Duff removed his black cloak.
He wasn't just a large man; from his thick neck down to his toes, he was covered in massive muscles.
Especially notable were his two arms, which were thicker than an adult's head, and the enormous war hammer he carried, making him appear almost superhuman.
"Failure means death. Make no mistakes."
Nunes, with a solemn expression, tied her hair up and replied.
"Yes, Captain."
"You know what to do if you're captured, right?"
"Of course. And... do you think I would fail? It's just one kid."
"Don't be complacent. Pereira went out with that mindset and ended up like that."
"Hah! Captain, please don't compare me to that fool."
Duff grasped Nunes' shoulders and pressed his forehead against hers.
"If you disappear too, I won't be able to handle them."
Nunes pushed his hands away with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry."
That was the end of their conversation.
Two more men in black cloaks appeared behind Duff, and Nunes darted out of the alley, cutting through the rain.
Tatatatat!
As she neared the auction house, she felt a strong aura.
She assumed it was Strange's child and stopped.
Step.
She then crouched down and hid behind a large barrel.
Whew-
'Perfect.'
From this distance, it was impossible to miss.
Nunes drew the rifle strapped to her back.
At the same time, a shadowy figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat appeared behind her.
"I trust you."
She bit her lip as the figure adjusted the rifle's aim, as if saying, 'Shoot in this direction, and you'll hit the target.'
Once ready, she infused the rifle with aura. The muzzle gleamed, signaling a lethal shot.
'...For you, Duff.'
Bang!
The bullet spun fiercely, slicing through the rain.
Nunes' bullets weren't ordinary metal; they were an amalgamation of aura, used only by high-ranking knights.
'Aura.'
Whoosh-
The bullet's trajectory was precise.
When she lowered the muzzle to check her target, it had already struck the head of the child who had just exited the white carriage.
Thud.
The child in the white cloak, marked with a cross, collapsed.
Nunes looked towards Duff with a pleased expression, then shouted loudly towards the auction house.
"It's starting!"
As her voice echoed, the planted agents began killing the guards at the entrance.
With all witnesses gone, Duff summoned his familiar.
A frail old man with a flute appeared behind him and nodded.
"Well done, Nunes."
As Duff's familiar began playing the flute, the torrential rain abruptly slowed.
No, it wasn't that it stopped, but it felt as though someone was manipulating time.
Step, step, step.
As Duff began to move, the two men in black cloaks waiting behind him melded into the shadows.
Duff walked confidently to the auction house and grabbed the back of the fallen child in the white cloak.
"...What is this?"
With a puzzled expression, Duff removed the cloak.
Inside was not the child swordsman from Strange he had seen, but a scarecrow of similar height.
"Hello, Duff?"
"Y-you, why are you here?"
"Why I'm here isn't important. Look over there."
The scarecrow pointed to the opposite building.
There stood Diberi, the butler of Strange's mansion, holding an umbrella over Verdin.
"...Damn it."
---
Just before heading to the auction, a man in a black cloak approached Verdin.
To reveal his identity, he showed the sword engraved with the eagle emblem and the Gold Class badge of the Bourbon Knights.
"The knights of Bourbon are targeting you at the auction."
Verdin, with a faintly amused expression, asked.
"And why are you telling me this?"
Verdin had a rough idea of the reason. It was likely due to internal political strife or an attempt to betray them and join another faction.
However, there was a lingering question.
Why would the Bourbon Knights, regarded as the best in Legion, need to go elsewhere? This question prompted his inquiry.
"I want to be with you."
The answer was unexpected.
"With me?"
"Yes."
"May I hear why?"
The man in the black cloak removed his mask.
His face was marred with severe burns, so deep that his entire face appeared reddened, and five scars ran across it, with a slave mark etched deeply into his forehead.
"I need strong power."
"Power, you say? So, it's not me you need but Strange? You wouldn't have betrayed your organization just for me."
"To be honest, yes."
Verdin found him suspicious, but he liked him.
There was no deceit in their conversation so far. This alone was enough to trust what he had said.
However, the person in front of him was a stranger, and this could be a ploy to harm him, so he had to consider all possibilities.
"What is your name?"
"Kangradra."
"A good name. And the person next to you?"
"This woman's name is Kangret. She walks the same path as I do."
"A woman?"
"Kangret, show your face."
