The End of the Southern Alliance

Azra, the massive port city located at the southeastern tip of the empire.

This place, where more than hundreds of ships came and went each day, was once the core stronghold of the Southern Merchant Association that controlled the southern economy.

In the center of the city, a palace overflowing with luxury stood tall.

Shining marble exterior walls, colorful stained-glass windows, and well-maintained gardens.

It was a structure that symbolized the wealth and power of the Southern Alliance.

And now.

In the largest and most splendid banquet hall inside the palace.

Dozens of nobles were continuing heated discussions with anxious faces.

In an atmosphere where unease flowed through the air, an elderly count opened his mouth.

Fear was evident on his face.

“I think it would be wise to flee by ship even now.”

From the other side came opposition.

It was a count with a plump belly.

“We have nowhere proper to go.”

“We could cross over to the kingdom!”

At the elderly count’s suggestion of seeking asylum in another country, a noble with a stern impression slammed the table and retorted.

“Nonsense!”

Even though they had secretly aided the allied forces, that didn’t mean they were allies.

It was merely a cooperative relationship for mutual benefit.

Of course, if they requested asylum, they would be accepted.

They wouldn’t turn away nobles with internal information about the empire.

“Even if the kingdom accepts us, would they treat us as proper nobles? Not at all.”

But they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the same life as now.

The hard-earned reputation as nobles who controlled the economy of the vast imperial south would all be lost,

And they would be branded as fugitives who abandoned their homeland.

At best, they would fall to the status of newly rich with some wealth, living under the scrutiny of the Allied Nations. It was a future too humiliating for them to bear, with arrogance ingrained to their bones.

“Above all! For us who chose betrayal to rise higher, telling us to flee to a lower place is essentially telling us to die! Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right!”

“Indeed. We cannot flee from here!”

Amid the surrounding responses pouring in, the stern noble continued speaking confidently.

“Everyone. Have you ever seen Baron Mamon speak carelessly? As he has proven his abilities thus far, let’s trust him and wait. He will surely bring us news of victory.”

At his words, about half relaxed their expressions and nodded.

Conversely, this meant the other half didn’t agree with his words.

The elderly count countered the stern noble’s words.

“Ho ho, isn’t that judgment too complacent? Let me say this now. The opinion that spreading various false rumors about Loen Franz and submitting petitions to the council and imperial family would make her cower in fear—that was also suggested by Baron Mamon.”

But Mamon’s schemes didn’t work at all.

“And how is it now? Far from cowering, she’s marching straight toward us like a knight on horseback!”

This time, the other half nodded.

Emboldened by this, the speaking noble delivered the decisive blow.

“Honestly speaking, I believe there’s a high probability that Baron Mamon will be defeated. So even now, I think we should prepare to fl—”

The possibility of defeat.

Such blunt words sparked opposition from various quarters.

“We need to stick together now, yet he’s spouting such nonsense… Tsk.”

“If that’s how you feel, then just leave!”

After raised voices and shouts were exchanged, the Southern Alliance nobles, who once boasted tight solidarity, finally split into two groups.

“I was about to leave anyway! Rather than just sitting here wasting time, it’s better to do something. Let’s go, everyone!”

In the midst of confusion where gazes of distrust and contempt pointed at each other.

The shadow of death was already crawling toward the city.

---

Harbor dock.

“Hurry up and move it! The master says there’s no time!”

“Why is this so heavy again?”

“Must have real gold in it.”

Wooden crates were stacked neatly on the deck of a ship exuding splendor.

The count’s wealth, accumulated over many years, was divided and packed into the crates.

Watching the scene, the elderly count opened his mouth.

“Lord Riard. Is there still no word from the messenger?”

“No.”

“Hmm.”

The count’s plan was simple.

Load everything important onto the ship in case of any eventuality.

Then, depending on the outcome of the battle at the hills, either quietly return to the palace as if nothing happened, or… immediately set sail.

Just then, the escort knight spoke words pleasing to hear.

“My lord. I believe preventing possible calamities in advance is a much better choice than losing one’s life due to carelessness.”

In other words, the count’s actions of jumping the gun were a very reasonable choice.

“Ho ho, this is why I value you so highly. Yes, indeed. Anyway, if Baron Mamon wins.”

“If he wins?”

“Then we can move the cargo back later… Who’s there!”

Their conversation was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.

Simultaneously turning their heads, they saw two uninvited guests standing on the ship’s railing.

A nobleman with an oily impression and a woman with a lively demeanor.

It was Ria and Babil.

“Trying to escape by ship? As expected, nobles are exceptionally good at sensing danger.”

