Marshal Magnus.

"Young Duchess, your parents are... deeply disappointed in your behavior this time," the man seated next to the driver said, his voice dripping with condescension. His tone was as rough as sandpaper, and his expression was one of thinly veiled disdain.

Iza rolled her eyes while leaning back in her seat as the maid beside her began drying her hair with a soft towel. "So what? What are they going to do? Lecture me again? Accuse me of some new imaginary crime? Those old fossils never stop complaining."

The man's face turned red with anger, and he raised his voice sharply. "Young Duchess! That is no way to speak of the Grand Duke and Duchess! You must show respect!"

Iza sighed, her patience wearing thin. She waved her hand dismissively. "Take him out."

In an instant, the maid beside her moved with lethal precision. Her hand shot out, gripping the man's throat, and a hidden blade extended from her forearm. With a series of swift, brutal strikes, she pierced his body repeatedly until he slumped lifelessly in his seat.

The maid's expression remained calm, as if she'd done nothing more than pour a cup of tea.

Iza, unfazed, glanced at the body with mild distaste. "Throw him outside the city. Let the scorpions have a feast."

{Though I'm not sure if they'll enjoy old meat... I should've asked}

She thought, her thoughts drifting back to Alexius. A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips as she remembered his reckless grin and the way he'd kissed her in the dim light of the water pipe.

After a few more minutes of navigating the labyrinthine streets of the lower districts, the car arrived at the airport. Waiting for them was a Valorian Sky-Titan, a colossal steam-powered airship bristling with cannons and a massive steam-powered hammer.

This behemoth of the skies was a symbol of power, reserved only for Grand Marshals and high-ranking nobles. Its presence here, in the grimy lower districts, was nothing short of extraordinary.

The sight of the Sky-Titan had drawn a crowd. Mafia scouts and curious civilians alike gathered, their eyes wide with awe and fear.

The car drove up the massive ramp and into the belly of the airship, where dozens of maids and a hundred Ironclad soldiers stood at attention. The moment Iza stepped out of the car, they saluted in unison, their movements crisp and precise.

"Oh, Young Duchess, did you enjoy your little adventure today?" A tall, slender man in an immaculate Valorian military uniform approached her, his chest adorned with rows of medals. He handed her a steaming cup of coffee with a respectful bow.

"Grand Sky Marshal," Iza said while accepting the cup. "If you're here, it means my request has been carried out successfully."

"Of course, Young Duchess," the Sky Marshal replied with a proud smile. "The private forces of that old man have been... dealt with. Permanently."

"Were there any complications?" Iza asked before taking a sip of the coffee.

The Sky Marshal hesitated, then chuckled. "Well, there was one minor issue. Marshal Magnus insisted on beating them to death with his bare hands. He said it was 'more satisfying.' Truly, that man is a gorilla in human form."

Iza laughed, the sound was light and genuine. "That's Marshal Magnus for you. He never changes."

The military's loyalty to Iza was no accident. Years ago, when she was just a child, she had recognized the potential of the Sky Marshal and Marshal Magnus, two men who had been dismissed by the military brass.

She had championed their careers, and now they were her most devoted supporters. Their rise through the ranks had been meteoric, fueled by their success in countless border conflicts.

"And where is Marshal Magnus today?" Iza asked while glancing around.

The Sky Marshal shook his head with a wry smile. "Oh, please, Young Duchess, don't look for him. With his size, he'd be impossible to hide. He's at home preparing to retrieve his daughter. She went missing a couple of days ago, but he finally received word of her whereabouts. He's leaving tomorrow to bring her back."

Iza raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'm glad he found her. Now, Sky Marshal, let's get out of here."

As the Sky-Titan's engines roared to life, Iza retreated to her private chambers. She sank into a luxurious bathtub filled with steaming water, letting the warmth soothe her aching muscles. As she relaxed, her eyes caught sight of faint bruises on her thighs.

{Mmm? When did I get these? And why are they in the same spot...? Wait...}

Her mind flashed back to the ride with Alexius, the way she'd clung to him as they raced through the canyon. Her face flushed as she realized the cause of the bruises.

