Steel Eyed Faker Chapter 35: Save The Daughter (Patreon)

Not beta read yet

Damn, late update. Wanted to post this yesterday but ended up falling asleep mid polishing some scenes.

Hound is almost done, tho not gonna make y'all wait more and will just post that after this one as usual.

The Lemon for the beginning is WIP and will be added later.

Next update is Hound

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-The Capital Outskirts- 

“Those two really get along well, huh…”

A certain green haired assassin lounged in the forest a good distance from their main outpost, chewing absently on a stalk of grass while keeping himself occupied with his Imperial Arms. His fingers moved as he spread more invisible strings throughout the surrounding woods, gradually expanding his detection range. Each new thread had to be placed carefully, covering enough ground to alert him to intruders without making the strings so numerous that a passing patrol might notice them. His Imperial Arms technically had a limited supply of strings, but one of its core functions allowed it to generate more. The process took time and consumed a considerable amount of his energy, so preparing them in advance remained the sensible option. By now, the area covered nearly twice the size of their headquarters, and setting up such an extensive network certainly hadn't been easy.

After finishing another section, he sat down and stopped channeling energy into his Imperial Arms, letting out a tired sigh as he scratched the back of his head. Looking towards the distant Capital, the young man couldn't help feeling a little envious of both Archer and Leone.

"At this point, she's just showing off." His thoughts drifted towards Najenda, and a faint smile touched his face as he considered the possibility of his own future. "Maybe one day." Unfortunately, daydreaming wouldn't make his work disappear, and he soon shook his head before getting back on his feet. "Damnit, I can't just sit here. Best to keep myself occupied."

With that decided, he headed off to inspect another part of the forest. Their duties didn't forbid them from walking around the area to keep watch, and with the Empire in its current state, moving about to check for trouble seemed more useful than ever. The authorities could barely spare enough soldiers for their existing responsibilities, let alone organize regular patrols around the Capital. For the past fifteen minutes, his Imperial Arms hadn't detected a single intruder, only the usual animals wandering through the woods. Still, he wasn't about to complain about having an uneventful shift. 

An unexpected visitor could turn a quiet day into a troublesome one, and keeping his senses alert remained part of the job.

Whistling a tune as he continued north, Lubbock eventually reached a section of land that made him stop in his tracks. The forest gave way to a barren wasteland, its ground scorched and blackened, with patches of ice scattered among broken weapons and several dead bodies. 

“Sheesh…” 

Burnt remains littered the area, while the surrounding earth looked as though an enormous fire had swept across it. The sight alone offered a grim impression of the battle that had taken place there, and he let out an impressed whistle as he took in the destruction. 

"So this is where the battle happened, huh? Looks more like the aftermath of a slaughter than a battle." Curiosity got the better of him, prompting him to crouch and pick up a half-melted piece of ice. The moment his fingers touched its surface, however, a prickling sensation ran through them. "Whoa!"

He quickly pulled his hand back, staring at the ice in disbelief. Tiny discharges of electricity flickered within the frozen material, remnants of lightning that somehow remained trapped inside despite the passage of time. It looked impossible, yet the phenomenon sat right in front of him, plain as day. After examining it for another moment, he couldn't help wondering what sort of power could leave something like this behind. "Just how crazy was that battle? Scary." The thought made him reconsider exploring the area any further. His strings needed trees or other suitable places to anchor themselves, and this stretch of barren ground offered practically nothing he could use. With no way to establish a proper detection network here, he would have to leave the wasteland alone and return to the forest.

Even so, the strange ice proved too tempting to ignore. He began collecting a few more pieces, carefully choosing those that still contained traces of lightning, when a sudden signal from one of his strings caught his attention. 

“Hm?” 

His hand stopped halfway towards another frozen fragment, and his expression changed as he focused on the warning. “An animal, perhaps? No, too faint and I don't remember seeing any nearby. They were all chased off by the few Danger Beasts.” Even if the disturbance turned out to be nothing more than a fallen branch, checking it wouldn't hurt. Dismissing an alert without confirming its source would be a foolish mistake, especially so close to the Capital.

Following the direction it indicated, he ventured deeper into the woods until he reached a ravine with a creek running along its bottom. 

“Footprints… small, definitely not an adult. Child or child sized, running frantically from the looks of it.” He followed the tracks, spotting a figure lying below. Without wasting time, he jumped down and approached the unconscious girl, whose clothes had become covered in dirt from spending time in such a place. Carefully lifting her into his arms, he examined her face, trying to figure out how someone so young had ended up alone in the wilderness.

“Mmmm…”

“What is a child like her doing in a place like this?” His gaze shifted to her thin appearance and the condition she was in, raising another concern. “Doesn’t look like she’s eaten for a while.”

Finding a spot safer than the ravine, he laid the girl on the ground before gathering some wood and arranging it in the middle of the clearing. A small spark started the fire, ansd once the flames grew large enough to provide some warmth, he moved her closer so she could benefit from it. ‘I don’t know anything about her. Can't just bring her back to the outpost. If she turns out to be an enemy or someone working for the Empire, and they’re using the child’s appearance to lower our guard, I’d rather not get caught off guard myself. Best to stay cautious.’

The Empire had done plenty of terrible things, and using children to deceive their enemies would hardly be the most unbelievable tactic he had encountered. 

“M-mmn…” 

Almost an hour passed before the girl began stirring, releasing a few weak groans as she slowly regained consciousness. 

“Eh?” 

Her eyes opened, and she looked around in confusion until she noticed him sitting nearby. 

“Ah!”

The moment their eyes met, fear took hold of her. The little one scrambled to her feet and tried to flee, only to stumble over the roots and vines scattered across the ground. 

The entire thing he watched with a raised eyebrow, making no attempt to chase after her or help her for that matter. “Careful, there are plenty of vines and roots around these trees. You’ll trip again if you don’t watch where you’re going, especially when it's this dark outside.” 

Brrrrr…

Before she could make another attempt to escape, a loud rumble interrupted them. The girl's stomach had betrayed her, someone had not eaten in quite some time. “I see.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out one of the many pieces of beef jerky Archer had prepared for them to use as rations while traveling outdoors. Holding it out where she could see it, he offered, “Are you hungry?”

“…”

The girl slowly turned back toward him, gazing at the small piece of food in his hand. Although she clearly wanted it, her feet remained planted where they were, and she watched him warily as if expecting the offer to conceal some sort of trap. Lubbock noticed the way she stared at the jerky, practically salivating. 

Considering the Empire’s history of sending children to deceive their enemies and lower their defenses before launching an attack, he could hardly blame himself for being cautious, either. There was no telling whether this girl had stumbled into the wilderness by accident or whether someone had deliberately placed her there. Rather than pressure her into approaching, he simply tossed the jerky in her direction. 

“Here.”

“Kya!” 

The short-haired blonde girl caught the food with a startled gasp and immediately, hunger took over as she devoured the entire piece within seconds. 

Not even a moment passed before she looked back at him, this time with an unmistakable pleading expression. “Hah… good thing I brought several.” 

