Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Investigation
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"Do you even know who I am?! You think some squad leader can touch me? If I raise hell, the Guard Commander and every lawyer in Vain City will line up to have you killed!"
Don Alphao bellowed, veins bulging on his neck.
"Threatening an officer now, too. Thomas, what are you waiting for? Arrest him."
My squad members shot me bewildered looks at my order.
"S-seriously... arrest him?"
"Squad Leader, this is crossing the line! If the Commander finds out..."
Alphao snorted at the sight.
"Do you have any idea how close I am to your Guard Commander? Apologize now, and I won't make a big deal out of this."
I stared at the smug bastard in disbelief.
"Why's a criminal talking so much? Thomas? No, I'll notify the rest of Squad 5. If you don't arrest him right now, I'll charge you all with disobeying orders."
"What? Have you lost your mind? Fine! Let's go! I'll go straight to the Guard Commander and chew him out about this myself. What are you idiots doing? Arrest me!"
Alphao thrust his hands forward arrogantly, and the squad members stared at him in fear.
"What are you waiting for?! Didn't your squad leader tell you to arrest me?"
Thomas reluctantly cuffed the furious, red-faced man.
"Alright, let's head back."
I led them toward the prison.
-Did we really just arrest Alphao?
-I hope he rots in there this time and never gets out.
-You think that's gonna happen? He's tight with the guards, prosecutors, and judges.
I ignored the whispers as the prison came into view.
It looked like a fortress built of solid stone.
With a moat, no less—it might as well be one.
As I approached the gates, the guards there gaped at our group and leveled their spears.
"Who the hell are you?! This is the Grand Duchy's prison! Come any closer, and we'll open fire."
"Good work, everyone. I'm Aiden, the newly promoted Squad Leader of Squad 5."
"Then what's your business here?"
"Bringing in a dangerous criminal."
"A dangerous... criminal...? W-wait a minute—that's Don Alphao! Hey! Squad Leader of Squad 5, have you lost your damn mind?! That guy's..."
I ignored the trembling prison squad leader's shocked expression.
"Now that you've confirmed his identity, open the gates."
"You crazy son of a..."
>*tap tap*
"Squad Leader. That guy's... the Grand Duchess's..."
"Oh? That lucky bastard?"
The prison guard squad leader suddenly paused, lost in thought.
His eyes widened as realization dawned.
"Haha, our Squad 5 Leader's really on top of things! Bringing in a dangerous criminal on your first day? Come on in! What are you waiting for? Open the gates!"
His unexpected reaction left me puzzled.
Finally, the massive iron gates lowered, granting us entry.
After filling out some paperwork...
"You'll regret this today, mark my words."
I waved at Alphao, who glared daggers at me.
"Yeah, shoulda lived a good life, huh?"
With that, I stepped out of the prison.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back at home, the Guard Commander was enjoying a happy time with his family.
Several men approached his house.
*knock knock*
Guard Commander Bill eyed the door curiously.
'Who'd come at this hour?'
"Who's there?"
-I'm Garot from the Alphao Family. We have an urgent matter and came to see you.
'Why would the Alphao Family come to me?'
But Bill quickly thought they might be tangled in some mess—and he could squeeze a nice payout out of it.
He hid his inner smirk and opened the door with a serious expression.
"What is it?"
"Well... your new squad leader arrested Don Alphao and dragged him to prison."
Bill was utterly dumbfounded by the unforeseen news.
"What... what?"
"What are you doing? You need to head to the prison right now!"
"The newbie... that Aiden squad leader?"
Garot urged Bill, who still hadn't grasped the situation.
"I don't care what his name is—the Squad 5 Leader hauled off Don Alphao! Don't you know what happens if word of this reaches the prosecutors or judges?"
'Hold on... Squad 5 Leader? That's the kid the Grand Duchess planted, right? Why would he...'
Bill had heard the rumors about Aiden.
The man who saved the Grand Duchess and got promoted as thanks.
But Bill had his doubts—plenty of them.
It wasn't every day someone saved a Swordmaster like her.
And if he did, he'd have to possess insane strength.
Yet here he was, a mere guard squad leader?
A spark of realization flashed through Bill's mind.
'A secret inspector planted by the Grand Duchess?'
Inspectors monitored officials and reported upward.
Otherwise, it made no sense for a rookie squad leader to touch Alphao.
The moment Bill suspected Aiden might be a secret inspector, his face paled.
'If I stick my neck out and mess up... I'm done for. Better cut ties now.'
"Ahem... I'll check tomorrow if procedures were followed properly. Go home now!"
