The capital of the Imperial Nation, Triden, fell into a quiet chaos.

A celebration where no one dared to cheer or shout hurrah. Tamiel’s death was enough to stir up excitement among the people in the capital.

Especially in the corners of the city where commoners mostly lived, people started talking about the secrets surrounding his death as soon as they opened their mouths. Whenever two or more gathered, heated discussions about ‘who killed Tamiel’ would break out.

The ‘Clover’ tavern was bustling as usual. Thanks to people wanting to have a drink from early in the day, the air was filled with the scent of beer and wine.

“Boss, who do you think killed him?”

“Well, I guess it must have been someone who admired the Melpiram Count family. Just look at the state of Tamiel’s corpse and you’ll see the answer clear as day.”

Those sitting at the bar in front of the counter kept their mouths shut. The name ‘Melpiram’ was taboo, but no one could deny it.

There was no one living in the capital who had forgotten Limless Rowen Melpiram’s final moments. His broken arms, and the one sentence he shouted as he ascended the execution platform. The voice like a death rattle of one facing imminent death.

‘Cledius, you’re next!’

It was a scene remembered by both the owner of the Clover tavern and the customers at the bar.

Tamiel’s corpse, thrown from the air, was in exactly the same state as Limless. If anything, it was even more horrific, certainly no less so. And the eerie message written in red on the roof: ‘You’re next’.

To anyone looking, it was clearly the opening act of a revenge plot.

As if the heavy silence was uncomfortable, someone tried to lighten the mood.

“Wasn’t it done by the Republicans?”

“Come on, they’re barely hanging on. His Majesty rooted them out and sent them to the gallows before. Who could be left?”

“I heard they’ve been regaining strength lately. You know, that mysterious group.”

“Ah, those Gray Hawks or whatever? That was concluded to be just a general term for the northern mercenary groups, not allied with the Republicans. They’re not even active, how could they change anything just by sitting around…?”

“Remember how someone anonymously donated a large sum to a relief organization in the slums? They say that was the ‘Gray Hawk’.”

“Looks like we’ve got a Robin Hood. But how could a mere bandit group assassinate Tamiel? Would they be that brazen?”

Assassination wasn’t as easy as it sounded. There were guards stationed in front of Tamiel’s mansion, and all the windows were locked from the inside.

There were no signs of breaking in or intrusion. There was only one door leading into the house. Who could openly pass through the guards and enter the house?

In the end, no conclusion was reached among the people. Some even made absurd claims that it was ‘done by the ghost of Limless Rowen Melpiram’, but everyone just scoffed at that.

The culprit who killed Tamiel flitted about like a formless specter, only amplifying the mystery.

**

“Gray Hawk?”

“Yes. These days, everyone mentions that name whenever they gather. It’s a rumor that’s been circulating since the sudden death of the torture technician last time.”

The young maid bowing her head towards Ilarid as she cleared the ashes from the fireplace.

‘I thought Cledius had investigated the Gray Hawk long ago.’

It had been concluded that they had no charges against them and weren’t engaged in any other activities, so they were deemed a phantom organization. Originally, it was said to be an organization that united mercenary groups from the north, but it came under suspicion due to some members moving with republican ideologies.

Overthrow Emperor Cledius and establish a nation where the people are the masters. What could be sweeter words to the common people suffering from poor harvests, soaring taxes, and rising prices? Moreover, it partially aligned with Ilarid’s goals. ‘Overthrow the Emperor’ and…

“Do you happen to know exactly what they advocate? I heard before that they promote ‘a nation where the people are the masters’.”

The movements of the maids busily brushing and wiping stopped. They looked at each other and then bowed their heads deeply, unable to say a word.

“What’s wrong?”

“…We dare not speak of it in front of Your Majesty the Empress.”

Ah. Ilarid immediately understood and raised her hand to stop them. It meant they didn’t have to speak if they didn’t want to.

What kind of false accusations had the Melpiram family faced when they tried to increase the number of commoner seats in the parliament? The maids could become criminals from the moment they uttered the words ‘a nation where the people are the masters’.

