Chapter 245: George's Misfortune (Part 3)
Hearing those words, George’s face instantly paled with panic. He quickly lowered his voice, whispering cautiously, “Of course there are. But most of the rebels… don’t exist anymore.”
“You know of the famed ‘Nocturne’ unit, don’t you? The kingdom’s deadliest Sharp Blade. Once they set their eyes on you, escape is nearly impossible.”
“Rumors say the Nobles from the Past…” He glanced left and right, then mimed slicing his throat with his fingers.
Olivia let out a cold scoff. “Just as I expected—BrutalEvil’s regime. They crush dissent with the cruelest methods, revealing their bloodstained true face precisely when exposed.”
Perhaps it was due to the presence of Gold Dragon Anher, or perhaps it was the Silver Dragon’s innate enmity toward the Red Dragon, but Olivia carried an unconscious bias against this nation—so deep she herself didn’t even realize it.
“Yes,” George murmured, nodding quietly.
But Olivia didn’t notice. She failed to see the subtle shift in the man before her—this cautious, lowly Peasant Laborer from the Past was now breathing heavily, his voice trembling, sweat beading on his forehead.
George kept his head down, his mind racing. Dozens of familiar slogans flashed through his thoughts:
Promises of Benefits.
Concealed Status, carefully hidden.
Spreading Intelligence, subtly steering hatred toward the kingdom.
This wasn’t just suspicion—it was textbook behavior. Exactly like the enemy spies described in the Kingdom Daily.
Then came the rewards: fifty gold coins, a residence in the city center, a precious Dragonvein Elixir…
This is an agent!
His breathing grew sharper, his heart pounding. In George’s eyes, the man before him wasn’t a living being—it was a walking pile of golden coins, a shortcut to a destiny he’d only dared dream of.
His emotions spiraled. He gasped for air, his gaze growing unfocused, already lost in visions of the life he’d win after the bounty was claimed.
“I’ll find a woman, marry her, have a child… we’ll all live together in a beautiful house at the heart of Northwind Keep.”
“Then… I’ll buy a brand-new shop, sell flowers. I’ll sit all day and earn gold without lifting a finger.”
“Our child—” he whispered, “I’ll send him to the finest school. The teachers will teach him to read and write. Maybe he’ll become a respected Scribe… even a high-ranking official in the city…”
“And when that day comes, I’ll visit my old coworkers. They’ll look at me with envy, begging for my favor. Howard’s a pain, but he’s been decent to me—I’ll give him a job in my shop…”
Olivia noticed the change in him. Frowning slightly, she asked, “You alright?”
George snapped back from his fantasy like a man jolted awake. He trembled, trying to hide his tension. “Ah… ah… I’m fine. Of course I’m fine.”
“Of course,” Olivia replied gently, unaware that she had become, in his mind, nothing more than a walking vault of gold coins.
She offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t fear. None of this concerns you. I’m only asking a few questions. Just stay calm. The claws of those Evil Dragons won’t reach you.”
“Phew… that’s good,” George mumbled, wiping sweat from his brow, forcing a relieved expression.
Inside, he gritted his teeth: I must not miss this chance to change my fate!
Olivia didn’t notice the man’s reaction. She felt only pity for the people trapped under the Red Dragon’s rule—those who lived each day in fear, trembling at the shadow of authority.
She pressed on. “Are there any surviving rebels? Where are they held?”
George shook his head, trying to sound calm. “There’s said to be a massive Dungeon in the kingdom—called ‘Talmo.’ Anyone who dares oppose the Kingdom Order is imprisoned there… or executed. But no one knows where it is. No one has ever escaped. Only the highest-ranking nobles—like Lord Lanpu—might know.”
“Thank you.”
Olivia gave a slight nod. The man before her was nothing more than an ordinary laborer, cut off from any real intelligence. What he shared was secondhand rumor, but it was enough. She now had the barest foundation of understanding about this nation.
She turned and walked away, vanishing deeper into the alley.
Anher… I’ll find what you left behind.
Your sacrifice will not be in vain.
Her thoughts were quiet, but her resolve burned brighter than ever.
Beneath her hood, her silver-blue eyes—like liquid mercury—grew sharper, more unwavering.
This kingdom was not as evil as she’d first believed. Not on the surface, at least. But beneath the façade, darker monsters stirred, their claws already beginning to show.
The Kingdom of Ashen was now operating in a way no one had seen before—expanding with terrifying speed. Since the Red Dragon had awakened from its deep slumber, it might bring even greater ruin to Anzeta.
The Silver Dragon needed more information. Only then could it uncover the true nature of the Red Dragon lurking behind the throne—and fulfill Anher’s final wish.
As for George, he turned away with a stiff, uneasy gait. His acting was clumsy—his steps stiff, his posture tense, nearly tripping several times. But the stranger had already stopped paying attention. No one noticed.
Only when he’d walked a good distance did he dare glance back.
“…He’s gone?”
Once he confirmed the mysterious figure was truly gone, he broke into a sprint down the alley, then finally gave up all pretense—dashing forward with wild abandon.
He burst onto the street, following the steps he’d memorized from the newspaper. He tore off the Bounty Notice from the roadside sign, then pressed his palm against the crimson rune.
His entire body trembled. Tension and exhilaration warred within him. He feared being discovered and silenced by the spy—but his hope for the reward burned even brighter.
“I found the spy!” he panted, gasping for breath.
A faint glow flickered across the runes.
Then, above, the flapping of wings. Bats swept through the air. Mice scattered across the ground in panic.
George’s hair stood on end. His heart hammered again—raw, instinctive fear of death.
Suddenly, a pale hand emerged silently from nowhere, landing on his shoulder. The touch was ice-cold—like a corpse.
And a voice, colder still, whispered from behind.
“You said… you found something?”
George froze, sweat pouring down his face. Slowly, he turned.
His eyes widened in horror. His eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Before him stood a man with a deathly pale face—gaunt, refined, his crimson pupils like fresh blood. His fangs, slightly exposed, were sharp and predatory.
He wore a pure black Tailcoat, draped in a dark red Cloak. On his chest, a Crimson Emblem—Crossed Dagger and Violin—flashed like a warning.
This was the legend.
Nocturne.
The elite unit that moved only in shadows. The force that made the entire kingdom tremble in fear.
George swallowed hard, his voice cracking. “I… I found the spy.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