He reached into his pocket again, and took out another piece and held it out for her to take.

“I won't bite you.”

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, the child cautiously approached and accepted the food. Even after taking the jerky, she remained wary, glancing around for an escape route while making sure the stranger did not try anything. Yet he stayed where he was, watching without attempting to stop her or demand anything in return. Reassured enough to continue, she began eating again, tearing into the food with the same eagerness as before.

Once she had finished, the girl let out a small burp before finally appearing to relax a little. Looking up at her rescuer, she gave him a small nod. “T-Thank you…”

“Don’t mention it. If you don’t mind me asking, what is a little kid like you doing outside in a place like this?”

“Oh…” She opened her mouth as if she intended to answer, but whatever she wanted to say remained unspoken. Her gaze dropped to the ground, and both arms began to tremble as tears gathered in her eyes.

“Did you get lost?”

The girl nodded faintly, prompting him to consider another possibility. 

“Not lost, huh. Are you from the Capital?” Another small nod confirmed his question. 

Perhaps she had become separated from her family during Esdeath's attack on the Empire, leaving her lost and unable to find her way home. That would explain why a child had ended up wandering so far from the Capital, but her reaction to him still bothered him. She did not seem frightened because she had encountered a Danger Beast or because she feared being attacked by something lurking in the woods. ‘There were no fresh tracks of any Danger Beasts where I found her footprints.’ Instead, her fear appeared directed at him simply because he was a human being. That raised questions he could not answer without learning more about her circumstances, and he decided to find out whether anyone in the Capital might be waiting for her. 

“Is there someone in the Capital you can return to?”

“Capital?” 

“Your home.” 

“Oh…” The girl's expression changed almost immediately. Her lower lip trembled, and tears began spilling down her cheeks as her small body shook. 

Crying? The question felt simple enough though. 

Unsure how to comfort a child who seemed on the verge of breaking down, he reached into his pocket and offered her another piece of beef jerky. “Alright, no need to cry. It'll just ruin the taste of the jerky. You have no idea just how precious these things are, I had to fight a certain red eyed woman who wanted to hoard everything for herself. I nearly lost my arm.” 

Thankfully, she accepted it. Nibbling on it while tears continued running down her face, occasionally sniffing as her nose began to run. Even then, she made little noise, struggling to keep her crying under control as though she did not want to draw attention to herself. 

For nearly ten minutes, he remained beside her while she tried to calm herself enough to speak. Eventually, she managed to get a few words out between her sobs. 

“My mom…”

“Your mom?”

“My mom and dad… I live with them.” 

From her clothing and overall appearance, she did not seem to belong to a noble family, nor did she look as though she came from one of the poorest households. Someone from the middle class seemed more likely, though he had no way to be certain. More importantly, she had mentioned both parents, so he needed to determine whether they were still around. Asking a child so young whether her mother and father were alive or dead felt unnecessarily harsh, but he had to find a way to understand her situation. “Are your parents still around?”

“Yes.” Her expression softened a little. “Mama likes to cook and clean the house, and Papa works all day.”

‘Not much to work with, huh.’

From her description, neither parent seemed to have passed away, at least as far as the girl knew. Having both parents at home and appearing well cared for made her circumstances seem even more unusual, especially considering how frightened and distressed she had been when she woke up. There were still too many unanswered questions, but he decided to start with something more basic. “I just realized I never asked your name.”

“Name?” 

Lubbock smiled faintly and pointed to himself. “My name is Kobul. What is yours?” He used the first fake name that came to mind, seeing no reason to give her his real one when she might recognize it.

“My name is Logue.”

“Nice to meet you, Logue. What were you doing this far away from the Capital? You should know that this place is dangerous and filled with terrifying monsters. You were lucky they didn’t catch you.”

“…I was running away.”

“I should have known. Running from what? Or rather, running from who?”

The girl began trembling again, her fingers clutching at her clothes as she struggled to hold back another bout of crying. When she finally spoke, her voice broke beneath the weight of her distress. “From bad people. They took Mama. They came to the house, took Mom, and tried to take me too.”

Her words immediately brought kidnapping to mind. 

So she managed to escape her captors. He could not yet be certain of the details, but her fear made far more sense now than it had when he first found her. While the girl continued to cry, he shifted closer and sat beside her, beginning to accept that she might genuinely be an ordinary child rather than an enemy sent to deceive him. Carefully, he placed a hand on her head in an attempt to comfort her. That only made her lose what little control she had managed to regain, and her sobs grew louder as she clung to the one thing she could still speak about. 

“They took Mama away!”

Ah damn it, she was crying loudly again. 

"It's going to be all right. Everything's going to be all right. There's no need to cry." 

Logue lifted her tearful eyes toward him, desperately searching his face for reassurance. "Please help me find Mom. I want to see dad. P-Please!” 

This really left Lubbock struggling with what to do. ‘I can't enter the Capital, especially not when a sociopathic general now turned empress is ruling over the damn place.’

They had already experienced enough trouble, and taking unnecessary risks could put more than his own life in danger. 

Only one option remained. 

He could take the child to the entrance, leave her there, and return to his post before anyone noticed his absence. That would be the sensible thing to do, especially when he had no idea where her mother might be nor did he have the luxury to search for her. 

“…”

Yet… yet the resolve to follow through this plan felt harder than anything.

As every time he looked into those eyes, his resolve weakened. They held so much innocence and despair, it didn't take a mind reader to figure out that the girl had lost all hope. Or at least, was on the brink of losing all hope. 

How many times had he seen such eyes? Dozens of times? Hundreds? He'd honestly lost count on how many times such eyes stared back at him whenever he would accompany Leone across the slums. 

But these ones differed, for they saw a ray of misguided hope in him. 

Fuck… 

She was no different from countless others struggling to survive at the end of the day, and abandoning her would mean leaving her to face dangers she could barely understand. Even if he walked away now, the guilt would remain with him long after he returned to his post, knowing he had possessed the means to help and chose not to use them.

“I think I've been spending too much time around Tatsumi, it's not good if I get this softhearted.” After letting out a long breath, he rubbed his face and looked down at her. "This is not an easy thing for me to do, kid."

“—!?”

The admission only seemed to frighten her further. While he considered what to do next, panic spread across her face, and she hurriedly reached into one of her pockets. 

“Hm?” 

Curiosity drew his attention to the small object she retrieved. A single copper coin rested in her palm, and with trembling fingers, she held it out toward him as though it were the only thing she could offer in exchange for his help. "I only have this. I don't have… I can give you more. Can you please help me?"

“…”

Without even realizing, his teeth grinded against one another, and both hands tightened into fists at his sides. 

‘Walk away.’

Could he?

‘Walk away.’

It was not as easy. 

‘Just drop her off. Why risk everything?’

Yes, why risk everything? The question spun around in his mind several times. But… seeing the little girl offer what might have been her only possession hurt more than he expected. 

His hands moved before he could even process anything. Acting on their own as he then took hold of the hand presenting the coin, wrapping his fingers around hers without forcing her to let go. "…Why are you giving me this?"

