The deck of the Badaryuda was swaying with the aftershocks of crashing waves and the murmurs of newfound encounters.
Slicing through that commotion, Jessica opened her mouth with imposing dignity.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Jessica, Chief Strategist of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Nakatam. My guise as Number Three of the Nova Family was merely a cover. Sorry for keeping it from you."
Her words were like a razor-sharp blade, the instant a mask was torn away.
"Spy! That's awesome! So cool! I wanna be one too!"
Endi's eyes sparkled like starlight.
That heat was the blaze of a torch in full flame.
Lamia gazed at her with admiration.
"No way! You were actually part of the Royal Guard? And not just that, but the Chief Strategist… you're amazing, Jessica!"
Her voice rippled like a clear stream caressing stones.
But Jessica's subordinates had turned pale.
"J-Jessica… you were a spy…?"
"Damn… we're finished…"
To those drowning in despair, Jessica asked with stern seriousness:
"Do you intend to wash your hands of the mafia and reform yourselves?"
"Of course we do!"
The four men answered in unison, without hesitation.
Jessica nodded kindly.
"Very well. Then you four shall also become members of the Royal Guard. From now on, work under my command."
"Yes! As you command!"
Their reply was like loyal drones bowing to their queen bee.
"Wait, that easily…? Is that really okay?"
Endi muttered, worried.
Rose approached Lamia.
"Yo, Lamia. Rough day, huh?"
"Prince Rose, you mustn't be here!"
"She's right, young lord! A prince going to the battlefield is unheard of!"
Lamia and Jessica both spoke with exasperation.
But Rose only laughed leisurely.
"Unlike some worthless kings who lounge on their thrones while their men bleed on the battlefield, I'm not that kind of ruler."
His words were as sharp as a spearpoint tearing through the air.
Next, Rose walked up to Endi and Cain.
"And these two?"
"They're Endi and Cain. They fought to protect me."
Lamia's tone was as casual as introducing friends.
"Endi… oh yeah, you're the kid who stood up to Darmaine's gang in the port town and got kidnapped along with her, right?"
"Prince! That spear on your back looks awesome! Lemme see it!"
Endi's careless remark earned jeers from the gallery.
"Watch your tongue, fool! Show some respect to the prince!"
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Endi shrank back, like a fawn trembling in a storm.
Rose stared at the two.
"You two… you're no ordinary lot. I can feel your fierce aura reeking off you."
At those words, Endi's heart thumped.
Though guilty of nothing, he felt as though everything had been seen through.
But Cain remained expressionless, unmoving like a stone wall.
"You're welcome here too."
Leaving that lightly, Rose returned to Jessica.
"Forgive me, Prince Rose! From now on, I swear my loyalty to you! I shall live for the sake of the realm and its people! Have mercy on me!"
Darmaine wailed in desperate plea.
"I could forgive you, sure… in exchange for a fine of, let's say, the entire national budget."
Rose sneered wickedly.
Darmaine sobbed as he was dragged away, his back radiating the melancholy of a broken compass.
"Young lord, the Nova Family's main revenue comes from operating underground casinos and poaching. They've also extorted protection money from several restaurants in Panis Town. Furthermore, they've been purchasing a large number of weapons from the Old Doal army, showing ominous movements. Yet neither their goal nor the true identity of 'Nova' was ever revealed to me, even as their Number Three."
Jessica reported, flawlessly reciting every word like reading off an encrypted dossier.
Her report was a map of conspiracies lurking in dark reefs.
Rose's expression turned cold.
"I see… so they're strengthening their armaments. Whatever they're plotting, if it's a coup, I'll crush them to the last."
His words were sharp as icy blades cleaving the night.
Endi shivered down his spine.
Jessica continued.
"And one more thing. During a weapons transaction, when I visited Mildonia several times, I discovered Azbal lurking behind the Guild that commands the Old Doal army."
That name froze the entire atmosphere.
The soldiers broke into murmurs.
"W-what did she just say…?"
"You've got to be joking…"
"Unbelievable… that bastard's alive? Damn, that's a shock."
Rose muttered.
Yet Endi caught a glimmer of exhilaration in his face—
the eyes of a beast grinning before a storm.
Rose went on.
"Still, you lot managed to escape? And no pursuers, huh?"
"The truth is, we were cornered by Azbal himself. But suddenly, the upper floors of the tower went up in flames, and in that chaos we barely managed to flee."
Jessica glanced at Cain.
Her eyes were probing needles, seeking hidden secrets.
"Flames? Whatever. Details can wait until I host you properly at the palace. Endi, Cain, Lamia, Jessica—you're coming with me."
He led the four into the storage hangar.
There stood a jet, black as midnight.
"Whoa! What the hell, this thing's badass!!"
Endi's cry rang out like a child's shout beneath the stars.
"Cool, huh? This is a private jet owned by the royal family. I was actually gonna storm Mildonia with it alone, but they stopped me."
Rose spoke proudly.
"Why show us this, young lord?" Jessica asked.
"If we crawl along on this ship, it'll take half a day to reach Baleralc. Screw that. I'm flying ahead. And you're coming too."
"Prince Rose! We're not worthy to board a royal jet!"
Lamia protested timidly.
But Endi and Cain rebelled.
"Aw come on, let's ride it!"
"Agreed. I'd rather not spend half a day trapped with that noisy lot."
Their insolent words chilled Lamia and Jessica.
Yet Rose only laughed.
"Ha! You guys are hilarious. I like you even more. I'll treat you well—let's throw a victory feast!"
He opened the hatch.
Endi boarded with excitement, Cain with nonchalance.
Lamia and Jessica followed.
"Come on, Jessica, let's go too!"
"Yes… and I'll make sure those two learn proper manners."
The jet engines roared, the massive doors groaned open.
Sensing something amiss, Saizō and Kumashis rushed in.
"Aha, I knew it! Prince Rose, what do you think you're doing?!"
Saizō shouted.
"Sorry! We're heading back first! The rest is on you!"
Rose yelled from the cockpit window.
"Hey, dumb prince! Take me too!"
Kumashis cried out.
"That's… treasonous, you idiot…"
Saizō said, aghast.
The jet roared into the sky, its trail shining like a meteor splitting the night.