Colluding with the Rebel Army?

Bang!

Just as the atmosphere at the banquet was reaching its peak, a group of elite soldiers suddenly burst through the banquet hall doors.

The Governor of Patrypol Province, seeing these soldiers filing in one after another, lowered his head even further and cautiously asked Selene, "General Selene? Is there something you wish to command?"

Selene didn't respond immediately. Instead, the soldiers behind her dragged in several bloodied young men and women dressed as servants.

Once the captives were brought forward, the squad leader knelt on one knee before Selene, presenting a black file folder. "General, the investigation is complete."

"Good work." Selene took the folder, glanced through a few documents, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Interesting, Governor."

"General, what is this about?" The Governor, though still unclear on what was happening, began to feel an ominous sense of dread.

"Take a look for yourself." Selene handed the file folder to him.

"Interesting indeed, Governor. It seems not everyone in your administration is as loyal to the empire as you are."

"Th-this... How could this be? How dare they!!!"

The documents revealed acts of arms smuggling, selling substandard goods, collusion with the rebels, and spying on imperial military activities. Each of these offenses was severe enough to warrant execution ten times over. The Governor of Patrypol Province began to tremble uncontrollably before he even finished reading.

Moments later, as if a sudden realization struck him, the Governor collapsed to his knees, his expression filled with terror. "General, I... I had no knowledge of this..."

"I know you're innocent. Otherwise, you wouldn't be alive to plead your case in front of me."

According to the intelligence provided by the empire's assassination squad, this Governor of Patrypol Province had only been appointed in recent years. Though well-educated and loyal to the empire, he was more of a pretentious scholar than a capable leader. The entire governor's office had been infiltrated by rebels, making it as porous as a sieve.

After speaking, Selene turned her gaze to the banquet's guests, all of whom were now visibly panicked. With a wave of her hand, she ordered, "Arrest them!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Before Selene's Imperial Guard could move, a rotund middle-aged noble suddenly leaped from his seat, shouting furiously, "Selene! Don't go too far! This is Patrypol Province, not the Imperial Capital! Calling you 'General' is already giving you face; don't push your luck!"

"I am a hereditary noble of the empire! I'm part of Minister Chouri's faction! Do you want to lose your position?"

Hearing the man's brazen outburst, Selene raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Was this man living under a rock? Did he really think Chouri could suppress her? Moreover, with Chouri's austere and loyal nature, how could he have someone like this under his command?

But then again, in a vast forest, all kinds of birds exist.

"Insolent fool! Who are you to speak to the General that way?" The officers behind Selene were enraged before she could even respond. Throughout history, the principle of "a loyal servant must defend their lord's honor" has always held true.

"Forget it, he's just a clown. Not worth our time... Drag him out and execute his entire family!" Selene said with a faint smile, as if she were merely swatting a fly. "As for the others, arrest them according to the list—dead or alive."

"Yes, ma'am!"

At her command, the Imperial Guards who had surrounded the governor's mansion stormed into the banquet hall with weapons drawn. In an instant, the once joyful and peaceful banquet was replaced with cries, pleas, and sounds of fighting.

"Ahhh!"

"Damn her! How dare she!"

"Spare me!"

"Fight back!"

...

"Everyone, get down! If you want to live, stay down!"

Following Selene's orders, the officers of the Eighth Corps charged forward. With their involvement, it wasn't long before all identified collaborators were captured, except for a few unlucky ones who were killed while resisting.

By the time the arrests were complete, nearly a third of the banquet guests were gone. Those who remained, though unharmed by Selene, could only look at her with deep-seated fear in their eyes.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was anything but pleasant; the mixed odors of various dishes, the stench of blood, and even the smell of urine filled the air, creating a nauseating stench.

Selene wrinkled her nose and covered her mouth, instructing someone to open the hall's doors and windows before turning her attention to the now-stunned Governor of Patrypol Province.

"Send people to seal off the city immediately. Confiscate the property and land deeds of all those arrested. You're the Governor—you know how to handle the details."

"Yes!" The Governor finally snapped back to reality and hastily complied.

Without waiting for further reactions, Selene left the governor's mansion with her corps.

As for the remaining nobles and officials who were now trembling like leaves, Selene couldn't be bothered with them for the moment. Since their names weren't on the list of traitors, she'd let them continue living—at least for now.

A dark and windy night is perfect for killing and arson.

It was already deep into the night. Under the dim sky, countless Imperial Guards in heavy armor moved swiftly through the districts of Patrypol, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.

Standing on the city wall, Selene observed the Guards' seamless tactical coordination and deadly efficiency with satisfaction. It seemed her high-cost training had paid off.

"With all that noise, did the ambush team manage to capture any informants?" Selene asked.

"According to the report from the squad stationed at the west gate, they did capture a few suspicious individuals, but nothing of value came out of the interrogation... Oh, and it seems Commander Esdeath has already gone there," the officer beside Selene replied.

Selene's lips curled into a smile. "Oh, is that so? It seems the ones we captured at the banquet were just small fry, nothing worth interrogating. Let's execute them in the market tomorrow to make an example."

"And... take me to see those informants."

"Yes, ma'am!"

...

Outside Patrypol, on an empty field near a camp, four captured rebels were tied to stakes—a middle-aged man, a young girl, an old man, and a frail young woman, representing all ages and genders. It seemed the rebels had indeed tried to confuse their captors.

They were covered in whip marks, their ragged clothes hanging in tatters from their battered bodies.

"Are you going to talk or not?!" a military officer demanded, brandishing a whip.

"Ptui! Imperial dog!" The captured rebels still had some fight left in them. The eldest, an old man, spat a mouthful of blood at the officer, completely unfazed by his wounds and even taunting him.

Nearby, the blue-haired, blue-eyed Esdeath yawned and lazily shook her head. "Let me handle this. Your interrogation technique is pathetic—I was better at this when I was nine."