Chapter 156 - Fleeting Peace and Kikyou-kai Style Education
After the invasion by the drug cartel, I expected a series of intense conflicts, but surprisingly, life in the city continued as usual.
The death of a major figure like Don McDallian is just an underworld event. While it may cause some ripples, it won't lead to open conflict that affects the general populace.
The sudden disappearance of the Legisamo Cartel has also helped. Without a clear target, there's nothing to fight.
Currently, the groups that lost members are desperately searching for the former Snake Head Society's territory, but there's no significant new information.
If they're hiding, they're likely outside the city. It's hard for outsiders to hide from local organizations, so it's more likely they've set up camp elsewhere or have a base in another city.
For the Kikyo Society, this is a non-issue. Our connections outside the city are limited to the Royal Capital, and we don't have the manpower to search aimlessly. Besides, we're not idle.
Let the Five Great Families handle the search. Their influence extends far beyond the neighboring cities and even into other countries. This is the time for them to leverage their extensive networks.
By the way, they can no longer be called the 'Five' Great Families now that the Snake Head Society is gone, but it's easier to keep the name for now. Changing it might cause unnecessary confusion, and there are always people who will nitpick.
As for the Kikyo Society, we don't believe the Legisamo Cartel has any significant presence in the Royal Capital. The House of Oversta controls both the surface and the underworld there, making it difficult for foreign forces to infiltrate. The city is vast, so we can't rule it out entirely, but we have no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Life in the seemingly peaceful Exembra continues, and we at the Kikyo Society are as busy as ever with our expansion efforts.
In a way, the sudden disappearance of a major target has left a slight void.
Just then, a new job came in.
"So, what do the big shots want us to do?"
"There are issues with the planned construction site for the arena. The Kikyo Society has been asked to resolve them."
The development of the arena facilities on a large piece of land in the administrative district is progressing, and the Kikyo Society is the primary stakeholder. As the main driver of this project, backed by the House of Oversta, we must handle any complications.
While the project is advancing, it's not without its challenges.
The Kikyo Society is being asked to step in at the pre-construction stage to address these issues.
"What exactly do we need to resolve? Are they enemies?"
"An administrative district with enemies? What does that mean?"
The land was originally empty, so there was no need for land acquisition. So, what could be the problem?
"It's not a direct attack by an enemy organization. Our task is to remove any interference from ordinary citizens."
"Wait, civilians?"
"This is disappointing."
The atmosphere suddenly became less exciting. It's unlikely to be a thrilling fight. That's to be expected.
"So, what kind of interference? They're not armed or causing destruction, right?"
It's hard to imagine ordinary citizens from outside the district causing such trouble. If there's a reason, it's probably because someone hired them or offered them a reward.
"No, there's no confirmed combat or destruction. However, there are people occupying the construction site. The administrative district can't forcibly remove them without causing a bad impression, so the task has been passed to us."
Whether direct or indirect, the task is the same, and we don't need to overthink it.
This isn't entirely unrelated to us. If they want us to do it, we'll do it. Obstructing us makes them our enemies by default.
Moreover, these people seem to have simply occupied the site, unlike the clever ones who hide behind the law. We can handle them with force without any legal repercussions.
But there's one thing to consider.
Just removing them would be easy.
We could beat them down and threaten them to ensure they never do it again. Their complaints would be meaningless and not worth addressing.
What concerns me is the possibility of similar incidents recurring. If this becomes a regular occurrence, it will be a significant hindrance.
I want to find a solution to prevent it from happening again.
"Frederica, what are their demands? Is the interference itself the goal?"
"It's a common issue. They're demanding relocation compensation."
I see. Occupying the land and demanding money to leave.
"In this weather, some people think up the most ridiculous schemes. Let's quickly deal with it."
The construction site, being an empty lot, doesn't require much land acquisition. The magical devices installed there likely make it more comfortable, which could be a reason for occupation.
There's no indication of any hidden agenda or involvement from an opposing force, according to our client.
The lack of a hidden agenda is good, but it's still a problem. It might have been easier if there was a clear enemy.
"Everyone, listen up. We'll delegate this task to some energetic young members. They need to remove the occupiers, ensure they never do it again, and, if there's a mastermind, thoroughly investigate and deal with them. Also, we need to set an example to prevent similar incidents in the future. Do your best. Consider it a learning experience."
