The so-called high-ranking superior of the Imperial Assassination Unit was a royal palace official named Saikyuu.
His status was second only to Prime Minister Honest.
In fact, Saikyuu was the very founder of the Imperial Assassination Unit.
For now, word of what had transpired within the Assassination Unit had yet to reach him.
Until Saikyuu realized what was happening, Blayn had complete control over the unit—a window of time sufficient for him to accomplish many things.
…
Today, as usual, Blayn and Seryu led the Assassination Unit out for training.
[Ding! The Host has hunted a Level 4 Danger Beast. Reward: 1 System Point!]
[Ding! The Host has hunted a Level 3 Danger Beast. Reward: 3 System Points!]
[...]
The Assassination Unit successfully completed their training objectives, and Blayn gained a substantial number of System Points along the way.
Though a few members were injured, the overall mood was lighthearted and relaxed.
After all, Commander Blayn had reformed the Assassination Unit's system, completely abolishing the previous "punishment" policy.
They no longer had to fear being "punished" for getting injured, nor would they lose comrades so easily anymore.
The only thing that worried them now was the fate of Commanders Blayn and Seryu—both of whom had blatantly defied orders from their superiors.
...
On the way back, just outside the base gates, Blayn spotted a small black cat in the grass nearby.
It looked like a stray, and it was injured.
Seeing the wounded kitten, Blayn immediately walked over.
"Master?"
Seryu, noticing his movements, asked in confusion.
Blayn crouched down and cautiously reached out to touch the kitten.
After a couple of tentative gestures, he realized it wasn't hissing or recoiling.
That was a good sign—it meant the kitten was naturally docile.
Gaining confidence, Blayn gently stroked the kitten's head.
Of course, if it suddenly attacked, he would be able to react instantly.
"Meow~"
The black kitten didn't resist at all. If anything, it seemed to enjoy the attention.
"Oh, it's a little cat… and it looks hurt."
Seryu had walked over as well.
"Yes. Its front leg is injured, and it seems weak… probably malnourished."
Blayn carefully observed its condition.
"What a cute kitten."
Kurome and the others had also gathered around.
It seemed Kurome had a fondness for small, adorable animals.
"I'll treat its wounds first, then find a good home for it."
As he spoke, Blayn lifted the kitten by the scruff of its neck and cradled it in his arms.
The kitten remained calm—it didn't claw at him, didn't hiss.
Instead, it nuzzled its head against him.
"What a well-behaved little thing… Too bad we can't keep pets," Kelly sighed.
The issue wasn't just whether they could have pets—the Imperial Assassination Unit had stripped them of all personal freedom.
"If you want to keep a pet, that can be arranged. Once I fully take control of the Assassination Unit, I'll lift those restrictions."
Blayn's words carried a quiet certainty.
"Fully take control?"
Kelly and the others exchanged glances, assuming Blayn must have some plan to negotiate with the higher-ups.
However, Blayn's intentions were far different from what they imagined...
...
And so, with the kitten in his arms, Blayn brought it into the base.
Ordinarily, only animals designated for experimentation were allowed inside.
But since it was Blayn carrying the cat, the guards said nothing.
…
In reality, the injured stray cat was actually Chelsea in disguise.
She possessed the Teigu Phantasmagoria: Gaea Foundation, which allowed her to transform into anything she desired through sheer will.
Disguising herself as an injured stray cat made it easier for her to move unnoticed near the Imperial Assassination Unit's base.
Her original plan was to find an opportunity to infiltrate the base, but she hadn't expected things to take such an unexpected turn.
When Blayn had walked toward her earlier, her first instinct had been to run.
However, considering her current appearance—a cat with an injured front leg—running too fast would have seemed unnatural. To avoid arousing suspicion, she chose to remain still, feigning obedience while carefully observing the situation.
If things took a turn for the worse, she could always abandon the mission and escape.
What surprised Chelsea, however, was how unexpectedly kindhearted her target—Blayn—turned out to be. He actually intended to take her into the base and treat her wounds.
Of course, he wasn't an assassination target but rather a surveillance target.
The Revolutionary Army had tasked Chelsea with monitoring Blayn to determine whether he was someone they could recruit.
In the end, Blayn's actions played right into her hands—she had already been searching for a way to infiltrate the base.
Although this was essentially walking into the lion's den, espionage was always a dangerous game. And until now, she had never failed.
She trusted both her own skills and the capabilities of her Teigu.
...
Blayn carried the black kitten—Chelsea in disguise—into the lounge.
He asked the lab technicians for medicine suitable for treating animal wounds, including disinfectants, before beginning to treat her injuries.
Seryu, Kurome, and the others stood nearby, watching.
The ability of Gaea Foundation was indeed formidable. Up until now, Blayn had yet to notice that the small black cat was actually a transformed human.
As long as Chelsea didn't act in a way that contradicted typical feline behavior, no one would see through her disguise.
"Meow!"
When the disinfectant was applied, Chelsea even pretended to wince and struggle slightly, making her act all the more convincing.
The strengths of Gaea Foundation were evident, but so were its weaknesses—it lacked any real combat ability, making it more suited for reconnaissance, infiltration, and assassination.
It wasn't until he began treating the wound that Blayn sensed something off.
Chelsea had created the injury using the cosmetic abilities of her Teigu. It was so lifelike that it was virtually indistinguishable from a real wound to the naked eye.
However, Blayn's eyes were far from ordinary.
With the keen perception of his Mangekyō Sharingan, he detected the slightest inconsistency.
Chelsea's only misstep was her lack of intel on the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Not even the Revolutionary Army—nor anyone else in the world—knew the truth about Blayn's eyes.
As a result, Chelsea remained completely unaware that her disguise had already been exposed.
On the surface, however, Blayn showed no reaction.
He simply continued tending to the black kitten's injury with patience and care.
Internally, though, he was now on high alert.
This cat was almost certainly a transformed human, likely due to a Teigu's ability.
In a world filled with all kinds of bizarre Teigu, one capable of transformation wasn't particularly surprising.
For now, he had no intention of exposing her.
Instead, he wanted to see just what this little black cat was planning to do next.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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