The Day of Storm and Wind (3)

Fierce wind and rain swept through the imperial palace garden.

Loen’s group was silently walking toward the Third Palace. The arrest team led by Team Leader Ead also followed behind Loen.

Finally, when they reached the last garden leading to the palace.

“..?”

Loen’s footsteps stopped.

In the middle of the garden. Someone was standing motionless in the pouring rain. Wearing an old and faded robe.

“Inspector Loen.”

He slowly turned around. Through graying hair stuck to his face from the rainwater and deeply etched wrinkles, sharply shining piercing eyes could be seen.

“Lord… Sigvalt?”

The old man’s name unconsciously flowed from Loen’s lips. Why was he here? And at this time?

An ominous premonition brushed Loen’s spine.

Sigvalt slowly walked toward Loen. He stopped a few steps away and spoke in a resolute voice.

“Isn’t this enough?”

Loen’s expression instantly hardened coldly.

“…”

Sigvalt continued once more in a gentle but pointed tone.

“Do you truly have no intention of stopping here?”

Haah.. Loen let out a short sigh and lowered her head. When she raised her head again, there was no more hesitation in her eyes.

“No, I don’t.” “Hoho.”

Sigvalt burst into brief laughter. But it was only for a moment.

Soon after, a domineering presence that seemed to press down on one’s entire body exploded like a storm around him as he hardened his expression.

Whoooong–!

Formless energy spread in all directions, pushing away the rain streams.

The garden’s well-tended flowers and trees all bent to one side as if swept by a powerful storm, and the inspectors facing him unconsciously took one step back.

It was that overwhelming.

Even Ead gritted his teeth for a moment. The old man’s skills are still formidable.

“Loen Franz.”

Sigvalt moved his robe aside with a rough gesture, revealing his true identity.

Beneath the fluttering cloth, glimpses of golden emblems and parts of the pure white Imperial Guard armor could be seen.

‘I suspected it, but… to think he was actually part of the Imperial Guard.’

Loen’s brows furrowed. It was because she instinctively sensed through his overwhelming presence that he was not just an ordinary Guard member.

Even the Team Leader, a 6-star grade swordsman, hesitated, so there was nothing more to say.

Sigvalt opened his mouth again.

“I don’t think your actions are wrong. It was Regnum who started it first. However….”

As Loen watched him calling the Prince by name rather than “Your Highness,” she fell into thought.

Sigvalt gazed steadily at her. His eyes seemed to already know everything.

“As a faithful servant of His Majesty the Emperor, how could I simply stand by and watch a bloody storm sweep through the imperial palace in these chaotic times?”

Sigvalt’s presence grew even stronger. It was a pressure that felt like thousands of sharp blades pricking one’s entire body.

Without any weapons, solely through his presence, he overwhelmed Loen’s entire group as he continued speaking.

“So I ask you one last time. Loen Franz. How about stopping here?”

Despite his warning and threat.

Loen’s answer remained unchanged.

“I cannot do that.”

However, Loen did not blindly express her refusal.

Sigvalt was not included in the list of those supporting the Prince. Especially seeing his behavior mentioning the Emperor at every meeting, he undoubtedly served only the Emperor.

Therefore, Loen was confident that he would not dare point his sword at her, who had the Emperor’s trust.

Their gazes clashed for a long time in the rain.

All of Sigvalt’s presence concentrated solely on Loen. As if trying to press her down, or as if testing her will.

Swish–.

A few strands of Loen’s wet bangs were cut off by the extremely sharp presence and scattered into the air. Nevertheless, Loen didn’t even blink.

She faced Sigvalt with unwavering eyes.

“..Tsk.”

In the end, it was Sigvalt who backed down first.

He briefly clicked his tongue and completely withdrew his presence.

“Just like Carl Franz’s daughter. Your stubbornness is extraordinary.”

Sigvalt spoke with a bitter smile.

“Please don’t cross the line.”

A final warning not to touch the Prince himself, who is the Emperor’s child. At the same time, it meant he would essentially condone Loen’s actions.

