The square outside the palace reeked of blood.
Disguised as a blonde noblewoman, Chelsea lifted her ornate skirt and carefully stepped over the wet, sticky stains on the ground as she entered what was essentially a slaughterhouse.
Her pupils shrank.
Headless corpses of high-ranking nobles were scattered everywhere, blood still seeping between the cracks of the stone tiles.
So ruthless.
That new tyrant hadn't even bothered with trials—he had carried out a massacre right here in the open.
"Damn it… I'm too late," Chelsea muttered.
She raised her gaze toward the main palace hall. Though heavily damaged, it still radiated an oppressive pressure that made her skin crawl.
The killing in the square was already over.
The white-haired demon had retreated deep into the palace with his people.
The surroundings were now completely sealed off by Esdeath's heavy infantry. The guard was airtight—there was no chance of slipping in unnoticed.
"I need another way."
Chelsea clenched her teeth, her mind racing.
Soon, her eyes lit up.
Not far away, a captain of the guards was directing soldiers as they moved confiscated noble property.
Chelsea immediately adjusted her expression, perfectly mixing arrogance with desperation. Swaying her slender waist, she walked straight over.
"Halt! Who are you?!"
The captain raised his spear, eyeing her warily.
"Open your damn eyes!" Chelsea snapped without hesitation, flawlessly playing the part of an overbearing noblewoman. She deliberately lowered her voice, adopting a mysterious tone.
"I am the daughter of Marquis Cavendish from the southern district!"
"I possess a peerless treasure—and a super-rare Imperial Arm that has never appeared in the Empire's records!"
"I demand an audience with the great new Dominator to present them in person!"
The moment he heard the words super-rare Imperial Arm, the captain froze.
Still, he pointed stiffly at a mountain of treasure chests nearby.
"All surrendered noble property goes there! Leave it and await General Esdeath's orders!"
"Put it over there?"
Chelsea laughed coldly, looking at him as if he were an idiot.
"Are you insane?!"
"This is a peerless treasure—the kind that can revive the dead and bestow godlike power!"
"You want me to throw it in with that scrap metal?"
She stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward the captain's face.
"If it gets damaged and angers the great Dominator, can your worthless life—or your family's—pay the price?!"
"I—"
Cold sweat instantly drenched the captain's back.
Images of that white-haired demon exploding heads with a single glance flashed through his mind, and his legs nearly gave out.
If this woman was telling the truth and he offended that monster…
He swallowed hard, his tone changing instantly.
"T-Then please wait! I… I'll personally escort you to the main hall to report!"
Chelsea lifted her chin and snorted.
"At least you have some sense. Lead the way."
She followed behind him, her head lowered, the wide brim of her hat concealing most of her face.
Hidden in shadow, the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably.
Plan successful.
"These brainless soldiers fall for intimidation so easily," she thought excitedly.
"Using treasures and an Imperial Arm as bait, I can enter the main hall legitimately!"
Her fingers brushed the silver needle hidden in her sleeve, coated in a poison lethal on contact.
"As long as I get within three steps…"
Cold killing intent flashed in her eyes.
"Even if you're a god, you'll die by my hand."
---
Inside the palace's main hall.
On a luxurious temporary throne, Uchiha Tobirama lounged lazily, leaning back with one arm draped over the armrest.
At his side, the Empire's strongest Ice Queen, Esdeath, knelt obediently, using hands capable of crushing Danger Beasts to gently massage his thighs.
On the other side, Kurome knelt silently, eyes hollow. She peeled grapes one by one and carefully fed them to Tobirama.
Utter indulgence.
The enjoyment of an absolute ruler.
Suddenly, Tobirama paused mid-chew.
A strange glint flickered through his deep eyes.
Within his perception, every movement in the Imperial Capital—down to the path of a crawling ant—was laid bare.
A single human trying to sneak in?
Impossible to miss.
That "blonde noblewoman" following the captain appeared flawless on the surface, but her aura and true form—
In Tobirama's perception, she stood out like a blazing torch in the darkness.
"Gaea Foundation, huh?" Tobirama scoffed inwardly.
"A disguise like that might fool ordinary people, but to me it's as transparent as glass."
He saw through her instantly.
The orange-haired assassin who had escaped earlier—Chelsea.
"Interesting."
Watching her secretly grip a poison needle, clearly believing her plan was succeeding, Tobirama nearly laughed.
"She's walking straight into a trap."
"I didn't even bother hunting her down, and she comes knocking on my door."
Suppressing the smile at his lips, Tobirama calmly took a sip of wine.
"Knock, knock, knock."
From outside the hall came the captain's trembling voice.
"R-Reporting to the great Dominator! A noble claiming to be the daughter of Marquis Cavendish requests an audience!"
"She claims to possess a peerless treasure and a never-before-seen Imperial Arm!"
Esdeath frowned, killing intent flashing in her eyes.
"What kind of trash dares disturb Master's rest? Allow me to kill her."
"Wait."
Tobirama set down his wine glass, waving his hand. A mischievous glint flashed through his eyes.
"A rare Imperial Arm? I'm interested."
"Let her in."
---
Outside the hall.
When Chelsea heard the words Let her in, her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
"It worked!"
"He took the bait!"
Her breathing quickened with excitement.
"No matter how strong he is, he's still greedy," she thought.
"Hearing about a peerless treasure, he lowered his guard!"
"My assassination plan is ninety-nine percent successful!"
She steadied herself, carefully adjusting her expression.
Creak—
The heavy golden doors slowly opened.
Chelsea lifted her skirt and stepped inside.
The moment she entered, her heart skipped a beat.
The hall floor was littered with the remains of experts from the Kouken Temple.
And atop the throne—
That white-haired man lounged there, lazy yet overwhelmingly domineering.
Most unbelievable of all—
Esdeath, the butcher of the Revolutionary Army, stood obediently at his side like a servant.
"Monster…"
Chelsea swallowed hard, forcing down her fear.
She approached the foot of the throne and dropped to her knees with a heavy thud, prostrating herself deeply.
"G-Great new Dominator of the Empire!"
Pinching her throat, she spoke in an overly sweet, cloying noble accent.
"Your humble servant, eldest daughter of the Cavendish family, pays her respects!"
"To celebrate your reign, I have brought an ultra-rare, supreme Imperial Arm!"
She raised her head, revealing what she believed to be a flawless, flattering smile.
Holding an exquisitely crafted—but empty—wooden box in both hands, she crawled up the steps on her knees.
"This treasure only reveals its divine power in your presence," she said softly.
"Please allow me to open it for you personally…"
Step by step, she moved closer.
Five steps.
Four steps.
Three steps.
Close enough.
Her fingers tightened around the poison needle hidden in her sleeve.
Just one more instant—and she would strike.
But at that very moment—
On the throne, Tobirama propped his chin on one hand and let out an unmistakable sneer.
"Heh."
Looking down at the kneeling "noblewoman," his eyes brimmed with amusement and ridicule.
"Nice acting, little kitty."
Then he leaned forward slightly.
Those deep eyes pierced straight through her disguise, stabbing into the depths of her soul.
"But…"
——————Author——————
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