Ran arrived in Hua at first light, the guards seemed more alert after the assassination attempt and identity checks had been put in place but fortunately, one of the guards present recognized Ran immediately, he nodded to him and he was able to enter the city without hindrance.

Hua was quieter than the last time, the city was still half asleep and he had no trouble sneaking through the stalls to the mayor's residence. He was surprised to see two heavily armed women in full body armor wielding halberds guarding the door. From their posture, Ran saw that they seemed much better trained than anything he had seen so far.

No sooner did he try to approach than the halberds threatened him.

"No one gets through.”

The tone was unequivocal. Ran raised his hands in the air and answered.

“I have an urgent announcement to make to her highness, tell her that Ran must speak to her, now.”

The two soldiers reacted when they heard his name and whispered to each other, seeming to discuss the best thing to do. One of them finally went into the manor and returned quickly.

“She will receive you.”

One of the guards accompanied him inside, the place did not change, but there was an unusual commotion, porters were running around and they did not pay Ran any attention.

They arrived in the large reception hall, 6 guards similar to those at the entrance flanked the princess who was sitting in her leather chair, once again, all of them were women.

The princess took the lead:

"Welcome! I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon, you've come at just the right time, I'm going back to the Palace today, Father has sent me the royal guard to escort me, with what happened, one can never be too careful. So what business brings you here?”

Although she tried to keep a cheerful face, she could easily see from Ran's expression that the situation was serious.

“Your highness, it's a pleasure, forgive me for disturbing you, but the information I have to convey is sensitive.”

He turned his gaze to the guards.

The princess lost her smile, nodded and ordered the servants to leave, the doors were immediately closed and everyone else in the mansion was ordered to stay away from the room.

Ran was impressed by her responsiveness, he had realized it earlier, but the princess was far from foolish, which suited him well. The only ones who remained in the room were Ran, the princess, the guards and of course...the butler.

“You can talk, I trust the people in this room to keep their lips closed .”

Although Ran doubted it, he began to tell the whole story, the kidnapping of the villagers, the contract with the empire, the exorbitant taxes and finally...the night attack on the village.

As he told his story, the princess' face darkened and she began to bite her nails.

The guards didn't let on but their dismay was obvious, Graam the butler was more outraged than anything else.

“Nonsense! A marquis would never do such a thing! Do you know the consequences of making false accusations against a nobleman?! Do you even have any proof of what you're saying?!”

Ran didn't answer. Graam smiled.

Suddenly, Gliver's voice came out of nowhere.

"Zzz... my contract with the empire ....zzz... save me the trouble of looking for you...zzz... shoot him!"

The butler blanched when the integrated loudspeaker in Ran’s armor started playing the recording.

“This is a sham! Princess please say something!”

“...”

The latter remained silent.

Graam then exploded:

“Guards arrest him for the murder of the marquis Alphonse de Gliver! He will be tried and hanged as an example, he himself confessed his crime!”

The guards hesitated for a moment, but finally obeyed the orders. They all spread out in a circle around Ran, who still did not move. He simply replied in a bone chilling tone:

“my crime?”