"It's fine. Please calm down. It's just that the slaves got a bit unruly."
Saying this, the plump merchant, Gentner, calmly explained to the distinguished guests who had come to buy slaves. Gentner stood on a stage-like area, while the guests watched from the audience. There were fewer than twenty guests, but they were all nobles in the imperial capital who favored slaves.
This was the underground of Gentner's Gentner Trading Company, a secret auction venue. The underground was intricately laid out, and there were many guards in front of the store.
Intruders were impossible. That's why Gentner was calm.
However.
"I'm surprised that the president of Gentner Trading Company is involved in the slave trade."
"What!? Gwah!? Ah!! A, a, my legsā¦"
Elna slowly appeared from the side of the stage. This was where the bound slaves were supposed to come out, and where the guards had been until a moment ago.
All the guards had been taken down by Elna, and now Krista and the others were watching Elna's performance intently.
Gentner thought about why, but he couldn't run. Elna had inflicted slashes on both of his legs. They were shallow enough not to kill him, but deep enough to prevent him from walking away. It was a perfectly calculated strike.
"I am Elna von Amsberg, Captain of the Third Knight Squad of the Royal Guard. I arrest you for the crime of kidnapping a princess and the crime of slave trading."
"A, Amsberg!? Why!?"
"Why do you think? You are guilty of the same crime. If you move, I will cut you. Don't think you can escape from Amsberg."
The guests, who were nobles living in the imperial capital, returned to their seats. They knew well the terror of Amsberg. If she appeared before them, it was the end. She was practically the same as the Grim Reaper.
"Ah, ah! H, helpā¦!"
"Help? After kidnapping a princess, you still have the nerve to say that?"
"I, I was asked to do it!"
"Of course. That's why I won't kill you now. I will make you confess."
"That's a problem."
As he spoke, a dagger was thrown at Elna. She deflected it.
Taking advantage of the opening, a masked assassin moved towards Gentner. Elna barely blocked the assassin's dagger with her sword.
"I won't let you silence anyone."
"Seems I have to deal with you first."
The voice was muffled, and it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman due to the mask. Elna felt frustrated as the assassin continued to attack.
The assassin's attacks were fast. Using daggers in both hands, the assassin cornered Elna at the edge of the stage.
However.
"You seem to be holding back to avoid damaging the building."
"Yes, butā"
Elna raised her sword as the assassin aimed for her torso. The assassin, who had stepped in closer, couldn't avoid it.
It was a perfectly timed counterattack. The assassin, wanting to end the fight quickly, aimed for a vital spot. Elna had read the attack from experience.
"Ughā¦!"
The assassin's shoulder was deeply cut. The assassin immediately tried to create distance, but Elna closed in at a speed far greater than before.
Despite being careful not to damage the building, Elna was exerting this much power.
The assassin quickly changed tactics. The dagger in the right hand was thrown at Gentner. In exchange, Elna's sword pierced the assassin's abdomen.
"Uaaaaa!! Blood, blood!!?"
"Coughā¦"
"Damn!"
Elna quickly pulled out her sword and rushed to Gentner. A dagger was deeply embedded in Gentner's chest. It was a severe injury. He wouldn't survive if left as is.
Just then, the building shook violently, and parts of it began to collapse.
"This isā¦!?"
"It's best to evacuate quicklyā¦"
The assassin, holding his abdomen, kept his distance from Elna.
From the previous shake and the current situation, it was clear that the assassin had done something to the building.
With Gentner, an important source of information, and the need to protect Krista, Rita, and the child slaves, Elna decided to abandon the pursuit and choose evacuation.
"Everyone, follow me!"
Elna tightly bound Gentner's wound and carried him. The only option now was to get to the surface quickly.
Elna led the children and the guests to the exit.
ā ā ā
"I have important information! Absolutely don't let him die! Arrest everyone behind them!"
Upon reaching the surface, Elna handed Gentner over to the waiting Royal Guards and gave them instructions.
The Royal Guards, who had been dispatched by the emperor, surrounded the main store of Gentner Trading Company, where the commotion was happening. The Imperial Capital Defense Force also joined, and just as they were about to storm in, Elna and the others emerged.
"Don't let anyone who comes out of the store escape! Those who are free, go to the other stores of Gentner Trading Company and arrest the executives!"
After giving the instructions, Elna called out to a familiar Royal Guard, one who was more skilled in healing magic.
She asked the knight to tend to Rita.
"It's okay now. Ritaā¦ you did well."
"Ummā¦ my stomach hurtsā¦"
"It will be fine soon."
