Semi-Coercive Imperialist - Chapter 130: The Face of the Empire (3)

“Haa.”

Hannah let out a deep sigh. A clot of blood that had pooled in her mouth dropped onto the cold cement floor with a splat.

“…….”

The surroundings were silent. No, they were filled with corpses.

It had started as a covert assassination, but the real battle was nothing like the training at Empire Point. Before long, she was discovered, a brutal melee broke out, and she single-handedly cut down dozens.

“Ugh…….”

Hannah limped forward.

The innermost office. She grabbed every document and piece of equipment she could get her hands on. They were ledgers recording the progression of the “trade” those bastards had been carrying out.

……In truth, she couldn’t make sense of the details. She didn’t have the ability to decode evidence buried under complex numbers and ciphers.

Still, she stepped outside, hoping this would be the smoking gun.

Growl—

As the tension eased, hunger came rushing in like a beast. Hannah pulled a small lump from inside her coat.

A high-calorie energy bar made of meat soaked in butter and sugar, with finely chopped cabbage clumped together. It was the recipe she had used back in Zerpha.

Hannah bit into it with her blood-stained hands. She crunched and chewed through it.

“……Ngh.”

She groaned as she forced the food down. Her whole body was covered in wounds. Every breath sent pain crashing through her, as if her ribs had been shattered.

But there was no time to rest.

Soon, their reinforcements would arrive. They’d realize this chaos and come to kill her.

She clamped the energy bar between her teeth and moved her legs.

***

Lilac Vita, the finest restaurant in the Capital, Arcadia.

I had rented the entire place out for tonight.

“Ooh~”

Exclamations of admiration drifted from the entrance. The voice was far too innocent and carefree for the man’s character and demeanor.

“Welcome.”

“What’s the occasion, Max~”

Reutern II. He was already licking his lips as he sat in the chair across from me.

“I heard even palace nobles have trouble getting a reservation here~ What’s going on, what’s going on~”

“I also had a hard time renting it.”

I had bought a stake in the place outright. As a venue for entertaining guests, so that not only I but my subordinates could use it freely in the future.

“Let’s eat first.”

The waiters brought out the dishes.

“Ah, lovely~ Wow! Even the tableware is pretty~”

“Feel free to take it with you.”

“Really? Can I really~?”

“……Yes.”

“Nice~ Let’s eat first. Come on, dig in, dig in!”

The way he talked as if he were the one treating was a marvel in itself.

Anyway, the courses continued. An amuse-bouche with a refreshing citrus aroma, an appetizer made from shelled North Sea king crab, wild mushroom soup drizzled with truffle oil.

Reutern kept moving his fork without pause.

“No, so anyway. I said, ‘What do you think you’re doing!’ and the guy practically jumped out of his skin~ Ah~ these palace people commit way too much corruption, I tell you~”

He rattled off trivial gossip from the palace. Like how someone’s daughter was having an affair, or how some guy lost land deeds to gambling but had the Imperial Guard take them back by force.

I listened half-heartedly, and by the time the main dish arrived—

“Lord Reutern. There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“Hm? What is it?”

He licked the wine from the corner of his lips as he asked.

“Lord Reutern, you’re known as the best source of information and the most connected person in the palace.”

I broached the subject gently.

“Heh heh. Well~”

“Have there been frequent visits by Sentinel Knights to the palace recently?”

“Hmm…….”

Reutern paused with his spoon mid-air and sank into thought.

“Now that you mention it, I think so? A few days ago, I think I saw someone in uniform coming and going. Who was it……. I’ll ask around for you later. But why?”

Reutern, as loose-lipped as he was, had connections all over the palace, but he never thought deeply about anything.

“Ah, it’s nothing major. I’ll likely be heading to Volska soon, that’s all.”

“Volska? Why would you go to that backwater?”

“A certain commoner is causing trouble.”

“A commoner?”

“Yes.”

Slicing into the seafood dish, I murmured quietly.

“There isn’t a noble anywhere who will sit by and watch a commoner run wild, unaware of their place. I intend to go and restore some discipline.”

I was testing Reutern. To confirm whether he was involved in this matter.

“Ah, that’s true enough.”

……He doesn’t know.

One hundred percent, he didn’t know a thing.

He didn’t even care.

From the start, his eyes were only fixed on the food. He’d already scarfed down the large fish and kept glancing sideways, waiting for the next main course to arrive.

Come to think of it, there’s no one whose noble lineage feels more wasted than this guy. If one were to personify the saying “a pearl necklace on a pig,” it would be Reutern II.

“Lord Reutern. How has the Imperial Palace been since the Path of Dreams operation?”

I subtly reminded him of the debt from that day.

If Reutern was not the one behind this, I might need his help.

“Ah~ things have finally calmed down. Thanks to you, Max, I was able to save face! I’m really grateful!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yeah, yeah. If you ever need help from me later, just say the word! I, Reutern, am a descendant of royalty!”

