Supreme Magus novel Chapter 4427

Chapter 4427: Change the Board (Part 1)

"Only if their victims are too afraid to call the constables and testify against their oppressors can a bunch of rotten people gain enough power to expand a gang into a dangerous cartel.

"Your Tablets, your presence, and all the wonders you performed took the fear away, Lith. The people of Lustria trusted you more than they feared the local underworld, so they started reporting crimes and stopped withholding information.

"Corrupt officials were too scared that a Constable might call your wife to keep taking bribes, while the criminals were terrified of ending up like the Frorl Household if they drew your attention.

"After all, if Magus Verhen razed an ancient noble household to the ground and killed hundreds of well-armed guards for a boy he had just met, what would he do to a bunch of low-lives if one of their victims turned out to be someone he cared about?

"Long story short, as the illegal profits plummeted and Lustria became a safer place to live in, more and more crooks moved to the neighboring counties, hoping to restart their criminal careers there.

"Ghishal was just one of the many possible destinations, and at first, our problems weren’t any different from those of the other local lords. I shared with Keyla the resources I no longer needed to fight crime in Lustria, and things settled down quickly."

"That was until a couple of months ago." Keyla said. "We lowered our guard because winter is a hard time for everyone. Even criminals suffer from the cold and can die in a snowstorm, so we assumed the bandits would stay cooped up at home until spring like everyone else.

"Moreover, only the bravest and the best-equipped merchant caravans dare make regular travels when the weather is bad. They are the toughest nut to crack, and they never needed our help in the past.

"We couldn’t predict that an unknown group of gangsters would target those caravans and possess the means to overpower the mercenaries hired to protect them." She sighed. "When the problems started, the merchants reinforced their security, but it wasn’t enough.

"They changed their routes, but the bandits always found them. We helped the merchant guilds at every step of the crisis, providing them with military escorts and better equipment, but nothing changed.

"Innocent people still get injured or killed, and the goods get taken away. Ever since this started, we can count on the fingers of one hand the successful trading expeditions in Ghishal."

"This sounds like a serious problem." Lith pondered. "Why did no one hear about it before, and why didn’t you ask for Brinja’s help?"

"It actually is far from a serious problem." Jadon pinched his nose in frustration. "The increase in armed robberies is barely noticeable compared to the previous years. The only difference is that they succeed almost every damn single time.

"If it weren’t for winter, this wouldn’t be an issue. If two out of ten caravans get hit, it’s not a big deal. Trading goes on, and everybody has what they need to have a comfortable life.

"When two out of two caravans get hit, however, the merchant guilds lose lots of money and people lack even the basic necessities. Everyone has food, but not the necessary tools to repair their house if it gets damaged.

"Without a stable supply of metal, nails and hammers become more valuable than gold. Anything that breaks can’t be replaced. Potions and medical concoctions must be rationed until a cargo finally arrives.

"Until that moment, the villages without a Healer need to face the danger of long-distance travel or see their loved ones die. You can guess the rest."

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