Thwack! “Argh!” Thud! “Ugh!” Crash! “Aaaargh!” Every swing of Ghislain’s hand sent guards flying like leaves in a storm. With no knights among them, no one in the vicinity could stand against his overwhelming force. “W-What the hell is this monster doing here?!” The soldiers, trembling in fear, hesitated to approach him, their earlier bravado utterly gone. They instinctively knew: this was no ordinary man. “This guy’s not just a drunk! He’s a revolutionary leader!” “He’s a high-ranking operative from the revolutionaries, for sure!” “Alert the officers! Call the knights immediately!” Their panic only served Ghislain’s purpose. Every fearful shout and retreat worked in his favor. Recognizing their growing confusion, Ghislain played along, smirking as he shouted, “Revolution! Tear down this corrupt world!” Hearing that one word—revolution—drove the guards into further disarray. “Oh my god, it’s true! He’s one of them!” “Run for your lives!” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 “We can’t win this! He’s a revolutionary commander!” The guards bolted in every direction, weapons and shields clattering to the ground as they fled. Seeing their backs retreating, Ghislain chuckled softly. Turning toward the prisoners still locked in their cells, he raised his sword and swung it in a broad arc. The steel bars groaned and snapped under his strength, crashing to the floor. “Follow me if you want your freedom,” he ordered, his voice calm but commanding. For a moment, the prisoners simply stared, wide-eyed and unsure whether this was a trick. “Are you deaf?” Ghislain barked. “Get moving! Unless you’d rather rot here or die when reinforcements arrive.” That jolted the prisoners into action. Chains rattled as they scrambled to their feet, rushing toward their unlikely savior. Some looked terrified, others hopeful. Among them were petty criminals, falsely accused innocents, and hardened offenders alike. From behind the cell bars, Galbarik’s gruff voice echoed out. “You’re really going to bring all of these people along, my lord?” “They’ll serve as a distraction,” Ghislain replied with a shrug. “Nothing more, nothing less. Now get ready. We’re heading to the tunnel.” The Great Escape The group moved quickly through the dimly lit corridors of the prison. Everywhere, chaos reigned. “Prisoners are escaping!” “They’re heading for the tunnels!” “Kill anyone who resists! Stop them at all costs!” Guards scrambled to respond to the breakout, their shouts echoing down the halls. Many didn’t even dare approach the growing mob behind Ghislain, opting instead to sound alarms and call for backup. As they approached the tunnel’s entrance, several guards stood in their way, armed and alert. These were no ordinary watchmen—they had been specifically stationed to guard the underground passage. “Prisoners, halt! You’re not going anywhere!” Ghislain stepped forward, unsheathing a bloodstained sword. The flickering torchlight glinted off its crimson surface. “You’re welcome to try and stop me,” he said, a chilling smile spreading across his face. Before the guards could react, he lunged. Slash! The lead guard barely had time to raise his weapon before Ghislain’s blade cleaved through it—and him—in a single, fluid motion. Behind him, the Fenris knights joined the fray. The tunnel’s defenders quickly realized they were outmatched. These were not mere prisoners—they were trained warriors, equipped with enchanted armor and weapons. In moments, the guards were either incapacitated or fleeing for their lives. “Get inside the tunnel!” Ghislain shouted. Galbarik and the other dwarves moved quickly, unlocking the reinforced barrier they had previously built. It slid open with a series of heavy metallic clicks, revealing the dark, narrow path beyond. “Move!” Galbarik barked at the prisoners, gesturing them forward. Raising the Alarm The pandemonium outside reached a fever pitch. Prisoners scattered in all directions, some seeking to escape the city, others simply running to save their lives. “Catch them!” “Reinforcements, to the tunnels!” “Stop them at all costs!” More soldiers and even a few knights poured in, trying to contain the chaos. But it was already too late. Ghislain and his knights had breached the heart of Martin’s defenses. The Emerald Hall Eventually, Ghislain’s group reached their true destination: The Emerald Hall, a grandiose mansion meant for entertaining nobles and hosting extravagant events. But today, its opulence served a darker purpose. “This is the place,” Ghislain said, his voice steady. The knights exchanged uncertain glances. The building seemed eerily quiet—too quiet. As they moved inside, the lavish decor and empty corridors set them on edge. “Are you sure this is it, my lord?” one knight asked cautiously. Ghislain nodded, his gaze sharp. “Yes. It’s here.” Moments later, the sound of doors slamming open and armored footsteps echoed throughout the hall. From every corner, armed figures emerged. They weren’t ordinary guards—these were seasoned fighters, mercenaries who had been bought and paid for by Martin himself. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a welcoming party,” Ghislain said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The mercenaries closed in, their weapons raised. Unlike the guards outside, these men moved with precision, their eyes cold and calculating. One of the knights muttered under his breath, “These aren’t just mercenaries... they’re Drakes.” Ghislain’s expression darkened. “No. They’re traitors.” “There are this many traitors? And Dominic has no idea?” “It’s not impossible to deceive him. They probably take turns guarding when they don’t have other responsibilities. But... there sure are a lot of them here today,” Ghislain said with a smirk. As he spoke, a burly, rough-looking mercenary stepped forward from the crowd. “And who the hell are you? How do you know all this? I don’t recognize you.” “And who the hell are you?” Ghislain shot back, his expression calm and unbothered. “I’m Hampton, deputy commander of the Drake Mercenary Corps. Let me ask again—who the hell are you?” “I’m the new owner of the Drake Mercenary Corps.” “What?” “That’s right. I’m taking over now.” “Hah! You’re out of your mind. Don’t tell me you’re the one who ordered Dominic to gather the mercenaries?” “Yeah. Why haven’t you joined them yet? When the commander calls, you should come running. Or are you ignoring orders because you’re traitors?” Hampton laughed, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “What’s