Bright blue eyes stared back at him. "Because Papa told me that he helps the Empire and gets money. So if you help me, I can give you m-money too!"

Lubbock wanted to laugh but it would only come out as a hollow one. 

"Well… he is not wrong, but perhaps this is not what he had in mind." 

Another breath left his lungs as he gently accepted the copper coin and examined it between his fingers. It barely held any value, not even enough to buy a drink or a good loaf of bread, yet he had no intention of giving it back. 

Instead, he closed his hand around the small payment and looked at the girl again. 

"Actually, I am what you call a mercenary." Confusion filled her face as she tried to understand what that meant. Before she could ask, he continued, "We do things for people when they pay us money. Just like you did right now."

For the first time since he had met her, her eyes widened with a glimmer of joy. Grabbing the fabric of his clothes, she looked up at him as tears gathered along her lower eyelids. "Can you save mom?"

Her voice trembled with desperation, and the tears soon spilled down her dusty cheeks. A remnant of beef jerky clung to her lips, while exhaustion threatened to overcome her at any moment. The brat had likely been pushing herself far beyond her limits, surviving on whatever scraps she could find while searching for her mother. 

“Amongst my friends, I'm not the best when it comes to anything but scouting really. But I do like to think that I'm better than the average mercenary… and ironically enough, this is the first time I accept someone for my personal services.” Gently, he wiped the dust from her face and brushed away the tears with his thumb before giving her a small smile. "All right, boss. I'll be at your service, and I'll make sure to help and find your mom."

The single coin in his pocket felt heavier than anything on him. 

Najenda would probably kill him for this. 

At the very least, he could expect a lengthy lecture from her, followed by a frown from Archer and plenty of complaints from the others once they learned what he had done. Unlike Tatsumi, he wasn't some inexperienced rookie who could claim he hadn't understood the danger. 

He knew exactly what he risked by entering the Capital, and he understood how badly things could turn out if their plans went wrong. The consequences might extend beyond himself, putting the rest of the group in danger as well. 

Perhaps he was making a terrible mistake, but if this whole situation really was some kind of trick, then walking away would make him unworthy of standing beside Najenda in the first place.

A hand ruffled Logue’s blonde strands. “Stay put, kid. The forest is a dangerous place at night, don't wander away. If a tall blonde woman or a white haired man come here, they're my friends, so you can trust them.”

Logue nodded enthusiastically. 

With the campfire behind him, Cross Tail’s core spun faster than before. Hundreds of thousands of filaments surrounded the place to the point not even an opening was left for anything to slip through and harm her.

“Fu…” He exhaled as his Teigu continued to spin and be pushed. The area of his search expanding, slowly growing like a living spiderweb starting to consume that part of the forest bit by bit.

If she was chased, especially all the way here, then those behind it shouldn't have been far. 

Twing!

“Hoh,” Lubbock smirked, already getting a signal as something and someone touched his strings. The biggest signal coming further away, a mere Danger Beasts while the fainter one… “Found you~!” 

Without wasting much time, he was on the move. 

Not an easy feat to keep his every movement silent enough to keep the leaves from rustling beneath his feet, and he slowed down whenever the branches grew thinner. Once reaching a suitable vantage point, he crouched on a branch and peered through the foliage towards the source of the signal. 

The first stood tall and muscular, leather armor, a coin pouch at his waist, and a scar running across his face. Beside him stood another man who was on the thinner side. Though his clothing differed from the first man's armor. Neither appeared aware that they had triggered his strings. Still, there was no harm in staying cautious and finding out what had brought them here, so he shifted closer along the branch until he could hear their conversation clearly.

"What the hell, how could you have lost her? She's just a little goddamn kid!" The taller man looked furious, his hands curling into fists as he confronted his companion.

"It's not my fault! She practically dove into the crowd, and her tiny body was enough to squeeze through the people!" The other man threw up his hands in frustration, trying to defend himself. "And you told me to keep it discreet! Do you think I had any choice? What do you think those people would do if they saw a man with a face like mine running towards a little girl and pushing past everyone while she screamed for help? I know it was a chaotic moment for everyone, but with the Jaegers nearby, I ain't taking any chances of being discovered!"

“Argh!”

Out of nowhere, the taller man struck him across the face with a punch, sending him stumbling several feet backwards. Blood trickled from his nose as he struggled to regain his footing, his expression twisting into hatred while he glared at the man who had hit him. The other guard didn't appear to care about his companion's anger, stepping forward with his own fury still written across his face.

"It doesn't change the fact that you lost sight of the girl! Goddammit, what the hell are we supposed to say to the boss now?”

To the boss? 

Well, this was getting interesting. 

"It really was slavers, huh… why am I not surprised. Logue got lucky." Given the chaos engulfing the Capital, it would hardly be surprising if people like these two were taking advantage of the situation to abduct one, two, or even several individuals without anyone noticing. With the kingdom falling apart around them, plenty of people would disappear without anyone being able to determine what had happened. Some would be reported lost in the forest, others trampled to death during the panic, and the rest would supposedly have fled the kingdom to escape its destruction. Even if their families suspected kidnapping, tracking down the culprits would prove difficult without witnesses or a trail to follow. 

‘Been a while since we've used that method ourselves. Then again, it's not easy to create unrest in the Capital.’ 

His fists clenched, the fine strings wrapped around his fingers began shifting. For now, it would be better to remain in the shadows rather than reveal himself too early.

Eventually, the pair resumed their search, moving farther along the forest's edge without venturing too deep into the trees. 

“Come on out, brat!”

Their eyes constantly scanned the surrounding area, and their movements suggested they were looking for someone rather than simply patrolling the outskirts. Perched above them, he followed at a distance. The first man stood out for his height and muscular build, possessing more than enough strength to pose a threat in close combat. 

‘Definitely a fighter, though I don't see any Teigu on him. Still, I can't afford to take chances, so I might as well assume he has one until proven otherwise.’ Turning his attention to the other fellow, he found a much scrawnier man with no hair and several daggers tucked into his belt. Despite his thinner frame, the fellow had a fair amount of muscle beneath his clothes, while the scars visible on his body suggested he had seen his share of fights. 

"Come on out, kid! It's dangerous out here! Danger Beasts roam these areas at night, and they'll devour anything they find! Including humans and little girls like you!" the brawny man shouted, raising his voice enough to make sure anyone hiding nearby could hear him. “If you don't want to starve, then come out!”

"We're just trying to help you! Your family sent us because they're worried about you, and they want us to keep you and your mother safe! Even your mother is calling for you! She's worried sick!" the scrawny one added, looking around as though he expected a little girl to emerge from behind one of the trees at any moment.

"We didn't mean to hurt your mom! She was acting hysterically because of all the panic spreading through the kingdom, and we couldn't take any risks! Now come here!" 

Eventually, their patience began wearing thin as no one answered, and nobody emerged from the surrounding trees. 

This continued for several minutes, repeating themselves while searching the area for any sign of the person they wanted to find. 

