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Chapter 96: Recruitment
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 23:54:13 +0000 UTCThe new warden, Anthony, was exceedingly welcoming to the unexpected visit from Charlot. After a cordial exchange, Charlot revealed his purpose:
"My City Patrol Guards are soon to be reorganized into the Free Knights Order, but the Empire cannot supply me with sufficient manpower, so I’ve come to ask for your help!"
Anthony, a shrewd man, smiled and replied, "Apologies, but Kilmainham Prison houses only felons with heavy sentences."
Charlot shrugged and said, "I’m well aware the prisoners in Kilmainham aren’t suitable. However, as the warden here, you must know people in other prisons. Would it be possible for you to introduce me to someone?"
Charlot didn’t know Anthony’s origins, but he was certain Anthony was one of Menielman’s people. Otherwise, Anthony wouldn’t have recognized him so easily, nor signed his transfer order so promptly.
How could such connections go unused?
Sure enough, Warden Anthony hesitated for a moment, pondered briefly, then smiled:
"If it’s prisoners from other prisons you want, that can be arranged."
"Here’s what I’ll do. Tomorrow, I’ll have the prisoners report to No. 1 Falcon Street. I can’t guarantee how many there will be, but there will certainly be more than a thousand."
Charlot was delighted. After some further idle conversation, Charlot deliberately left behind ten gold écus on his seat as he stood to leave. Anthony didn’t remind him of it and instead personally escorted Charlot out of Kilmainham Prison.
Back in his carriage, Charlot finally understood why those with power and connections always seemed to stay one step ahead.
A few days ago, Clair Bretagne had mentioned to him:
"Within a week at most, Fars will declare war on the Byron vampires."
And today, Lady Mavis told him the Lukavaro District City Patrol Guards were about to be reorganized into the Free Knights Order. She even brought the official documentation, allowing him to legally start recruiting soldiers ahead of time.
As luck would have it, Charlot had previously worked at Kilmainham Prison, and the new warden belonged to his faction. This allowed him to gather prisoners before anyone else, ensuring his Free Knights Order could stand up early.
By the time the Fars Empire officially declared war, others would realize they could recruit prisoners as soldiers, but it would already be too late.
Of course, those in even higher positions knew about this earlier than Charlot. But they wouldn’t face Charlot’s difficulties—noble armies were always fully staffed.
Charlot sat in the carriage, thinking for a moment before instructing Mrs. Nancy:
"Head back to No. 1 Falcon Street."
While Anthony promised to arrange prisoners for him, the number might be insufficient, and the quality of the recruits would likely be poor. Charlot still needed another source of recruits.
Once back at No. 1 Falcon Street, Charlot had Dubin Alger invite the heads of every gang in the Lukavaro District.
Dubin left with a few men and returned over two hours later, bringing back fifty or sixty people in total, representing thirteen gangs.
Of the five largest gangs in Lukavaro District, only three sent representatives: the Lone Wolves, Dark Night Beasts, and Guloff Brotherhood. The other two refused to meet Dubin’s envoys, their attitudes quite arrogant.
While most gangs didn’t care much about the City Patrol Guards, few were willing to antagonize them directly. Since Charlot’s men had extended a courteous invitation, some gang leaders were curious about what this Head Overseer of the City Patrol Guards wanted.
Most gang leaders didn’t dare to come personally, fearing it was a trap to wipe them out. Instead, they sent subordinates as representatives.
The Lone Wolves were the exception—their leader came himself. Known as Scar for a knife wound across his face, he was a large, burly man exuding menace. Though not a Transcendent, his martial strength was formidable.
The Dark Night Beasts were represented by their second-in-command, Yellow Bear, a first-rank Transcendent. Yellow Bear was a towering figure, though he hadn’t taken the knight’s path. He was a demon hunter, even more imposing than White Wolf, the demon hunter Charlot had previously encountered—despite White Wolf being a massive man standing over two meters tall.
The Guloff Brotherhood sent neither of their three leaders. Instead, they dispatched an inconspicuous man—a small, wiry individual with a dagger at his waist, introducing himself as Golden Rat.
Among the smaller gangs’ leaders, the most eye-catching figure was a woman of sturdy build but attractive features. She introduced herself as Doll Sister. Also a Transcendent, she followed the Puppeteer’s Path. Notably, she was one of only two Transcendents among the gang representatives.
Charlot greeted these gang leaders with an amiable smile, but his words carried undeniable dominance:
"Lukavaro District must fall under the jurisdiction of the City Patrol Guards!"
The gang members grew restless. If not for the rumors that this Head Overseer was not only a Transcendent but had single-handedly killed eight Transcendent detectives from the Fierce Horse Agency, the gangs would likely have rioted.
Scar from the Lone Wolves glared menacingly and asked:
"Head Overseer Charlot, what do you mean by this?"
Charlot smiled faintly and replied:
"I have a batch of blank conscription documents. I need each of you to send people to join the City Patrol Guards and assist in managing Lukavaro District."
This caused an even greater commotion among the gang members.
But the atmosphere had shifted. Scar sneered and asked:
"How many of those documents do you have? Hand all the spots to the Lone Wolves, and we’ll take care of the entire district for you."
Of the five largest gangs, only Scar had come personally. Though not a Transcendent, Scar was confident his strength surpassed most ordinary Transcendents. He clearly intended to pressure Charlot and show him who was boss.
Charlot’s smile remained as he raised his voice:
"There can be only one voice in Lukavaro District—that of Charlot Mecklenburg. I don’t mind being challenged, and I don’t mind killing anyone who challenges me."
Charlot drew his Silver Rhino alchemical pistol, loading it with anti-magic armor-piercing rounds from its spatial magazine before setting it on the table.
Scar’s fierce gaze faltered. Though he remained outwardly intimidating, he didn’t say another word. He knew that in the hands of a Transcendent, a single alchemical weapon could kill opponents two or three ranks above them.
Yellow Bear and Doll Sister also stayed silent. Both were first-rank Transcendents, but neither was confident they could take on Charlot.
The rest of the gang members finally settled down.
Charlot’s reputation for ruthlessness had preceded him. Even though most of the City Patrol Guards in Lukavaro District were essentially ghost employees, over two hundred still showed up for work daily. This wasn’t a force any single gang could challenge alone.
Moreover, Charlot wasn’t trying to make enemies. He was offering the gangs a share of "power." Nobody wanted to miss out on such a feast.
One voice soon broke the silence:
"The Lone Wolves can’t eat this entire cake themselves. We Dark Night Beasts are willing to help Head Overseer Charlot share the responsibility."
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