At his words, the eyes of the inspectors standing behind Loen widened with surprise.

Eventually, Loen opened her mouth with sincerity toward him, who looked full of concern.

“Lord Sigvalt.”

He twitched his eyebrow.

“My actions will never harm the Empire.”

Sigvalt’s eyes narrowed.

“The Empire, not His Majesty the Emperor..”

It was a statement with ample room for misunderstanding. But recalling Loen’s past actions, Sigvalt silently nodded.

No matter how the process unfolded, hadn’t she always proven her loyalty through results? Even if her methods were somewhat radical and dangerous.

Sigvalt stepped aside.

And extended his hand to point toward the Third Palace. It was a gesture meaning to pass through.

Loen silently bowed her head in respect. And then led the inspectors deeper into the imperial palace.

Sigvalt watched their backs for a while with a gaze filled with complex emotions.

The Third Palace. The central axis of administration where imperial cabinet members gather to discuss and make final decisions on the Empire’s administration and state affairs.

It was commonly called the Cabinet Palace.

Loen arrived at the main entrance of the palace.

The Imperial Guard members guarding the main entrance briefly exchanged glances and then made way. They were all supporters of the Princess.

“You may enter.”

Loen responded to their cooperation with a slight nod.

As always, the Cabinet Palace was busy today. The hard shoe sounds of administrators walking the corridors, the sound of turning papers, voices exchanging opinions in low tones.

It was a peaceful scene no different from usual. But beneath the surface, there was a coldness due to the recently intensified political conflict.

Just then.

As the grand door of the Cabinet Palace opened, a group of inspectors appeared.

Leading them at the front was none other than Loen Franz.

Instantly, the air in the first-floor hall froze. The administrators who had been moving busily all stopped their steps and looked at the uninvited visitors with eyes mixed with shock and anxiety.

“Wh-why are inspectors here?” “What’s going on?”

Murmurs spread like waves.

Loen, who had entered the interior, stopped at the center of the hall.

Then she briefly signaled Seraphine and Psyche standing on her left and right.

“Begin.”

Receiving the signal, the two led inspectors and instantly dispersed to the ends of the left and right corridors.

It was a coordinated movement without a hint of hesitation.

Soon after.

“Kuhegh..” “What is this outrage!” “The Imperial Guard! Where is the Imperial Guard!”

Violent resistance, screams, and sounds of something breaking began to erupt from both ends of the corridors.

The administrators in the first-floor hall trembled in fear, their faces turning pale blue, not knowing what to do in the face of the sudden bloodshed unfolding before their eyes.

Loen, as if the commotion on the first floor was of no concern, moved toward the central staircase leading to the second floor with Team Leader Ead.

Thud, thud.

The sound of her footsteps echoed throughout the hall stained with screams.

Several Imperial Guard knights blocked Loen’s path as she ascended to the second floor.

They were those loyal to Prince Regnum.

Along with determination, their eyes held anger toward inspectors who dared to use force in the imperial palace.

“Inspector Loen! Stop here! If you proceed further, we too won’t remain—”

Team Leader Ead moved before they could finish their words.

Whoosh!

Dozens of blazing flame swords appeared in the air behind him and shot toward the Imperial Guard knights.

“Chain beam.”

At the same time, a gray magical beam was fired from Loen’s fingertips.

Kwa-aang!

Crack, crunch.

At the overwhelming firepower, the Imperial Guard knights rolled on the floor, either burning with screams or with their armor crumpled.

Administrators passing through the second-floor corridor were terrified. They let out shrill screams at the horrific scene unfolding before their eyes.

“Kyaaaaah!” “Gasp..!”

Loen and Ead briefly glanced at the fallen knights, then casually stepped over them and crossed the corridor.

[Ministry of Defense]

Loen, standing in front of a door with a golden nameplate, roughly pushed it open.

Bang!

Inside, department administrators were working in a stiff, solemn atmosphere.

At the sudden appearance of inspectors, all eyes concentrated on her. Surprise and bewilderment spread instantly.

Loen spoke coldly.

“Inspection execution in progress, please remain at your seats. Unnecessary movements will be considered treason.”

