Under both psychological and physical intimidation, the leader began to break, tearfully confessing his entire operation.
The drug was a powder made from a crushed plant that caused stimulation and hallucinations. The Empire had long banned it and destroyed it many times. However, in the current state of affairs, the dynasty no longer cared for the country. Thus, his criminal organization had resumed cultivation.
They sought out remote, secluded villages and hired the villagers to grow the plant. These poor folk, who had never ventured far from their homes, had no way of knowing what it was. Despite the meager pay, it was enough to feed their families, so they did it.
The criminals harvested and ground the plants into powder before transporting it to the Capital. Naturally, they didn't dare sell it on a large scale to everyone, even though that would bring in a fortune. The dynasty might ignore the cultivation, but widespread distribution would cause the Empire to collapse.
The rulers might not care about the country's welfare, but they needed the commoners to provide tax money and labor. If everyone became a drug addict and stopped working, it would hurt the elite's interests. If that happened, the drug traffickers and their entire families would be executed.
The amount sold to regular customers accounted for less than one percent. So, how did they make their money?
Prostitution.
It wasn't just a single brothel, but a chain of them spanning the Capital. They kidnapped young girls from poor neighborhoods, slums, and areas outside the Capital. They had even taken a few from this very town. The girls were transported to the brothels and forced to use the addictive drug, making them muddled and entirely dependent. They were forced to serve customers to earn more of the drug.
The cycle continued until their bodies were destroyed by excessive "use." By then, their minds were nothing but addiction and submission. They became worthless to the criminals and were tossed away like rags. Dying anonymously in some corner was considered lucky; most "expired" girls were simply killed and then incinerated in the Capital's furnaces.
Crack!!
"Aaaaaa!!!!"
Asahi coldly snapped the leader's forearm, causing him to shriek in agony. What these people were doing was utterly inhuman; he truly wanted to kill them all right then and there. Unfortunately, the interrogation wasn't over.
The leader revealed that this was just one of many transport teams moving along different routes from various regions. Asahi obtained the addresses where they loaded the goods, the location of their main hideout, and the name of their boss: Tybil.
Asahi knocked the man unconscious. He then returned to town and headed straight for the Governor's mansion. Though he knew it was late to disturb someone, he couldn't resolve this case alone.
The Governor signaled his guards that it was alright. He showed no anger toward Asahi. "Mr. Asahi, what is the matter?"
"The details are long. Governor, please follow me. And bring a squad of soldiers."
The Governor's Resolve
Initially, the Governor looked calm. However, his expression quickly turned grim. As a former powerful politician in the Capital, his eyes were sharp; he understood exactly how serious this was.
A squad was immediately assembled. Both Liana and the Governor went out in person. There, they saw the pile of unconscious men and looked at Asahi with awe and fear.
"Twenty-six men, all armed with guns. Incredible..."
No one asked if Asahi had done this; the truth was self-evident. Asahi recounted everything the leader had confessed. The Governor sighed deeply, while Liana grit her teeth in fury. She wanted nothing more than to take her weapon and skewer these animals, but her father held her back.
"Has the Capital fallen this far into depravity?" the Governor lamented. Watching the place he had served for most of his life rot away was a painful experience. He made a silent vow: after resolving this, he would return to the Capital. He could no longer let the Prime Minister and his cronies run rampant.
"Mr. Asahi, I will handle this. Thank you."
Asahi nodded and returned to the inn. Dealing with this didn't just mean arresting traffickers; it meant tracking down the villages where the plants were grown and sending soldiers to uproot them. It would be a long process, even just for the region he governed.
As for Asahi, he wasn't one for bureaucratic clean-ups. He would return to the Capital and tear Tybil's hideout to the ground.
The Nightmare of the North
The following day, Asahi and the coachman set off on the long journey back. After paying the remaining fare, Asahi returned to his coffee shop and stretched. Sitting in a carriage for that long had made his back stiff. It was still early, but he decided to wait until tomorrow to open. Tonight, he would return to his old trade: donning his black gear and striking down the wicked. He would become a nightmare they would never forget.
Meanwhile, in the North...
The stronghold of the Northern tribes—the most fortified place with elite soldiers capable of rivaling the Empire—was now a silent ruin. A massive portion of the architecture was encased in a giant block of ice. The streets were littered with countless people frozen to death.
But the most horrific sight was the rows of long wooden stakes, their tips sharpened, impaling an uncountable number of corpses. These victims shared a common trait: their limbs had been severed. Some were missing their entire lower bodies. Men and women alike. Their blood had dried, and their bodies were covered in snowflakes from the blizzard. It was a scene of extreme, brutal genocide.
The Hero of the North, Numa Seika. The prince of the Northern tribes. With his spear in hand, he had never lost a battle. He was a brilliant strategist whom all Northerners trusted—the Empire's greatest threat.
Yet now, the Hero of the North was stripped naked, a collar around his neck connected to a chain. His face was vacant. In front of thousands of Imperial soldiers, Numa Seika acted like a dog, bowing down to lick the white high-heeled boot of the person sitting on the Northern throne. He even showed satisfaction in doing so.
That person was the one holding his chain.
"The Northern tribes were defeated swiftly. As expected of you, General Esdeath."
General Esdeath, the highest-ranking officer in the Imperial military. She was a stunningly beautiful woman with a perfect body and pale blue hair reaching her knees. Her eyes were sharp and intense, impossible to look at directly.
"And they called this one the Hero of the North? How boring. Die."
She swung her foot, killing the former hero instantly. Blood splattered onto the nearest soldiers, but none dared to move or even show emotion.
"Is there truly no enemy capable of satisfying me?" Esdeath stood up, her boot still stained with blood, sighing softly.