He remained perched on a branch above them, listening to the entire performance until he finally massaged his temples in exasperation. "Even I can make up better lies than that." 

Of course, Lubbock long since figured that these two were no protectors, and they didn't strike him as ordinary mercenaries either. 

After considering his options, an idea occurred to him. ‘Should I give that trick a try? It might be a little risky, but I won't know whether it works unless I test it. Besides, if it succeeds, I might be able to deal with these two without having to expose myself just yet.’

…

Hoku leaned against a tree trunk and cursed, his frustration growing after two days of searching the forest without finding the girl. "Fucking shit, we've been looking for her for the last two days! If she really has been out here all this time, then the girl's as good as dead!”

The thought alone made their situation worse, since returning empty-handed would leave them with some unpleasant questions to answer. Kenji, standing nearby with his hands resting close to his belt, looked just as troubled by the prospect of facing their employer. 

"And if she's dead, we're dead too, aren't we?" His concern only irritated the larger man further, who pushed away from the tree and rounded on his partner.

"The hell do you mean, 'we'? You were the one tasked with keeping your hands on her and making sure she didn't run away, but you're the one who screwed it up!" Hoku's finger jabbed in the scrawny man's direction as he tried to place the entire mess on his shoulders.

"This was a team mission! Do you seriously think the boss will care if you try to pin everything on me? We both know we're responsible for this mess. And weren't you the one who kept calling him a pain-in-the-ass client? Since when has he suddenly become important enough to threaten our lives?" Kenji shot back, refusing to let himself take the blame for a failure they had both contributed to. The argument only made their predicament more obvious, and Hoku swore under his breath before drawing a few deep breaths and rubbing his forehead. They needed an excuse, something that could convince their employer they hadn't simply lost the girl through their own incompetence. After thinking it over, he finally spoke again, his voice calmer as he tried to make the idea sound more reasonable than it really was.

"In a situation like this, it wouldn't be strange if the girl had been captured by someone else."

Kenji stared at him in confusion, struggling to understand where he intended to go with that. "What?"

"We weren't the only ones doing our jobs today." Hoku glanced toward the deeper parts of the forest, where their search had so far yielded nothing, before elaborating on the idea. If someone else had taken the girl, they could claim they had followed the trail as far as possible before losing it to another group. With the Capital in chaos and countless people trying to escape, there would be no shortage of potential suspects.

"You want to blame the other arrivals? Even if you do that, they can just deny it!" 

"So? Everyone can lie. And those people have a history of telling others they don't have anyone when they're actually hiding captives. We can say someone else took her, and unless the boss has a better lead, he'll have just as much trouble proving otherwise as we will." Hoku shrugged.

"But what if the boss doesn't believe us? I don't know, this sounds too hasty. There's nothing convincing about it, and we can't just expect him to accept whatever excuse we throw at him!" Kenji's frustration grew as he considered the plan, but his partner had already reached the point where he couldn't afford to be picky about their options.

"It's not like we have any choice. Let's just come up with a better excuse befor—" 

“Hieeeeerk!” 

“What the fuck!?”

A deep roar thundered through the forest, cutting him short. Both men immediately straightened and turned toward the sound, their argument forgotten as the surrounding trees shook with a series of heavy thuds. Kenji drew the daggers from his belt, gripping them as he stared into the darkness, while the larger man retrieved a knuckle weapon and prepared himself for whatever might emerge. "What the hell is that?"

The leaves above them rustled violently, branches creaking as something massive tore through the undergrowth. 

A tremor passed beneath their feet, growing stronger with each approaching impact until two glowing red eyes appeared between the trees. The creature rushed toward them, smashing through several trunks and sending splinters flying as it barreled straight through the forest. Panic seized the pair, and Kenji's eyes widened at the sight of the approaching Danger Beast. "Shit! It's a Danger Beast! Weren't the Jaegers supposed to handle them?"

"It must have returned now that they're not hunting them anymore!" Hoku shouted back, keeping his weapon ready as the creature drew closer.

The beast resembled a gigantic boar, its body roughly three times the size of an ordinary one and covered in thick red fur. Enormous tusks jutted from its snout, far larger than anything either man wanted to face at close range, and its glowing eyes remained fixed on the two intruders as it charged. Kenji recognized the kind of creature bearing down on them and swore. 

"Fuck, it's one of those that got too close!" Neither man had any intention of testing his luck against such an opponent without help, especially when they had no idea what other abilities it might possess. The moment the beast reached them, both jumped in opposite directions, forcing themselves apart to avoid being crushed beneath its bulk.

Normally, the best way to deal with a Danger Beast was to avoid fighting it altogether, particularly when it possessed the size and strength to tear through trees without slowing down. But they were just a few seconds too slow, "A little help here!?”

Hoku remained where he stood, glaring into the distance as his eyes narrowed. “Don't blame me for this, Kenji.” 

“The fuck is that supposed to mean!?” 

The situation had given him a convenient excuse for their failure, one that would make explaining himself far easier. If the danger beast killed Kenji and someone later recovered his remains, Hoku could claim that the same creature had killed the girl as well. Nobody would have much reason to question his account, especially with the chaos surrounding the battle between Esdeath and the Capital. Before that unexpected conflict, neither he nor anyone else involved in the mission could have anticipated such a disaster, and now he had a convenient way to avoid taking responsibility for their failure.

“Argh!”

A dagger flew in the air and in the next second, Kenji got hit in the legs.” 

“You!” Realizing what his colleague intended to do, the scrawny man screamed furiously from the distance. “Don't do this, Hoku! You fucking idiot, think about this!”

His desperate shouting accomplished nothing. By the time he finished, the other man had already abandoned him and was making his way back toward the Capital, where his carriage awaited him. Shaking his head at the unpleasant noise behind him, Hoku listened to one final, painful shout before speaking under his breath. “I can't risk going back for the remains at this point. That thing is probably devouring him already, but I can always show them where it happened.” 

With his decision made, he continued toward the Capital's entrance and passed through it without attracting any attention. However, a single strand attached to his clothing glimmered briefly in the light, providing a certain assassin with a trail to follow.

…

The nearby clearing had suffered considerable damage from the danger beast's rampage. Trees lay shattered across the ground, their trunks broken beneath the creature's weight, while crushed boulders and deep furrows marked the path it had taken in pursuit of its prey. Under the limited light, the beast's remains stood out against the ruined surroundings, its body sliced into several pieces as though it had been cut apart before it could even recognize that its life had ended. Blood spread beneath the severed sections, staining the earth around them. A short distance away, the scrawny man lay on the ground with his limbs bound, his entire body twitching as he struggled against his restraints. Lubbock stood opposite him, looking down at his captive with an almost lazy expression, as though the destruction around them had required little effort on his part.

“The two of you were pretty busy, from the looks of it. Can't help but wonder what I stumbled onto.” Lubbock's gaze shifted briefly toward the mangled danger beast before returning to the man at his feet, waiting to see how he would respond.