I smiled.

“Yes. I’m aware.”

That promise, I accepted it in full.

Without even realizing it himself, he would now be drawn into political strife.

“Well then, if I may—could I ask you to sign this document?”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing serious. Since this is an operation taking place in a foreign country, and in the East at that, I figured we’d need an official letter of cooperation from someone like yourself, an aristocrat of the Imperial Palace and a descendant of royalty, to address an issue that poses a threat to the Empire.”

I deliberately dragged out the explanation.

Nobles of the Imperial Palace held authority, and Reutern II was, in fact, a member of the House of Nobles.

“Oh sure~? But this document, it’s only limited to that commoner issue, right?”

Surprisingly, he’s got some sense. Seems he’s not quite as much of an idiot as I thought.

“Yes. It’s a document strictly limited to the case of ‘Hannah Usar’. You can confirm it later.”

It’s not a lie. It truly will be limited to Hannah’s case.

“Well then, of course. I’ll sign it. After I finish all this~”

I raised my hand with a small smile.

“Waiter?”

“Yes.”

“For the main course, please increase the portion a bit more. Serve both of us a knight-level portion.”

“Yes, understood.”

At that, Reutern’s face lit up completely.

“As expected of you, Max! I knew the portions were too small! We really are on the same wavelength, you know?”

Reutern shook his two fists in an adorably excited way and grinned. I nodded silently in response.

Now, it was time for him to earn what he’d been fed.

…….

The very next day.

“Max. I heard you’re heading to Volska.”

At Chiron’s words, I stifled a bitter laugh.

Reutern, that blabbermouth, had already spread the word about me at the palace, and it had even reached Chiron at the Sentinel.

What a fascinating guy. He kept the anonymous bonds that benefited him a secret to the very end, and yet.

But I had anticipated this, and that was precisely what made him useful.

“Yes. I hear Hannah has been up to something strange in Volska.”

“Funny you should mention it. The direct agency sent over these documents.”

I accepted the documents. Hannah’s charges were densely listed along with evidence. Weapons trafficking, collusion with the Revolutionary forces, embezzlement of funds.

“Well…….”

Complete and utter bullshit. But if I used this as bait, I might be able to identify the real mastermind.

“There’s substantial evidence. I’ll agree to it.”

While I’m at it, I’ll also test Hannah’s convictions.

To see if she’s someone who can walk the same path as me.

If she can earn my trust and become a knight aligned with Ebenholtz.

“Agree?”

Chiron asked, looking puzzled.

“Yes. With such overwhelming charges, there’s no need to hesitate.”

“Even so, do you really think a commoner from some rural backwater would be tainted by revolution?”

I gazed at Chiron for a moment. He seemed to sense something from my eyes.

“It’s precisely because she’s a commoner that it’s suspicious. If Hannah received the Revolutionary forces’ help, it would also explain how she was suddenly selected for the Sentinel.”

I was the one who had pulled strings to get Hannah into the Sentinel, but my name was nowhere on that recommendation. I had hidden my name from every action I took.

It is both the condition and privilege of the powerful. Those who carry out my orders do so without even knowing whose command they are following, yet they carry out exactly what I intend.

“Please deliver that message to the higher-ups.”

At the word “deliver”, Chiron asked no further questions. There was no need for a lengthy conversation. We were both quick to read between the lines.

“Will you go alone?”

“Yes. It should be enough to assign me a pursuit mission.”

A noble knight going to execute a commoner knight for evidence of treason.

What a fine picture that made.

“Please assign the same mission to Leon Ascar as well.”

The Ascar family was among the prestigious houses. If Leon had pulled back, it meant the opponent was at least above the Ascars.

“……Leon?”

“Yes. I heard he was originally participating in this operation as well.”

“Very well.”

Julian and Leon. The two were black sheep of the Ascar family. Brothers who touched opposite extremes, nothing alike in the slightest.

“However, didn’t you also have Hannah take part in the Path of Dreams operation? How will you explain that to the higher-ups?”

“It’s precisely because of that.”

I stood up from my seat as I spoke.

“If she’s a traitor to the Empire.”

Nobility and Empire. As the heir of Ebenholtz who had risen to the pinnacle of both worlds, an imperialist with iron-willed discipline.

That was how the world saw me, and therefore no one would find my intentions strange.

I had no intention of discarding that image.

“I will personally execute her.”

***

Hannah opened her eyes. She was in an abandoned house somewhere in Volska.

“Ah……”

The pain stabbed through her body like kitchen knives, but that only proved her condition had improved.

It seemed the black market drugs she had paid extra for were starting to take effect.

“Ah, it hurts so much…….”

Yesterday she had been coughing up blood all day, but it wasn’t that bad now. Hannah changed to fresh bandages and left the abandoned house.

“…….”

She was walking, sure, but.

No matter how she thought about it, there was no way out.