“It’s alright. I’m just curious, that’s all. Let’s keep what we say here as our little secret.”

Ilarid deliberately smiled and put her index finger to her lips. A brief look of relief crossed the maids’ faces.

Well, is Her Majesty the Empress an ordinary person?

An Empress who says it’s fine to just open the windows when the maids come in to clean and dust flies everywhere, and instead asks to hear interesting rumors from the streets.

Moreover, didn’t she give them a little extra as a gratuity last time, saying it was fun thanks to them?

“They say the number of Gray Hawk members keeps growing. But no one knows how to join them.”

“It’s unclear whether people just claim to be Gray Hawk, or if they receive separate orders to act.”

Words floating around tumbled out of the young maids’ mouths. Ilarid quietly listened to their stories and then, as usual, showed a kind smile, asking them to tell her more later.

As the cleaning resumed, Ilarid quietly moved towards the window. Should she disguise herself and go outside the palace like before? But the surveillance of the Imperial Guard poured into the Empress’s palace was a headache.

‘Should I ask Lebel?’

If she couldn’t go out directly, she had no choice but to swallow her pride and ask for help. He was also from the northern mercenaries, so he must have heard something about the ‘Gray Hawk’.

For now, the imminent inspection of the Academy was urgent. Although she had requested to exclude all the fussy receptions, it seemed quite bustling inside as it was the first time the Empress herself was visiting.

There was still no word from the local nobles who had promised cooperation. Had something gone wrong?

Perhaps some circumstances had arisen preventing them from acting internally. Although they had shown positive reactions, promising to help and cooperate, it was only content in letters after all.

If only she weren’t the Empress, she could at least move around freely. A light sigh escaped Ilarid’s lips. There was an overflow of things to do, but the reality of no progress felt stifling.

**

The members of the Rikas mercenary group received their weapons with sour expressions. They had just been cleared of suspicion regarding Tamiel’s murder case.

There was no evidence that they had kidnapped, tortured, and killed him, nor was there any record of them leaving and entering the palace that day. It was a natural result.

“Wow, it’s so gracious of you to bring the weapons right up to our faces.”

“And to think how they hunted us down like rats before…”

The faces of some officers changed at the mercenaries’ grumbling, but they were quieted by Jin standing behind them. The mercenary group members and the Imperial Guard exchanged a few insults with their faces before returning to their positions.

Lebel inspected the returned sword. Although it was quite unpleasant that someone else’s hands had touched the sword engraved with Ilarid’s name, the brilliant light that shone when the sword was drawn was still the same.

As he was examining the smaller weapons like daggers, someone approached him.

“Tamiel’s body is being cremated. There won’t be a separate funeral, they say. They’re just going to turn him into ashes and scatter them.”

Jin whispered quickly. From a distance, he might have looked like one of the Imperial Guards monitoring Lebel. Lebel’s eyebrows twitched with curiosity.

“Why are you telling me?”

“I thought you might be curious.”

In truth, the people of the Empire couldn’t ignore Tamiel’s death.

Everyone had been living in fear of Cledius and Tamiel, so it was a breath of fresh air. Even the high-ranking nobles had shuddered at the thought of being dragged away by Tamiel.

‘I wonder if Cecilia is relieved now.’

Jin’s gaze turned to the ground. But even with Tamiel dead, it wouldn’t be easy for them to be released.

The outcome for Rosen was clear. They would be completely subjugated to the Empire and have to live paying headache-inducing taxes for several years. Pain was always the prerogative of the ruled.

They must return to Rosen. With the Grand Duke of Le Rosen also imprisoned, who would be the focal point of Rosen? They must survive first, even if it means humiliating submission.

Reading Jin’s gloomy mood, Lebel spoke as if throwing away his words.

“You seem quite sad about Tamiel’s death.”

“What?”

“Your eyes are moist.”

“It’s not because of that!”

“It’s fine to feel sadness. Cheer up.”

“Hey!”

Whether Jin shouted or not, Lebel walked into the garrison, storing away the returned weapons. Jin quietly began to grumble while watching Lebel’s silent back.

