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“Captain. Why on earth did the young master call us all the way to Demia? The Count has strictly forbidden any external activities.”

“Still, since he gave us permission to go, there must be a reason. We just follow orders, right?”

“Even so, curiosity is still curiosity. Aren’t you curious?”

“He’ll tell us when the time comes. How could we, with our thick skulls, understand the intentions of those above us?”

“Damn. That’s a refreshing conclusion.”

“Shut up, you brats. This isn’t Lithuania territory; this is the academy city of Demia. We’re here representing the Lion Heart Count Family. If you keep acting recklessly here, you’ll regret it. I won’t let it slide.”

—

Layla, who had been listening to the banter between the buzz-cut Johnson and the messy-haired Roel, glared at them with sharp eyes.

For a while, she thought she wouldn’t have any business with Gilbert, but his sudden summons left her heart racing.

As someone serving her lord, she wondered if it was inappropriate to feel this way, but who can control their heart?

Layla barely had the energy to calm her fluttering heart.

In the midst of this, she had brought along the two most skilled rangers, but their constant chatter was making her more anxious.

Especially since they were on their way to meet someone she desperately wanted to impress, Layla’s nerves were on edge.

“Hey, Captain’s sharpness today is probably because of that day…”

**-BAM!**

“Ouch!”

Johnson, oblivious as ever, added one more word and got smacked on the back of his head.

Roel, who was relatively more perceptive, kept his mouth shut. He knew from experience that saying nothing was the best way to survive when the Captain was this irritable.

After passing through the checkpoint of the academy city Demia, the three asked a nearby guard for directions to where Gilbert had summoned them. The guard, suspicious due to the recent academy attack, relaxed upon seeing the Lion Heart Count Family emblem on their chests.

In fact, his expression turned friendly, and when they heard the reason, all three of them puffed up with pride.

“You’re from the Lion Heart Count Family? My apologies. With all the recent unrest, we’ve been on edge. I see you’re here to see Lord Gilbert. Though I’m of low status, I couldn’t thank him properly, but during the recent incident, my younger sister’s life was saved thanks to him. Please convey my gratitude to Lord Gilbert.”

“We’ll make sure to tell the young master.”

“Thank you. As far as I know, the cadets are currently staying in the temporary dormitory. It’s an unavoidable measure due to the time needed to repair the academy.”

“The damage seems more severe than expected.”

The guard’s eyes filled with anger. It seemed the fact that his sister’s life was in danger had enraged him.

“It’s all because of those damn New Resistance. They’re carrying out indiscriminate terror to turn the Empire into a republic. Innocent citizens are suffering, yet they claim that revolution requires sacrifice. How can I not be angry?”

Layla could understand his anger. A place without a class system would be a utopia of freedom and equality for all. The reason people joined the New Resistance was to create such a utopia with their own hands.

But freedom always comes with responsibility. Even in the so-called paradise of republics, civil wars never cease. Even if one lives freely there, there’s no guarantee that freedom will last.

Moreover, the Empire was relatively lenient towards commoners compared to other monarchies. Of course, with a class system in place, there were still corrupt nobles and injustices, but it wasn’t as if such things happened everywhere.

In fact, Layla herself had been helped by such a noble, as had the man before her. At the very least, she couldn’t shake the thought that they were better than the indiscriminate terror of the New Resistance.

“I’ve rambled on too long. The temporary dormitory is straight ahead.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“Not at all. Compared to the debt I owe Lord Gilbert, this is nothing.”

After parting ways with the guard, Layla and her team walked in the direction he pointed. After a few smacks to Johnson’s head for complaining about the distance, they finally arrived at their destination.

Showing the Lion Heart Count Family emblem to the guards at the entrance, Layla took a moment to look around. The temporary dormitory, made up of several high-end hotels, didn’t seem uncomfortable.

Was this what you’d expect from the Empire’s top educational institution?

It seemed specially chosen for the noble students.

“You’ve been waiting. Sir Gilbert has sent word to bring you three in.”

Sir Gilbert, huh…

Layla felt an inexplicable pride and satisfaction at the respectful demeanor of the guard.

The young master, who had once been so reckless, had now received a knighthood and was respected by the guards of the Empire’s top academy. It felt incredibly good.

The guard led them to a particularly luxurious hotel. Inside, the interior was as lavish as the exterior.

As a ranger with exceptional talent, Layla immediately noticed that this wasn’t a place for ordinary cadets. Not just because of the opulence, but because she could see through the security magic embedded here.

Aside from the mana-based defensive spells, there were also physical traps. These traps, which only activated upon forced intrusion, seemed to have been set up recently.

The sheer number of them made the place feel like a dungeon or fortress, and Layla tensed up. Her nerves, which had relaxed upon hearing Gilbert’s summons, were now stretched taut.

