The Kingdom.
The largest underground city in the Empire, and once the apex of the underworld, known as the Lord’s domain.
Only a few years ago, this place was considered the heart of the shadows.
Murder, drugs, human trafficking—here, they were as commonplace as the air itself.
It was hell, plain and simple.
Even the Empire had no effective way to deal with it, so it was no surprise that this “city” ca to be called a Kingdom.
It felt like a purgatory born from the concentrated malice of humanity.
"…This brings back mories."
I murmured briefly.
The words slipped out unconsciously, tinged with nostalgia.
A kind of mory I didn’t want to recall.
"I-If you walk just a bit further, we’ll arrive!"
Injustice stumbled along awkwardly ahead of us.
We walked.
As we crossed the darkened streets, a faint stench of blood seed to linger in the air.
It might have been an actual sll wafting from the alleys.
Either way, it wasn’t pleasant.
"Do you think this place has changed?"
"Y-yes… it’s been three years since the war, after all."
"Heh."
I scoffed.
No.
To my eyes, nothing had changed at all.
Peeling off a bit of the rotten surface wouldn’t hide the ugliness beneath.
The city was still a filthy place, filled with trash.
Rustle.
As if to prove my thoughts, I felt eyes on us.
Figures lurking in the alleys, watching us.
All of them clutched dirty knives, stained with soone else’s blood.
Their bloodthirsty eyes scanned for vulnerable prey.
"…"
Would we be included in their hunt?
Strutting down the streets so openly should have invited a knife at our backs by now.
But upon spotting the girl walking beside , they hesitated, pulling back their steps.
‘Impressive.’
It seed her reputation preceded her.
Injustice, for all her flaws and humiliating monts, was still one of the nightmares that ruled this city.
As part of the Lord’s personal guard, her skills were undeniable.
The wolves slinked away, tails between their legs.
Thanks to that, we reached our destination without any trouble.
"We’ve… arrived."
Not far ahead, we stopped.
Before us lood a massive palace.
Its grandeur clashed with the bleak surroundings, an extravagance that seed almost absurd here.
It was the very symbol of this bloody and shadowed city, a fortress even the most deranged criminal organizations feared.
It was the dwelling of the absolute ruler.
"Let’s go inside."
"Y-yes…!"
We stepped into the interior.
The sight was somber.
While opulent enough to outshine most castles, it felt devoid of life, like a black-and-white image stripped of color.
Perhaps its splendor was rely a veil for the countless tears shed within these walls.
I kept silent.
Tap, tap, tap.
As we walked through the long corridor, a door ca into view at the far end.
It was the place where the Lord awaited.
The gatekeepers, noticing us, opened the doors without hesitation.
Their movents were precise and respectful.
"His Majesty is expecting you."
Thud.
With a heavy sound, the doors opened.
Without hesitation, I stepped forward.
A crimson carpet stretched out before , leading to a throne at the far end.
I naturally looked up at it.
"…"
Sitting on that greedy throne was the Lord.
An elderly man with a sharp, severe expression.
Even without moving, the mana in the room seed to bow to him, pressed under his overwhelming presence.
By his side stood the rest of the personal guard.
Dread, Distrust, Discord, Injustice.
The Five Depravities.
Among them was Discord, whom I had encountered before, standing in her usual spot.
And Injustice, at so point, had already rejoined their ranks.
No one spoke first. Silence filled the room as we rely stared at each other.
"…"
It was a strange standoff.
The tense atmosphere lingered for a while, until one of the personal guard broke the silence.
A large man with a nacing scowl barked in my direction.
"Why aren’t you showing proper respect? Kneel before His Majesty at once!"
"…?"
What was this nonsense?
I glanced at him, perplexed by his outburst.
‘Judging by the insignia on his shoulder… Distrust?’
It was the only unfamiliar face among them.
I didn’t recall seeing him before, so he must have been a recent addition to the guard.
I had no intention of humoring him.
I wasn’t about to waste my ti on a fool who didn’t know when to hold his tongue.
Ignoring him, I let out a mocking chuckle, which only made him glare at as if he were ready to pounce.
The tension reached its peak.
"You little—!"
"Enough."
The old man finally spoke.
His voice carried an authority that stopped the confrontation.
Distrust turned to him, as if pleading his case, but the Lord’s icy gaze silenced him.
The air grew cold, forcing compliance.
"But, Your Majesty…!"
"Did I not tell you to stop?"
"…"
"I believe I made it clear. A guest of honor would be arriving, and you were not to act recklessly."
"…My apologies."
"Stand down. This is not your place."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Swallowing his frustration, Distrust stepped back.
But his gaze remained insolent.
I sneered.
"Your subordinates are poorly trained."
"He’s new to our ways. I ask for your understanding."
"Understanding… Coming from you? That’s unexpected."
"I’m not entirely inflexible."
"How sly."
"Isn’t that what it ans to be an adult?"
His reply was glib.
The Lord glanced at briefly before offering his own greeting, his aged lips curving into a dangerous smile.
