Butcher is the one in charge of monopolizing these dead humans. A corpse has so many uses for every maniac, be it for literal consumption, those that are cannibalism, or decorations. Believe it or not, these corpses are butchered, organs separated from the body, skinned, torn to pieces, and distributed widely outside the city.
Yes, it was like a human farm for those that are craving or seeking pleasure in humans. It was not always sexual, like those necrophiliac scums. Sometimes, people buy it for something like art, considering a mummified head of a person a piece of beautiful art, displayed in a noble's house.
And the curious taste buds of fat bastards whose hunger was insatiable, crave human meat, ordering large amounts of human organs and body parts to try and test everything out.
Magic was convenient for everyone. In Butcher's case, he no longer has any need for tools to cut the corpses to pieces. Granted the power to wield ice magic, Butcher used it to create his own tools made from ice.
"Be careful with each of them, guys. They might still be kicking and alive. No one wants to let a rat slip past them, right?"
The dead bodies were dragged back to their base camp. Their earnings will then be delivered to Butcher's warehouse tomorrow when the chaos has temporarily subsided to receive their payment.
Butcher isn't originally a criminal or anything of the sort. King Estaroth assigned him there with the job of getting rid of all evil in Haven City. And the clever and cunning man came up with the idea of fulfilling weird people's disgustingly weird desires.
His wonderful idea was backed by the king himself wherein tons of money were brought by Butcher while getting rid of all the criminals in Haven City. It's like hitting birds with one stone.
Starting this mass bloodbath was an easy thing for Butcher to do. By spreading out words around the city, criminals with an insatiable desire for inflicting pain on others commenced massacres here and there.
At first, criminals forced themselves inside houses, brutally murdering and torturing others, until an unwritten rule sprang in the middle of turmoil. Numbers of dead bodies begin to pile up in Butcher's warehouse, and so was the influx of money.
It reeled in more money for small projects King Estaroth wanted to begin. Butcher was rewarded with his great work and is earning more than most of the nobles in Estaria.
Meeting Eusebio and Bethel together was what Invictus planned. However, he was a little late to the party. Bethel's faction was almost done cleaning up the corpses lying around when Invictus arrived.
He was alone, his clothes were soaking red in blood, and met Bethel's eyes with a menacing look from his pair of glaring gaze.
Bethel, who was just about to leave, stared back and felt chills run down his spine upon meeting Invictus' menacing look. His instincts immediately told him to raise his guard and alert his men of the single threat.
"He might be alone but that guy is not someone to be underestimated."
Emitting intense bloodlust around him became Invictus' habit. He forgot that he was surrounding himself with bloodthirsty desires for killing. Therefore, he eased up and raised both of his hands.
"My bad... I am not here to make an enemy of your faction," began Invictus, slowly trotting forward. "In fact, I am here to tell you my proposition, which I think will benefit everyone, especially you, Bethel."
Bethel put his hand forward, stopping Invictus in his tracks.
"You're the newcomer. I've heard about you." He pulled out his tobacco and lit it up for a puff. "Although I don't see you killing everyone here right now, I'll at least listen to what you have to say. If it is interesting, I won't kill you and might even consider it. However, if it's not, expect death on your doorstep."
Invictus chuckled softly, "sure, sure. I doubt you'll be able to kill me since I am one hundred percent sure you will work for me."
***
It didn't take long for King Estaroth to hear the news about the destruction of Virval Highlands.
"You're telling me there is no survivor?!" King Estaroth angrily slammed his fist on his throne.
The soldier reporting to him was shaking.
"Y-Yes, your highness! The townspeople were all burned to death. However—"
"But?"
"Some remains were found near the bridge. My men have investigated the dead bodies and found out they were killed."
"Killed?!" Intoned King Estaroth.
The soldier had his eyes glued on the red mattress, down on one knee.
"Yes, your highness! Moreover, monster tracks had been discovered. It seems that they were from the remnants of goblins."
What angered King Estaroth the most was the failure of his knights assigned in Virval Highlands.
"Galvan."
"Yes, your highness?" Answered Galvan, King Estaroth's overseer, and advisor.
Fraught with old age, Galvan in his formal attire went to his king's words.
"Is the provincial town restorable? How much will we be spending for people to live there again?"
Galvan opened a scroll where he tallied and listed everything they will need to restore the provincial town back to how it was again. He read the contents out loud in front of King Estaroth.
"Virval Highlands is indeed restorable, but we will need a large sum of money."
"How much is this large sum you're talking about?"
"About 10,000 Plata, your highness."
Galvan noticed his king frowned at the sum, thus proceeding to answer more of King Estaroth's questions.
"What about the mining cave?"
"A few excavations will be needed. It will not cost anything. We can just order your men to do the job."
"Alright. I'll leave everything to you, Galvan."
"Expect the best, your highness."
This was about a week before Invictus reached Haven City. The procedure progressed rather fast due to Galvan's outstanding job. Slowly, the provincial town was recreated, and plants and trees were cultivated to give life to the dead mountain.
But a problem sprang up in the mining cave, for the place turned out to be the goblins' new den after slaughtering the townspeople of Virval Highlands.
~