It was simply how she felt.

“……Fuck.”

The words slipped out naturally. She had done nothing but work her ass off. The bastards who sold Empire’s weapons to terrorist groups, who killed citizens with them—those fuckers were the ones who deserved to die.

“Ah… This is so fucked. Ha.”

Hannah looked up at the night sky and let out a hollow laugh.

Rustle.

At the sound of movement, she gripped her sword and drew up her mana. Ready to unsheathe at any moment, she glared toward the source of the sound, and there stood──

“……Sir Gale?”

Gale, a fellow knight of the Sentinels, also a neutral commoner like her.

“Shh.”

Gale pressed a finger to his lips and scanned the area.

“Good. I made it in time.”

“What… how did you get here? How did you even know I was here? Gaahck.”

Hannah clutched her wound even as she spoke.

“I came secretly—”

“GAAAAAHCK”

“I came—”

“—Grrrgh.”

“……I came secretly. What happened to you is, in the end, also my responsibility for sending you into a deathtrap.”

Gale let out a sigh and pointed at Hannah’s wounds.

“You hid your tracks well. But you left traces behind.”

“Traces?”

“Active Traces.”

Gale’s gaze turned sharp.

“Even if the bleeding stops, mana still leaks out. The faint mana waves from your wounds remain like active traces.”

Hannah flinched. She’d only worried about physical bleeding, never considering mana leakage.

Tracking was Gale’s area of expertise. If he had found her, it meant other trackers could soon arrive as well.

“Follow me. There’s no time.”

Gale took the lead. Hannah tried to follow but hesitated.

Suspicion.

In this situation, there was no one she could trust. The root of everything that had happened was an insider. A leak from someone whose identity was still unknown.

Gale nodded solemnly.

“Good instinct. But right now, you have no choice but to trust me. The higher-ups are trying to kill you.”

“…….”

“I’m not the insider. It’s a well-known fact that the Imperial Palace wiretaps the Knight Order. More importantly, did you find the evidence?”

“……Yes. But it’s not in m⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠y hands.”

Hannah spoke firmly.

If she died holding the evidence, it would simply be destroyed. But if she hid it, it became insurance to guarantee her life.

“Smart. Now, the pursuit mission has been assigned to two people: Leon and Maximilian.”

“Pursuit mission?”

“Yeah. To ‘eliminate’ you, Hannah.”

Hannah’s expres⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sion wavered. Gale ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I’m sorry the situation’s gone to such shit, but, Maximilian aside, Leon is trustworthy.”

“Then…….”

“We head to Leon. He’s the one we can at least reason with. He should be able to help you.”

She decided to trust him for now. No, there w⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠as simply no other way.

Security checkpoints throughout Volska’s city center had already been tightened. She could no longer escape on her own, and since she had hidden the “evidence”, at least she wouldn’t be killed on the spot.

“Can you run?”

“Yes.”

Hannah shoved a handful of painkillers she bought from the black market into her mouth. Crunch. Crunch.

“Let’s go.”

“……Yeah.”

The two of them dashed into the darkness.

Thud-thud-thud-thud…!

Through the night streets of Volska. Past sewers reeking of rot, cutting through entertainment districts where drunkards lay scattered.

Every time they sprinted through fog-drenched alleyways, damp sand kicked up beneath their military boots.

“Halt. Inspection.”

Police and guards were stationed at every route. The two of them hid in the shadows, moving quietly, evading the searchlights.

“……Gkh.”

At some point, Hannah’s wound tore open. Pus and blood seeped through the bandages, but she couldn’t afford to stop.

“Endure just a little longer.”

Following Gale’s back, how many hours had she run?

Eventually, the view opened up, and the pitch-black sea came into sight.

“……There. A tugboat.”

Gale pointed to a small boat docked at the far end of the pier.

“I arranged it ahead of time. If we take that, we can escape into international waters.”

Hannah looked at Gale. He met her gaze and smiled faintly.

A belated sense of relief made her sigh involuntarily.

“Still, the only ones I can trust are people like us. Fellow commoners.”

At Hannah’s words, Gale nodded quietly.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The two descended to the dock and the moment they stepped onto the deck,

──.

The faintest of sounds. Buried be⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠neath the crashing waves, inaudible to any ordinary person. But to the keen ears of knights, it struck their eardrums like thunder.

“…….”

They froze in place simultaneously.

Slowly, they turned back toward the entrance of the dock, shrouded in darkness.

Beyond the blood-red mist, a certain ‘unit’ had arrived.

“Ah, shit… goddamn it.”

Gale ground his teeth.

Soldiers cloaked in pitch black that absorbed even moonlight. Mana-infused armor clanked across their bodies, and crimson light oozed from the gaps in their helmets.

They said nothing, shroud⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ed in an eerie silence.

They were human weapons, existing only to serve the Imperial Palace.

They were the Imperial Guard.