It might seem like I'm passing the buck, but there's no need for high-ranking members to handle such a simple task. It's a good opportunity for the younger members to gain experience. We have many new recruits, and this will be good leadership practice for the more experienced ones. It's a safe and manageable task for new members as well.
The other leaders agreed and nodded.
"Alright, let's decide who will handle it. Let's choose those who lack practical experience."
We selected a few members from each team to handle the task for a while.
This is a valuable experience. I hope they do well.
The Kikyo Society's new member education is thorough and meticulous, though not without its harshness.
The young members are trained by their mentors to meet the Kikyo Society's standards.
However, about half of our new members are outlaws.
It's unrealistic to expect them to follow rules or show discipline. They wouldn't understand or comply with such expectations.
Therefore, we need to use a clear and understandable form of 'force' to ensure they follow orders.
The most effective form is combat strength, followed by financial power.
Overwhelming combat strength can suppress any resistance. It's the simplest and most understandable method.
Displaying financial power gives hope to the down-and-out.
Becoming a full member of the Kikyo Society grants access to that combat strength and wealth. The mentors exemplify this, showing the new members what they can achieve.
At first, they don't need to think too deeply. It's fine to act on their own desires.
We will educate them through the training process.
Our training is intense.
It starts with basic physical conditioning and magical power enhancement, pushing their bodies and minds to the limit. We train them to the brink of death.
These are jobs where the risk of death is a daily reality. To make that clear, we push them to their limits.
Once they have a solid foundation, we move on to hand-to-hand combat, weapon handling, practical magic use, and other essential skills. We repeat this until they meet the minimum standards of a Kikyo Society member. No compromises.
Injuries and near-death experiences are common during this intense training.
We never let them die, but it's necessary to reach the Kikyo Society's standards within a short period. At the initial stage, we focus on building the right mindset.
We also cover general education, from basic literacy to advanced topics like magical theory, the characteristics and handling of magical beasts, and the fundamentals of the underworld. In some cases, we start with basic reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Knowledge is a weapon and a means of self-protection. Those who neglect it cannot become full members of the Kikyo Society.
We don't want members who are easily defeated or deceived, as they would be a liability.
We seek abilities that surpass the norm in many ways. This is what makes a Kikyo Society member proud.
While our standards are high, we take the time to educate them. Most people improve with the right guidance. In that sense, the Kikyo Society is incredibly patient and dedicated to education. We might even consider starting a school and make a fortune.
It takes about three hundred days of intense training for new members to become full members, but this varies depending on their background and initial abilities.
In extreme cases, a weak, illiterate woman from the slums trained with sheer determination, learned the necessary knowledge, and became a full member after about five hundred days.
On the other hand, someone like Mary, who pushed herself to the brink of death every day with the help of healing potions, achieved the required standards in just a few dozen days. Talent played a role, but her effort was significant.
We are also completely meritocratic. If a new member already has the required skills, they might only need to complete a brief theoretical course to become a full member.
The Kikyo Society accepts all, regardless of race, origin, status, age, or background. This has always been our policy. As long as they have the right attitude, determination, and skills, they are welcome. Of course, those who cannot follow our policies are not.
Once they complete the apprenticeship, they are assigned to a team based on their abilities and preferences after consultation.
This is just the beginning. More specialized skills are required from this point.
Completing the apprenticeship is a testament to their basic abilities.
The real challenge starts here. Whether they achieve their goals depends on their further efforts. The Kikyo Society rewards results, and if they feel the tangible benefits, they will strive even harder. Our members are ambitious, and we encourage that.
Through this process, new strong and capable members are born.
A good reputation attracts good talent, and the future of the Kikyo Society is bright.
While the underworld of Exembra is filled with unrest, the Kikyo Society enjoys peace and continues to grow rapidly.
While not often seen, the Kikyo Society's members are increasing and being trained in this manner.
This chapter is lighter, but the organization's expansion continues.
Until there are significant changes in the situation, the focus will remain on organizational growth.
(Please note that intense events are still to come, but they are a bit further in the future.)
Next chapter: 'The Messenger from the North.'