The black cloak beside him hesitated, her hand trembling as she reached for her mask.
Watching her shaking hand, Verdin spoke to Kangradra.
"That's enough. She doesn't need to show her face."
For someone of Verdin's caliber, it was enough to distinguish an opponent just by the flow of their aura.
Having met once was enough to recognize Kangret again, so he didn't want to force her to reveal herself if she didn't wish to.
"But..."
"It's okay. What I want to know is if they are really targeting me."
"It is true, but hard to believe. So... if you leave it to me, I will handle it responsibly."
"How?"
"I will bring a plan to capture those involved in this incident. During the operation, all you have to do is watch."
"Is that possible?"
"It is not difficult. They do not yet know we have betrayed them."
Verdin leaned back, resting his chin on his hand, contemplating for a moment.
"Let's do it."
"Do you trust me?"
"Honestly, it's hard to say completely, but I believe everything we've discussed so far is true."
Kangradra knelt on one knee, lifting his head.
"Thank you for your trust."
---
A large shadow approached me, and from within it, Kangradra appeared.
Swoosh-
"There are nine intruders inside the auction house, around two hundred Bourbon knights nearby, and one mid-level knight moving under Duff's orders."
I answered him while looking out over the Legion auction house from the building.
"Are all of these soldiers Marquis Pierre's men?"
"Yes, some are mercenaries Duff secretly inserted without the Marquis's knowledge, but most are direct knights of the Bourbon Knights."
It was clear that the Bourbons were trying to kill me.
This gave me a definite reason to retaliate against them.
This incident was different from when Pereira had unlawfully infiltrated Strange's mansion and died.
At that time, the reason for Pereira's intrusion was unclear, but this time, it was clear they intended to kill me.
'Then...'
Whether Pierre targeted me or not, this incident was significant enough to escalate into war.
The orders I give now will change the course of the event.
I looked down at the man called Duff.
"Kill them all."
"...What?"
"I said kill them all. Do not leave a single Bourbon knight involved in this operation alive."
"Are you sure? It might be better to leave someone who can testify."
"Not necessary."
"If there are no witnesses, Marquis Pierre will not remain silent."
"It doesn't matter. I'll take responsibility for everything. Kill everyone who pointed a blade at me if you want to stay with me."
Kangradra was quite surprised.
Was this really an eight-year-old child? He showed a determination and certainty in his orders that could not be seen at such a young age.
Not only did his command carry weight, but it also inspired those who followed him.
'Impressive.'
Even a single word carried weight. This boy indeed carried the blood of Strange.
'My intuition was right.'
Verdin was the real deal.
After only exchanging a few words, Kangradra was convinced that his decision to follow Verdin was not wrong.
"I will obey."
Kangradra disappeared into the shadows.
To prove his strength, he fought against Duff's knights.
There was no need for Verdin to join or mobilize Strange's army.
Kangradra and Kangret handled the enemies with all their might.
"Argh! Kangradra! Why are you doing this!!"
Raindrops gathered to form a snake-like shape and attacked Kangradra.
"Did you not betray me first? When I handed over the knight order to you, you promised not to get involved with the Glazer family."
"That, that was..."
"No excuses. A promise is a promise. As you said in the past, I will take your life."
Kangradra clasped his hands and chanted a spell.
Sticky mana flowed from his body, manifesting a form of sorcery never seen before.
Shuaaah!
The shadow beneath his feet spread out, halting the movements of the water dragon controlled by Duff.
Then a blade shot out from the darkness, spinning rapidly.
Slash!
It decapitated Duff.
Thud.
---
Diberi clapped his hands with a satisfied expression.
"Hahaha! As expected, your judgment is remarkable, young master. Honestly, I thought that Kangradra fellow had set a double trap to capture you."
"I knew he wouldn't betray me. I didn't expect him to handle it so cleanly."
Kangradra was much stronger than I anticipated.
It was hard to understand why he worked under Marquis Pierre.
Someone of his caliber should have been known in my past life, but why couldn't I remember his name?
A few answers floated in my mind, but I didn't dwell on them.
Whatever the reason, he had decided to join me now and faithfully carried out my orders.
I watched everything from the building until the operation was over.
Before leaving the scene after the operation, I gave Kangradra one more command.
"Please move all the bodies of those who died here to Bourbon Castle."