Whoever Was Responsible For This Attack Would Pay Dearly

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Samantha glanced at her little sister, a paladin, who was swiftly darting off as if in pursuit of someone. "Where on earth is she going?" Samantha muttered under her breath, clutching her blood-stained sword tightly.

Ever since Samantha had joined the knights, their relationship had been strained. The fact that their family's loyalty lay with the Church instead of the royal family had led to her disownment, as joining the Knight Order had been seen as a betrayal. Yet, despite the animosity between them, Samantha couldn't help but feel concerned for her sister's safety. After all, blood ties were blood ties.

Driven by worry, Samantha embarked on a relentless chase after her paladin sibling, leaving a trail of slain mafias in her wake.

Celia watched as Samantha sprinted after her sister, feeling a sense of urgency. She called out, trying to stop Samantha in her tracks.

"Sam, wait!" she called out, her voice filled with urgency. "We need you here. You can't just abandon your duties as a knight. We still have countless enemies to face."

Samantha abruptly halted, turning to look at Celia over her shoulder, her expression filled with conflict. She glanced back at her sister, who was disappearing into the distance. "I-I'm sorry, Celia. There's something bothering me," she confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Celia frowned, her concern evident. "What is it? Is this feeling bothering you enough to abandon your comrades?" she asked, looking directly into Samantha's eyes.

Samantha stuttered, "N-No, it's not that..."

Celia noticed a vulnerability in Samantha that she hadn't seen before. Celia had always known Samantha as a cheerful and strong-willed person, so seeing her vulnerable like this was a stark contrast. She was aware of the strained relationship Samantha had with her family, especially since she chose to become a knight instead of following the path of the paladins, like the rest of their family. This decision had been seen as a betrayal, leading to Samantha's disownment.

It had been six long years since Samantha had last seen her family, and now, having encountered her younger sister, who had become a paladin, she felt a glimmer of happiness, despite their recent defeat at the hands of a formidable opponent.

Now, her little sister was heading somewhere unknown, leaving both of them clueless. Celia understood that she couldn't give orders to the paladin since she was a knight herself, and only the church had authority over them. Asking the paladin to go back wasn't an option.

With a sigh, Celia made a decision. "You stay here, Sam. I'll go find Veronica instead. You're needed more than me in this fight. You're stronger than me in combat. So let me be the one to chase after your sister. I promise I'll protect her and help alleviate whatever's bothering you. Is that okay?"

Despite being the captain, Celia knew that Samantha was stronger than her. The only area where Celia had the upper hand was in decision-making and strategy. But in this particular situation, strength was more important than tactics. That's why Samantha was needed on the battlefield more than Celia.

Samantha looked torn, but after a moment, she nodded, a mixture of gratitude and worry etched on her face. "Thank you, Captain... I trust you. Please take care of her," she said, her voice laced with a hint of relief.

Celia gave her a reassuring smile, her resolve firm. "I won't let anything happen to her. We'll get through this together," she vowed, reaching out to briefly squeeze Samantha's hand. "And I trust you to protect and lead the knights in my absence, okay?"

"Got it," Samantha affirmed.

With that, Celia nodded and smiled at her, before sprinting towards the direction where Paladin Veronica Brightblade was heading. Samantha stood there, watching Celia's figure disappear into the distance. Then she turned around, swung her sword to shake off the bloodstains, and prepared to confront the mafias once again.

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Cian and the others were just a hundred meters away from where they had parked the car, reaching the designated spot.

"Looks like we actually made it..." Mila exclaimed, gasping for breath. Despite her exhaustion, she continued running, determined to escape and put an end to this chaotic night.

"...Yeah," Charlotte replied, equally breathless but still pushing forward.

Cian glanced back one last time, relieved to see that no one was chasing them. Their chances of escaping had tilted more towards success, it seemed.

'Well, I guess you could say our first operation was a success,' Cian thought to himself, trying to catch his breath. The night hadn't gone exactly as planned, with unexpected events such as the presence of these women and his personal issues with Vera. Nevertheless, overall, the operation had gone well. After five years of preparation, they were finally going to reveal their existence to the world.

