AK - The Alchemy Kingdom

The last branch of AK’s defense is the Watch. The department is responsible for the security and escorting of AK’s citizens. For now, they only engaged with beasts that try to attack construction and transportation teams, but Lew knows that they will need to provide internal security in a not-so-unforeseen future.

While the Agency demands versatility and the military pursues lethality, the Watch’s training focuses on protection and neutralizing threats. Though it might seem similar, the goal can change everything. All branches look for results, but while the army fights to kill the enemy and the agents to complete a mission, the watchers aim to protect their people.

Organizationally, the Watch is even more straightforward than the other two branches. With only three ranked positions and the standard staff, the force employs a little over one hundred people. At the top of the Watch is the position of Officer, which for now, is only held by Toni.

Since their job targets local threats, an officer's influence is also limited to a region. So, as AK grows, other officers should be appointed, probably amongst the accomplished captains. Like the generals, the officers have to respond to the Minister and command the captains. The eight captains under Toni lead their watchers unit, and each is assigned a region to protect or an escorting mission.

After assuming his post, Lew checked on the specific position of Tael’s and Sania’s team and moved deeper into the Ministry’s facilities. In the next room, there was a secured chamber with tree paths.

If he went to the cave corridors on the right, he would arrive at the military training facility, specifically at the training room where the soldiers learned about tactics. Following the structure of the Kingdom, the soldiers were trained in tactics, survival, and combat. However, Lew also added basic studies to teach the soldiers to read, write, count, and use magic tools to help them operate the enhanced tools better.

On the left, the Minister could access the Agency. The nearest room was the tracking office, where the staff agents would use several drawn maps and markers to position agents, beasts, targets, and any relevant information. Lew had specially requested a skilled drawer amongst their citizens to paint the maps acquired through Keller and their recon unit. Most reports with a position update from agents came to this room first.

The surveillance towers installed between AP and the forest’s borders also send their locating alerts directly to the tracking office. The towers used a MQ wind crystal to locate different targets, and in the event of a return signal with a positive indication, it would send a lightning signal to the communication tower, which would be automatically redirected to this office. The system demanded at least two staff agents at all times to process the information, but it was worth identifying any approaching threat.

Lew looked at the two corridors before continuing towards a third one located ahead. Again, he pressed against a spiritual lock to access another restricted area. Inside, the Minister was greeted by a staff officer and two soldiers chosen to provide security this week. The relatively small room had two access to go even deeper into the facility. One of the rooms was secured with the common spiritual lock, but the other had a solid bubble barrier.

The proceedings to remove the barrier involved preparing a team to deal with possible attacks from what was behind it. Once everything was ready, the dark blue magic layer disappeared, leaving an ominous silence in the room. A minute passed, but nothing drastic happened. With a nod, Lew confirmed his intentions, and the team proceeded to enter the warded room.

The secret place was less accomodating than the previous rooms. Only the ground was covered with stones, while the walls looked like a typical cave. Of course, the natural mixture of rocks and earth hid the hardening effect, which protected the room from earth digging beasts. The cavern in front of Lew had six sub-caves surrounded by thick walls, undoubtedly altered to create clear entrances. Two caves were sealed with the same dark blue layer of energy, which locked the entire cave.

The Ministry of Defense was using this fortunate natural unusual formation as a prison. Lew had a solemn and heavy expression. Not a trace of satisfaction could be seen on his face. He didn’t like keeping others imprisoned, but the alternatives would either soil his soul or create future international incidents. The results from the forced soul interrogation still weighed heavily on his memory.

As an attempt to soothe his conscience, he made a mental remark that an alternative had been offered to the prisoners. In truth, most would want death, but that mercy was only granted during the battle. Killing them now was somewhat dishonorable. The team securing the room didn’t take the seemingly calm situation for safety. They accompanied Lew towards the sub-caves without relaxing their guard, ready to attack at any sudden change.

“Did you reconsider the proposal?”

The glowing children-size being stared at Lew with disdain. The light inside the sub-cave brightened, almost outshining the arrays at the collar restricting the strangely beautiful Fairy. The new custom-made restrainer absorbed the energy from the vengeful prisoner and directed it towards themselves. Soon, they dropped the attempt of a light attack. It wasn’t the first time they tried to use it, but they just couldn’t control themselves.

“Filth Human! You dare to lock this luminous one… I, the heir to sacred light of the radiant sun clan, shall give you due lighting punishment!”

Lew tried to argue with the Fairy, but the enraged creature didn’t stop cursing or promising him enlighting damnation. In the end, he could only give up and move to try his luck with the second Fairy prisoner. The other one, whom Tael identified as Advika, was much more controlled, but they refuse to talk instead of verbally assaulting him.

The Ministry wasn’t new to arresting enemies, the spies and assassins sent by the friendly new Wind Lord would fill up their prison caves in a couple of months, but not a single survivor would choose to stay imprisoned. The mercenaries would be offered the option of taking an oath to block the memories of AK and prevent them from returning before being released into the forest, while the sound Mage’s retainers could take an oath to behave, earning the chance to move to another room with a lot more comfort and freedom. Though the decision met resistance, the Council agreed that it would be helpful to keep prisoners for a future diplomatic exchange.

Surprisingly, the Faries dismissed the oath option without even considering it. Though they could try forcing the oath on them, it would probably cause soul damage. Trying to force a soul modification wasn’t easy unless they wanted to go all out and enslave them, much like they were doing with the beasts.

Without an alternative, the Minister could only give up on the prisoners for now. They had much to do before the Council meeting. He couldn’t say how so, but something told him that AK would soon go through another big change. Lew just hoped their relative peace would continue for a few more years.