

“Did you really think you could control this city without consequences?” Aiden’s voice rang out as he stepped forward, flanked by Eldrik and Valeria.

Lady Durnham’s hands clenched at her sides, her face pale with fury. “You… you were behind all of this.”

Aiden smiled. “You were so blinded by ambition that you never saw the true game. Moon City doesn’t need leaders driven by personal gain. It needs order, stability—things that only the Loain family can provide.”

The room erupted in chaos as the Crimson Blades and Loain soldiers closed in on the nobles’ forces. Within minutes, the skirmish was over, the resistance crushed under the coordinated assault.

Aiden walked up to Lady Durnham, who knelt before him, defeated and seething with rage. “You could have played your role and shared in Moon City’s prosperity,” he said, his tone cold. “But you chose to rebel. This city deserves loyalty, and I won’t tolerate betrayal.”

With a nod to Valeria, he turned away, his expression resolute. Moon City was his now, its fractured nobility silenced, and its people united under the Loain banner. As he stepped out into the dawn, Aiden knew that the city, once divided and weak, had been transformed by his vision and iron will into a bastion of his growing empire.

****

As the morning sun rose over Moon City, the people awoke to a changed world. The Loain family had solidified their rule, and a quiet, almost reverent fear rippled through the city’s streets. Stories spread of the swift, decisive takedown of the noble families who dared challenge the Loain family. The Durnham, Valros, and Edran families, who once held sway in Moon City, had been subdued overnight, their influence now a shadow of what it once was.

Aiden stood on the balcony of the Loain estate, surveying the city. Eldrik joined him, his expression calm but with a hint of satisfaction as he glanced down at the bustling streets below.

“It’s remarkable,” Eldrik murmured, “how quickly power shifts when the right pressure is applied.”

Aiden gave a faint smile. “People are driven by fear and hope. You give them both in the right measure, and they’ll stay loyal without question.”

Eldrik nodded in agreement, looking back at the estates of the subdued families. “And what shall we do with Lady Durnham, Lord Valros, and Master Edran? They are still powerful, if only symbolically. Their names carry weight with the people.”

“They will serve as a reminder of what happens to those who step out of line,” Aiden replied, his voice icy. “Publicly, they’ll retain their positions, but in reality, their decisions will come from me.”

Eldrik raised an eyebrow. “A puppet regime?”

“Precisely,” Aiden said. “The people need a sense of stability, familiar faces. But those faces will now serve the Loain family, willingly or otherwise. Their rebellious past will be erased over time, and they’ll adapt or be replaced.”

As Aiden spoke, the city guards escorted Lady Durnham, Lord Valros, and Master Edran into the estate’s grand hall. Their heads were held high despite the circumstances, but their expressions betrayed the humiliation they felt at being paraded through the city.

Aiden descended the staircase slowly, meeting each of their gazes in turn. Lady Durnham’s expression was stony, her defiance barely concealed. Lord Valros regarded Aiden with steely eyes, his jaw clenched, while Master Edran’s face remained inscrutable, his mind already working through the possibilities of his new position.

“Today marks a new beginning for Moon City,” Aiden announced, his voice carrying across the hall. “From this moment, our city will thrive under unity, not division. Each of you will play a role in this future. The people believe in your leadership, and it’s my expectation that you’ll show them that belief is not misplaced.”

Lady Durnham scoffed, unable to hide her contempt. “You’ve taken everything from us, and you expect us to follow like lapdogs?”

Aiden approached her, his expression calm but his gaze intense. “You were given a chance to lead responsibly, and you failed. I am not your enemy, Lady Durnham—I am the only one left who can guide this city toward true prosperity. Resist, and you’ll become nothing more than a cautionary tale. Cooperate, and you may retain some semblance of power.”

She fell silent, though the resentment in her eyes spoke volumes. Aiden knew that obedience would not come easily from her, but he was prepared for that. Sometimes, fear worked best when nurtured over time.

Lord Valros cleared his throat, drawing Aiden’s attention. “What exactly is your vision, then, Loain?” he asked, his tone carefully measured. “What do you hope to achieve through all of this?”

Aiden considered the question, recognizing it as an attempt to understand his motives, perhaps to find a chink in his armor. “I envision a city that’s a bastion of strength, where crime and disloyalty are nonexistent, and people work toward common goals. Moon City will become a center of power, respected and feared by all around us.”

Lord Valros nodded slowly, still wary but intrigued. Master Edran, ever the strategist, took a step forward. “And what of our positions? If we cooperate, what assurances do we have that we will maintain our influence?”

“Your positions remain, as long as your loyalty does,” Aiden replied. “The Loain family’s goal is not to destroy but to consolidate. Serve with the same fervor you showed in resisting me, and you’ll find that Moon City’s prosperity will bring more wealth and power than you imagined possible.”

The three heads of the noble families exchanged glances, weighing their options. The reality of their defeat was clear, and the choice was simple: submit or be erased. Master Edran was the first to nod, followed by a reluctant Lord Valros. Lady Durnham’s lips pressed into a thin line, but after a long pause, she inclined her head, a flicker of forced submission in her eyes.

Aiden dismissed them, and they filed out of the hall, each lost in their own thoughts about this new order. Eldrik watched them go, a satisfied gleam in his eye.

“They’ll fall in line soon enough,” Eldrik remarked.

“They will,” Aiden agreed. “Now, it’s time we turn our attention outward. Moon City will not remain isolated. We have other cities to bring under our control, step by step.”

Eldrik nodded, already considering the possibilities. “Expanding our reach will attract attention. Not all regions will fall as easily as this one.”

“That’s why we’ll act strategically,” Aiden replied. “We’ll target the regions plagued by instability, offer them security and order. Those who refuse will find that the Loain family’s reach extends further than they expected.”