The moon hadn't set when the torches were lit across the Eastern District.
Flames flickered in synchronized rhythm along rooftops and walkways, guiding the people toward the heart of Riven's territory — the plaza beneath the Old Bell Tower.
At its center stood a single stone platform.
And chained atop it, in a chair of iron and ashwood, sat Don Halberd.
He wasn't smiling anymore.
---
The crowd swelled as dawn crept in behind the mist.
Civilians. Fighters. Merchants. Even spies, trying to look like bakers and guards.
Everyone wanted to see it.
The first public judgment under the rule of Riven Valen.
---
> [Main Quest: Judgment at Dawn]
Objective: Deliver justice to the accused council member.
Time Remaining: 2 hours.
Reward: Influence Over Neutral Districts, System Evolution (Judicial Interface)
Penalty: Morale Loss / Council Retaliation (If mishandled)
---
Riven stood alone at the foot of the platform, arms behind his back, eyes locked on Halberd.
Mira, Eron, and Yra stood nearby — not as guards, but as witnesses.
He didn't bring executioners.
He would not hide behind them.
The man had betrayed them.
The city would hear the truth.
---
At the first bell of the morning, Riven stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
"Three days ago," he began, voice sharp and cold, "I was nearly killed in an ambush."
Murmurs rippled.
"Two nights ago, a child courier was used as bait to feed me into a trap."
Gasps. One woman wept.
"Yesterday, I received a decrypted message tracing three unauthorized military shipments to the docks."
He turned to Halberd.
"All routed through the river… under your seal."
---
Halberd chuckled dryly. "Do you think this makes you strong, boy? Public spectacle? Mob justice?"
Riven's voice never rose. "Strength is not proven by whispers in the dark. But by standing in the light."
He unrolled a scroll.
"Cargo manifests. Courier intercepts. Seal samples. All confirmed."
He let the crowd see them.
"A hundred crates of weapons. Two of venom. One of relics from forbidden ruins."
"Those relics," he added, "were intended to awaken dormant cult cells in the Western Spire."
Now silence gripped the plaza.
Even the wind held its breath.
---
> [Judicial Progress: 87% – Crowd Leaning Toward Condemnation]
---
Halberd growled. "You think these people care about your little speech? They want food. Coin. Safety."
"And I gave it," Riven said. "You gave them blood and lies."
Halberd stood, yanking his chains taut. "I gave them power. I fed families for years while your noble wars rotted this city."
He looked at the people.
"I never asked to rule. I only made deals they were too weak to refuse."
Riven let the silence settle.
Then spoke four words.
"The deals end here."
---
He turned to the crowd.
"I offer this decision not as ruler… but as witness."
> "You know what he did."
"You know what he sold."
"You know what it cost."
He pointed to the chain binding Halberd's leg.
"No ruler should demand your trust. They should earn it."
"I'm asking for your choice."
---
> [System Prompt: Let the People Choose?]
Option A: Deliver Verdict Personally
Option B: Delegate to Public Assembly
Option C: Trial by Duel (Request of the Accused)
Riven stared at the crowd.
He could see it in their eyes — hope… and fear.
They wanted to believe. They needed a voice.
He gave it to them.
Option B.
---
> [Public Assembly Activated – Verdict Pending...]
One by one, voices rang out.
"Guilty!"
"He sold out our children!"
"I lost my brother to that poison!"
Mira stepped forward, voice steady. "My clinic was attacked with weapons marked under your name, Don Halberd. You denied me help. You denied my people medicine. You don't deserve mercy."
Eron looked at the crowd and simply said:
"My name is Eron Darrin. I followed Riven through flame and blood. I saw this man laugh while others starved. I vote guilty."
---
The chorus grew.
"Guilty."
"Guilty."
"GUILTY."
The bell rang again.
---
> [Verdict: GUILTY – 92% Public Consensus Reached]
Penalty Unlocked: Execution / Exile / Forced Oath Binding (Select Method)
Riven stared into Halberd's eyes.
Gone was the merchant. Gone was the fat laughter.
Only desperation remained.
"You deserve the rope," Riven said. "But I will not martyr you."
He raised a crystal sphere — glowing faintly blue.
"This is an Oath Seal. You will kneel, swear your full holdings, titles, and territories to the people of the Eastern District… or your body will implode from within."
Halberd's mouth twisted. "You're bluffing."
Riven crushed the first shard — and Halberd fell to his knees, screaming as energy seared his chest.
Riven whispered, "This is what mercy looks like."
---
Halberd swore.
The System locked it in.
---
> [New Territory Acquired: South Docks – Transferred from Don Halberd]
[Influence Increased Across Adjacent Sectors]
[System Upgrade: Judicial Authority Unlocked]
> Synchronization: 81%
Morale: +12%
Loyalty: +10%
Fear: -4%
Influence: Expanded
---
As Halberd was dragged away under guard, Riven stood once more before the people.
"This city is broken," he said. "But not beyond repair."
"If you fight for it — I will fight beside you."
Cheers thundered.
But as he descended from the platform, Mira whispered near his ear.
"One of the council seats is empty."
"The Serpent?"
She nodded. "Their emissary hasn't been seen in two days."
Riven's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't think they'd miss a spectacle like this."
---
That night, a courier arrived.
Bleeding. Barely alive.
Inside a velvet pouch — a silver fang pendant.
And a note:
> "You judged one man. But missed the monster."
"The Circle never forgives."
---
> [Quest Update: The Blade Within the Circle – New Suspect Identified.]
Identity: Unknown
Origin: Serpent Order Internal Conflict
Status: Active Threat
---
Riven stood in the tower's highest chamber, watching the fires of the district burn low.
Judgment had been delivered.
But war had only just begun.
---
> [Synchronization: 84%...]