According to them, years ago, the Bellemonte family had an agreent with one of the leaders of the three main regions, Ashkar.
Under this agreent, the governor would allow Bellemonte n to train within his region and even help strengthen Bellemonte’s military force. After all, the Ashkar region possessed a thod of training that could turn even the weakest individual into a formidable fighter.
Bellemonte’s military strength was the weakest within the Secret Society. And in the Secret Society, no one willingly helped another family grow stronger—not if it ant risking their own influence and power. No one would help another house surpass them.
Moreover, the Bellemontes were already the wealthiest family in the Secret Society. No sane person would assist them in honing their military prowess.
So, the Bellemonte reached out to soone they believed could help them.
In return, Bellemonte would supply the region with ammunition and arms.
It was a trade both parties hoped would beco a long-term partnership.
But betrayal often ends partnerships like these.
As the years passed, the Bellemonte troops sent to Ravah for training were used in all kinds of operations for the governor. They were told it was part of their training—no matter how inhumane the missions beca.
The soldiers voiced their concerns to their Bellemonte contact, but that only made things worse. Bellemonte n were used as scapegoats on top of the torture they endured in Ravah.
To make matters worse, when the head of the Bellemonte family attempted to withdraw his n and end the partnership, it was already too late. He had supplied the governor with years’ worth of ammunition and weapons—resources the governor no longer needed.
That decision sealed their fate.
The remaining Bellemonte n in Ravah were executed one by one. Those who managed to escape were hunted down.
"The last five of us—at least, there were only five left in our group—found a way to contact the outside world," one of the n continued grimly. "But the sa night we disclosed our location, people ca for us. They tried to kill us."
The other man lowered his head. "Two of our comrades sacrificed themselves so the three of us could escape."
That was when they assud their leader had abandoned them—that Henrik Bellemonte was trying to erase this failed partnership by ensuring no one survived to speak of it.
They knew, deep down, that even if they were rescued, they would still die.
"We thought that if you helped us escape, we could buy ourselves ti enough to disappear, even from you," they confessed, finally eting Lola’s eyes. "We’re telling the truth. Whether you believe us or not... this is the truth."
"We ca here to train. To beco better soldiers so we could protect our hos. But..." The other man winced, mories of what they had done—and what had been done to them—flooding back.
In the end, he couldn’t finish his sentence and hung his head low. His companion glanced at him and sighed heavily.
There was no way out for them unless they were presud dead.
"If you already suspected that the Bellemonte family was turning on you," Lola asked calmly, "then why disclose your location after losing two of your n?"
She already knew the answer, but it was better to hear it from them.
"We didn’t think much of it at first," they admitted. "We didn’t connect the dots... not until after we were found again."
Only then did they realize that the people they believed would save them might also want them dead.
That possibility wasn’t surprising.
Henrik Bellemonte would want to bury this failure—to hide the fact that he had ard Ashkar’s leader for years. Aside from the mockery he’d face from the other founding families, he wouldn’t want the bla for how the Ashkar governor amassed his power.
But Lola wasn’t convinced.
Didn’t they know that all signals in Ravah were heavily controlled by the three governors?
She tilted her head slightly. That alone could explain why they were found every ti they contacted the House of Bellemonte.
Yes, Henrik might want to distance himself from them. Yes, he might fear ridicule. But... was he truly that paranoid?
Sothing wasn’t adding up.
First, Bellemonte sent n to Ravah and lost them all. Second, the group Bellemonte sent to aid the Order was clearly here to settle scores. They were determined to rescue these n.
Lastly, if Henrik truly wanted them dead, he would never have reached out to Atlas of all people. Or rather, he wouldn’t bother saving these guys, as they were already being hunted down by the said governor.
Lola let these thoughts swirl in her mind, but she didn’t linger on them. She shook her head lightly.
"So?" Her voice snapped them back to the present. "Where’s the other one? There should be three of you, right?"
The two n exchanged looks before one answered.
"When we found a place to rest, he left to find food—anything that might keep us alive while we planned our next move. That’s when we were found."
"And what makes you think he didn’t betray you?" Lola asked.
"Impossible," the other man scoffed. "We saw him return while those guys were dragging our asses to their truck."
That ant the last man had escaped, backing away to save himself. Better one survivor than none.
"I see..." Lola nodded slowly.
At that mont, the leader of her hostage group rushed to her side, panic written all over his face.
"Boss—goddess—chosen one!" he blurted out, desperately trying to guess which title might please her. "We need to go—now!"
His breath hitched as he scanned their surroundings. "If those guys show up, we’re dead!"
Because this wasn’t just any location.
This was the place where the "examples" for the main event in the square were being kept—ingredients for a public execution. And Lola, this devil incarnate, had barged in to steal them.
That was the only reason these two Bellemonte n were still alive.
They were ant to be executed publicly and to draw out the remaining Bellemonte survivors and kill them all at once.
Lola smiled and slapped the boss’s shoulder, making him flinch.
"Help decide," she said cheerfully.
"No, no, no!" He shook his head violently. "I want no part in this."
But Lola ignored him.
"Should we let them take the stage in the square," she asked lightly, then corrected herself, "or encourage them to throw a huge party?"
She paused, grinning.
"A search party... that is."
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