your plan here? You came to attack us, didn’t you? But with all your forces gathered elsewhere, you only sent this handful of people here? Are you the bait?” Hampton clearly hadn’t grasped the situation. He believed Dominic was making a desperate last-ditch effort to assault this location and had called the traitors together to protect it. If Dominic had summoned the entire mercenary corps, they would have had nearly 3,000 fighters at their disposal. Even with the city’s defense forces and the mansion’s fortifications, it would have been a difficult battle. Hampton’s group couldn’t rely on internal discord either. Dominic was the one who had built the mercenary corps from the ground up, and his men were fiercely loyal to him. Sowing discord would have been nearly impossible. In the end, Hampton had chosen to bring only the traitors and a few loyalists to keep the situation under control. Ghislain quickly assessed the situation and nodded. “This is perfect. They’ve misunderstood and gathered themselves in one place. I can take care of all the trash at once.” “Don’t get cocky. As long as we have the hostages, there’s nothing you can do. Do you really think you can break through here with just that tiny force of yours?” The defenders of this place numbered around 200, including the mercenaries. While the regular soldiers made up less than half of the force, the sheer number of traitors among the mercenaries made them a formidable group. Hampton swung his massive warhammer in the air, the weapon whistling as it cut through the space. “Kill them all!” Before his words had even finished, the hammer was already flying toward Ghislain. Swish. Boom! “What?” The hammer smashed into the ground, splintering the wooden floorboards, but Ghislain was no longer standing there. He had disappeared in the blink of an eye. “Grgh... what?” Hampton managed to mutter in confusion, beginning to turn his head. But he never completed the motion. Blood sprayed into the air as he collapsed to the floor, choking and sputtering. His neck, cleanly severed, spilled blood that quickly painted the ground crimson. The others stared in shock, their heads darting back and forth between Hampton’s lifeless body and Ghislain. “What the hell? Hampton’s dead—just like that?” “I didn’t even see him move!” “How... how is that possible? Even for a knight...” Hampton had been at least on par with a junior knight, capable of using mana to enhance his abilities. That level of power had earned him the position of deputy commander in the mercenary corps. The defenders had been confident that even if their enemy was entirely made up of knights, they wouldn’t lose to this small force. But now? They had just witnessed Hampton’s head severed in an instant, and Ghislain had already moved past their ranks with terrifying ease. The quiet western city had never seen anything like this before. Ghislain glanced coldly at the remaining soldiers and mercenaries, then issued his command to his knights. “Kill them all. I’ll handle the ones upstairs.” No matter how well-trained they were, these were just mansion guards and mercenaries. They were no match for the Fenris knights. The knights grinned, baring their teeth like wolves preparing for a hunt. With their mana ignited, they plunged into the throng of enemies. Boom! Boom! Boom! “Aaaaagh!” Screams erupted from all directions as the knights tore through their foes. They were wolves tearing into a flock of sheep, and the results were as expected. The Fenris knights, hardened by countless battles, massacred the lazy, undisciplined defenders with ease. While the knights dealt with the enemies below, Ghislain made his way to the upper floors, cutting down the guards stationed there with similar efficiency. Eventually, he began opening doors, shouting as he went. “Come out! We need to get out of here, now!” The people imprisoned within stared at him, wide-eyed and unsure. “I was sent by Dominic! Hurry up and get out!” Hearing his words, others cautiously opened their doors. Their fear turned to relief as they saw the corpses of guards scattered throughout the halls, and they quickly gathered in the corridor. By the time Ghislain had finished checking the rooms, more than 50 people had gathered. He double-checked every door to ensure no one was left behind, then shouted again. “Follow me! We have to escape before more soldiers arrive!” But the group hesitated. They had endured too much under Martin’s reign, and their fear still held them captive. Boom! Ghislain stomped hard on the floor, cracking the wood and startling the group. All eyes turned to him, filled with terror. “There’s no time to explain. If you don’t move now, I’ll cut you down myself.” That was enough to spur them into action. Living under constant threats had made them especially susceptible to fear-based commands, and Ghislain’s display of power was more than enough to convince them. While he escorted the group downstairs, the knights had already cleared the lower floors. Bloodstained and surrounded by piles of corpses, they stood ready for further orders. The group exited the building only to be confronted by a swarm of approaching soldiers. Ghislain stepped forward, his sword raised. “I’ll clear the way. Protect the civilians!” Boom! Ghislain charged, cutting through the soldiers like a hot knife through butter. With no formation and little coordination, the guards didn’t stand a chance against him. “Stop him!” “Kill him!” “Argh!” The defenders tried to hold their ground, but it was futile. Each swing of Ghislain’s blade claimed another life. Soon, he and the rescued hostages reached the tunnel entrance. “Get inside!” The terrified hostages obeyed without hesitation, disappearing into the tunnel. Ghislain was about to breathe a sigh of relief when a woman spoke up. “The commander’s family isn’t here!” “What?” “Commander Dominic’s family—they’re not among us!” Ghislain’s mind raced. The enemy knew Dominic was gathering forces. It made sense that they would have moved his family elsewhere, possibly keeping them closer to Martin himself as a precaution. Clenching his jaw, Ghislain muttered to himself, “This was supposed to be straightforward, but nothing ever goes as planned.” He scanned the area. More soldiers were closing in, and many of the mansion’s knights seemed to have shifted their focus to the tunnels. Taking a deep breath, he turned and barked, “Lucas! Gordon! You’re coming with me. We’re going back to get the ones left behind.” The two knights froze in surprise.