Returning to the Capital

"Hmm, just a small firecracker."

"Fire... firecracker?!" Gold-faced, burly Gensa was left speechless by Selene's "humble brag." Fine, you're amazing, so whatever you say goes.

However, after witnessing Selene's display of power, Gensa had completely submitted. Any dissatisfaction he had felt over being reassigned by Selene had vanished without a trace.

Boss, from now on, I'm yours!

"Alright, stop daydreaming. Quickly gather and organize all the intelligence materials from the bandit camp's underground chambers. This will serve as evidence of our merits."

As she spoke, Selene waved her hand, and the Teigu Dark Star: Blade that had been lying by her feet suddenly appeared in Gensa's hand. "Put it with the spoils and prepare to hand it over to the Empire."

"Yes!"

Watching Gensa's retreating figure, Selene sat down again, gazing out at the vast expanse of barren land surrounding the bandit camp. She couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. Suddenly, she noticed something behind her.

There stood Esdeath, her face conflicted. Selene asked, somewhat puzzled, "Is there something on your mind?"

"Selene-sama, I understand the principle of 'even a lion uses its full strength against a rabbit,' but isn't your method... a bit excessive? Or... am I mistaken in my thinking?"

"Oh, so you think I'm using a 'sledgehammer to crack a nut'?"

"..." Although Esdeath didn't speak, it was clear she had some doubts about Selene's approach. However, since Selene was stronger, Esdeath couldn't openly criticize her.

Based on Esdeath's years of hunting experience, she believed in using the right amount of force for the right opponent and conserving energy for future battles. To her, Selene's methods seemed too unstructured.

Selene simply patted her head and chuckled, "Everyone has their strengths. You have your own fighting style and habits. Stick to what you're good at; don't try to imitate me."

"So what is Selene-sama good at?"

"Me... I know a little bit of everything," Selene replied with a smile.

"Then I want to become as strong as you, Selene-sama!" Esdeath declared with determination, looking at Selene.

"Well... I'm different from you. Start by setting a smaller goal."

...

Morning.

The clattering of hooves echoed as a small squad of Imperial cavalry in standard half-plate armor suddenly halted in place.

They stared, dumbfounded, at the forest before them, which looked like a parking lot hit by a tornado. The trees were all toppled and snapped, the greenery was gone, and the leaves had been scorched and evaporated of all moisture, leaving only dried, gray branches that crumbled at the slightest touch.

Not far away, large swathes of dangerous creatures' remains lay charred, burned to the point where it was impossible to identify their species.

What lay before them, and beneath their feet, was a terrifying scene of devastation caused by shockwaves. Even 50 kilometers away, they could feel the powerful wind pressure, let alone here, so close to the epicenter of the explosion.

Though the area closest to the blast had been vaporized into glassy crystallization, leaving no trace of any living thing, the ring-shaped craters left by the shockwave were more than enough to deeply shock these ordinary Imperial Guard soldiers.

"Captain, are we really going in?"

"We are!"

Despite the unease, the captain gulped and ordered the squad forward. The power of the explosion that had occurred here was beyond comprehension, instantly wiping out everything within a 10-kilometer radius.

Although the captain didn't want to go in, this was a direct order, and it had to be carried out!

As they ventured deeper, the signs of charred and cracked land grew more apparent, and the ground began to sink further.

Until, "It's so beautiful..."

Before them lay a surreal, crystalline, glass-like surface, almost transparent, reflecting a spectrum of colors under the sunlight. It was strangely beautiful.

"Captain! Look at that hill... the Imperial Guard's flag! My God, how did they manage this?"

Hearing this, the captain followed the soldier's gaze. Amid the barren landscape, the green bandit camp stood out, with the Imperial Guard's flag waving atop it.

...

In the Imperial Palace.

"Oh, so you're saying that Selene and her recruits are completely unharmed?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Alright, I understand. You may leave."

"Yes!"

After hearing the messenger's report, the Emperor rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "I never expected her to possess such wide-range destructive power. And moreover..."

He picked up the dispatch that had been brought back by the messenger and slammed it onto the table, his voice rising in anger. "...This was supposed to be a simple bandit-clearing mission, yet it's uncovered a connection to that southern rebel force!"

"They've already extended their reach into the Imperial Capital, and yet the intelligence department had no response whatsoever!! We allocate a huge budget to you every year, and you're all just eating and doing nothing?!! Useless fools!!!"

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty," Minister Honest stepped forward, speaking in a deep voice. "In this instance, we were fortunate. Sending Selene on the bandit-clearing mission inadvertently destroyed the rebel intelligence network within the capital."

"At the same time, Selene managed to capture a significant number of prisoners in the bandit camp and retrieved a large amount of intelligence related to the rebel forces."

"I believe that with these key pieces of information, the assassination units will be able to make amends."

Having said this, Honest stepped back to the edge of the throne room, placing his right hand on his left shoulder and bowing slightly.

Although civil and military ministers were generally required to kneel before the Emperor, Honest, being the presumptive Minister, was exempt from this formality.

"Summon Selene to the hall."

"Yes!"

Following the chamberlain, Selene once again entered the palace, but this time her destination wasn't the banquet hall—it was the Empire's center of power, the Imperial Central Hall.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Arriving in the hall, Selene curtseyed.

Seeing Selene again, the Emperor, noticing how much weaker he had become, with the aura of death gradually surrounding him, realized that he probably didn't have many years left.

Cough, cough... "Rise, Selene. Tell me about this operation," the Emperor said, his tone gentle despite the coughing fits, his earlier anger subsiding.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Selene replied respectfully.

"Two days ago, I received the mission to eliminate the bandits around the Imperial Capital..."

....

"Excellent, excellent!"

After hearing the detailed report, the Emperor nodded in satisfaction, particularly when Selene presented the Teigu Dark Star: Blade

"But, regarding the explosion last night, Selene... could you explain what happened?" the Emperor suddenly shifted the topic.

Although the Emperor and General Budo had already speculated that the explosion was likely caused by Selene, and were almost certain of it when Selene returned unharmed, he still wanted to hear it directly from her.

"Yes!"