{Alexiusssss! Hmph! When I see you again, I'm going to give you a piece of my mind! ...Wait, I should probably tell the marshal to let the races continue. That would make him happy, wouldn't it? ...Why do I even care if he's happy or not!?}

"AHHH, what am I thinking?" Iza shouted, startling herself. The sound echoed in the spacious bathroom, and a maid quickly knocked on the door.

"Young Duchess, is everything alright?" The maid called, her voice tinged with concern.

"Ehem, yes, everything's fine," Iza replied while sinking deeper into the water. "I just remembered something I forgot to do. Don't worry about it."

As the maid's footsteps retreated, Iza let out a long sigh. She leaned back, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts inevitably drifting back to Alexius.

{...I should send him that aether rock he wanted. He probably lost the race because of me... Wait, why am I even thinking about him!?}

Her gaze shifted to the window, where the lights of the city sparkled like stars. For a moment, she allowed herself to whisper his name.

"Alexius..."

Meanwhile, back in the city, the police captain made his way to the Flowering Steam, a well-known establishment in the lower districts. The bar was bustling with life, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and the sound of clinking glasses. As the captain stepped inside, a waiter approached him with a polite smile.

"Welcome, sir. Would you like to wait for a free table, or would you prefer to sit at the bar?" The waiter asked, his tone friendly but professional.

The captain removed his police hat and glanced around. "Tonight, I'll have the specialty of the house," he said, his voice low and deliberate.

The waiter's smile widened. "In that case, right this way, dear customer." He led the captain up a flight of stairs to the second floor, the VIP area of the bar.

To the untrained eye, it looked like an exclusive lounge for high-paying patrons, but in reality, it was a restricted zone reserved only for members of Evangeline group. The waiter guided the captain to a seemingly ordinary wall, which slid open to reveal a hidden staircase leading underground.

At the bottom of the stairs, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Heavy-caliber weapons gleamed in the hands of guards stationed at the entrance. They nodded at the waiter and stepped aside, allowing the captain to pass.

Beyond the door lay a sprawling gambling den, a labyrinth of games and vice. Pinball machines, pool tables, and card games filled the space, but the centerpiece was the boxing ring, where professional fighters brawled for the entertainment of the wealthy elite.

This den was the lifeblood of Evangeline empire, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars each night. It was no wonder Evangeline was known as the "White Joker" in the underworld since she was a mastermind who played her cards with deadly precision.

At this hour, Evangeline was in the kitchen, meticulously preparing lunch for the next day. Her focus was absolute, her movements precise. But then a bell rang three times, signaling an urgent visitor.

Evangeline's eyes narrowed, and she turned to one of her subordinates. "You, come here and finish this. If it burns even slightly, I'll have you burned alive. My nephew's food needs to be perfect," she said, her voice icy.

With that, she stepped through another hidden door, descending to her office in the gambling den. There, she found the waiter and the police captain waiting for her. Evangeline's expression softened into a smile, though her eyes remained cold and calculating.

"Oh, hello there, Captain. To what do I owe the honor of your visit tonight?" She asked while gesturing for him to take a seat.

The captain hesitated, feeling an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Evangeline's presence was unnerving, like a predator masquerading as a hostess. He cleared his throat, trying to dispel the tension.

"Miss Evangeline, I apologize for disturbing you. I know you're a busy woman, but this matter concerns your nephew."

At the mention of Alexius, Evangeline's demeanor shifted instantly. Her smile vanished, replaced by a steely gaze that seemed to pierce through the captain's soul. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Did you arrest him? Or did one of your trigger-happy pointy heads shoot him?"

The captain swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like a mouse caught in a trap. "N-no, nothing like that," he stammered. "But there was an incident tonight involving him and a race. I thought you should know."

Evangeline's eyes narrowed, her fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Go on," she said, her tone deceptively calm.

The captain took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Your nephew was involved in a high-speed chase with border patrol and local police. He... uh... took a rather unconventional escape route. Jumped off an unfinished bridge into the river."

For a moment, Evangeline was silent. Then, to the captain's surprise, she let out a low chuckle. "That boy... always finding new ways to give me gray hairs," she said while shaking her head.

But her amusement quickly faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "And why are you telling me this? Are you here to warn me? Threaten me? Or are you just looking for a bribe?"