"Ritaā¦"
Rita, who had been laid down, received treatment on the spot. Krista, standing beside her, held her hand worriedly.
Rita, who had been struggling, seemed to relax and slowly lost consciousness.
"Rita!?"
"It's okay, Your Highness. Let her rest."
"Butā¦"
"Your Highness, please trust me."
Encouraged by Elna, Krista stood up and, despite her tears, left Rita's side.
Elna needed to inform the emperor of their safety as soon as possible.
However, the sound of many horses' hooves made her kneel quietly.
"Krista!"
It was Emperor Johannes himself who called out Krista's name and rushed to the scene.
Behind him were Franz and a large number of guards.
Unable to stay away, he had come to the scene.
"Oh! Krista! Are you alright!? Are you hurt!?"
"Yesā¦ Father, I mean, Your Majesty."
"Father is fine! I'm glad, truly gladā¦"
Johannes embraced Krista and quietly repeated how glad he was.
Meanwhile, Franz moved the bystanders away to ensure the emperor's safety and to prevent them from getting involved.
When only knights and the Imperial Capital Defense Force were left, Johannes stood up and turned his gaze to Elna. His eyes were burning with anger.
"Fatherā¦?"
"What kind of state is this! Elna! As Captain of the Royal Guard, you couldn't even protect one princess!!"
"I am sorryā¦ It is all my responsibility."
"Indeed! The reputation of the Amsberg family has fallen to the ground!"
"Fatherā¦ Elna isā¦"
"Be quiet. I am talking to Elna now."
"I am sorryā¦"
Krista, who was receiving a harsh look, shrank back in fear.
She looked at Elna, but Elna slowly shook her head.
"Elna, do you have any explanation?"
"No."
It was easy to say that she had been called by Zuzan, but Zuzan had also called Krista. Elna had decided to go alone.
Even if Zuzan and Zandra were suspected during the investigation, it would be a separate issue from Elna's responsibility.
Elna had left Krista due to a preconceived notion that no one would use force in the harem. It was undoubtedly Elna's mistake.
"I will inform you of the punishment later. Until then, remain under house arrest."
"Yesā¦"
Johannes took Krista and returned to the castle.
Elna remained bowed for a while.
ā ā ā
"How did it go?"
"The assassination failed. However, even if he survives, he won't be able to speak for a while."
"I see. Well done."
Saying this, the masked assassin, Xiaomei, reported to her master.
Pain coursed through her body due to a curse, but Xiaomei, who had undergone rigorous training, could endure it for a short time.
"This will make the Leonard faction speak up. We will have a full-scale conflict with the Zandra faction. It's a good trend."
"However, the prodigy of the Amsberg family will probably be dismissed from the Royal Guard due to this incident."
"It will be temporary. Punishment is necessary. Once the dust settles, she will be brought back."
"Even if it's temporary, the Leonard faction can use Elna von Amsberg freely during that period. She is dangerous. I thought I could handle her without a sword, but with a sword, she is a different person. She is a monster."
"She is from the Amsberg family. She switches her consciousness during combat. It's not surprising. If she becomes a nuisance, suggest that she be returned to the Royal Guard."
"Shouldn't she be eliminated?"
"She is a promising future vassal. Emperors who have a bad relationship with the Amsberg family don't last long. It's best to keep her on good terms."
"Butā¦?"
Xiaomei, enduring the pain, argued.
Without a sword, she could be handled.
It would be best to completely remove her from the imperial succession struggle.
Even if it meant earning her enmity, she was worth it, Xiaomei felt.
However,
"I am different from the other candidates. They are desperate to seize the throne, but I am thinking about what happens after I become emperor. In that sense, I am of a different caliber. I don't want to be hated by a future pawn. Besides, Zandra and Gordon will act even if I don't."
"ā¦I understand."
"Continue to follow Mother's instructions in the harem. For now, focus on healing your wounds. It's not yet time for us to act."
"Understood, Your Highness Eric."
Saying this, Xiaomei disappeared from Eric's side.
Eric, watching her go, slowly began to walk, a sinister smile on his face.
This marks the end of the Imperial Capital part. Next, a few chapters from Leonard's perspective, and then the next chapter, I guess.
I only realized it when someone mentioned it, but we've surpassed ten million PVs. But more than that, I was more excited about the 1.77 million unique visitors. I was moved by how many people are reading it <m(__)m>
It's all thanks to everyone. Thank you.
Completely unrelated, but Ichiro's retirement is so shocking that I might not be able to update tomorrow ( ļ¼āļ¼)