Abyssal Awakening-Chapter 987: Justification

Miki closed her eyes and took a slow breath.

The urge faded.

She dispelled the urge. Killing them would validate everything Erwen has done. To commit a slaughter not unlike the one he did.

Not only that, but the city was in a fragile state.

If she turned this chamber into a bloodbath, panic would tear through Grand Cathia like wildfire. Fear would drive people into the Nightmare even faster than before.

For now, there was still room to talk.

A thin, fragile balance.

But if she killed the nobles, that balance would break.

The citizens would fear her just as much as they feared the nobles.

And fear without safety only led to one place. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

The Nightmare.

Miki opened her eyes. Her face had already settled back into its usual calm.

Across the chamber, the old man raised his cane and tapped it once against the marble floor.

"Now then. Since we all agree the emergency has ended, we should begin discussing the transition back to normal governance."

Miki held back a sigh.

So they wanted their power back.

One noble leaned over the long table, fingers pressed together.

"The temporary command structure put in place during the siege will naturally be dissolved."

He gave a lazy wave of one hand.

"Not at once, of course. There is still the possibility that this announcement is some kind of trick by the Nightmare."

Several others nodded.

Another noble farther down the table joined in.

"But keeping the military at this level of readiness is unreasonable. The strain on the city’s resources is far too great."

A heavier man adjusted the rings on his fingers before speaking.

"The city guard should be reassigned under the supervision of the Noble Council."

More nods.

As if the conclusion were self-evident.

A woman draped in jewels lifted a folding fan, concealing the lower half of her smile.

"After all... the security of Grand Cathia has always been the responsibility of its ruling houses."

Miki almost laughed.

Security?

Responsibility?

Where had that responsibility been when the Nightmare first appeared?

Where had it been when the sieges battered the walls?

Where had it been when soldiers and civilians alike were dying in the streets?

Her gaze drifted across the nobles gathered around the table.

Expensive coats.

Perfumed air.

Not a single scar among them.

’Did I really expect anything different?’ Miki thought to herself.

Even thought these nobles were also dragged into the Nightmare, they didn’t do anything. They simply waited and didn’t bother progressing.

Why work hard for power when they have guards to help them resolve everything?

Even if the city falls, as long as they live, things will be fine.

The only thing she could be grateful for was that none of them have sided with the Zenia family.

Yet.

Rather, they were too small for the big family to notice.

The only one worth mentioning was the Nightingale family but that was in the past.

The nobles never accepted her authority as the family head. They only endured while the danger persisted.

Now that it had passed, they wanted everything back. No need to put up with this farce any longer.

A thin noble with slicked back hair cleared his throat.

"There is also the matter of the Nightmare. With the gates to that realm now open, it will require immediate regulation."

Several heads turned towards him.

"We cannot allow people to enter freely. Chaos would be inevitable."

The old man with the cane nodded.

"Precisely. Now that the siege has ended and free access is given, the Nightmare must be properly administered."

Miki couldn’t hold it back anymore.

"And how exactly will we achieve that? The Nightmare has left a door that can be opened by anyone. How will you stop citizens from freely entering?"

A few murmurs echoed out in the hall as the old man tapped his cane.

"Access should naturally be organised by the noble houses. Each house can sponsor appropriate candidates to focus their resources on for each district. Capable individuals. People who can be trusted with power."

The nobles nodded while giving praise.

"As for making sure the civilians don’t enter, we will use a surveillance system. I’m sure with the technology that has been developed during this time of crisis, Captain Nightingale has something of that nature, right?"

All eyes turned to Miki.

"Unfortunately, with the tech we have, it is simply not realistic to deploy large scale in order to monitor the entire city." She shrugged.

"But with the Nightmare now over, you have plenty of time to develop it do you not?" A noble cut in.

"Then you’ll have to ask the research department rather than myself." Miki dismissed.

These nobles always assuming they knew everything despite not moving a finger to help.

