20: Revenge (Part 3)

Led by Haruki, the four quickly arrived at the gate of the governor's mansion.

The gate was massive, wide enough for two carriages to pass through side by side. On either side stood a squad of gatekeeping soldiers dressed in silk robes, each equipped with elaborately patterned, ornate blades. They looked impressive, but it was all for show—their real combat ability was minimal at best. Judging by their attire and equipment, they clearly spent most of their time basking in the governor's favor, pushing around civilians and abusing their power.

As Haruki approached the mansion with the three girls, the eyes of the man at the head of the squad lit up—not at Haruki, but at the women behind him. His gaze locked on Nina and the other two, making them frown.

"Hey, kid. Be smart and hand over those three beauties to our Lord Governor. Do that, and you'll live a life of endless wealth and luxury. Refuse, and… well, you know what happens."

The man sneered arrogantly at Haruki. Since Haruki and the girls had spent years training at the Gozuki Assassination Unit, their clothes were rather plain. The man mistook Haruki for just a well-off civilian.

"Oh? Sounds like bullying civilians is a regular pastime for you lot. And I'd guess you didn't earn your position as squad captain through skill. More likely, you got here by sucking up to the governor better than anyone else."

As he spoke, Haruki suddenly vanished from sight. With a single step covering dozens of meters, he reappeared in front of the squad leader. No one noticed when the gleaming longblade appeared in Haruki's hand. The blade flashed—once, twice, faster than the eye could follow—then Haruki was back in his original position as if he had never moved.

"I can't stand it when people set their sights on those close to me."

Haruki said, holding the blade. A thin red line appeared on the captain's neck, then blood erupted. The man clutched at his throat, desperately trying to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. A moment later, he collapsed with an unwilling expression on his face as the rest looked on in horror. But their nightmare had only just begun. One by one, the rest of the squad followed their captain—each falling with the same wound, the same fate.

It felt like an eternity, but in truth, it all happened in the space of Haruki's single sentence. Gin, Nina, and Kurome stood frozen, stunned. They had seen death before, but never this much, this close.

"Let's go. As assassins, this is something you'll face sooner or later. It's good for you to see it. Remember: without the resolve to kill, you have no right to take a life. Any assassin can die at any time. If you want to protect those close to you, you have to grow stronger."

Haruki gave his lesson while casually carrying the blade forward toward the mansion.

The three girls followed closely behind, their thoughtful expressions showing how deeply Haruki's words had resonated.

With Haruki leading the way, their pace was swift. Anything that stood in their path was cut down instantly. He showed no mercy to those who tried to stop him with weapons. But to the old, weak, women, and children who kept their distance, Haruki paid no attention. Nothing slowed him down—not even for a second.

Soon, they arrived outside the governor's study. Haruki's sharp senses told him that the governor and several close confidants were hiding inside. A few soldiers guarded the door, but Haruki could tell they posed no real threat to the three girls. To help them grow stronger, he decided to let them handle the situation inside themselves. He would stay outside to fend off the reinforcements sure to come.

"Alright, the governor's in there. The rest is up to you three. I'll be waiting out here. Don't forget what I told you."

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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