To Jesse, the situation was already spiraling out of control, but there was still a sliver of hope.
Before anything else, he had to stabilize the city guard and ensure that the enraged civilians didn't erupt into full-blown riots. Only by keeping the city from descending into chaos could he buy himself enough time to act on that one slim chance at survival.
"Yes, General! I swear I'll carry out your orders to the letter—there won't be any mistakes!"
"Good. You may go. I won't forget your loyalty. Once this is over, I'll make sure you're well rewarded."
"Thank you, General. I'll take my leave."
With a grim expression, the aide quickly departed—so rushed, he even forgot to salute.
As soon as he was gone, Jesse's face twisted with frustration.
"Damn it all...!"
He waited for a moment of calm, then immediately removed his uniform and changed into the clothes of a commoner. After a bit of quick disguise, he slipped out of the city guard's headquarters unnoticed and made his way back to his private residence.
Once there, he headed straight to the backyard, entering a small, unremarkable building. Inside, he felt along the wall, revealing a hidden door—this was the key to his final chance at life.
Inside the secret room sat a man who looked eerily similar to Jesse—about 80% alike. He sat motionless on the bed, eyes dull and lifeless like a puppet carved from wood.
This man was Jesse's final card… his sacrificial pawn, prepared long ago as a contingency.
Using his underground contacts, Jesse had found this lookalike years earlier. The man had been normal at first, but after being fed a specific poison over time, he had become a total shell: mentally vacant, incapable of thought or movement. A breathing husk.
Jesse had prepared him for this very moment—a way to protect himself if he were ever faced with death. And now, with the people enraged and his superiors needing a scapegoat, Jesse knew: he was the perfect candidate to take the fall.
"Don't blame me. I've fed you well all these years… It's time for you to give something back."
Without hesitation, Jesse drew his blade and sliced through the man's throat. There wasn't even a scream—just a spurt of blood, and then the man's head fell limp to the bed.
Time was running out. Jesse quickly found a box, packed the body inside, and secured it in a bundle. He exited the house through a hidden escape tunnel, prepared long ago in case of emergencies.
He wasn't taking chances. With emotions running high, an angry mob could easily storm his home. Better to leave now and avoid any unwanted surprises.
Avoiding populated areas, Jesse stealthily made his way to the same house where he usually met with the elder to discuss their secret affairs.
As he approached, he noticed that the house was now heavily guarded, with extra personnel stationed around it, including some familiar faces.
Inside the house, a tense meeting was already underway. Everyone's expressions were serious and grim.
The elder had received news of the uprising the moment it began. Recognizing the threat, he immediately summoned all those involved in the affair to gather and discuss how to handle the fallout.
They had all rushed there with their forces—this was no longer a minor issue, but something that could topple the kingdom if mishandled.
"You all understand how serious this has become," the elder said, his voice cold.
"We must find a clean solution. If we fail, we all go down with the kingdom."
Everyone turned to him, fully aware of the stakes. Mishandle this, and their entire operation—perhaps even the kingdom—would be finished.
"Sir," one of the organization's core members stepped forward, "I've read the flyers. Although they're revealing, they don't contain any of our deepest secrets. I believe I have a solution."
"Speak," the elder ordered. "Let everyone hear it."
"The flyers specifically name Jesse, and no one else. That means we're still in the shadows—the enemy doesn't know who we are."
"And since the people already believe Jesse is guilty, we can use that. He fits the profile of a corrupt official perfectly. If we sacrifice him, we can satisfy the public's demand for justice, and this entire matter can be closed."
The room fell silent for a moment—this was a brutal move, throwing Jesse under the bus.
But then… smiles began to appear.
It was a perfect plan—they could walk away untouched, and the people would get their pound of flesh.
"But what if Jesse refuses?" someone asked. "He's strong, dangerous, and he has no attachments. If he escapes, he could expose us all. The Navy… even the World Government might get involved."
Worry crept into their expressions again.
The elder spoke calmly:
"That won't happen. Jesse isn't without attachments—I've already uncovered a secret illegitimate son he's kept hidden. We've had the boy in custody for some time now. If we threaten the child, Jesse will comply."
"That's perfect! Let's move quickly before Jesse suspects anything!"
"Don't worry. With the city under tight lockdown, he can't leave. The gates won't open without my orders. He might not even try to run—in fact, he might come straight to us, hoping we'll be his salvation."
"This matter is too dangerous to delay. We have to act now—no hesitation, no loose ends."
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
All present reached a consensus: Jesse would be the scapegoat, and they needed to act fast before any unexpected variables could disrupt the plan.