"So, you've done this kind of thing plenty of tis, haven't you?"
Kuro stared at Cole with cold, disdainful eyes, as if looking at filth. "And you were the one who allowed it to happen?"
Her words echoed the thoughts of Kelly and the others.
If Cole was the root of the problem, then this had nothing to do with the rebels at all.
"...Little girl, I have no idea what you're talking about," Cole said with a forced smile.
There was no way he could admit to it outright.
Everyone knew the truth, but if he said it himself, it would change everything.
"Still playing dumb?"
Kuro drew her sword, Yatsufusa, and pressed it against Cole's neck.
The ssage was clear—one more useless word, and his throat would be slit on the spot.
Cole's body stiffened with fear, a violent shudder running through him. He hadn't expected her to actually go through with it!
Looking into Kuro’s rciless, murder-filled gaze, he realized she would kill him without hesitation.
Blayn, standing nearby, showed no reaction, as if silently allowing Kuro to handle Cole however she pleased.
With his life hanging by a thread, Cole had no choice but to give in.
"Y-yes! I was the one who allowed it! I’ve told you everything!"
Facing death, his pride ant nothing.
If he had that kind of backbone, he wouldn’t have fallen this low in the first place.
Even after confessing, fear still gripped him—what if she killed him anyway?
But in the next mont, Kuro smoothly sheathed Yatsufusa.
She had gotten the answer she wanted—or rather, she had only needed an answer.
There was no reason to create unnecessary trouble for Commander Blayn.
As a mber of the Empire’s Assassination Unit, killing an official would inevitably drag Blayn into the ss.
By now, the rest of the Assassination Unit had also heard Cole’s confession.
So, this wasn’t about the rebels after all... It was a problem within the Empire itself…
…
After they left the pharmacy, the old man repeatedly thanked them before hurrying ho with the money and dicine to treat his grandson.
Blayn and the others followed him to confirm that the dicine was real before finally leaving with peace of mind.
However, after the incident, the mood among the mbers of the Empire’s Assassination Unit was noticeably off.
Blayn could guess the reason—they were struggling to process what had just happened with Cole.
"Commander Blayn was right. The Imperial Capital isn’t as great as we thought..."
"But it’s not entirely hopeless. If we can rein in corrupt officials, things could still improve."
"That’s true. Too bad that’s not our job. All we can do is fight the rebels and try to create so form of stability for the people."
...
As they left the thatched cottage, the group started discussing their thoughts.
Although their core beliefs hadn’t completely changed, they had begun to waver—a promising sign.
"You helped a few little girls last ti, didn’t you? You should check on them again," Blayn suggested, continuing to guide them.
Yet, deep down, he couldn’t shake an ominous feeling.
In a place like the Imperial Capital, won who ca from outside—whether young girls or grown won—were at constant risk of falling into unspeakable horrors.
Few ever made it out alive.
Having worked in the capital, Blayn was all too familiar with these kinds of tragedies.
"Hmm... Now that you ntion it, I suddenly feel uneasy too," Kuro murmured with a slight nod.
After what had just happened, their illusions about the capital had been shattered.
anwhile, Chelsea remained lazily nestled in Blayn’s arms, watching the others with interest.
To her, the mbers of the Empire’s Assassination Unit were hopelessly brainwashed—a perfect product of the Empire’s deranged ruling class.
But she had noticed sothing else—was Blayn trying to change them?
If he could truly influence the Assassination Unit, it would be a huge advantage for the Revolutionary Army.
Chelsea found Blayn more and more intriguing. Among all the Empire’s officials she had encountered, he was by far the most unusual.
This mission was turning out to be far more interesting than expected. The next few days certainly wouldn’t be boring...
...
Following their mories, the Assassination Unit returned to the area where they had previously helped the four little girls.
Though they didn’t know exactly where the girls were now, they could ask around.
Upon seeing Captain Blayn, the local shopkeepers were surprisingly eager to help.
"There are a lot of girls from other regions who fit that description. Do you have anything more specific?"
"Ah, I rember you! I saw you helping those four girls last ti. They checked into a nearby inn afterward. They’ve been coming here for als pretty often these past few days, but today, they ntioned they found jobs—as secretaries for a noble."
"That noble is seriously bad news. Word is, he specifically hires girls from outside the capital… and none of them are ever seen again. Think about it—does a job like secretary really suit little kids?"
...
Going from shop to shop, they quickly gathered enough information to feel uneasy.
If what the shopkeepers said was true, then this noble was deeply suspicious.
Wasting no ti, they headed straight for his estate to investigate.
The guards at the gate tried to stop them, but the mont Blayn revealed his forr status as a captain of the Imperial Capital Security Force, they were granted entry without resistance.
...
"Soone’s here? Tsk! Just when I was about to try sothing new."
Inside the mansion, a noble brat nad Jabigai clicked his tongue in irritation, halting what he was doing when he heard approaching footsteps.
Expecting to see soone familiar, his expression quickly twisted into a scowl when he spotted several unfamiliar figures standing in the hall.
"Who the hell are you?!" he snapped. "How dare you interrupt my fun?!"
But the mont Kuro and the others saw the scene inside, their faces darkened in shock.
Kuro’s expression turned heavy, so of the girls averted their eyes in horror, while the n clenched their fists in anger.
Because right there in the hall, stripped of their clothes and bound by the guards—were the four girls they had helped before.
Near them, several black dogs strained against their leashes, their bodies trembling with excitent—not the kind that suggested they were about to bite.
As for Jabigai, he stood before them wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, his entire appearance reeking of indecency.
The Assassination Unit instantly understood what was about to happen.
Blayn sighed internally. His bad feeling had been right after all.
But at least they had arrived in ti—before the worst could happen.
Kuro’s expression turned ice-cold as she drew Yatsufusa, her sharp gaze radiating pure murderous intent.
"Commander," she asked, her voice devoid of warmth.
"Can I kill him?"
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