"It’s been a long ti… Snake."
"I don’t think this is a reunion worth celebrating."
"Don’t be so cold."
"If I had been cold, you’d already be dead."
"How terrifying."
The old man remained unshaken.
Had he forgotten the spell I’d cast on his heart?
At any mont, I could kill him as easily as flipping a switch.
Given the circumstances, most people would grovel, yet he faced with unwavering composure.
He showed respect, but never submission.
It struck once again—this man was no ordinary figure.
The Lord of Shadows once ruled the underworld.
In my inexperienced days, he had been the one adversary I struggled against—a truly formidable foe.
Perhaps he prided himself on preserving a certain dignity.
There wasn’t even a hint of the servile groveling typical of the weak.
Though, in the end, it was all just a façade.
"Well… let’s set everything else aside."
I snapped coldly.
"There better be a compelling reason for summoning ."
"Sothing like, ‘I just wanted to see your face after all this ti,’ wouldn’t suffice, would it?"
"In that case, I’ll take your left arm this ti."
"It was a joke, so put away your killing intent. Losing my right arm to you already left feeling unbalanced, you know."
"I’m not a patient person."
"Of course… I know that well."
The old man fiddled with the empty sleeve where his arm once was.
The playful expression he wore earlier grew somber, and his wrinkled lips moved deliberately.
"There’s so information I recently acquired. It’s a matter too weighty to handle through letters, so I asked for this eting."
"Information?"
"Sothing I thought might be of use to you."
"Let’s hear it, then."
"Very well. I’ll have a space prepared for us to—"
"Before that."
Thunk!
A single shadowy dagger flew through the air, embedding itself in the throne.
The blade narrowly missed the Lord’s neck, grazing his carotid artery. A shallow cut on his throat dripped blood.
Had the strike been even slightly off, his life would’ve ended right there.
Dusting my fingers off, I declared calmly.
"Whatever your reasons may be… If you dare ddle with those around again, there will be no rcy next ti."
"Understood."
The Lord nodded with an unperturbed expression.
His aged eyes remained calm.
It didn’t matter.
My target wasn’t the old man himself.
Suddenly, I sensed movent behind .
"How dare you threaten His Majesty…!"
It was none other than Distrust.
He had been glaring at since earlier, and the attack on his master had finally pushed him to act.
With a fierce gust, his blade sliced through the air, hurtling toward .
Whoosh!
"I did give you a chance, didn’t I?"
As expected.
I had been waiting for this.
Turning to face him, I murmured, my narrowed eyes now fully open.
"You’re making act like my old self again."
With eyes gleaming dangerously, I extended my hand.
In one swift motion, I seized the shadow hurtling toward by the neck.
Suspended in midair, he choked and flailed desperately.
"Ugh… Khh!"
I stared coldly at his struggling figure.
I had already spared him once.
But criminals like him were never grateful.
Unless you crushed them completely from the outset, they would always bare their fangs again.
I snapped my fingers.
Snap!
The sharp sound echoed in the hall.
In the next mont, his limbs were severed.
Cleanly detached arms and legs fell to the ground, leaving his torso to collapse in a heap.
His dumbfounded face surveyed his own mutilated body before erupting into a scream.
"Ah… Aaaaaahhh!!!"
Pain, fear, confusion, despair.
A cocktail of emotions twisted his expression into a grotesque ss.
His still-twitching fragnts wriggled on the bloodied carpet.
Ignoring them, I fixed my gaze on the throne.
The Lord, for once, massaged his temples and spoke disapprovingly.
"…You’re unusually temperantal today."
"I’d like to kill him."
"Please restrain yourself. You know it would harm our mutual interests if this side’s forces were weakened."
"You have a poor eye for talent. That man is unfit for the guard, no matter how you look at it."
"Well, considering the previous holder of the ‘Distrust’ title… You killed him three years ago, didn’t you? There weren’t many suitable replacents available."
"The Kingdom’s future looks grim."
"I’ll see to his retraining."
"See that you do."
The Lord sighed faintly.
"Now, might I ask you to restore him? A favor, if you will."
"If you insist."
Snap!
Another snap of my fingers.
The severed fragnts of Distrust’s body rewound, seamlessly reassembling into his original form.
His body was whole, without a single wound.
Though unconscious, he remained motionless.
"…"
"I’ll take care of him. Please continue your discussion."
Seemingly recognizing the need to clear the tension, Discord approached politely, picked up the limp body of Distrust, and withdrew.
The hall, now silent, was finally conducive to conversation.
Clapping my hands, I broke the quiet.
Clap!
The black shadows stirred.
Threads of darkness wove together, forming a throne opposite the Lord’s.
Sinking into its plush surface, I crossed my legs and spoke without urgency.
The old man’s sharp eyes scrutinized .
"Now then… Let’s hear it, shall we?"
The atmosphere had shifted entirely into my control.
Venom dripped from my every word.
"What is this important information you claim to have acquired?"
The Lord and the Serpent locked eyes, the tension between them thick and unyielding.
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