Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor. A towering figure moved forward with calm, commanding power, seemingly unbothered by the horrific assassination that had occurred that night.
Every knight and servant in the hallway saluted the owner of that heavy armor. All wore solemn expressions, but beneath that solemnity lurked fear—whether from the tragedy in the room or the man before them, none could say.
The bald-headed General Boscogn strode toward Governor Gennon's chamber, followed by several knights bearing his purple rhino-horned helmet and long battle-axe. He moved like a king with his retinue.
He entered the room. What greeted him was a scene of dull crimson. Stepping through it felt no different from the sticky soles of his boots on any battlefield.
Gennon... it seems your blood is no different from that of the lowborn, despite all your talk of noble blood...
Boscogn looked up at the old man's corpse on the floor, then at the headless body on the blood-soaked sheets, and finally at the long table nearby.
At the end of the long table sat a covered silver platter, with knife and fork to one side. The cover was open now, and on the silver platter rested a human head, eyes wide with terror.
"A display? Gennon..." Boscogn gazed quietly at those lifeless eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched with a hint of contempt. "Dead."
Truth be told, he had never liked this governor who constantly pulled rank over him. Gennon's numerous vices were bad enough, but the worst was his interference in military command.
A man who can only talk on paper, trying to strip me of my military authority and make me fight according to his whims... Hah.
Dead? Well, dead is dead... I'll send word back to the capital. They're too busy with civil strife to worry about him now. They certainly won't be able to send anyone competent to replace Gennon.
That means I'm the most promising candidate to become the new supreme commander of the northern front and governor of Doldrey Castle. It's my turn now.
Boscogn's smile was fleeting. He restrained himself.
Even if someone had noticed, they would have thought they imagined it. Who would believe General Boscogn could smile?
Of course, Gennon's death was good for him. But that didn't mean anyone could trespass on his territory. The Black Boar commander, Samson, Adam, Gennon, and even Balzac...
One after another, all killed—likely by the same assassin.
Tonight, that assassin is hiding somewhere in Doldrey... I cannot let him continue his rampage. I must catch him, torture him, and learn his true purpose and who sent him.
He turned and looked impassively at the kneeling knights and the terrified boys who had been brought in. He watched them tremble, nearly collapsing, before he spoke slowly.
"Why didn't the knights on guard duty come to investigate when the first screams were heard?"
The room fell silent as frost.
The captain of the guard knights gasped and stammered, "It's not that we didn't want to, but... Governor Gennon usually forbade us from disturbing him..."
It was understandable, really. Part of their duty was to play deaf and dumb in such matters. If they knocked every time they heard something and interrupted Gennon's "pleasures," they'd likely be punished and sent to the front lines.
So the knights hadn't come to investigate until the boys crawled out of the room and ran straight into them.
Boscogn snorted coldly and looked again at the kneeling boys.
At that moment, the knight in charge of interrogation stepped forward and reported, "They don't know who the assassin was. Only that he was armored, followed them through the secret passage, burst into the room, and killed Governor Gennon."
"After that, the man told them to leave the room. They ran out, and when the guard knights brought them back, the assassin was gone. He likely escaped through the same secret passage."
"We've sent a pursuit team and ordered patrols to thoroughly search the main citadel and inner city. No suspicious persons will be allowed to slip through..."
"That's not enough." Boscogn cut him off coldly. "Transmit my orders: effective immediately, seal the city gates. Allow entry, but no exit. Conduct a massive manhuntof the entire Doldrey fortress."
"I want every soldier accounted for. Especially those who have returned to the city in the past few days. Even if they're wounded, they must provide proof of identity. Otherwise, they are to be imprisoned for questioning."
"All food and water sources are to be controlled. No one of unknown origin is to be given supplies, and there will be no looting or stealing... And those camp followers—search them all. No one is to be overlooked."
"Yes!" The knight beside him immediately acknowledged. Then he hesitated for a moment but still asked, "General Boscogn, what should be done with these guard knights who neglected their duty?"
The kneeling knights trembled at these words and quickly prostrated themselves, begging for mercy.
Boscogn was unmoved. He turned and took the long battle-axe from the knights who held it. The axe gleamed with cold light.
"What should be done with you... Guards who couldn't protect their own general. Do you need me to explain your crime?"
"You, the guards of the Green Tiger Rampaging Knights and the Black Iron Boar Lancers—how dare you kneel before me and beg for mercy? Do you still have any shame left?"
For those who failed in their duty, Boscogn decreed the same fate, the same punishment.
He gripped the axe with both hands and swung it left to right before the horrified eyes of the kneeling guard knights!
Several wet thumps sounded. Multiple heads were severed by the single axe blow, bursting like melons and fruit. Blood and flesh sprayed everywhere!
Dead silence filled the room!
An eyeball rolled to a stop in front of one of the boys. His throat was too raw to scream or cry, but terror still washed over him, making several of the boys jump and wet themselves.
Boscogn looked at the boys with disgust, then handed the axe to his attendants to wipe clean of gore. He shrugged off his cloak and strode from the house.
He intended to return to the general's residence in the inner city, but after a few steps, he changed his mind. He looked with great interest at the magnificent mansion that had belonged to the governor.
"Take me to his study," Boscogn said coldly. "I will conduct official business here from now on. Have all knight-commanders report to me. The search must be thorough. Do not let this assassin escape."
The attendants were momentarily stunned, then hurriedly complied. One quick-witted servant stepped forward and obsequiously guided Boscogn toward the study.