Building a Modern Nation in a Fantasy World

"We've mourned our dead…" Talon's voice rang clear, carrying across the quiet square. "But mourning is not the end."

He stepped forward, eyes burning with conviction.

"This is far from over—and we will not let what happened to our officers be swept aside like it meant nothing." His tone sharpened, each word landing heavy with weight. "They may have been ordinary men—no magic, no aura star—but they were the foundation of law and order in Iron Hearth. They were what stood between this city and complete chaos."

He drew in a breath. "Now, Iron Shield has crossed a line. They didn't just kill officers—they attacked the very heart of the justice system. And for that…"

His hand clenched into a fist.

"We have no choice but to eradicate every last one of them."

A ripple went through the crowd—some gasped, others stiffened. But no one laughed. No one doubted he meant every word.

Still… it wasn't enough.

Talon could see it on their faces—the fear, the disbelief. The memory of that day, three days ago, was still too fresh. Blood on stone. Screams in daylight. Five trained officers killed by a single mage.

And it is not even the strongest one in Iron Shield.

Talon's gaze hardened. "I know what you're thinking."

He looked straight into the crowd now, meeting their eyes, one by one.

"We've confirmed that the mage responsible—Tannus—is likely a C-rank mage. And if Iron Shield has someone like him walking their streets… it's safe to assume there are others. Possibly stronger. Possibly ranked aura knights hiding among them."

That admission sent a murmur of unease through the square. A few people shifted uncomfortably. Others looked toward their loved ones, eyes tight with concern.

"But listen closely—" Talon's voice dropped into something colder, deadlier. "That won't stop us."

He looked to his left and right, at the Lieutenants of Station B and C. They gave a single, solemn nod.

"All three divisions have agreed—no more waiting. No more tolerance. We are united in this. The Law Enforcement Division will eliminate Iron Shield, even if it means risking everything."

He paused, letting the gravity of those words sink in.

"I know many of you are asking the same question," he continued, softer now, more honest. "How can ordinary officers with no magic, no aura star—fight against ranked mages and knights?"

He let the silence speak for him for a moment.

"You're not wrong to ask that. Even if we mobilize every last officer from all three stations… we can't guarantee success."

Another pause.

Then, he said—slowly, deliberately:

"But this time… we're not fighting alone."

The crowd went still.

People turned to each other, whispering. Curious. Confused. Hopeful.

What did he mean?

Talon looked over the crowd, the corner of his mouth lifting—not in amusement, but in grim resolve.

"We're not relying on our officers alone," he said, voice steady, clear. "To hunt down and eliminate Iron Shield… we will be joined by knights and mages under direct order from His Majesty, King Arthur Tesla."

A ripple swept through the crowd—sharp intakes of breath, stunned silence.

"When we reported the deaths of the five brave officers, His Majesty responded without delay," Talon continued, his voice firm. "He has granted us full authority to mobilize and command the royal army—mages and knights alike—stationed in Iron Hearth. And more than that… reinforcements are already on their way."

He paused, letting it sink in.

"An additional thirty royal mages and twenty knights from outside regions are on their way. Elite forces. Trained in war. Their orders are clear: find Iron Shield, crush them at the root, and restore peace to this city."

For a moment, the entire square was silent.

Not from fear.

But from awe.

The words "royal army" still echoed in their minds. Mages and knights—real ones. Not just patrolmen with grit and steel batons, but war-forged elites under the banner of King Arthur Tesla himself.

Eyes that had once brimmed with doubt now gleamed with something long lost.

Hope.

They had believed the officers stood no chance—ordinary men and women, trained but powerless against mages and aura knights. But the royal army was a different matter entirely. Their presence changed everything.

Iron Shield may have powerful people—A-rank mages, elite aura knights—but even they paled in comparison to the sheer strength and number that the royal forces commanded. And now… reinforcements were coming too.

It was no longer just a response.

It was a declaration.

A promise of eradication.

Before the crowd could erupt in cheers, Talon raised his voice once more, sharp and clear.

"And this," he said, "is not the end of His Majesty's decree."

The people quieted again, leaning in.

"King Arthur Tesla has issued a new standing order," Talon continued, his voice thick with conviction. "He recognizes the role of our officers—not as expendable footmen, but as enforcers of justice. And though many are without magic or aura star, he honors their sacrifice."

He paused, letting the weight of the next words land.

"From this day forward—if any officer is killed in the line of duty, and certain conditions are met—the Law Enforcement Division has the right to call upon the royal army to pursue and bring their killers to justice."

Gasps broke out across the crowd. Some wept quietly. Others looked to the sky, mouthing silent thanks.

It wasn't just reinforcements they were hearing about.

It was recognition.

Validation.

The lives lost weren't just names on a report or bodies buried quietly.

They mattered.

They were being honored—by the crown itself.

And for those who still wore the uniform, still patrolled the streets of Iron Hearth, this decree meant something deeper. It was a shield against despair. A promise that they would no longer stand alone.

Arthur had designed this policy with intention and precision. He wanted the world to understand: even if officers lacked magic, even if they didn't wield aura, they were not to be mocked, dismissed, or targeted.

They were the law.

And the law would strike back.

Arthur's vision was clear—let the kingdom's strongest mages and aura knights serve in military for war, but let ordinary people uphold justice at home. That was why the Law Enforcement Division recruited non-mages. That was why he gave them power—not to make them feared, but to make them respected.

And now, with royal authority behind them, every gang and crime syndicate in the region would be forced to think twice. Even Iron Shield.

Talon took a step forward, voice rising again.

"I want to make something clear," he said firmly. "Though we've been granted new power—though we now hold authority few officers before us ever have—we will not abuse it."

His eyes scanned the crowd.

"We are servants of the people. We act within the law. And we will never forget who we serve."

Then his expression darkened, and the tone of his voice turned grim.

"And now… my final statement."

He stood tall, his words as sharp as steel.

"From this moment forward, until Iron Shield is completely eliminated, we will not stop the hunt."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"We've been authorized to investigate and, if necessary, search any property—including noble estates—if we find even the faintest trace of collaboration with Iron Shield."

His voice cut through the square like a blade.

"To those hiding behind titles or wealth… if you are aiding Iron Shield in any form, this is your chance. Come forward now. Cooperate, and you'll face minimal punishment. If your information proves useful, your crimes may even be forgiven."

He paused, letting the warning sink in.

"But if we find you the hard way… if we uncover your betrayal ourselves…"

Talon's voice dropped to a cold, final tone.

"Then you will be treated as one of them."

No exceptions.

No mercy.