For a mont, The Clan Chief didn’t seem to know what to say. He had been insulted many ways, by many different people. But the pure audacity of this dragon to tell him that his people lived like savages, when wild dragons road the continent, killing and burning as they pleased, was beyond words.
"What rules are you trying to enforce on my Clan?" The Chief demanded, losing patience with Orthos.
The bronze dragon sighed. "Just the essentials of civilized society, as I see that your clan has devolved sowhat since I departed a few thousand years ago.
My guards will enforce the laws against theft, and prevent violence against others wherever they see it.
That is all. For now.
However, there are other aspects of the city that will require attention and maintenance. For example, I fixed the running water situation, but I see that none of the new hos have been built with access to the lines.
At least the public fountains are flowing now.
Also, the sewer lines are repaired, so liquid waste dumped in the street like primitives discovering a lost civilization will flow out of the city. I will have the sanitation wagons clear the solid debris from the street to be disposed of in the incinerator.
We can discuss educating the people about the newly placed rubbish bins later.
This whole place needs cleaning, so I will return here once we have discovered the source of the disturbance that is limiting the System’s activation and resu my role as City Lord."
The Clan Chief roared and charged at Orthos with a spiked club in his hand, but the Bronze Dragon simply transford and stomped on him, smashing the man into the ground as he glowed with divine light.
Dealing with lawbreakers and troublemakers was the domain of his god, and Orthos was not going to lose a challenge for his city before he even had a chance to clean it or restore order and the rule of law.
The Clan Chief looked baffled as he flailed under Orthos’ claw. He had been defeated with a single strike, and the dragon didn’t even have to try to keep him pinned down.
Was this the physical advantage between dragons and the rest of the world?
"Perhaps we should continue the search on our own? Your city has a lot of renovations to do, and the Bunga Guild House probably needs a good cleaning before you start to recruit new mbers.
It’s been a few thousand years since the Darklight Host last ruled the city of Bunga, and they do look like they could use a bit of guidance." Karl suggested.
Orthos rumbled in annoyance, then nodded and dropped an item from his inventory at Karl’s feet.
{You can use that to find anomalies. One of them must be the source of the problem, so just follow the disruption toward its strongest point, then use that to pinpoint the issue.
But you should at least rest here for one night first. It’s still early, but there are no other cities in easy walking distance.
Or were you planning to fly?} Orthos asked.
"I was going to fly, but an overnight stay doesn’t seem too bad. Why don’t you start on educating the Clan Chief about his responsibilities while I inform the people of the changes that have been made?" Karl suggested.
Orthos transford back into the unassuming old Cleric he had arrived looking like, and then picked up the Bunga Clan Chief.
"Now, let’s head for city hall, and I can fill you in on so of the changes that will be happening here. I am not interested in replacing the Bunga Clan, only in keeping order within the city.
Oh, don’t look at like that. Have you ever seen a feral Bronze Dragon? No. It doesn’t happen to us. Now get to walking, I have a schedule to keep." Orthos lectured the sullen Clan Chief.
As they walked away, the gate guard turned to Karl.
"Is he always like that?"
Karl shook his head. "No, he just has zero patience for stupidity and disorder. He spent over a thousand years educating preschool age Divine Beasts, and I suspect that he views the people of Bunga as being at about the sa level of civility.
But I might as well start my work here. Can you call out all the guards in this zone? I will explain the changes now so that you don’t anger Orthos and make him call for assistance from the Church."
That would be the Beast Gods’ Church, most likely. And being lectured in basic civility by a bunch of intelligent beasts probably wouldn’t improve the mood of any of the residents of the city.
The Guard who had been manning the plinth blew a series of notes on a whistle hung around his neck, and the guards began to gather.
The man nodded, then went to lean on the plinth and almost fell over when he realized it wasn’t there anymore.
"Orthos must have put it back in the control room in City Hall. That would be the rebuilt building in the middle of the city.
But we will start with the essentials. The defences of the city have been partially restored, so you will be safer from outside attacks. The ancient fountains in the city have all been reconstructed, and they flow with fresh, drinkable water.
That water will continue to flow for as long as Orthos is in control of the city.
The street drains, and the septic lines in any relic houses are now repaired, so waste will flow out of the city.
The newly constructed City Guard will maintain order, but Orthos has limited their enforcent so that they’re not too busy. I will say that he doesn’t have high expectations for the Bunga Clan, but after seeing the conditions in Kapchor, I can assure you that there will be so adjustnts to be made.
Now, who has questions?" Karl explained to the gathered guards.
An elderly Wrath Demon stepped forward to speak.
"I have a few. Is it true that the new guards don’t allow fighting?"
Karl imdiately understood the issue. "Not as a blanket ban on violence. They will only stop violent cri and attacks.
If you both want to fight, that is fine.
But if you sucker punch soone who doesn’t want to fight, or try to rob them, then they will get involved."
The Demon smiled in satisfaction. At least the new changes wouldn’t change the dominance fights.
But one of the Orcs had a more practical concern.
"What happens when travelling rchants co through with slave caravans?"
That was definitely not going to end well.
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