"No, we originally wanted to fire, but the butler stopped us!"
"Hm, he did well! As long as Bronya has no evidence that we harmed the Silvermane Guards, there's nothing else to fear!"
In the large room behind, the Silvermane Guards bypassed those women and began inspecting the entire space.
Aside from some very expensive decorations and certain items only adults would use, no abnormalities were found.
"Hmph, we came here for the Count's safety, and he turns around and gives us attitude!"
"I heard it at the door—if Captain Bronya hadn't been here, those private troops would've really opened fire on us!"
"Too much!"
During the search, more and more Silvermane Guards voiced their inner dissatisfaction.
The Silvermane Guard officer who stayed behind took all those voices to heart.
These nobles really were arrogant and domineering.
"Nothing found?" the officer asked.
"Report—no abnormalities discovered!"
"None here either!"
"Nothing on these women either!"
"?"
"What's wrong? I mean no concealed sharp weapons or anything—after all, the clothes are just thin layers; nothing can be hidden."
"That's what I meant too."
"I don't believe it."
"…"
In another corridor, Bronya was strolling leisurely.
Behind her, Silvermane Guards kept reporting search results from various areas.
"Captain Bronya, we were blocked when patrolling the dining hall!"
"We were also stopped by servants in the warehouse!"
"The rear garden was slightly better, but those gardeners kept following right behind us!"
"…"
After hearing these reports, Bronya only gave a calm instruction:
"Just pretend they don't exist. Search thoroughly wherever needs to be searched—this is also for their own safety."
"But… what if they stubbornly keep blocking or interfering?"
"…"
Bronya let out a deep sigh and said softly:
"Then there's no need to be so polite."
"…Understood."
After receiving Bronya's approval, the Silvermane Guards' demeanor changed abruptly.
"No—you can't go in without Master's permission. I already said, you need to find Master…"
"Now we're the masters!"
"Huh?"
"Get out of the way!"
Before the servant could finish, he was roughly shoved aside by the group of Silvermane Guards, who stormed in aggressively.
Completely disregarding the Count's face.
The same situation occurred in other places.
"No—this is Master's collection room; you definitely can't enter!"
"Oh? Now this is Captain Bronya's collection room!"
"Huh?"
…
"This is the rear garden—you can look, but you must stay on the gravel path. Absolutely don't touch the flowers or plants…"
"Ha? The garden's so big and the gravel path so narrow—how could we possibly avoid touching the flowers and plants?"
"Then please leave!"
"Hehe… We'll try to be as 'gentle' as possible."
"?"
…
The sudden change all reached the ears of Count ***. He was first incredulous, then flew into a rage:
"What the hell? How did they suddenly become so domineering!!"
Those solemn and upright Silvermane Guards had suddenly turned into bullies rampaging everywhere!
At first, they'd even been careful not to break vases or anything, moving cautiously.
Now they were completely letting loose!
"Damn it—call Bronya over! I want to see her!" The Count roared with a flushed face.
A servant responded and hurriedly went to find Bronya.
She searched for a long time before finally spotting Bronya's figure on a stairway leading upstairs.
At this moment, Bronya was squatting on the ground, silently staring at a small patch of black-purple stain.
It looked like dried blood.
While Bronya was lost in thought, the servant's voice came from behind:
"Captain Bronya, my master requests you come as soon as possible. He's extremely angry right now—please hurry!"
"…"
"Hurry up, Captain Bronya?! Didn't you hear?!"
"…"
Bronya slowly turned her head while still in a squatting position and said gravely to the servant behind her:
"Are you sure you're talking to me?"
As soon as Bronya finished speaking, the servant felt a pair of giant hands seize his neck from behind. A massive force struck!
Thud—
By the time he reacted, he was already pinned firmly to the ground, unable to move.
"How dare you show disrespect to the Captain—I see you don't want to live!!" The Silvermane Guard officer pinning him shouted.
"No… I."
He tried to struggle up but found his strength no match for the man, so he said:
"This was my master's order too—I was just relaying it! Besides… didn't Captain Bronya grow up under my master's watch? For an elder's small request…"
"I advise you to keep your mouth shut tight!" The Silvermane Guard officer pressed even harder, making the servant's face turn almost purple from pain.
"Cough cough cough… Don't, don't!"
"No elder-junior hierarchy bullshit here!"
"Cough cough… cough cough cough cough."
The servant's face looked utterly miserable now, feeling like he was about to suffocate.
His eyes welled with tears as he pitifully looked toward Bronya for help.
But she paid no attention at all.
She watched coldly as his face grew purpler and purpler…
Until he was on the verge of passing out, Bronya finally spoke softly:
"That's about enough."
Hearing Bronya's command, the Silvermane Guard officer released his grip and snorted coldly:
"You've really been given face!"
"Cough cough… cough cough cough cough."
The servant weakly propped himself up and stood, his heart trembling with fear, voice shaking:
"Th-thank you, Captain Bronya, for sparing my life."
"Go tell Count *** that I'm busy right now and don't have time to find him. Have him come see me himself."
"Yes yes yes."
After responding, the servant felt as if granted amnesty. Even though his body still ached faintly, he fled from the spot at the fastest speed possible.
Soon, Count *** learned of this.
He immediately flew into a rage, eyebrows raised in fury, roaring:
"Good—very good—!! Nice one, Bronya—you actually dare give me attitude! You're something else!"
He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth at the group of red-armored private troops in front of him:
"Let's go—bring all the gear! She wants me to come see her personally? Fine—let's go see her! Hehe, time to give our future Supreme Guardian… a proper greeting!"
"Yes!!"
"Hey—you over there, stop playing on your phone!"
"Hm… huh? Oh!"
A private trooper wearing a helmet, with only a few strands of gray hair visible, silently put away his phone, scratched his thigh, and joined the group heading to confront Bronya.
…