Chapter 367: The Empire’s Response [3]

’...I see.’ Dayyan muttered inwardly, realizing his little sister’s information was more than just a clue.

His mind raced as he recalled everything he knew about the Assen family. The head of the family, Jerome Assen, was the Vice Minister of Internal Affairs. On paper, he answered to the Minister, a figurehead appointed by the Emperor to oversee domestic security. However, Dayyan knew that in practice, Jerome ran the ministry. After all, every report, investigation, and deployment of internal security forces passed through his hands before reaching anyone else.

As his master, the Minister probably trusted him implicitly, leaving the operational details entirely in his care. That single gap in oversight must have let Jerome manipulate intelligence from within. If an investigation into the Outcasts grew too thorough, the reports were quietly altered. If an imperial raid threatened a major cell, troop deployments were delayed under the pretense of administrative protocol. Every mysterious leak, every stalled purge, and every strangely lenient response from the state after major incidents suddenly had a clear, singular origin.

Dayyan slowly turned his head toward the throne. "I will immediately begin a discreet investigation into Jerome Assen and his activities. If he is the mole, I will find proof before he realizes we’re onto him."

The crowned figure gave a subtle nod.

Dayyan then turned to his sister. For once, the usual coldness in his expression softened, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Thank you, Roya. You have provided the answer we have been searching for."

Roya’s eyes widened slightly, clearly not used to receiving praise from her older brother. Then she smiled back, a genuine warmth in her expression. "I am glad I could help, Brother. Then I will take my leave and leave it in your capable hands."

She bowed once more, first to Dayyan, then to their father. The Emperor waved a hand, dismissing her. Roya turned and left the chamber.

As she walked through the empty corridor, she let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her mind drifted back to the message she had received from Ethea.

’Thank you, Ethea,’ she thought, a small smile playing on her lips. ’Thanks to you, we finally have a lead. And now... you and Soren don’t have to worry about anything...’

’...The Empire will handle the rest.’

───────

"Damn it! How long do we have to wait?" A harsh voice growled, throwing a dagger at the figure sitting opposite him.

"We have no choice but to wait, so be patient," the figure replied as they easily caught the dagger, making it disintegrate into black particles.

"Be patient? The Empire could be planning something right now while we sit here doing nothing."

"Then what do you suggest? That we attack first? Use your head. If we provoke them, they’ll retaliate. The young master’s life is at stake."

"He’s right." A female voice chimed in. "And if you don’t want to leave the group, you’d better pray the Empire gives back the Young Master. Otherwise, you are done for. No, we will all be done for."

"..."

A tense silence followed. Then another voice spoke up, quieter than the rest.

"Did we really have to ask for those things? Those three’s release? Aeshvin’s killer? The Empire will never agree to that. We’re just giving them more reasons to refuse."

"...Kukuku..."

The others snapped their heads toward the sound, their expressions souring. "Why are you laughing, you creepy bastard?" one of them asked, his voice dripping with irritation.

"...Kukuku..." The figure stepped forward slightly, the shadows clinging to the folds of his dark cloak as he let out another raspy laugh. "Kukuku... You fools haven’t realized it until now? Those extra demands are just fluff. Whether the Empire gives them up or not changes nothing. The entire point of this whole circus is simply getting the Young Master back."

"..."

The others fell silent, realizing his words indeed had some truth to them. Their young master was the most important person to the leader. More important than any of them. In fact, they knew deep down that if it came down to it, the leader would sacrifice every single one of them to save his only kin. But what could they do? Their lives were already in his hands anyway.

Just then, the door opened, and a young-looking girl stepped inside. She had a lollipop in her mouth, her eyes glued to the phone in her hand, her expression casual, as if she had just strolled in from a walk.

"What’s the matter?" one of them asked.

The girl paused and pulled the lollipop from her mouth. She licked it a few times, her gaze shifting up from the screen toward the gathered group.

"...We have a guest."

The room fell silent for a beat. A few men frowned, their hands immediately drifting toward their weapons, while others gave eager chuckles, their eyes gleaming at the prospect of violence — as if they’d been waiting for something to break the monotony.

Just then, shadows beside the girl swirled and condensed into a towering shape. A figure stepped out of the darkness and stood calmly beside her, their face hidden behind a black mask.

"I am an envoy sent by the Empire," the figure said, his voice muffled behind the mask. "And I have come to negotiate."

Those who had been eager for a fight clicked their tongues in disappointment. One of the larger men stood up, his heavy boots thudding against the floor as he walked straight toward the envoy.

He stopped a few paces away and looked down with a sneer. "We won’t negotiate with you. Our demands won’t change. Just fulfill them, and we will free the city and disappear from here."

The envoy sighed, the breath rushing against the inside of his mask.

"I said I came here to negotiate," he said, raising his gaze to meet the man’s eyes. "But I didn’t say it would be with you."

Before the man could react, a sudden surge of pressure slammed down on the room, forcing him to his knees as the floor cracked beneath his boots. The envoy looked past him, his masked gaze locking onto the others.

"Bring out someone who actually makes the decisions."