“Captain. What is this place?”

“Did the young master get into some kind of trouble? This looks like a detention level of security.”

Johnson and Roel’s eyes also sharpened. Even to them, as senior rangers, this place seemed extraordinary.

The fact that it was designed to thoroughly block external intrusion also meant that no one could escape from within. Though it was unlikely that Gilbert, who had a good reputation lately, would do such a thing, the security here was so impressive that the thought crossed their minds.

“Enough with the nonsense. This level of security means there’s someone important here.”

“That could be true. I keep forgetting how much the young master has changed.”

“If you keep making strange comments about the young master, you might lose more than just your hair.”

“…That’s a bit harsh.”

As Johnson grumbled, a man descended the central staircase.

The moment Layla recognized him, her heart began to pound uncontrollably. But she tried not to show it, kneeling on one knee and bowing her head as he approached.

“Lion Heart Count Family’s direct ranger unit. Unit Leader Layla of the Golden Mane, along with two team leaders. We’ve arrived as per Lord Gilbert’s orders.”

“Hmm. Rise, Unit Leader Layla. You’ve worked hard coming all this way.”

His hair, longer than when he left Bismarck, hung loosely like a lion’s mane. It wasn’t as unkempt as during his delinquent days, but it wasn’t neatly styled like a typical noble’s either.

Layla searched for the right word to describe him and finally settled on one.

Wildness.

An untamed wildness emanated from Gilbert.

“Follow me. This isn’t the place for our discussion.”

Gilbert led Layla and her team to a soundproofed room. It was a place prepared for operational briefings, and he had already obtained Seraphina’s permission to use it.

Layla and her team, recognizing the barriers set up here, understood that the discussion ahead would be serious.

“I’ll explain why I called Unit Leader Layla and the two team leaders.”

“Understood.”

“You might have guessed, but I need the strength of the Golden Mane, a ranger unit that rivals the Empire’s best.”

“Whatever the order, we will follow.”

“Good. Then I’ll get straight to the point. Unit Leader Layla, along with Team Leaders Johnson and Roel, must uncover the insider from the New Resistance hiding within Demia Academy.”

“An insider?”

Layla’s eyebrows twitched at the word. The idea that there was an insider from the New Resistance within the Empire’s top educational institution, Demia Academy, made her head spin.

But the clever Layla could roughly guess the situation even before hearing the full explanation. It had been strange that the academy, known for its stringent security, had been breached multiple times by the Resistance. She hadn’t imagined there was an insider involved.

Well, she had her suspicions, but hearing it directly from Gilbert confirmed it.

“As you’ve probably guessed, the breaches in Demia Academy’s security are likely due to an insider. But for me to find that insider is nearly impossible. Even if I were lucky enough to uncover their identity, there’s no way to prove it.”

It was impossible for him to find someone who had been hiding their identity all this time. His expertise was in piloting, not in uncovering traitors and gathering evidence.

That’s why Gilbert had contacted the Lion Heart Count Family to summon Layla and her team. In terms of tactical combat, there was no ranger as skilled as Layla with her intact body.

“That’s why I need the strength of the Golden Mane.”

“I understand the situation. But Lord Gilbert, the Lion Heart Count Family has traditionally stayed out of the Empire’s politics. As far as I know, you’ve recently joined the Princess’s faction. Does the Count know about this?”

Though Layla was ready to follow any order from Gilbert, she couldn’t help but ask this question. She didn’t want him to make a mistake, and she wanted to know if their dispatch was in line with the Count’s intentions.

“Unit Leader Layla. Anyone colluding with the New Resistance, who sows chaos and terror among the Empire’s citizens, is no different from a traitor. As the Lion Heart Count Family, which has guarded the Empire’s gates and maintained its peace since its founding, we cannot tolerate this. This is something the Count has approved.”

In fact, the fact that he could summon the core members of the Golden Mane, including the unit leader and team leaders, was because his father, the Count of Lithuania, had authorized it. It was impossible to mobilize such key personnel without the family head’s approval.

Still, Layla wanted to confirm this because she was worried that Gilbert might be acting on his own. Gilbert, not entirely displeased with her concern, gave a faint smile.

“Unit Leader Layla, I understand your concern. But you don’t need to worry about that. What I’m asking of you and the two team leaders is solely to uncover the traitor who has betrayed the Empire. This does not go against the will of the Lion Heart Count Family, which protects the Empire.”

“We will carry out your orders.”

Disarmed by Gilbert’s smile, Layla quickly composed herself and bowed her head. With the justification clear and Gilbert’s orders given, her task was set.

The Lion Heart Count Family’s ranger unit, the Golden Mane.

It was time to show their true worth.

 

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