Reactions from All Sides

"Looks like Honest's agents have returned with their intel," Selene mused quietly, watching Gensa leave. "Honestly, if I hadn't cleaned up most of the lethal radiation before I left, those spies wouldn't have made it back alive."

As for the small traces of radiation left behind, that was just natural fallout absorbed by the bodies of the Revolutionary Army soldiers. Selene had no interest in lingering over breakfast and watched Gensa's retreating figure with a contemplative look.

"Is this Honest's way of showing goodwill again? Continuously boosting my reputation... with this victory against the rebels, my rank will probably be bumped up once more."

She sighed. "As long as Honest doesn't make any sudden moves, I can take my time learning the intricacies of governance..."

Her thoughts drifted to the incident a week ago when one of her subordinates killed a relative of Honest. Oddly, Honest didn't react at all—in fact, it was said that he severed ties with that particular relative.

"Not surprising, coming from a seasoned politician who knows how to bend and adapt."

She took a final sip of her coffee and stood. "Well, another busy day ahead," she muttered before starting her daily duties.

Meanwhile, as time passed, the news of Selene's destruction of the southern rebel forces began to spread across the Empire. The speed at which it traveled, especially in the southern provinces, surpassed even that of the Imperial Capital, thanks to the efforts of the Imperial Assassination Squad intentionally disseminating the information on their return journey.

Sparke County, Provincial Administrative Academy.

With the provincial governor ordering a celebration, classes were temporarily suspended, and a large group of young noblewomen strolled across the sprawling lawns of the academy, chatting and laughing.

"Have you heard? The main force of the southern rebel army was wiped out by the Empire, and it was said that a single Imperial Guard general did it all by herself."

"Yeah, I heard... but do you think that's even true?"

"It must be—there's already an official announcement, and there are photos too! I saw them; it's terrifying."

"They say the female general's name is Selene, and she's a noble from a high-ranking family."

"Sigh, I wish I could live that kind of life. But at least things should calm down for a few years, right?"

"Who knows? These rebels are like cockroaches—they'll pop up again in no time."

"Ugh, don't remind me... Wait, Chelsea, where are you going?"

"The library," answered Chelsea, a girl with long, auburn hair and a refined appearance, dressed in a prim school uniform. She didn't even glance back at her classmates as she left.

Chelsea had enrolled at the academy with the hope of someday marrying into the nobility and living a comfortable life. She had no intention of wasting time with idle chatter.

"A female general named Selene, huh? I doubt I'll ever meet someone like that in my lifetime... We're not even in the same world," Chelsea mused, preferring a life far removed from bloodshed and conflict.

Empire's Western Frontier, Commodore Mountains.

In a small, remote mountain village carved into the hillsides, Tim, a Revolutionary Army messenger, delivered his grim news to the hidden rebel outpost.

"The headquarters has been completely destroyed. The commander, the officers... everyone is dead! Only those of us who were sent out on Commander Tim's escort mission survived by chance."

Tears filled his eyes as he spoke, the loss of his comrades and his loved one, who had stayed behind at the base, weighing heavily on him. "All of them... gone."

"The attacker was a single person—Imperial Guard General Selene von Habsburg," the messenger spat, his voice full of hatred.

"Lord Daniel, you and the others from the Assassination Society should be careful. The Empire is intensifying its efforts to hunt down our remnants. Please, stay hidden."

Daniel, an older man with graying hair and a dignified appearance, lifted the tearful messenger to his feet. "Don't worry. The Imperial intelligence agents on the western front are nothing more than fools. I've been running circles around them; they won't find us here."

He patted the messenger's shoulder and ordered, "Take him to rest."

Once the messenger left, Daniel turned to the hunchbacked, sinister-looking old woman next to him, Babara Oarburgh, and said coldly, "Do you think he's trustworthy? Was he really lucky to be sent away, or did he sell out the headquarters for his life?"

Babara scoffed at Daniel's hesitation. "If you suspect him, kill him. Why the dithering?"

Daniel sighed, "You're always so direct. Let's observe him for a while longer."

Babara snorted in response. It was that indecisiveness that had led her to reject Daniel's romantic advances all those years ago.

"Still, we're lucky to have survived..." Daniel continued, gratitude tinging his voice. "Babara, if it weren't for you insisting on training assassins in this remote village, we might have been caught in the destruction of headquarters."

"Hmph, you didn't want to come at first. If you'd died there, no one would've been around to bury you," Babara shot back, unrelenting as ever.

Daniel smiled wryly but didn't argue. "We'll need to lay low for now... An Imperial General like Selene... Babara, I've found a few promising recruits. I'll leave their training to you."

Imperial Capital, Palace, Honest's Quarters.

"The southern rebel headquarters has indeed been wiped out. These are the photos I took of the... scenes left behind by General Selene," Gozuki reported, handing over the chilling images to Minister Honest.

The usually unflappable Honest stared in silence as he sifted through the photos. Even someone as desensitized to violence as he was found the images unsettling. The grotesque aftermath of Selene's attack—twisted, unrecognizable bodies—shook him to his core.

"What a terrifying woman," Honest muttered, his face twitching slightly. His fear of Selene was growing, perhaps even more than his wariness of General Budo.

After a long pause, Honest asked, "Is there any chance of victory against her?"

"Only with a surprise attack using Murasame's curse. Even the smallest wound will be fatal if the curse reaches her heart. But the chances of success are slim," Gozuki replied honestly.

Honest sighed, "As long as there's a chance. That's enough. You're dismissed."

As Gozuki left, Honest's thoughts turned to another option, something more ancient and dangerous. Gazing toward the center of the palace, he thought, "Perhaps it's time to rely on the Empire's ancient, legendary power."

Grabbing a piece of meat from the table, Honest bit into it savagely. The feeling of being at a disadvantage and losing control over the situation was making him furious.