As Light followed the assassin woman through the woods, he noticed something uncanny—he couldn't hear her movements at all. No leaves crunching, no rustling cloth, not even the sound of breath. She was moving with a ghostly silence that even his Focus skill barely detected.
Then, without warning, she stopped.
She turned her head slightly, her body tensing. Had she lost him? She seemed unsure if Light had continued following her.
But just as she began to turn around fully—
Tap.
Her face was now only inches from Light's. Their eyes met.
Blue eyes met black. Her perfume drifted toward him faintly, a clean, sharp scent mixed with the natural musk of the wild. Light, caught off-guard, locked eyes with her and—for a brief moment—was lost in them. There was pain in those eyes. Distance. Isolation. Or maybe that was just his own projection. Still, her presence... it felt like something trapped in a beautiful cage. In that single moment, Light was completely caught in them.
Something about her... felt caged. Sad, yet proud. Like someone who had seen too much and survived it all.
Or maybe, Light wondered, those were my feelings, not hers.
She, too, stared back into his eyes. What did she see?
A storm held back behind a calm mask?
A boy hiding fear behind silence?
A soul that refused to kneel?
The moment passed.
She straightened, voice calm:
> "Stay behind me. Don't speak unless I tell you to."
Light nodded silently.
Together, they headed toward the Imperial encampment.
---
They moved through the forest until they reached the outer perimeter of the imperial camp. The knights stationed there tensed immediately, drawing weapons as the two approached. Their Swords were drawn. Shields braced, sharp eyes focused locked on the two cloaked figures.
Then came the booming voice of a commander:
> "HALT! Identify yourselves!"
Light remained still, observing everything. His mind spun.
Was this a trap?
Was she delivering him to the enemy?
But if she had meant him harm, why bring him here?
Just then, the camp stirred. More soldiers spilled out, alert. Among them, one man towered above the rest—a giant, wide-bodied and thick-necked, resembling a sumo wrestler. He didn't wear a helmet. No weapon in hand. Just his presence was enough.
He stepped forward. His voice thundered:
> "Identify yourselves, now, or prepare to die."
Light instinctively calculated escape options. He had no real plan, but his body was calm, composed, thanks to Cool Mind. Still, he thought, If she betrays me, I'm done. Unless I create a distraction...
Before he could act, the woman beside him pulled off her mask.
The soldiers froze.
Weapons were lowered instantly.
Light couldn't see her face from behind her—but he did notice the shimmer of her black hair swaying gently, its scent trailing toward him. Something about it grounded him.
A murmur spread.
Then the large man smiled.
> "Well, well… Aunt. What brings you here?"
The guards around him made way.
The leaner son gestured politely. "Let's speak inside before anyone starts making assumptions."
But a third voice interrupted, sharper than the others:
> "We don't need you here."
Light watched as the three young men emerged fully. He didn't need to be told—he could feel the weight of who they were.
These were the emperor's sons.
The massive one—firstborn. Strength incarnate.
The sharp, handsome one—second son, known for charm and politics.
The quiet, cold-eyed one—third son, said to be the emperor's shadow.
And now, the assassin woman had joined them.
The assassin woman reached over, lightly tapping the large prince on the shoulder.
"Just missing my nephews."
Even her voice was calm but confident, commanding respect.
They walked inside.
The second son, the sharp and cunning one, stepped forward again, eyes narrowing at the woman:
> "You can't expect special treatment."
"If you arrived without notice, that could provoke the emperor's anger. His commands are not something anyone ignores lightly."
But the woman simply turned, smirking at Light—and he finally saw her face.
She was breathtaking.
Smooth white skin, sleek black hair, blue eyes glowing under the torchlight, and faint scars on her eyebrow and lower jawline. A graceful yet deadly beauty—a beautiful gangster, he thought.
Light's thoughts wandered again.
> "She's like an angel… no— a warrior angel in disguise."
As she turned to walk ahead, she pulled a black cloak over herself, concealing her form. But Light, still behind her, imagined her perfectly: that body, that movement, that aura.
Before she could speak again, The firstborn son simply said,
> "Go if you must. We'll handle things here."
The third son finally added with a dry laugh,
> "Let's hear her out once. Auntie doesn't visit for nothing."
Light blinked.
> "She's… the emperor's sister?"
Rumors said only one blood relative of the emperor still lived—the youngest. And now she stood right beside him.
No one knew what happened to the rest of the imperial family.
She looked barely over 30, but her beauty, posture, and mystery made age irrelevant. Light stayed silent.
Until She smiled faintly, casually gesturing toward him:
Before she could respond, one of them pointed to Light.
> "Look at his badge."
He stood still, face expressionless, but inside his thoughts were racing. She just pulled rank... and used me as a shield.
All eyes turned.
Dangling from his tunic—unseen until now—was the Coded Imperial Insignia.
The same metal badge he had taken from the dead assassin.
A synchronized gasp.
> "Imperial Elite Unit…"
Even the emperor's sons seemed shaken. Their eyes widened as they took a step back, reevaluating Light completely.
Whispers followed. Knights who had nearly killed him moments ago now stood confused, even fearful.
> "You're with the elite…" the eldest muttered.
Light was stunned. He hadn't known how powerful the insignia was until this moment. But he stayed calm, his face unreadable.
---
(Earlier Loot Recap: What Light Took from the Assassin)
> ✅ Coded Imperial Insignia (Metal Badge)
✅ Pouch with 42 small silver coins = 4 big silver, 2 small silver coins
✅ Steel Throwing Knife (boot-hidden)
✅ Damaged foldable Empire border map
✅ 3m thin black climbing rope
✅ Dull healing salve
✅ Empty poison vial
(Everything was still with him.)
---
Light didn't fully understand what just happened.
But in a world where bloodlines, politics, and power ruled…
...he had just stepped into a bigger game.
---