'Now, all we have to do is wait for this timer to reach zero,' Cian mused, looking down at the digital timer in his hand. It still had six minutes left before it would hit zero.

Glancing up at Vera, he instructed her, "Vera, could you grab Maya and me a change of clothes? Once we have that, we can leave this place and head to a different location to watch the show begin."

Vera nodded without hesitation, ready to carry out the task.

Charlotte and Mila exchanged confused glances. "Watch the show begin?" they wondered. They had assumed they would immediately leave this place, but it seemed there was more to it than they realized.

"You'll see," Cian said, adorning a twisted smirk that both terrified and captivated the women. It was a side of him they had never seen before.

Vera returned from the car with the change of clothes for Cian and Maya. Without hesitation, she handed one set to Maya and personally assisted Cian in getting dressed, even down to his underwear. The women watched the scene unfold, bewildered yet somewhat accustomed to their peculiarities.

In the midst of it all, Mila finally voiced a question that had been bothering her ever since she had joined Cian, Vera, and Maya. "Uhm... Sir Cian... Wait, is it allowed to address a noble by their given name? I-I'm sorry if I've been calling you that even though I'm just a commoner."

Cian looked at Mila and replied, "It's fine. My noble status is in danger of being stripped away anyway, so it doesn't matter how you address me. So, what do you want to ask?"

Mila hesitated for a moment, then continued, ""Uhm... So, Sir Cian... I didn't want to ask this question, especially since you saved us from that pig guy and are going to accompany us back to our homes, but... it's been bothering me. I just couldn't help it. Would it be okay if I asked?"

"It's fine. Ask whatever you want," Cian granted her permission.

With a nod, Mila continued, "Wh-What is your goal? Why are you trying to confront the corrupt and evil nobles?"

Charlotte looked at Cian as well, her curiosity mirroring Mila's. Cian held their gaze for a moment, then turned to Maya, who wore a knowing smile on her face. His eyes then shifted to Vera, who, though expressionless, understood her younger brother's intentions. She decided not to be obstinate and allowed him to proceed.

"We are doing all of this... for a purpose," Cian finally replied.

"A purpose?"

Cian nodded. "Yes, a purpose. This kingdom is rotten to the core. I believe you all know that, don't you?"

Charlotte, Mila, and Freya remained silent, but their expressions confirmed their awareness of the kingdom's corruption. Slavery was legal, nobles enjoyed impunity for their actions except for attempting to seize the throne by force, and commoners were treated as inferior beings. Charlotte and Mila had personally experienced the depths of the kingdom's rotten system, understanding just how corrupt it truly was.

"...I suppose what we're doing is akin to cleaning this kingdom of its dirt," Cian continued. "We're purging the filth, starting with those demons who call themselves nobles. After that, we'll take down the scumbags who are no better than those demons. And ultimately, we'll dismantle the entire system itself." He paused for a moment. "But that's just a means to an end. It's not our ultimate goal."

Charlotte asked, "Then what is it?"

Cian's gaze hardened as he revealed his intentions without hesitation. "We cleanse this kingdom... so that once we take it, it will be free from filth."

Freya couldn't hide her shock. "B-But if someone discovers this, even though you're a noble, you'll be condemning yourself to the gallows!"

She was right. While nobles often received pardons for various crimes, mass murder and rebellion were not something the kingdom would tolerate. The punishment for such acts was death. This was precisely why Cian believed the kingdom's system was deeply flawed.

"Nothing will deter us. We will do whatever it takes to save this kingdom from the brink of destruction... even if it means destroying it," Cian declared resolutely. "A coup d'état is inevitable. If no one else is willing to take that step because they fear the royal family, then we will be the ones to make the move. We will cleanse this kingdom, and once that's accomplished, we will claim the throne for ourselves."

In simpler terms, Cian's plan was to purge the kingdom and then claim the throne for themselves. It sounded like the ambition of a power-hungry individual, but the three women couldn't sense that kind of ambition in Cian. It felt as though his words were just another means to an end. While what he said held a kernel of truth, there was more to his motivations than he let on. Revenge fueled his actions, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it. This was something the three women remained unaware of.