“That guy with just a pretty face… Instead of being a mercenary, he looks like he’s been going around making women cry…”

“Oh, didn’t you know? Our captain has made men cry too. He’s quite a moving pretty boy. I understand that feeling completely.”

Lailo, who had suddenly popped up, quickly added a word. There was a mercenary captain who could jump, and a member who could fly over him. Jin left the garrison in disgust.

Time was of the essence. As soon as Tamiel’s cremation was over, it had to be dealt with immediately. If they foolishly held a grand funeral at the imperial level, the funeral hall would be in danger of being razed to the ground within hours.

They had ordered to erase that problematic bloodstain on the roof, but it wouldn’t disappear easily. News had already spread that those who had suffered under Tamiel were gathering at the mansion where he had lived. Jin hurried his steps.

Should this even be called a funeral?

It was a miserable end with no grave and no mourners. The Imperial Guard formally scattered Tamiel, now reduced to a handful of ashes, over the river.

No one prayed for Tamiel’s peace or mourned him. Even those scattering the ashes were merely attending as a duty.

But in front of Tamiel’s house, it was packed with people.

Those who lived with lifelong aftereffects from the torture he had inflicted, and the families of the victims, had gathered. Even the Imperial Guard officers guarding Tamiel’s residence in case of any incident were taken aback by their fervor.

Crash!

Someone’s stone throw flew in. The stone flew unhindered and shattered the mansion’s window. Along with the sharp noise, low cheers and sighs followed from the crowd.

The sound of the window breaking was the signal. The crowd all rushed towards Tamiel’s mansion as if they had been waiting for this moment. The shouts of the Imperial Guard calling for reinforcements and the cries of the enraged people mixed together.

“I should have been the one to kill that bastard!”

“As if dying with that little pain is enough!”

Strained cries were heard here and there. People with broken bodies confronted the Imperial Guard, raising their voices, pushing with their bodies, trying to enter Tamiel’s residence from all directions.

There were warnings from the Imperial Guard to step back as Tamiel’s mansion was also property of the Empire, but they did not retreat. Soon, stones, various garbage, and filth were thrown over the wall into the house.

In the end, there was no peace even until the very last. The Imperial Guard guarding the front of the mansion increased their forces and forcibly dispersed the gathered crowd. A man being dragged away while being suppressed by the Imperial Guard shouted loudly.

“Listen carefully! You’re next!”

It was unclear who the shout was directed at. But all who heard that voice guessed.

It was a warning and a curse directed at the one person targeted by Limless Rowen Melpiram, who ignored the people’s suffering.

Lebel, his body completely covered in black, observed the front of Tamiel’s mansion. With the sound of whistles, he saw several people being dragged away.

One end is another beginning. He entered a nearby alley, muffling his footsteps.

In the damp alley, a beggar was crouched, offering prayers to the sky. In front of him was a small tin can. As Lebel passed by the beggar, he threw a silver coin he had taken out from his bosom into the can.

“Thank you…”

Perhaps because his mouth had been closed for a long time, a very hoarse voice flowed from the beggar’s throat. As the footsteps gradually faded away, the beggar reached into the tin can with a familiar hand to take out the coin.

The coin was wrapped in white paper. Unfolded, the paper contained the emblem of the ‘Gray Hawk’ along with the next order.

‘Investigate the .’

The beggar sprang to his feet, taking out a match from his bosom.

He stood so straight that it was impossible to imagine he had been crouched down just moments ago. Soon the match was struck and the paper with the order written on it began to burn inside the tin can.

The beggar, clutching the silver coin in his hand, quickly left the alley. There were still many starving people on the unhygienic, damp streets.

Those dying in the blind spots of life cannot even make a sound. Deaths that receive no one’s attention just pile up in the darkness.

The sound of a child crying reached the ears of the walking beggar. The weak cry of a newborn faintly heard through a broken window. The man pushed the silver coin in his hand through the window.

Who would one pray for at this moment? All one could do was desperately hope that a single coin, warmed by the heat of a hand, could put out an urgent fire.