Misha pressed the butler, overwhelmed by anxiety.

“What about the budget I gave you this time? You hid it well, right?”

“Yes, Miss. I used it to pay the servants’ overdue wages.”

“I see….. And that roof will need fixing soon.”

Misha sighed deeply as she looked up at the ceiling.

During the last typhoon, roof tiles had broken, causing leaks whenever it rained, but they still couldn’t fix it due to lack of funds.

She wondered if her parents had thought about their daughter who had been absent all night.

Misha asked the butler, knowing she would be disappointed anyway.

“And did my parents say anything about me?”

“Ah….. Well, Miss.”

“No, never mind.”

Misha felt upset by the butler’s stammering.

Before she became aware of her “ability,” her parents had been caring people. But after she became a “tracking hound” and they developed a taste for gambling, life became increasingly desolate.

‘Ah. I should also tell them directly that my engagement has fallen apart.’

Misha let out a hollow laugh. She already felt exhausted even before starting her mission.

‘I’ll do that when I return, when I return.’

…In truth, the area between her legs was too sore, and her limbs felt heavier than usual, but she deliberately avoided that reality.

Just then, another “call” sounded in her left ear.

— Lady.

『Shu?』

This time, the deep voice of another colleague, “Schnauzer,” reached her.

Just from that cool voice, she could picture the gray-haired man poring over books in the shadowy imperial library. She could vividly see him pushing up his glasses while conversing.

— I’ve successfully tracked this target. I’ll send you the information soon.

『Ah, yes! Did you send it to Mastiff too?』

— Of course. He’s probably already left.

『Got it. I’ll join you soon.』

By the time Misha stepped outside the mansion again, the miserable expression she had shown inside was nowhere to be seen.

It was time for “Lady Greyhound” to emerge and punish those who insulted the imperial family.

***

It had been five years since Theodore Baskerville was proclaimed Crown Prince.

Since the Crown Prince took power in place of the Emperor who had no interest in politics, the Cambion Empire had enjoyed unprecedented wealth.

Through endless conquest wars, they subjugated other countries and received rare treasures as tribute each year.

The newly acquired territories were distributed evenly among the high nobles of the Cambion Empire. Because of this, there wasn’t a noble who didn’t praise Crown Prince Theodore.

Even now, the capital’s streets were brightly lit with flower-shaped lanterns, and songs praising their latest victory could be heard.

However, the Crown Prince had once smiled and told his tracking hounds:

Even when the world is improving, malcontents will always exist…

On the very night when victory celebrations filled the capital,

“Huk, heuk…!”

a soldier tore through a dark street, running in desperation.

The man, who appeared to be in his late twenties, was dripping blood from his right arm. With bloodshot eyes, he looked like prey as he fled.

‘J-just a little more! Just a little longer until my comrades come for me—’

Or at least he should escape to a brighter area. If there were many eyes watching, “they” wouldn’t dare harm him so easily.

‘Just a little more…!’

The man desperately reached toward the bright street ahead. But at that moment, the brick wall beside him shattered.

The impact caused the man to slam his head hard against the opposite wall.

“Huk! Kuhup!”

“Ah… you’re faster than I expected. I was careless.”

“Cough, kek, y-you—?”

The man looked up at the giant who had broken through the wall, tears welling in his eyes.

The black uniform the man wore had no ornaments except for a single silver button at the top. Only a faint silver silhouette shimmered in the moonlight.

A man with brown hair and a massive build…

His fists were large, and the veins bulging on his thick forearms were threatening. Even in this darkness, his green eyes glowed menacingly.

‘This man…? It can’t be!’

The man who had become prey widened his eyes and shouted.

“What…! Count Bordeaux, why you!”

“That’s what I want to ask, Nicholas More.”

‘Count Bordeaux’ glared fiercely at ‘Nicholas More.’

Nicholas More wasn’t a noble, but he was a hero who had participated in previous battles and saved his comrades. However, he had consistently criticized the choices of the Empire and the imperial family.

Nicholas swallowed his fear and stared sharply at his opponent.

He thought the imperial family wouldn’t dare take action against him since he was a “war hero” praised for propaganda purposes. He had been far too careless.

‘If they didn’t send security forces, do they intend to just k*ll me!’

Nicholas secretly hid one hand behind his back and shouted.

“Count, why do you turn a blind eye! Do you know how many wars there have been in the past ten years?”

“…You dare criticize the imperial family’s decisions.”

The Count’s voice grew infinitely cold.

But the moment the veins on those massive hands became prominent, Nicholas quickly swung the hand he had hidden behind his back.

A small flame burst at the Count’s left side. He groaned at the pain of burning flesh.

“Ugh…!”

Nicholas used this opportunity to start running again.