At Ria’s sarcasm, the elderly count and the escort knight’s mouths fell open.

“Th-the Inspection Corps? How did you get here..?”

“How did we get here? Naturally, we came on horseback.”

Ria playfully answered the count’s trembling voice.

However, a penetrating killing intent flowed from her eyes.

Sensing the threat, the escort knight stepped forward to protect the elderly count.

Vigorously drawing his weapon, he pointed his sword at Ria.

“My lord. I will protect you.”

“Lord Riard..!”

The elderly count’s face showed emotion at the sight of the dependable escort knight.

Ria looked at him with a contemptuous gaze.

“Making a fuss. Serving a traitor at that.”

At the chilling mockery, the escort knight gritted his teeth and stared into Ria’s eyes.

And declared on the spot.

“It is a knight’s duty to silently follow his lord no matter what path he taㅡ”

Slash.

That was his last will.

Because Ria, who had drawn a greatsword from mid-air, swung a downward slash.

The knight’s body, split in two, collapsed to either side,

And the greatsword landed with a thud in front of the elderly count’s shoes.

“Heurk.”

To the ears of the count who had collapsed in shock, Ria’s rhythmic voice was heard.

“Count, I’m a bit busy. Without much talk, I’ll send you right away, okay?”

“W-wait!!”

Crack.

Afterward, the attack of the two uninvited guests continued, and the ships the nobles were on caught fire one after another.

The group of nobles who had headed toward the dock met their death like that.

---

“We’re in trouble!”

“What is it? Could the messenger have arrived?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“If not that, then what?”

The butler who had rushed into the banquet hall delivered shocking news to the nobles.

“Th-the dock is burning.”

“What did you say?”

The nobles who remained in the palace hurriedly ran to the windows and terraces.

And they saw.

The bay spreading in a semicircle.

Dozens of ships docked there were either split in half or sinking while blazing.

“According to the soldiers, a group in black uniforms appeared, massacred the nobles at the dock and…”

“Enough! I understood what you said.”

The stern noble cut off the butler’s words.

As he scanned the surroundings, he saw the nobles’ complexions had turned pale.

At that moment, someone’s words mixed with resignation circled the banquet hall.

“To think that the army led by Baron Mamon would be defeated…”

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Inspection Corps to appear here.

A gloomy atmosphere soon enveloped the banquet hall.

The defeat of a thirty-thousand-strong army they had painstakingly gathered, even receiving support from the allied forces.

As it was their last hope, the shock hit hard.

But soon, the stern noble awakened the nobles’ minds with a resolute voice.

“Everyone, let’s gather our wits! It’s not over yet.”

“Count Brown. The army is defeated, and the escape route is gone. Wouldn’t it be right to give up at this point?”

“There’s still hope. Let’s go to the audience hall first.”

Count Brown led the nobles deep into the palace to the audience hall.

Everyone quietly followed him.

“Count Brown, what exactly are you planning?”

“We’ll prepare to receive her.”

“Her… You don’t mean Loen Franz, do you?”

The count nodded.

“To meet that crazy woman who doesn’t even blink an eye at beheading nobles, what exactly are you planning to do?”

At that, the count stopped walking and turned around.

His gaze looked at the nobles who had been with him all this time.

“I’ve heard that her relationship with the Franz family is quite good.”

The Southern Alliance’s political offensive toward Loen.

Their attacks, which had been spreading various slanders and false rumors, had entered a lull as the Franz family launched a massive counterattack.

Especially due to Carl Franz’s somewhat aggressive counterattack, even central nobles with connections to the Southern Alliance were watching their step. Through this, the tight relationship between them could be confirmed.

Normally, the first child who was pushed aside from the successor position would have an extremely bad relationship with the family.

However, Loen was the opposite case.

“Moreover, seeing how she willingly handed over the successor position to her younger brother… The sibling relationship must be very close.”

“To think that a woman without a drop of blood tears also has family love, how… ironic.”

At the sarcasm directed at her, Count Brown smiled.

“That’s why I plan to propose a negotiation based on her family love.”

“Negotiation?”

“Yes.”

The surroundings began to stir.

Some nobles seemed to have already caught on.

So that’s the way!

“The Franz family has been swallowing up all the core businesses of the Donnelly family. Besides, Loen herself has become the Southern Corps Commander. Despite having no military experience. There must be people seething with complaints about this.”

The nobles’ expressions became serious.

“Once this purge by the Inspection Corps is concluded, the Franz family will undoubtedly face unprecedented checks and balances within the empire.”

Someone supported his words.

