Hearing Haruki's words, the three women didn't hesitate and rushed straight to the Governor's study.
As planned, Gin was in the center, flanked by Kurome and Nina for protection.
When they reached the study door, Kurome and Nina immediately unleashed Rankyaku—two crescent-shaped vacuum slashes shot out and struck the doors head-on.
Two thunderous crashes rang out in succession. The once ornate and solid doors were instantly reduced to splinters, with blood seeping out from the wreckage. Some guards had tried to hide behind the doors for a surprise attack but were caught off guard by the long-range assault.
Although Nina and Kurome weren't as skilled in the Six Styles as Gin, and their attacks lacked her power, breaking down a door like this was still effortless.
They drew their swords and charged in first, with Gin close behind. According to the plan, Nina and Kurome would cut down any soldiers in Gin's way, leaving the Governor for Gin to kill personally.
With the Six Styles, Nina and Kurome launched a one-sided slaughter. Everyone besides the Governor who held a weapon fell to their blades. These soldiers were no better than the ones guarding the gate—executioners who had helped the Governor terrorize the region. Gin's parents had died at their hands.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as a fat lump of flesh flew through the doorway and slammed into the study wall. During the chaos, the Governor had tried to slip away, only to be intercepted by Gin coming in behind them.
Gin stepped through the doorway slowly. Her light blue eyes were bloodshot, and her body trembled slightly. Whether it was from anger or excitement was unclear—but it was probably more excitement.
Because of the man before her, Gin's once poor but happy family had been torn apart. Her loving parents had died indirectly because of him, and she'd been sold into the Empire's Assassination Unit—a place of endless darkness. If she hadn't met her brother Haruki, her life would've been nothing but bloodshed and drugs. Over the years, Gin and Kurome had learned the fate of the other children—those not among the Elite Seven—and it only deepened their gratitude toward Haruki.
"You pig of a bureaucrat... remember me?"
Gin growled through clenched teeth as she looked down at the groaning fat man.
"Who... who are you? How dare you try to assassinate a high-ranking Empire official? Aren't you afraid of getting your entire bloodline executed? Listen! Let me go now, and maybe—just maybe—I'll spare your lives. Otherwise... hmph!"
Though bloodied and battered, the Governor still put on a brave front and tried to threaten her.
Gin didn't respond to the governor. Instead, she let out a twisted laugh and said coldly:
"Exterminate my entire family? What family? Hmph. Of course you don't recognize me. You're the high-and-mighty governor, and to people like you, we're just worthless commoners. I'm sure you've forgotten how many innocents like my parents you've slaughtered over the years. But they'll never forget you. Even in hell, they won't let you rest."
"Hah? So you're one of those lowborn brats. So what if I killed them? I'm a governor, a representative of the Empire. What can trash like you do to me? Do you really think you can defy the Empire?"
To the governor, the Empire's power was absolute—untouchable. No one could ever hope to resist it.
Even Gin wavered at those words. After all, the Empire's thousand-year rule had long been ingrained in everyone's minds. From childhood, Gin and the others had been raised under that belief. She wasn't afraid to die—but she was afraid her actions might drag down Haruki and the others, especially Nina and Kurome, who had come with her.
"It's exactly because of brainless, blindly arrogant fools like you that this Empire is falling so quickly."
Haruki's calm voice echoed through the room as he stepped in from outside. He looked down at the governor, then turned his gaze to Gin and the other two girls. Noticing Gin's hesitation, he said gently:
"All the injustice in this world exists because the ones suffering from it aren't strong enough. With true strength, even the Empire means nothing. And this man? He's just a petty official. Even if you kill him, what can anyone do to me? Go. Take your revenge. Don't carry the weight. Trust me."
The moment Haruki spoke, the governor knew he was in real danger. He wasn't a fool—Haruki didn't carry himself like any ordinary noble. This was someone he couldn't afford to provoke. His arrogance vanished instantly, replaced by desperate pleading.
But Haruki's words had cleared away Gin's doubt. That's right—if she was strong enough, who could stop her? Even the Empire?
She stepped up to the governor without a second thought, ignoring his babbling pleas. Raising one finger to his bloated head, she fired.
With a sharp bang, the sound was like a bullet punching through a watermelon. The governor's head, still mid-plea, burst apart—red and white matter splattered across the floor.
"Urgh...!"
Nina and Kurome couldn't take it anymore. They bent over, retching violently. This was the first time they'd actually killed someone face-to-face. They'd taken lives before, but always with blades. It had been bloody, yes—but not like this. Not this brutal. It was horrifying enough to leave them shaken.
Gin wasn't a bloodthirsty girl by nature. She had done this because her hatred for the governor ran too deep.
She stood there, unmoving, eyes vacant, streaks of tears still on her face. Her lips trembled as she whispered over and over, "Father... Mother... I've avenged you..."
Haruki walked up and pulled her into his arms without hesitation, not caring about the blood or the gore on her.
"Waaah..."
The moment she felt his embrace, Gin broke down, sobbing uncontrollably—like she was finally releasing years of pain and suffering.
Haruki gently patted her back, silent, offering comfort without words.
As he held the crying Gin, he felt genuinely happy for her. This—this was what a fourteen-year-old girl should look like. Not the silent, hardened girl who'd kept everything buried deep inside. Watching her finally let it all out... even Haruki's heart ached for her.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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