The captive's eyes widened as he recognized the person standing over him. “You… you are Night Raid!” His body trembled. The danger beast's attack had been part of his plan from the beginning. Although his strings allowed him to survey an area for intruders, their usefulness extended well beyond gathering information. With a little ingenuity, he could attract the nearest danger beast and use his strings to threaten it until the creature had no choice but to flee. By manipulating its movements, he could force it along a particular route, sending it charging through anything unfortunate enough to stand in its way. 

Creatures driven into such a frenzy would not hesitate to attack obstacles blocking their escape, and in this case, those obstacles happened to be the two men. The beast had also served his original purpose of separating the pair, allowing him to examine whether either possessed an Imperial Arm. Having accomplished that much, the creature itself had outlived its usefulness. Killing it had proved easy enough with the abilities of his own Imperial Arm.

“My patience hasn't been the best lately, and I'm sure you don't want to end up like this big guy over here.” Lubbock gestured toward the remains lying beside him, where blood continued to pool across the ground and fill the clearing with a foul stench. The captive hardly spared the mutilated creature a thought. 

As the green-haired assassin shifted his strings, the thin strands began winding around the captive's body, leaving less and less room for him to move. The sight brought back the image of the danger beast cut into pieces, and panic overtook him as he imagined suffering the same fate. He struggled against his restraints, his movements growing increasingly frantic as the strings tightened around him. “Please, no! I know! I'll tell you everything!” The desperate plea spilled out before the assassin had even finished wrapping him up.

"Talk," Lubbock said, tugging the strings. The man flinched as they bit tighter.

"We were just supposed to grab them! That's it!"

"I know that part." His voice stayed flat. "Your plan fell apart. One got away. You and your partner have been crawling around looking for her ever since."

"Then what do you want? Who hired you." The strands cinched tighter. "That's the only thing I care about.”

“I don't know! I really don't know! Our clients are usually anonymous, and they never reveal their identities! I'm telling the truth!” The captive shook his head repeatedly, desperate to convince his captor that he had no hidden information to offer.

If the man truly had no idea who their employer was, the situation would prove more complicated than expected. If he was lying, however, then he might be a better liar than even Leone. Lubbock considered the possibilities while looking toward the Capital, where the consequences of the recent battle continued to affect the city. There might still be something useful to learn from this man, even if the information he possessed about the kidnapping had already proved worthless. Turning his attention back to the captive, he asked, “Are things going all right inside the Capital?”

“Well, after the disaster that was the battle between Esdeath and the Grand General, things are a bit messy, but the Emperor is gone. Esdeath took control and is now basically the Empress. The fucking Empress.” The man sounded bitter as he explained the current state of affairs, though his frustration did little to change the facts. With the Emperor gone and Esdeath in control, the Capital had undergone a change that few could have anticipated before the battle.

“How secure is the lower area? How much is it monitored?” 

“Not as much. Most of the attention has gone toward fixing the damage, so things around the slums are pretty volatile right now. Basically, it's what it was every day. Nothing much has changed.” 

Lubbock hummed in understanding. With much of the Capital occupied with repairing the destruction caused by the battle, the lower districts might offer an opportunity worth considering. “The Jaegers, which one is nearby?" 

“Those bastards are nowhere to be seen after dealing with those danger beasts. They're most likely helping the Empress.” 

“All right.” He nodded, satisfied with what he had learned. The captive's expression changed at once, hope taking hold as he realized the questioning might finally be over. 

“C-Can you release me? I told you everything I know! P-Please, have mercy!” His words tumbled over one another as he pleaded for another chance.

“Fine.”

Lubbock finally released him. 

“Ah!” 

The strings loosened, allowing the scrawny man to scramble to his feet and flee from the clearing as fast as his exhausted body would permit. He never once looked back, too concerned with escaping the assassin to wonder why his captor had allowed him to leave so easily. The assassin remained where he stood, watching the man retreat while the thin strands of his Imperial Arm stretched through the air along the path ahead. The captive had mistaken his release for mercy, never realizing that the strings had already been arranged to ensure he would not get far.

Ting!

A high-pitched snap cut through the air. The fleeing man abruptly stopped, his body jerking as the nearly invisible strings bit into him from several directions at once. For a brief instant, he remained upright, unable to understand why his legs would no longer obey him. Then the strands tightened with a vicious pull, slicing through flesh and bone before he could even scream. His body split apart into a collection of bloody cubes, the severed pieces tumbling toward the ground as the force of the cuts sent them scattering across the dirt. Blood burst from the wounds and splattered over the surrounding ground, while torn flesh and fragments of bone followed in a gruesome shower. The man's remains struck the earth in a series of wet thuds, leaving a widening stain beneath the path where he had fallen. 

Blood coated the nearly invisible strands, glistening red in the light. The captive had given him the information he wanted, but that had never meant he intended to let him walk away alive.

He regarded the remains with indifference. “You shouldn’t have lied to me.” Reaching into his pocket, he took out a notebook and began recording his observations. The kingdom’s reduced security, the condition of its defenses, and the surrounding walls all needed to be documented. After sketching the walls, he marked several weak points that could be exploited by an attacking force, then added his estimates of the possible casualties and other relevant information. By the time he finished, the notebook contained a detailed report of the kingdom’s current state, giving him something useful to refer to later.

Closing the book, he tucked it away and prepared to follow where that other guy went. 

.

.

.

Even if some time had passed since the chaos in the Capital, the aftermath remained far from over. Hoku made his way through the crowded streets, weaving between civilians, soldiers, and workers attempting to deal with the destruction left behind. 

Everywhere he looked, people struggled to put their lives back together, while soldiers directed groups of survivors and helped clear the streets. Bodies still needed to be collected and buried, damaged buildings had yet to be dealt with, and the sheer amount of work left to do made it difficult to believe that two whole days had already passed. Moving through the crowds required patience, especially whenever groups of soldiers blocked the way or people stopped to argue over what little remained of their belongings. He kept his head down and continued walking, looking around as he made his way across the Capital until he eventually reached a gate guarded by two soldiers.

"Halt! No entry is allowed."

He stopped before them, then reached into his clothing and produced an insignia for them to inspect. The moment they recognized it, both guards changed their attitude, stepping aside to allow him through without further questions. He tucked the insignia away and crossed the gate, leaving the disorder behind as he entered the other side of the district.

The difference proved immediately noticeable. The streets here looked far cleaner, with fewer people wandering around and little of the chaos that plagued the rest of the Capital. The surrounding buildings and houses also looked considerably better maintained, their condition reflecting the wealth of those who lived within this part of the city. 

He continued along the streets until he reached his destination, a large establishment whose entrance gave little indication of what went on behind its doors. He knocked several times before someone finally opened up, revealing a spacious tavern that could accommodate close to a hundred people. Two stories overlooked the main floor, while a long bar stood along one side, lined with shelves displaying an extensive collection of bottles containing all sorts of alcohol. Despite the size of the establishment, the man who answered the door paid little attention to the surroundings, focusing instead on the visitor standing before him.

The middle-aged man had a fat face and a bulky figure, and his expression grew impatient as he looked Hoku over. "Where is Kenji?"