At the warning filled with murderous intent, the administrators froze, not even daring to make a sound.

Loen ignored them and headed straight to the minister’s office inside.

Bam!

Opening the minister’s office door, the Minister of Defense was sitting in a premium leather chair, signing documents.

At his side, vice ministers and aides were standing and reporting on their duties.

“Another request from the west for dispatch of the Capital Corps….” “Regarding the corps operation budget….”

At Loen’s sudden intrusion, the minister’s hand stopped in mid-air. His eyes widened with surprise and displeasure.

“Inspector Loen? What is this rudeness!”

Ignoring his words, Loen strode up to the minister and declared in a cold voice.

“Minister Luke. For the crimes of fostering factions within the imperial family to paralyze the administrative system, and abusing your authority for illicit wealth accumulation.”

Loen’s gaze pierced through Minister Luke’s eyes.

“For those crimes, I will execute you summarily, here and now.” “W-wait—”

Minister Luke hurriedly tried to say something, but it was already too late.

Shunk–!

Loen’s magic sword directly penetrated his heart.

“Kuh.. hegh..!”

Minister Luke’s eyes widened in disbelief.

He spewed blood and collapsed beside the chair.

With a thud! his body hit the floor.

One of the seven ministers who could be considered the actual leader of the imperial cabinet.

It was the pitiful end of the War Minister who oversaw military affairs.

Loen, who had been coldly looking down at him, slowly raised her head to look at the vice minister and aides who had turned deathly pale with fear.

“Hee..heek!”

The vice minister, terrified by the ominously glowing red pupils, stumbled backward, tripped over a chair, and cla-clatter! Ridiculously tumbled to the floor.

But no one laughed at the sight. Fear had already permeated the surroundings.

Thud, thud.

Loen slowly approached the vice minister who had fallen to the floor.

Her footsteps sounded like the footsteps of the grim reaper.

The vice minister, overcome with fear, eventually tightly closed his eyes.

Just let it be painless!

However, sensing that nothing had happened even after time passed, the vice minister slightly opened his eyes.

“…?”

In his vision, he saw Loen extending her hand.

The vice minister alternately looked at Loen’s hand and her expressionless face.

What’s going on? Is she sparing me? Or….

Just then.

From outside the minister’s office, along with a chilling shunk! sound, Ead’s matter-of-fact voice was heard. Urgh.

“I believe I said movement would be considered treason.”

Startled to his senses, the vice minister instinctively grabbed Loen’s hand. It was an instinctive action.

Loen helped him up and then patted his shoulder.

“Be careful, Vice Minister. The floor seems slippery.”

Despite her words, her gaze was cold. The vice minister could only nod frantically.

Soon Loen turned abruptly and left the minister’s office.

“…” “…”

The War Ministry’s vice minister and aides blankly watched her retreating figure.

Back in the second-floor corridor.

Ead, dusting off his blood-stained flame sword, said.

“I’ll stay here to watch for escapees.” “Understood.”

Loen nodded and headed to the next department room.

The Treasury Department and the Interior Department. Core figures of the Prince’s faction were also positioned there.

Shortly after.

The smell of blood and screams spread along the second-floor corridor.

The Treasury Vice Minister, the Interior Chief Administrator, and so on.

Loen’s sword mercilessly beheaded the core personnel of the Prince’s faction one after another. No excuses were accepted.

Their deaths were already a predetermined course.

Before long.

An eerie and heavy silence settled over the entire Cabinet Palace.

No more screams or shouts were heard.

Only the sound of heavy rain outside could be heard.

Loen, who had carried out the executions and returned to the corridor, stood silently with Ead guarding the stairs.

Not long after, Seraphine and Psyche, having completed the purge on the first floor, came up to the second floor with blood-stained appearances.

“First floor cleanup is done. I left the aftermath to the support division inspectors.” “Me too!”

Loen silently nodded.

Looking around at her companions’ faces, Loen said.

“Let’s go.”

Loen headed to the third floor without delay.

To where the closest aides to Prince Regnum were.