[NR] Admitting Ignorance - Chapter 663

The team squeezes their way through the crowded street for a moment, before realizing that it was only this street that was crowded. So, with only a medium amount of embarrassment, they take a side street and are soon making much better time towards the admin building the Mayor has told them to drop by today. Though as they approach the building, they slow to a stop as there is a loose ring of guards around the building.

This makes some sense as it was also the location for the prison. Which might seem a bit odd, but the Mayor is actually the strongest person living in town full time and so works as a deterrent against jailbreaks. Though in this case, it is being used to deter people from breaking in.

They don’t end up standing there too long. Before they can even decide what to do, the guards recognize them. “Oye, Siegfried said to guide you in once you showed up. Heh, the council wasn’t expecting such a ruckus. Can’t believe they’re so dense! No one had anything to do for days and something happened? May my God and his Wife find joy in the chaos!”

And with that, the team is guided into a meeting room where everyone is arguing. Well, not everyone. Helina is laughing to herself in the corner, Siegfried is standing to the side silently, and the Mayor is shaking his head.

Though as they enter, everyone turns to them for a moment. Only a moment, though, before returning to their arguing. It seems that the council members didn’t put much importance in their presence.

Chaos returned, Helina waves them over to her corner. “Would you look at that mess! Half of them want to throw the heaviest penalties onto our captives without even checking. The other half are hidebound and want to do everything to the very letter of the law. What’s your take?”

Courtney rolls her eyes, “You don’t care about that. What do you actually want to know?”

Helina shrugs, “Well spotted, but answer the question anyway. I want to see who has clearer vision, the elderly or the babes.”

Rosha puts her hand on Courtney’s shoulder, before stepping forward. “Neither side is wrong and they understand that. The problem is where the balance point rests. Neither side truly wants to win, simply claim the bigger piece of the pie.”

Helina smirks, “A good start.”

Rosha shrugs, “But practically a dead end. The fairest compromise is the one that leaves all sides disappointed. Besides, we aren’t looking for the fairest option. This is about choosing a path that satisfies the town folk, doesn’t irritate the System, and prepares for when the rest of the bandits come around.”

Helina, “And what’s your solution?”

Rosha laughs, “I don’t have one. I don’t know the townsfolk well enough nor what information we have on said bandits.”

Helina shakes her head, “See a new thing every day. A youngster who knows how to admit when they don’t know!”

Courtney scoffs, “As if her family would allow for such a weakness.”

Helina raises an eyebrow, “I’ve found that what a family does and does not allow tends not to have as much effect on children as they would like. Anyway, there isn’t much to say about the bandits.

“My brother could give you a more in-depth overview, but the basics are simple enough to understand. A group of idiots set up on the opposite side of the lake where most of the giant beasts rest before making the final push.

“Of course as tends to happen with idiots, luck protected them. Except, as everyone pointed out to them, they couldn’t actually defend that place with their numbers. Now, we thought they gave up at that point and chose a better location.

“Nope! The idiots did as idiots do, they doubled down. Seems with the giant beasts resting at that lake so often has caused an area rich in valuable resources.”

Rosha, “But doesn’t stuff get shuffled around? About the only consistent thing I’ve seen is that forest stays forest.”

Helina shrugs, “Eh, quality doesn’t change rapidly and the giant beasts come often enough to maintain a high density of power.

“Anyway, we only found out last night that they apparently sold this information to one of your traveller organizations and joined up with them. They still haven’t claimed the area, but have enough people out there to maintain some control. And since they don’t have control? Well, they aren’t growing their own food.”

Courtney, “So how didn’t you know about them? I figure they should be buying up a good bit of food.”

Helina, “Oh sure, they buy a bunch of food. Everyone does. After all, you can’t depend on finding things to eat. So, a large group of people buying a large quantity of food? Normal enough. Except it seems they figure taking our food will be easier than sourcing their own or waiting for the nonsense to be over.”

Rosha groans, “Well, that’s the worst possible news. It means the people we’ll be dealing with are all mooks. No one of actual importance will be in the area, if they ever were. I doubt there is a good option, only less worse ones.”

Helina smiles, “And thus the ruckus.”

Rosha nods, “Punishing the captured needs to happen just so people don’t think they can get away with the classic excuse of ‘just following orders’. But going too far is pointless or even harmful. The kingdom and the System will likely go over the punishment with a fine-toothed comb as well for a similar reason.”

Jason, “I say have an open judgement and get it over with. Follow the crowd queues in how to punish them and then banish them from the settlement for the duration of the event. Now, I don’t mean to do exactly what the crowd wants, but just make sure the punishment satisfies them without going further.”

Rosha nods, “That should work. If you banish them for the duration of the event, they’ll probably not be allowed back through the barrier in the same way we can’t get out.”