They don’t know the hours upon hours they’ve had to put in just to make something barely usable to monitor the Nightmare.

The noble was about to counter when the old man raised his hand, calming down the hall.

"We may talk about the issue of time in our next meeting. I’m sure Captain Nightingale will need time to discuss this with her team. But the goal is clear. We must ensure that the Nightmare remains under proper supervision."

The nobles started to talk amongst themselves.

One of which even whispered a line about making sure commoners don’t imagine themselves equal to their betters.

"Now, we must talk about you, Captain Nightingale. Or rather, let us address you properly, Lady Nightingale." He smiled. "You have served your purpose during the crisis. But henceforth, this is a matter that requires experienced leadership."

He paused for a moment.

"Leadership that understands governance."

Miki narrowed her eyes.

"And frankly, your situation should be addressed as well. Properly."

A few nobles exchanged knowing glances.

"Your father is gone. The Nightingale family no longer holds the influence it once did. Of course, that’s not to discredit everything your family and yourself has done for the family.

"But you are young, unmarried. And occupying a position that was never meant to belong to you."

Miki’s guards wanted to shout in protest but Miki shot them a glare.

For them to stand down.

"Perhaps it would be wiser to focus on securing the future of your house."

His smile was thin.

"A proper marriage alliance could stabilize your family’s standing."

"Several houses would certainly be willing to assist."

Letting the silence drag on for a little while, Miki finally spoke.

"Is that all?"

The old man thought it was Miki asking whether or not that was everything they wanted to say.

"Since you have a lot to think about, I’ll keep it simple for now. Emergency command will be dissolved. The noble council will assume oversight of the city and Nightmare access will be regulated through the appropriate houses."

His eyes settled on Miki. "You may step down from your current authority and think about your future. The council will send you a list of your potential marriage partners at a later date."

Miki looked at him for a long moment.

No anger showed on her face. No hurt. Nothing they could use.

"Finished?" She asked.

The old man’s smile faded ever so slightly.

Miki swept her gaze across the hall. From one face to the next.

"You want authority? Sure. I can wave around a paper and give it back to you. But can you ensure that people will follow?" She asked with a mocking tone.

"You speak as though this is something that can just be picked up from the floor the moment danger passes. But the city is no longer like that. The Nightmare has shaped people in ways you can’t imagine.

"Their desperation. Their resilience. If you want to carry out the orders, by all means, go for it. But if danger has truly passed... know that I don’t need the safety net of your precious guards anymore.

"I don’t need to think about whether or not I can manipulate the situation to force you to make a move, if the city is truly about to fall." Miki narrowed her eyes.

"Instead, all I need to do is watch as you carry out your orders. Impose your desires onto the people. Then watch as they tear down this upper layer and decorate it with your corpses. To pain the walls red and allow the city to be reborn through your sacrifice." She smiled creepily as one of the Nobles jumped up.

He was about to shout when a spear slammed into the wall behind him.

A cut appeared on his cheek.

Blood rolled down and stained the carpet.

"I’ve had the courtesy to listen to your garbage. As nobles, surely you have the etiquette to listen to what I have to say." Miki asked as their guards lunged towards her.

"Or need I remind you what Erwen did when he cleared out the noble houses that he could get his hands on before leaving?"

Without hesitation, Miki wove past their strikes and grabbed them by their face.

Compared to the dangers she had to face in the Nightmare, against Alice, this was nothing!

*BANG!!!

Slamming them into the ground, the floor cracked beneath them.

They weren’t dead, but they couldn’t fight either.

"For people who claim to have the intelligence of governance, all of you act like ignorant children. F*cking pathetic." She spat in disgust.

A part of her listened just in case. On the small chance that a miracle occurred and they spoke some sense rather than this garbage. But she was proven yet again that these people were beyond saving.

"I will do as I have done. Ensure that the city is safe. If you decide to sabotage this city on its way to recovery, by all means..." Miki narrowed her eyes, allowing her killing intent to seep out.

"Give me the justification I need to kill you where you stand."