"By order of Great General Selene, General Liver, you are hereby pardoned!"
Clang. The iron door creaked open.
Inside the cell sat a middle-aged man of about forty, dressed in tattered prison garb. He had flowing silver hair with a long side fringe and two sharp, neatly trimmed mustaches above his lips. Seated cross-legged on a straw mat, his eyes were closed in meditation.
He was none other than former Imperial General Liver. Once known for his unwavering integrity, he had refused to bribe the inspector sent by Minister Honest—and for that, he had been falsely accused, stripped of his rank, and imprisoned.
At the warden's words, Liver's eyes snapped open. "Great General Selene? Why would she save me... I don't even belong to the Imperial Guard."
Standing calmly outside the cell, the warden replied indifferently, "Who knows?"
"Perhaps she sees you as a capable man worth using." With that, he gestured for the guards to unlock the chains binding Liver.
"..." Once the shackles were removed, Liver slowly stood up. "I didn't think I'd ever walk out of death row alive."
The warden shrugged and handed him a parchment. "Here—your pardon decree. Congratulations, General Liver. You're free to go."
"Come now, don't keep the Great General waiting."
Just then, the click of white high-heeled boots echoed down the corridor. Esdeath approached with her usual cold composure, but when she saw the warden and Liver standing outside the open cell, she paused.
"Warden, I'm here to retrieve someone..."
She froze mid-sentence. Wait—was I just cut off?
"Warden, what's going on here?" she demanded.
"By order of Great General Selene, General Liver has been pardoned and is to be escorted to the Imperial Guard Headquarters for an audience," the warden explained.
"I see." Realizing what had happened, Esdeath didn't press further. Instead, she pulled out her own list of selected candidates, crossing out Liver's name at the top before handing it over. "These are the ones I need. Release them all."
"Do you have proper authorization, General?"
"This is Minister Honest's pardon decree."
"Understood. Please wait here a moment, General Esdeath." Taking the decree, the warden nodded and turned to the guards. "Escort General Liver to meet the Great General."
...
Imperial Capital — Imperial Guard Headquarters.
In the resplendent golden hall, even dressed in worn prison clothes, Liver stood tall and firm, his bearing still that of a soldier. "Great General, may I ask what orders you have for me?"
Selene took a delicate sip of her coffee. As the rich aroma and faint bitterness lingered on her tongue, she spoke plainly.
"I released you because you're still useful... The provincial defense forces won't have you anymore, so serve under me instead."
Liver gave a faint, self-deprecating smile and shook his head. "A disgraced man who's lost a battle and fallen from favor... hardly of any use to anyone."
Selene expected that answer and cut him off. "You know very well who truly caused that battle's failure."
"...I'm tired. I don't wish to fight anymore."
"Are you truly that dense, or just pretending?" Selene set down her cup, her voice turning cold. Simulation—Gravity. "Kneel."
Boom! In an instant, Liver's body was crushed to the ground by invisible force.
Selene rose to her feet, gazing down at him. "I believe you don't want to die. Don't you desire greater strength? Don't you still wish to make your mark? Accept my offer, and you'll serve under me. Even that fat pig Honest won't dare lay a finger on you."
"Now stop being so sentimental. Answer me plainly—life or death. Which do you choose?"
Liver stared up at her in astonishment. He hadn't expected her to recruit him this way—but she was right. He didn't want to die. His ambitions weren't yet fulfilled, and the injustice of that false accusation still burned within him.
"I am willing to serve you," he said firmly. As the crushing pressure lifted from his body, he straightened and placed his right hand over his heart, bowing slightly in salute.
Selene nodded in satisfaction. With a casual flick of her wrist, a crimson-violet Honkai particle condensed into a shimmering orb. "Swallow this. It will gradually restore and optimize your aging body. But remember—if you ever betray me, you already know the consequences."
"Of course. I understand..." Without hesitation, Liver took the glowing particle from her hand and swallowed it whole. Then, raising his hand, he swore his oath of loyalty.
"I, former Imperial General Liver, hereby solemnly swear upon all that I am, to obey without reservation the commands of Selene von Habsburg. As her retainer, I pledge unwavering loyalty—unto death, without hesitation."
"Good. Your first assignment..." Seeing his decisive resolve, Selene pulled a folder from her desk and handed it to him. "Dr. Stylish of the Imperial Science Bureau will be relocating his laboratory to the northern frontier in one week. You are to escort him there."
Receiving the folder, Liver naturally bent one knee and performed the bow of a vassal. "As you command!"
"Excellent. Someone, escort General Liver to be properly attired."
Selene was quite satisfied with his attitude. Even with the Mental Seal, its influence over someone as powerful and battle-hardened as Liver—a man who had slain a thousand enemies—would take time to take full effect. Yet his humble demeanor pleased her greatly. It made stealing him from Esdeath all the more worthwhile.
Little Esdeath, I'm afraid I won't be giving you Liver.
Your capable right-hand man is mine now. Of your Three Beasts, I'll leave you the muscle-brained brute and that scrawny little pervert.
Consider it my gift of love—and a lesson for your growth. No need to thank me.
Thinking this, the corners of Selene's lips curved upward in quiet amusement.
She rose and drew open the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the gleaming skyline of the Imperial Capital. A faint smile tugged at her lips. "I wonder how Sebas is faring with the construction in the northern territory..."
...
"Ah... achoo! ...Who's talking about me?"
Meanwhile, frustrated that her most promising recruit had been stolen by Selene, Esdeath prowled through the prison corridors, searching for other potential 'talents' to replace him.
"General Esdeath, are you certain about this one? He's only around ten years old—a child killer—and his... tendencies are quite unique," said the warden, handing over a dossier of the inmate in question.
Name: Nyau
Gender: Male
Notes: Has stolen and dissected numerous valuable ornamental Danger Beasts from the royal gardens; charged with first-degree murder and property destruction. Known to have repeatedly attacked isolated women and collected the facial skin of young, beautiful victims. Highly skilled in disguise.
Sentence: Death — to be executed after autumn.
"You're sure you want this one?" the warden asked again, uneasily.
"Yes. Release him. He's... a 'talent' of sorts. I'll evaluate him myself. If he proves useless, I'll kill him."