Taking a breath, Cian continued, "That is why I want all of you to help our cause."

"Eh?" The three women exclaimed almost simultaneously, shocked by the proposition.

Cian reaffirmed his request, "I want all of you to aid us in our cause."

It seemed they had heard him correctly, and they were taken aback by the unexpected proposal.

"W-Wait, so you want me, us, to join your organization and become criminals?" Mila questioned hesitantly.

Cian shook his head. "I'm not asking you to join our organization. I simply want your cooperation. I suppose that would still make you considered our accomplices, but I see you three as potential allies."

Maya and Vera patiently awaited the response of the three women, curious about their decision. The women exchanged glances, conveying their uncertainties.

Charlotte finally mustered the courage to address Cian. "Um... I'm not sure if I can be of much help to you. After all, I'm just a commoner. Are we truly going to be useful in achieving your goals?"

Maya stepped in to reassure her, "Master has already recognized your value. All of you. That's why he wants you to join. Talents can be found in individuals, not in titles. Whether you're a commoner or not, your abilities can flourish."

Cian added, "And my request wasn't solely based on the intention to seize the throne. You can also assist us in restoring the honor and prestige of my land."

The three women exchanged glances once again, silently deliberating. Then, their gazes settled on Cian. Mila was the first to voice her thoughts. "I apologize, Sir Cian, but I have to consider my family's well-being. At this point in time, I don't think I can join you. Would it be possible for me to give you an answer in the future?"

Cian smiled warmly. "Of course, that's more than acceptable. I don't wish to force you into joining us. If you decide that it's not for you, you can simply disregard and forget about what I've said."

Charlotte also spoke, her voice wavering slightly. "I-I'm in a similar situation. I still have important matters to attend to in my hometown, so I don't think I can join you right now. However, I promise to consider it seriously."

Freya hesitated before voicing her response. "I would love to join your group, Lord Lambhart, but due to the circumstances in my own land, I must decline for the time being."

Cian smiled warmly at the two of them. "It's wonderful to hear that you're considering my offer. Take as much time as you need to think it over. Your willingness to contemplate it is enough for me."

Glancing at the timer in his hand, he then remarked, "Well, the show is about to start. Shall we head out?" There remained only two minute and thirty seconds on the timer.

"We shall." said Maya.

They approached the car, but suddenly, Cian's instincts kicked in, sending a shiver down his spine. A dangerous presence lingered in the air. Reacting swiftly, he flung the timer aside and sprinted towards Maya.

"Maya!!!"

He managed to grab hold of her hand just in time, yanking her out of harm's way. Unfortunately, the danger still managed to strike, leaving Maya wounded and blood staining the ground. Cian's heart sank as he examined her injured shoulder, where a projectile had pierced her flesh and embedded itself in the ground.

In an instant, Vera, Charlotte, Mila, and Freya rushed to their side, their expressions a mix of shock and concern. Vera, perplexed, scanned their surroundings for any signs of danger. She hadn't sensed any imminent threat or detected the presence of an attacker. Who could have orchestrated this ambush?

Cian demanded, "Who did this?! Where did the attack come from?!"

Charlotte, her eyes darting around, pointed towards a nearby rooftop. "I caught a glimpse of something shiny up there. The shot must have originated from that direction!"

Without wasting a moment, Cian made a swift decision. "We can't stay here. We're too exposed. Let's find cover and attend to Maya's wound."

Vera, her resolve firm, assumed command of the situation. "Everyone, follow me. There's a safe hideout not far from here. We can regroup and evaluate our options."

Cian maintained a tight grip on Maya's hand. "Lead the way, Vera. We must move quickly."

They navigated the surroundings with caution, heads down and alert for any signs of danger. Despite her injury, Maya soldiered on, her face etched with pain, but her determination unyielding. Cian observed her grimacing and felt a surge of icy anger.

'Whoever was responsible for this attack would pay dearly.'