“Indeed, even now their power is sky-high, but if it grows even more from here… At least the First Prince definitely won’t stay silent.”

“That’s right.”

“True words.”

Count Brown delivered his final words.

“Loen Franz’s support base is woefully inadequate compared to her rapid growth. In this situation, if our Southern Alliance were to fully support her and promise to give her everything she wants…”

She would surely accept it, albeit reluctantly.

Of course, some nobles would be sacrificed as examples,

But it was a far better option than being completely wiped out.

Above all, Count Brown himself had a lesser degree of betrayal.

So there was a high chance he would be exempted from being made an example.

Thus, all holding onto a glimmer of hope, they entered the audience hall with restored noble dignity.

They waited for her with confident appearances.

---

The interior of the palace was unexpectedly quiet.

“I was kind of expecting something. Isn’t there too little resistance?”

“Investigator Psyche. In any case, isn’t that good for us?”

“But still…”

While soldiers were making their last stand inside the palace, they had even sent Inspection Department team members to key points in the city in advance to prevent the Alliance nobles from secretly escaping.

But the palace was quiet.

There was no resistance whatsoever.

It was to the extent that Psyche wore an expression of being completely deflated.

Loen increased her speed, crossing the empty corridor toward the audience hall.

Whether there was resistance or not, their fate was already sealed.

Eventually, Loen’s group arrived at the door of the audience hall.

Swish.

Loen gave Psyche a look, and she nodded and clenched her fist to smash the main door of the audience hall.

Boom!

The heavy door was shattered and flew inside.

As Loen entered the audience hall through the dust, about twenty nobles, with grave faces, were standing in two lines waiting for them.

At the front of them, a noble with a stern impression stood as if he were their representative.

Thud, thud, thud.

The sound of Loen’s footsteps echoed in the audience hall.

According to the investigation, the noble with the stern impression was a noble called Count Brown.

He was the most influential figure in the Southern Alliance after Baron Mamon.

Loen approached and stopped in front of him, then coldly opened her mouth.

“Count Brown and 19 others.”

At her chilling voice, some nobles involuntarily flinched.

A cold current enveloped the audience hall, making it difficult even to breathe.

“There’s no need to list your crimes. There is no mercy for vermin who betrayed His Majesty the Emperor and the empire, choosing betrayal. Today, in this place.”

A sharp mana blade appeared in her hand.

“All of you will die.”

Not a trace of compassion could be found in her.

“Any objections?”

At Loen’s cold inquiry, Count Brown, striving to maintain composure, answered.

“No objections. But I have something to saㅡ”

“I asked if you had any objections.”

Loen mercilessly cut off his words.

As if excuses weren’t even worth hearing.

“…”

Cold sweat flowed down Count Brown’s back.

He muttered inwardly.

A cold face showing no mercy or generosity whatsoever.

Indeed, she was the sword itself… carrying out the Emperor’s will.

Negotiation won’t be easy.

Soon, he opened his mouth with difficulty.

“…No objections.”

Then Loen said.

“In that case, in the name of His Majesty the Emperor, I hereby sentence you all to immediate execution right here.”

At that moment, the air froze.

“W-wait a moment! We have a proposal! A proposal that everyone here agrees with! All that our association has—”

Count Brown urgently shouted, but Loen cut him off once more.

“A proposal?”

A sneer appeared at the corner of Loen’s mouth.

“There’s no compromise with traitors.”

Looking at Loen’s cold gaze, Count Brown finally realized the truth.

That was already the face of someone who had made their decision.

The face of an executioner who had prepared to draw the sword.

There would be no mercy or compromise from her.

“Crazy…”

Such words inadvertently escaped from the count’s mouth.

If I had known it would be like this, I should have at least tried to escape through the secret passage.

Regret and despair covered his face.

Swish!

As Loen moved…

The image of her swinging her sword was slowly captured in Count Brown’s eyes.

The grayish sword in her hand drew a straight line trajectory as it passed through his neck.

It was a momentary instant.

Immediately after, his vision spun and crashed violently to the floor.

His face had fallen to the ground.

Before Count Brown’s consciousness faded.

Beyond his vision, he saw.

Her figure being stained with blood,

And some nobles kneeling, hands on the floor, pleading with trembling eyes to survive.

Seeing that sight, the count, with only his face remaining, clicked his tongue.

Tsk.

Even if they kneel…

It would be useless.

That was Count Brown’s last thought.

The flow of consciousness soon disappeared into darkness.

It was the end.

For Loen as well,

And for the Southern Merchant Association that once dominated the imperial south.