With that, Bill slammed the door shut.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Late into the night.
A night with an especially bright full moon.
A black-haired woman gasped for breath.
"Ugh... haa..."
She let out aroused moans as she caressed herself somewhere.
With her eyes closed, savoring the stimulation, she looked utterly erotic.
All because she was such a proud, cold, and noble woman.
Seeing her lost in pleasure like this...
"Haa... this isn't enough."
Luna had tasted ecstasy once.
The sensations now felt alien and unforgettable.
It was like a tiny crack named Aiden had formed in the dam of her reason, letting the floodwaters of pleasure seep through.
Now, the dam had burst, and she flailed helplessly in the deluge, her mind in chaos.
"Why is it so different from back then?"
Luna grumbled in a petulant tone.
For her, this self-pleasure paled compared to her night with Aiden.
With her eyes opened as a woman, fingers just couldn't satisfy her.
Besides, as a Swordmaster whose physical abilities transcended human limits, her desires burned fiercer than an athlete's.
"Hoo..."
But she couldn't meet Aiden again.
Luna knew exactly how much headache it would cause if word spread that the Grand Duchess of Heyron was sneaking off for trysts with a commoner.
Her usually icy face flushed faintly as she told herself.
"I have to endure..."
She said she had to hold back, but her furrowed brow chased pleasure all the same.
Even Luna was at a loss.
Every night alone, memories flooded back.
Aiden's face, his embrace—they made heat pool between her legs.
This was uncharted territory for her.
Frowning at urges she couldn't control, she caressed herself.
"Hng... I have to hold back."
'I can't.'
Night after night, Luna soothed herself.
She even considered disguising herself and finding another man, but her pride wouldn't allow it.
'I'd rather die than become some cheap slut.'
A knight like her couldn't abandon her dignity.
She knew she was being stubborn.
But with the duties and responsibilities on her shoulders, she bit her lip and endured the pleasure.
She caressed herself until morning.
In the end, she lay awake all night.
But whether she'd pulled an all-nighter or not, she had an important public event today.
The Harvest Thanksgiving Festival.
As Grand Duchess of Heyron Grand Duchy, Luna had to attend and set an example for her people.
Early morning, after reviewing key reports, her day began.
As sunset approached, she boarded the carriage to the square.
Gazing at the sunset through the window, Luna sank into thought.
'Still no leads on the culprit.'
The assassination attempt where she'd gotten entangled with Aiden.
She was quietly investigating suspects, but no major breakthroughs.
'There has to be a traitor inside...'
It'd be hard for an outsider to know her schedule that precisely.
Luna was convinced there was a betrayer among them.
The carriage soon stopped at the square, and she stepped out.
The gathered crowd.
-Ooh! The Grand Duchess is here!
-She's beautiful as ever!
-Long live the Grand Duchess!
-Luna! Luna!
As the crowd cheered and praised the stunning woman...
An elderly priest in robes approached her.
"Has the Grand Duchess arrived?"
"Bishop Bodean. It's been a while."
"Yes. I hope you've been well."
"The Lord has protected me from great threats."
Bodean smiled faintly at Luna's pointed words.
"The Lord loves his liege. What greater blessing could there be?"
"I'm grateful for those words. Now, let's begin the Harvest Thanksgiving service."
"Yes, I'll guide you."
Bishop Bodean led Luna and her escort knights to the platform.
"Lord, we thank you for this bountiful harvest."
The service began.
Luna watched the preaching Bodean with bored eyes.
She believed in the Lord, but not his dry, dull sermons.
Having never seen the scripture's love in reality, she sought no divine guidance.
The only reason this cynic attended was duty as Grand Duchess.
As the tedious service ended, she rose and wove through the crowd toward her carriage.
The masses shouted, exalting Luna.
-Thank you, Grand Duchess Luna, for arresting that shameless thug Don Alphao!
-Yeah! Hearing he got locked up felt so damn good!
-That bastard trashed my shop too. Make sure he never sees daylight again!
-Right! The death penalty wouldn't even be enough!
Luna felt profound confusion at the unfamiliar name.
"Don Alphao?"
No matter how big a underworld boss he was, he was nothing to a great noble like her.
If she'd known of him, she'd have crushed him thoroughly—but she spent her days buried in paperwork to develop the duchy, so she didn't know every citizen by name.
'Who is that?'
Curious about what happened yesterday to make her people so thrilled, Luna offered the crowd a soft smile and boarded her carriage.
And...
She quietly called to her escort knight, Charles.
"Charles. Investigate who Don Alphao is."
"Understood."