"We were separated. Things went messy."

Immediately, his eyes narrowed before letting out a displeased breath. "I can tell. You didn't find the girl, did you?"

"She's fucking dead at this point! What the hell can survive out there in a place filled with Danger Beasts for so long? You'll just have to find a way around it."

Rather than argue, the fat man gave a brief cough and turned away. "This is your business to handle."

With that, he returned behind the bar and began cleaning cups as though the conversation had already ended. Hoku cursed under his breath, his frustration growing as he watched the man casually resume his work without offering any help. There was no point wasting more time arguing with him, so he headed toward a door at the side of the tavern and pulled it open. Beyond it, a stairwell descended into darkness, leading far below the establishment. Before he could take the first step, the man behind the bar glanced in his direction.

"He is waiting for you down there."

His body stiffening at the words. After a brief moment, he nodded and began his descent, leaving the tavern behind as the door shut above him. The stairs seemed to stretch on for an unreasonable distance, and the minutes dragged by as he continued downward, with the light from the upper floor gradually disappearing behind him. Eventually, he reached the bottom and found himself on the other side of the stairwell, where lamps illuminated a large underground complex filled with jail cells holding dozens of prisoners they got from several sources of war and slaves.

The place offered little comfort to anyone forced to remain there. The lighting barely reached the far corners, a horrendous stench hung in the air, and the cells contained rows of prisoners bound in chains. Many of the captured people had grown frighteningly thin, their bodies reduced by neglect and poor treatment, while others stared blankly ahead with little sign that they still cared about what happened to them. 

These were old batches, people who had remained unsold for too long. If no buyer appeared, they would eventually be taken away and discarded. It was an ugly part of the business, but one the people running it had long since accepted as a necessary loss. Every prisoner who remained there cost them something, and every failed transaction meant money slipping away. That was why losing a client could become such a serious problem, particularly when the merchandise had already been prepared and the people responsible expected payment.

Hoku pressed deeper into the complex, passing the occupied cells until he reached the inner area. There, an old man approached with a chain in his hand, its other end fastened around the neck of a blonde woman — Kijie. Her head drooped, and her legs barely seemed capable of supporting her as she followed his movements, looking as though she might collapse if forced to walk much farther. The old man kept hold of the chain and gave Hoku an assessing look.

"Take her. I gave her something to keep her calm. Be careful, the big one is here. Let me guess, you didn't find her."

Hoku answered with a shake of his head, unable to offer any better news.

"Dammit. Just… let's offer her for a half-off discount. And he can… or maybe he can choose another one amongst our collection for free."

The proposal received a nod. Reaching for the chain and taking control of it, then pulled the blonde woman along as he headed toward the room where their client waited. A luxurious chamber that looked entirely out of place compared to the miserable conditions outside. Large sofas occupied part of the room, red curtains decorated the walls, and the furnishings had clearly been chosen to satisfy someone with expensive tastes. In the middle of it all sat a large, rotund clown man, surrounded by an assortment of food and a jug of wine. Champa barely needed to look up to make his presence known, and Hoku approached him with his head lowered, hoping to avoid provoking the man before he had the chance to explain himself.

"I hope your day has been well, boss. While there was some trouble along the way, we managed to get h—

CRASH!

A jar of wine flew across the room and struck him before he could finish speaking. The impact knocked him off balance, sending him stumbling to the floor as the container broke against him and spilled its contents across his clothes. Champa rose into a furious shout, his face twisted with anger as he glared down at the man who had failed to deliver what he wanted.

"I don't care about the old hag! Where's that little girl?!”

{Break}

(Around the same time)

-Imperial Palace-

Wave couldn't help wondering how much things had changed since his arrival in the Capital. Back then, he had dreamed of becoming a member of the Jaegers and gradually working his way up the ranks until he could stand beside the General as her right-hand man. Perhaps, if everything went well, he might even inherit the title of General one day. It had been an ambitious dream, but one he had genuinely believed he could achieve.

Only then could he make any changes, to make life easier for many who were suffering.

Those aspirations felt like a distant memory now. Earlier, when he'd led the ministers, royal councillors, provincial governors, and other high-ranking officials into the throne room, the moment they began showering him with praise despite him doing practically nothing, he realized just how much his circumstances had changed. People who had once occupied positions far beyond his reach now addressed him with a level of respect he never could have imagined when he first arrived in the Capital.

The officials gathered before the throne, each stepping forward in turn to offer their congratulations to Esdeath on her ascension and pledge their allegiance.

"Your Majesty, this is a glorious day." The Minister of the Royal Treasury was among the first to speak, bowing low. "I cannot express how pleased I am to see a true leader take the throne at last."

The Minister of Justice stepped forward next, his voice carrying through the hall. "The end of Honest's administration is long overdue. With you on the throne, justice can finally return to the Empire."

"We have waited years for this day," another official called out, prompting murmurs of agreement to ripple through the gathered crowd. "Far too long has the Empire languished under that man's corruption."

"Empress Esdeath," one of the provincial governors said, pressing a fist to his chest, "you have my full support. Whatever you require to rebuild this Empire, you need only ask."

"As do I," another voice added. "I will continue my duties without hesitation, to the very best of my ability."

The praise kept coming, one official after another stepping up to pledge loyalty. He recognized some of them, a few amongst were dukes who governed a large portion of the territories across the Empire. Among their number were several ounts and a marquis. 

"Your Majesty, please accept my sincerest congratulations on your ascension to the throne!" the Minister of Agriculture exclaimed, bowing deeply. "The Empire has entered a new era under your leadership, and I have no doubt that prosperity shall soon return to our lands. With that traitor Honest finally gone, the Empire can begin moving forward without his interference."

"Just like what others have mentioned earlier, you need only give the word, and I shall gladly offer whatever assistance my office can provide!" the Royal Chancellor declared. "I am certain my fellow ministers share my sentiments. We are all eager to continue serving the crown and restoring the Empire to its former glory!"

"Naturally!" another official agreed. "Our loyalty to the throne has never wavered!"

Wow, they just kept repeating themselves. Their shameless sycophancy was apparent enough for even him to notice.

Throughout their speeches, Esdeath regarded them with a hard-to-read stoicism, seemingly unimpressed by their enthusiasm. The way these people spoke, anyone would have thought they had spent the past several years quietly opposing Honest rather than serving loyally beneath him. Their enthusiasm only made their previous abandonment of the Empire more apparent, yet none of them seemed the least bit embarrassed about currently pretending otherwise.

"Tell me… Aren't you lot the same group who abandoned the Empire and then returned like rats looking for a bite of the high table?" Then again, the blue-haired woman sitting on the throne was not afraid to use brutal honesty when addressing anyone.

The officials immediately stiffened, their previously pleasant expressions faltering under her scrutiny. 

He had to suppress the urge to voice his agreement. Having watched people flee earlier like flies, only for those same individuals to return now that Honest had been removed and the balance of power had shifted. They were behaving as though their absence had never happened, expecting to resume their positions without facing any consequences. The audacity of it nearly made him laugh, though he knew better than to let his thoughts show on his face.

