Marcos stood in front of the operations board, hands behind his back, eyes scanning every number. The ShadowMarket had surpassed 80,000 réis in active reserves, with a quarterly profit close to 22,000. The expansions to Contagem and Betim were producing results—but they had also drawn unwanted attention.
Trade was growing.
So were the risks.
Two shipments of soap had been intercepted along the road between Contagem and the outskirts of Belo Horizonte. The messengers returned bruised and frightened, the cargo gone.
Marcos didn't need to ask what the city guards had done.
He already knew.
In the current reality, local security fell under a patchwork of municipal captains, small-town guards, or political appointees. Most mayors were nothing more than influential intermediaries, placed by favor or landownership. The police, when they existed, were understaffed and undertrained—decorative at best, passive at worst.
There were laws, yes. But laws without enforcement were like locks on open doors.
And so, Marcos decided to create his own armored hand.
The idea was born while he reviewed patrol logs with Gaspar and Tobias.
"They don't have structure," he said. "And they don't care. But we do. And we have something they never will—resources, discipline, and vision."
Thus, the Blood Roses were conceived.
The name came from something Vicência once said, pointing at a crimson wildflower blooming from between stone slabs behind the Nine Fingers' base:
"Even beauty needs thorns."
The image struck Marcos. A force that was legal, visible, disciplined—yet still dangerous when needed.
30% of ShadowMarket's net profits were immediately redirected into the formation of the new force.
Allocation:
– Quarterly Profit: 22,100 réis
– Blood Roses Security Force: 6,630 réis
– Nine Fingers (Clandestine Ops): 4,420 réis
– Infrastructure Expansion: 5,000 réis
– Reserve Fund: 6,050 réis
The first step was the recruitment of a commander.
Marcos selected Baltazar, a former officer from a provincial guard unit—stoic, respected, and clean-handed. Known across the region for his silence and steel discipline, Baltazar accepted the role without questions.
He began recruiting immediately.
The Blood Roses were registered legally as a civil patrol company, operating under local legal codes that allowed self-funded security units. Since they were not religious, militia, or noble-backed, Marcos secured written approval from the mayors of Contagem and Betim—who were more concerned with tax stability and calm streets than power plays.
Their uniforms were sewn in dark reinforced cotton, adorned with a blood-red rose insignia over the heart. Short swords, pistols, iron-tipped spears—nothing showy, but effective.
They were ordered to be seen.
To march in pairs.
To speak with authority but not arrogance.
To protect merchants.
To maintain order at open-air markets.
In the second month of deployment, two independent traders asked—cautiously—if the Blood Roses could escort their wagons to Sabará.
Marcos declined.
For now.
But he made a note:
"Escort service: prepare for pilot phase."
Meanwhile, product development continued.
In Contagem, the new manual hydraulic press was nearly ready. It would allow faster production of compact charcoal-based soap—perfect for miners and industrial laborers.
Tobias worked on a thickened oil formula with tree sap, meant to lubricate wheels and gears for harsh terrain. Ana refined labels. Vicência conducted usage tests.
It wasn't just about making soap anymore.
It was about systematizing progress.
The influence map shifted again:
Contagem – Stability: 39% / Reach: 12%
Betim – Stability: 35% / Reach: 10%
Nova Lima – Stability: 52% / Reach: 18%
Sabará – Stability: 16% / Reach: 4%
Belo Horizonte (Core) – Stability: 72% / Reach: 55%
The red bloom was spreading.
On the evening of the Blood Roses' formal inauguration, Baltazar stood before the first squad in the stone courtyard behind the central manufactory. Twelve soldiers, postured, silent, alert. Their black uniforms shone faintly under torchlight.
Marcos stood on a barrel.
"You are not soldiers," he said. "You are walls with feet. You will walk before conflict, not behind it. You are not here to fight chaos. You are here to replace the need for it."
He paused.
"And where the shadows begin, the rose shall bloom first."