"Ahh… Ohh, of course, I totally agree with you, my lord," Harl stammered, his body bowed low.

He then turned his sharp gaze to the assembled crowd. "Listen up," he commanded. He pointed to the emblem on his chest a knife piercing a heart. "I'm sure most of you are aware which royal family I come from. But for others who don't, well, let me remind you of my status. Listen and listen good: I am Greyjoy, from the family Bearmount."

His voice swelled with aristocratic arrogance. "Citizens of Manyblood! The State has heard your cries! Heard your pleas! And finally has decided to take action by sending me."

He paused for dramatic effect, letting the power of his name settle over the terrified, yet awed, villagers. "I will be simple and direct with you. I've been called here because I always get the job done. I'm the best man for this. I always get results."

I couldn't believe the confidence oozing from him. For a teenager to sound this sure of himself, the missing persons case must truly be dire.

He now began walking towards the notice board, feeling its rough material and gliding his long fingers over the thick batches of paper. All everyone could do at that moment was watch.

"It's sad. So many names here. Missing. I sympathize with you all," he said, removing his gloves.

Is he sniffing the board? Astraya looked visibly shocked, and her shock was called for: he did start to smell the board and the papers, then placed his ear against the wood as if listening for voices.

"You never know what's on the mind of a royal; they are just unpredictable," Granny Maera muttered beside us, and she was right.

"Sooo sad, so sad," he said, now facing the crowd. "I hear them. The missing. They call to me. They beg of me to help them."

Granny Maera gasped. "Wait! My lord, you hear the voices, too? I knew it!" Everyone turned toward us, as though Granny and the young royal could see things they could not.

"Yes, Granny, I hear every last word they say. I'm touched."

"Wait, are you tearing up, my lord?" Harl cried out.

"Yes, Harl. These are tears of sorrow and happiness as well," he said, wiping the corner of his eye. "Blackroot has suffered so much the past four years."

A man beside us sounded relieved. "Finally, I can get justice for my daughter," he said. In a split second, everyone actually showed their true concerns, no longer pretending as though nothing was wrong.

The young man's voice rose higher, as though speaking to an army. "I have heard your pleas! I have felt the sorrow from the board!" His tone was designed to rouse us to war, while his snake glared at the crowd a cold gesture of authority.

"THIS TOWN NEEDS TO FEEL NEW AGAIN! FREE FROM THE STAINS AND BAD REPUTATION IT HAS GOTTEN! THIS TOWN SHALL BE REBORN AGAIN UNDER ME!"

Granny Maera looked overjoyed; she clearly felt her grandson was finally going to be found. Greyjoy sounded arrogant, perhaps, but if he was this sure of himself and I could already tell he was a powerful Mage, even if I didn't know his exact strength he was indeed a great public speaker.

As he continued to raise the fire in the hearts of the people:

"YOU ALL MUST BE FREE FROM THE SHACKLES THAT HAVE BEEN CHAINED DOWN BY THE MISSINGS ON THIS BOARD! YOU ALL SHALL BE REBORN! NOTHING OR NO ONE WILL GO MISSING AGAIN—NOT EVEN THE VERY HAIR ON YOUR SKIN, NOR THE NAILS ON YOUR FINGERS!"

"I shall do so well that you all shall build a statue in my name, in honor of I, Greyjoy Bearmount, the town's hero and savior of Blackroot Town! CAUSE I AM HERE! A NEW TOWN MUST HAVE A NEW FEEL TO IT! IT IS THEREFORE OUR FIRST TASK, OUR FIRST MISSION, AS PEOPLE, AS CITIZENS OF BLACKROOT AND THE BEAUTIFUL STATE OF MANYBLOOD, TO BURN THIS NOTICE BOARD TO THE GROUND!"

"Huh…" That was the only word that came from the mouths of multiple people, utter shock silencing the cheers.

"Burn it down, my lord?" someone from the crowd stammered, as Harl added, "But we haven't found anyone yet, my lord!"

"Oh, I know. And this very moment, my statue should begin to be built, in fact, right where this billboard is placed especially while I'm in town, so that I may correct the craftsman, as he won't capture all my essence!"

Greyjoy then asked the crowd, "Who here is a craftsman in the arts of statue-making?"

A man, wearing the outfit of a craftsman, raised a hand. "I, sir!"

"Go to the Mayor's office! Tell him I said I want my statue built here immediately! GO now!" The man immediately turned and started running.

What was I witnessing? Was this some kind of joke or prank? Was this Greyjoy guy serious? I turned to see Granny Maera's face, but it was too late; she was already moving towards him.

"But my lord, can you reconsider? Maybe after the cases have been solved, then we can remove the board," Harl tried to advise the young lord.

"Are you saying I will fail in accomplishing my task?" Greyjoy was already looking irritated, and his snake was subconsciously giving an irritated hiss, its eyes glowing faintly red.

The young man didn't even acknowledge Harl's fear or advice as he searched for someone in the crowd. "Good. You two there," he commanded, pointing to two nearby men, "help him bring it down. Into the middle of the market so everyone can see it burned down."

The men obeyed his command without hesitation, tugging at the board until it creaked and finally tore free from the post. The villagers stood frozen, too afraid to protest. Only one person moved.

Granny Maera.

She stepped into the path, her frail frame trembling yet unyielding. Greyjoy's eyes narrowed.

"Move aside, Granny," he said coolly. "I will cleanse this town."

"The board," she pleaded, "is the only reminder we have of the missing. It holds their names our memories. Please, reconsider. My grandson is still out there."

Greyjoy sighed, as if bored by her pain. "Granny, I understand your sorrow, but clinging to grief helps no one. Let the past burn so the future may grow."

Then, with a casual snap of his fingers, he turned to his towering snake. "Burn it."

Now facing Granny Maera, his eyes held no pity, only impatience. "Step aside now.

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