"Y-Your Majesty, surely you understand our circumstances!" the Minister of Agriculture protested, hurriedly stepping forward. "The situation had become increasingly dangerous, and we had no choice but to withdraw for the sake of our own safety. Had we perished during those troubled times, the Empire would have suffered even further. Who would have managed the provinces and ensured that the people continued receiving the supplies they needed?"

"That is precisely right!" the Royal Chancellor immediately agreed. "Our departure was never intended as an act of disloyalty. We were simply waiting for the situation to improve so that we could return and resume our responsibilities. We have always considered the Empire's stability our foremost concern."

"Furthermore, Your Majesty, the Capital was hardly a safe place to remain!" the Minister of Justice added, trying to reinforce their excuses. "Honest had become increasingly unpredictable, and opposing him openly would have endangered not only ourselves but also our families. And when you came to thwart that man, I personally could not bear the thought of getting in your way. We had to retreat temporarily.”

"Exactly! We had no choice but to protect ourselves until the situation improved!"

Several others immediately voiced their agreement, with the Minister of Finance insisting that their survival had been necessary to prevent the government from falling into further disarray. Wave could barely believe what he was hearing. They had abandoned their home when things became dangerous, yet now they were presenting their retreat as a noble sacrifice for the Empire. 

Esdeath, however, merely smiled as she listened to their excuses. There was something unsettling about the expression on her face, resembling a predator amusing itself with its prey — even Wave felt goosebumps spread across his skin. The officials continued defending themselves, seemingly oblivious to the danger they had placed themselves in by trying to justify their actions.

"Is that so?” She said calmly, looking almost bored while sitting upon the throne. “I expected some pushback, to be honest. After all, I am merely a general who seized control, not even a grand general. Yet none of you has the guts to confront me? I am a bit disappointed. Regardless, from your words, are you willing to help me then?"

"Of course, Your Majesty!" the Minister of Agriculture responded at once, his earlier hesitation disappearing. "It is our duty to serve the Empire, and we shall gladly assist you in restoring its former glory."

"The reconstruction of the Capital must be our first priority," the Royal Chancellor declared. "The damage caused by the recent turmoil cannot be ignored, and we must begin repairs as soon as possible."

"Quite right! We are all prepared to contribute whatever we can to ensure the Capital recovers," another minister chimed in. "You may count on our cooperation, Your Majesty!"

Esdeath listened to their renewed promises before raising a hand to acknowledge them. "I'm glad we're in agreement. However, rebuilding the Capital will not be an easy task. It will require a considerable amount of money, resources, and manpower, all of which are in short supply at the moment. I don't have the funds necessary to begin such an undertaking on my own."

The officials' smiles faltered almost immediately.

"Your Majesty, the imperial coffers have been severely depleted because of Honest's reckless spending!" the Minister of Finance explained, rubbing his hands together uneasily. "He squandered the Empire's wealth on his own indulgences, leaving us with barely enough to cover the government's essential expenses!"

"That despicable man!" the Minister of Justice exclaimed. "He betrayed the very Empire he was supposed to serve! Stealing from the treasury while the people suffered is an unforgivable crime!"

"An utter disgrace!" the Minister of Agriculture joined in. "Honest was nothing more than a greedy traitor who used his position as Prime Minister to enrich himself!"

"And to think that we were forced to serve beneath such a man!" the Royal Chancellor added, shaking his head in apparent disgust. "His corruption has left us with an enormous burden to overcome. It will take considerable effort to repair the damage he has done!"

Wave watched them tear into Honest with growing disgust. Just moments ago, they had been praising the new Empress and declaring their loyalty to the throne. Now, they were competing to see who could condemn the former Prime Minister most enthusiastically, as though denouncing a man who could no longer threaten them somehow proved their own virtue. Their performance became even more transparent when one of the ministers finally steered the conversation towards the vacant position left behind by Honest.

"Now that Honest has been removed, Your Majesty, there is another matter we ought to address," the Minister of Warfare announced, stepping forward with a polite smile. Though this one being an Earl from Wave’s memories. "The position of Prime Minister remains vacant, and I believe it would be wise to appoint a suitable successor as soon as possible. With the proper leadership in place, we could begin organising the reconstruction of the Capital without further delay."

He paused briefly before continuing, clearly pleased with the direction the conversation had taken. "My ministry is more than willing to lend two million gold to the crown to assist with the initial expenses. I trust that such a contribution would prove useful to Your Majesty. We have known each other for years, I still remember the day I attended the banquet made in your honor when acquiring the position of general. While I am regretful that the marriage proposal with my son did not go through, I hope it's enough to show you how sincerely I was supporting you back then. You were a shooting star with so much potential and now you went beyond that and became the very sun shining upon our kingdoms.”

The blue-haired former marine nearly choked on air. There was someone who had the guts of proposing to the general of all people!? Ah, Seryu once did mention this to him a long time ago, but he thought she was just joking!

"Two million gold coins?!" the Minister of Finance immediately exclaimed. "You cannot possibly expect us to stand aside while you claim all the credit! My ministry is prepared to contribute a considerable sum as well! The position of–"

"Then you should have said so sooner!" another official snapped. "The Ministry of Agriculture can provide three million and supplies for the reconstruction. We, too, are willing to contribute to the Empire's recovery!"

“Tch, didn't you just say you were short on funds, Leroi!? What's with the sudden change of heart?” 

“Keep your silence, these are my personal savings I'm offering!” 

"Then so am I! Your Majesty, I hope you will consider the generosity of those who support you when the time comes to appoint the next Prime Minister," the Royal Chancellor added, his smile growing more ingratiating. "Naturally, we trust that you will judge every candidate fairly and recognise those who have demonstrated their commitment to the crown."

The more he listened, the more Wave's expression darkened as he watched the ministers scramble over one another. This was just… unbearable to watch. Their offers had nothing to do with helping the Empire recover. 

Merely using the crisis as an opportunity to gain Esdeath's favour, each hoping that a generous donation would secure the position of Prime Minister for himself. His fingers curled into a fist, and for a moment, he wanted nothing more than to march forward and punch some sense into them. Unfortunately, no matter how much their behaviour disgusted him, he could not afford to lose his composure in the throne room. He had to remain where he stood and watch their pathetic display.

Throughout the entire exchange, Esdeath had maintained her smile. Finally, she opened her eyes fully and raised a hand towards three of the ministers standing among the crowd who were the loudest this entire time.

"You three."

The men she had singled out immediately turned towards her. One was the Minister of Warfare, another the Minister of Finance, and the third was the Minister of Agriculture.  

"Your lands and assets belong to the Empire. There will be no donations. Furthermore, a state of emergency has been declared, so the crown will have unrestricted access to your coffers. Do I make myself clear?"

“—?”

For a moment, the ministers appeared too stunned to respond. Then the rest of the gathered officials erupted into disbelief, several of them staring at Esdeath as though they had misheard her. A few even laughed nervously, apparently convinced that the new Empress was making some sort of joke.