Though he was more famous for his marksmanship, he was still an “ability user.” A flame of that size should be enough to slow down his opponent.

However, suddenly he felt his ankle being grabbed, accompanied by a sound like a thick branch breaking.

“Ah… aaaagh!”

“Huff, I was going to let you go gently since you’re a hero, but d*mn.”

“Aaagh!”

The Count easily broke Nicholas’s ankle. Then he dragged him over and mercilessly threw him against the wall.

Despite writhing in pain, Nicholas realized someone who hadn’t been there before had appeared.

A woman with long black flowing hair approached silently.

Her slender face was pale in the darkness, and her silver-blue eyes shone like a cold moon.

The woman glanced sideways at Count Bordeaux and whispered softly.

“…Lord Mastiff.”

“Ah! Lady. You came?”

Where had that terrifying demeanor gone? When the woman wearing the same black uniform appeared, the Count’s green eyes sparkled like a shy boy’s.

But the woman stared at him with a cold face. Nicholas flinched when he noticed blood stains on her face.

Whose blood was that?

“W-who are you? Who exactly—”

“Nicholas More, Commander of the Third Cavalry.”

The moonlight illuminated the small sword in the woman’s hand.

Blood was dripping from the blade onto the ground.

“Would you like to know… what happened to those who came to rescue you?”

“What…!”

“If you want to save them, answer our questions. Your comrades. And who exactly is behind the ‘Alliance’?”

“…!”

Nicholas’s eyes flashed at the word ‘Alliance.’

Even when they captured and tortured “subversives,” they consistently kept their mouths shut and chose s*icide. Among them, they learned new facts from the “exposure” that had led to Misha breaking off her engagement.

That they were definitely an organization, albeit still very small.

At that time, the youth captured by ‘Lady Greyhound’ had spoken.

The young man had lost a tooth from t*rture, and blood streamed from burst blood vessels in his eyes.

‘Hic, w-we call ourselves the ‘A-Alliance.’ A gathering of people with grievances against the Empire and imperial family… we’re all from different backgrounds…’

‘Then who is your leader?’

‘I-I don’t know. I-I’m just a low-ranking—’

‘What are you plotting? Is it merely criticism of the imperial family?’

The “subversives” would write anonymous criticisms of the imperial family, incite demonstrations in the streets, and then flee. So far, their actions had been utterly trivial and insignificant.

But what if “ability users” among them caused incidents?

What if they turned dangerous abilities against the imperial family?

Until Theodore safely ascended the throne, the Empire needed to remain flawless and peaceful.

However, the young man had wailed in despair at Lady Greyhound’s accusation.

‘N-not criticism! To properly look at the current Empire—’

But when the surrounding tracking hounds inflicted more t*rture, his anger turned to despair.

Afterward, when he became completely unable to speak from the pain of t*rture, Lady Greyhound had ended his life.

Nicholas spat at Lady Greyhound.

“Ha…! You imperial dogs! You think I’ll talk?!”

“…I thought you might say that. Then, how about saving those we’ve captured?”

At that moment, Lord Mastiff placed his hand on one of Nicholas’s knees.

Crack.

When the sound of the knee completely dislocating rang out, Nicholas twitched, unable to even scream properly.

“Ugh, euk!”

“Your ability… what is its ‘weakness’?”

“Huk, ah, aah…?”

“Come, answer. If you want to live, that is.”

“Forget it! You don’t even intend to protect—”

“Or should we k*ll your family before your eyes? Both your parents live in the countryside, I heard.”

At those words, Nicholas’s eyes bulged. He wanted to shut his mouth, but his body trembled involuntarily at the mention of his family.

Shaking uncontrollably, he squeezed out his voice.

“J-just cigarette flames. It doesn’t work on those with them, that’s all…”

“…I see.”

The Lady took one step closer to him.

Though she appeared frail, Nicholas was terrified and desperately scratched at the wall behind him.

The fact that she showed her face openly meant this woman was undoubtedly a formidable being.

He needed to protect the ‘Alliance,’ but concern for his family’s safety made his mind go blank.

“P-please! Don’t touch my family! Just k*ll me instead!”

“……”

“Please…!”

Lady Greyhound’s silver-blue eyes showed no movement. They simply shone like a murky moon in the dark night.

Eventually, she extended her right hand and covered the struggling man’s eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

And a scream echoed through the dark alley.

But in the dazzling streets of the capital, only cheerful songs continued to play.

***

While the “tracking hounds” dealt with those who insulted the imperial family, the capital remained immersed in a festive atmosphere.

Everywhere, voices praising the name of war hero Grand Duke Saverhagen could be heard. Everyone in the world laughed boisterously.

Misha silently watched all this from the rooftop of a darkened building.

When she pressed the silver button on her uniform, she returned to her usual dress attire.