As was sitting on a chair at the center of the tavern, with a glass of beer in his hands, where Zankoku and Carmilla had massacred the mbers of the ’barbarics’.
All the bodies had been cleared away and the staff of the tavern was still there, though they were all afraid seeing Carmilla who was one of the two ruthless monster of the massacre, sitting at the counter table downing one glass of hard liquor after another, as the bartender kept serving while shivering.
Just then the doors of the tavern opened and Shatun entered with a headless corpse in his hand and moved to As’s back, his jaws grinding sothing inside his mouth as he stood behind him.
One by one people started entering inside. slowly, the room got filled with about twenty people as they all stood in front of As at a distance. There were n as well as a few won in the group. They didn’t look like a fearso criminal, but commoners found in any city, shaking and shivering in fear, unable to lift their heads up.
But the truth was that even they were runaway criminals who had fled from their original hos. So were small ti thieves, who had stolen bread or fruits from the vendors to feed their starving children while so were frad for soone’s else’s cri and had to run away to save themselves.
Finally, Lamia entered last with Bo following behind her. Bo had shrunk in size, able to coil around Lamia as he rested his head on her shoulder and she then closed the doors, standing guard in front of it.
"Take a seat." As said.
The group of people were confused at first as there were no chairs for them to sit and were confused as what to do. Just then Shatun spat in front as an eyeball rolled on the ground and stopped after hitting one of the man’s feet.
They all imdiately shrieked back and without wasting a second, sat down on the floor.
"I guess you all have heard the news. The barbarics are no longer in control of this district. They’ve been sent to the cycle of reincarnation." As started speaking.
"We are the new overlord of this district from now on. The Demon parade."
"You all had been paying a certain amount of tax to them for running your businesses, and in return got protection from the groups of the other districts. We are replacing them from now on, and the system remains the sa. You pay, we protect." As said as he looked at them with a smile.
"H-How much w-would be the t-tax?" one of them collected so courage and spoke up.
"How much did you pay them?" As asked.
"F-Five gold coins a m-month."
As was a bit surprised hearing the amount, as for so it was not sothing they’d be able to collect in the whole month, the profit was far outside from the calculation.
"What were your monthly sales and profit then?"
"S-Six gold coins." The man said.
As then looked at the woman beside him asking for her to answer the sa.
"F-Four gold coins." She said.
"Five gold coins."
"Three."
"Four."
.
.
.
"Two."
As heard all of them and was shocked that the one who had the highest sales in a month collected only eight gold coins. He was surprised as to how were these people surviving.
"What if you weren’t able to pay the tax in a certain month?" As asked.
"We were beaten up and they took our things from the shop in return."
"These inhuman bastards." As gritted his teeth in anger.
Carmilla gripped the glass in her hand tight in anger, as her palm got red. Even Lamia had a furious expression.
"What about the others? There should have been atleast fifty businesses in the district." As asked curiously.
"S-So of them fled to other districts, while the o-others.....they were b-beaten to death." The man said as tears rolled down his eyes. One of them who was killed was his best friend, he thought he was going to be the next as they had asked him to co to the headquarters since he refused to pay the tax.
But fortunately, soone wiped the whole group out. But he didn’t rejoice as the next group wouldn’t be any different just like the past. That’s why they were all shivering, afraid of what new torturous things they would impose on them.
As released a deep sigh. He cald himself down and looked at them as he started speaking again.
"You all might have guessed already, but since we’ve replaced those bastards, we’ll be collecting a tax from all the shops in the district too. After so discussions, we have decided that the tax you all would have to pay will be twenty percent of your inco, regardless of how much you earn."
A wave of shock and surprise passed through the crowd. They thought they misheard and couldn’t believe what they just heard. The fear in their eyes vanished as hope reignited. As seed like an angel to them now.
"Since even we don’t have funds with us right now. I want all of you to collect so money among yourselves and clean the area and renovate it so that new people co here to fill the empty shops."
"Also, the ones who had moved away, tell them they’d be given first preference for their old shops with just two gold coins as the registration fee."
"There will be a system from now on. You all would be given a registration certificate for your shops and also registered in the records of the district. Keep monthly sales record from now on so that the tax collection process will beco efficient and seamless."
"We are no tyrants. We don’t want you all to suffer. We’ll fulfill the role of protectors for you. But if anyone among you betrays us, get’s greedy and conspires against us with the gangs of the other districts, you won’t be able to see the morning sun the next day." As said coldly as they shook from the bloodlust.
"T-Thank you! Thank you so much. If this is how you rule. We’ll defend the district even with our lives." One of them said as they all nodded at his words. The fear and worry vanished from their faces as smiles and hope had taken over.
"Just w-who are you great lord?" One of the won asked as she looked at As with reverence.
"Well...we’re criminals like everyone else here...we’re the Demon Parade." As said with a wide smile.
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