“Ah… hahaha~!”

"Y-Your Majesty, that is quite the sense of humour you have!" the Minister of Finance managed, forcing an awkward smile. "Surely you cannot be serious about such a proposal!"

"I'm entirely serious." She answered with the same dry tone. “Starting tomorrow, I will personally come and take whatever is necessary from your little vault.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

The brief laughter died away as the blue-haired woman continued smiling at them. Her answer left no room for misunderstanding, yet the officials seemed unwilling to accept what she had said.

Then, all of them, including those who were not chosen, erupted with almost rage.

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, the crown cannot simply seize the private assets of its people!" the Royal Chancellor protested. "There are laws governing the rights of nobles and the administration of their estates. Even an Empress must observe the proper procedures!"

"Indeed! Your Majesty may have only recently ascended the throne, but there are established customs that must be respected!" the Minister of Justice added, his earlier enthusiasm giving way to indignation. "The crown cannot disregard centuries of tradition simply because the treasury is short of funds!"

"Such a decree would be completely unacceptable!" another noble declared, one who did not carry any official governing title but still someone who was allied with one of the ministers. "Our estates are private property, and we have every right to determine how our wealth is used!"

Wave struggled to keep his eyes from rolling. These people had been more than happy to offer money when they thought doing so would earn them a place at Esdeath's side, yet the moment she decided to take matters into her own hands, they suddenly remembered the laws and traditions they had ignored whenever convenient. 

Then again, all of this was new to him. For all he knew, they could be telling the truth… but, best to leave this matter with the one in charge. 

"So, if I understand correctly, you are unwilling to cooperate?"

Esdeath pointed towards the three ministers again, her smile never leaving her face. The question sounded almost casual, but Wave immediately sensed a bone chilling familiar tone she used before when addressing the Wild Hunt. 

"Of course I'm unwilling!" the Minister of Warfare burst out, his frustration finally overcoming his fear. "My family has spent centuries building our fortune! Through blood, sweat, and tears, we created what we have today, and you expect me to surrender everything simply because you have decided to—"

Swish!

“Urgh!”

Before he could finish, an enormous spike of ice erupted from the floor beneath him and pierced straight through his body. The attack happened so quickly that the surrounding ministers barely had time to react. The frozen spear tore through his torso, its pointed end emerging from his mouth as his protest abruptly ended. His eyes widened in disbelief, but no further words escaped him.

Two more spikes burst from the floor in the following instant, impaling the Ministers of Finance and Agriculture before either man could even attempt to flee. Their bodies jerked as the ice pierced them, and the sudden violence left the remaining officials rooted to the spot. Several faces drained of colour, while others stared at the three impaled men with their mouths hanging open. A few lost control of their bladders, unable to contain their terror. 

Wave himself stood frozen in place, his entire body refusing to move as the temperature in the throne room plummeted. Frost spread across the floor, creeping around the officials' shoes and partially encasing their feet in ice, leaving them with little hope of escaping even if they could summon the courage to try.

“Fufufu~!” Esdeath chuckled, the sound almost beautiful in another circumstance, like something from a dream. Yet the sight of the three men impaled before her turned that pleasant sound into something almost demonic.

"You are all so cute, believing you actually had a choice in this matter."

Her gaze swept across the remaining officials, each of whom struggled to meet her eyes. The smile on her face remained as she continued explaining the situation to them, as though she had merely corrected a minor misunderstanding.

"Let me make this clear. From now on, everything belonging to those who serve the crown, including their lands and properties, falls under the crown's authority. I don't care whether you are a minister, a count, or even a duke. Your title makes no difference to me. The moment you enter the Empire's service, your possessions become subject to the crown's demands. None of you should assume that your belongings are entirely your own when the Empire has a claim to them. If you oppose my decision, fine, try to remove me from this throne then. Go behind my back to attempt a coup for all I care, but know your lives will be forfeited. It doesn't matter where you run or which kingdom you ally yourselves with, the combined might of all surrounding kingdoms will not be enough to stop me.”

She gestured towards the three bodies impaled on the ice spikes, leaving the ministers with no choice but to look at the grisly result of their refusal.

"In this case, the lands, assets, and fortunes of these three men will be seized by the crown. Or perhaps I should be more generous with the rest of you. I'll take seventy percent of their combined wealth, and you can decide among yourselves what should happen to the remaining thirty percent. As for their replacements, I'll determine that later."

The remaining officials understood the bait she had placed before them. If they accepted, they would be given a share of the wealth taken from their dead colleagues. If they refused, they could very well find themselves sharing the same fate.

"All family members of these three are hereby sentenced to death for failing the crown. Unless, of course, you are unwilling to accept my offer?"

"N-No, Your Majesty!" the Royal Chancellor blurted out, bowing so quickly that he nearly lost his balance. "We accept your decision completely!"

"Of course! The crown's needs must come before our own!" the Minister of Justice hurriedly agreed. "We shall cooperate with whatever measures Your Majesty considers necessary!"

"Absolutely! We would never dream of opposing your decree!" another official exclaimed, nodding frantically. "Please rest assured that we shall do everything within our power to assist you!"

One after another, the remaining ministers agreed, their heads bobbing like chickens as they accepted the arrangement without daring to question it further. At that point, few of them seemed concerned about the exact terms of the decree or how much wealth they might receive. Their only priority had become avoiding the same fate as the three men whose bodies still hung from the ice spikes.

Watching the entire exchange, Wave found himself both amazed and frightened by his General. 

Esdeath had claimed that she was doing all this to keep the Empire stable and prevent the place from collapsing, ensuring that the homes of her soldiers would not disappear along with it. Now, he could see just how far she was willing to go to achieve that goal. Her efficiency of it all left him with a renewed admiration for the terrifying woman who now ruled the Empire. 

But… he also felt that using fear and death like this went a bit too far.

"Looks like people have gotten too used to Honest and forgotten who General Esdeath truly is. Or should I say former general?"

"Eeeeek!"

The remark from beside him nearly made Wave jump out of his skin. He stumbled a step away before turning towards the source of the voice, one hand instinctively flying to his chest. After recognising Run standing beside him, he exhaled and pressed his palm against his frantically beating heart.

"Damnit, Run! Don't sneak up on me like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

“I didn't know you could make sounds like that… it's cute.”

“Don't call me cute! It's already bad enough I have to deal with Dorothea who keeps calling me that every single moment!” 

Never in his life had he encountered someone so hateful.

Run gave him a strange look. “Any news on that deal you made with her for helping Kurome?” 

“...No, not yet. It kind of scares me on how she's staying silent like this. But she knows about it and hasn't forgotten. I think she's just waiting for things to become more stable around here before asking me to do something… urgh… disgusting.” 

The other man showed some pity at his reaction, keeping his attention on the throne room for another moment before turning to his companion.

"It would be best to keep you distracted then, and good news, I have the perfect solution for that. I believe I've found a clue that may lead us to where Bols' family may be. Bols is already at the location and is waiting for us, it's in the middle section of the Capital.”