“Crack… crack…”

A series of crisp, delicate cracking sounds echoed. The knights trailing their general watched helplessly as the magnificent platinum armor ahead shattered into pieces. Each stared in horror, as if they’d seen a ghost.

Yet the most exaggerated reaction came from the general himself—the one who’d charged straight into Kroso’s Innate Domain.

Though stout and short, his aura had once dwarfed his knights’. Now, his arrogant smirk twisted into a bizarre shriek, eyes bulging in sheer terror.

“Eep! Oh my goodness!”

Whether he sensed the lethal white light slicing through Kroso’s Innate Domain or not, the stout commander tumbled backward off his warhorse without resistance. Had the knights behind not reined in sharply, he’d have been trampled under heavy hooves.

Even Kroso blinked in confusion. The surrounding knights froze too.

*What was that? Scared stiff?*

The once-fierce cavalry hesitated—until their fallen commander began wailing.

“Ow! Ow! Am I dead? Am I dead?”

Surrounded by frantic knights, he flailed like a sleepwalker. Only upon realizing he felt no pain did he reopen his eyes, terror still etched on his face.

“Hahahaha! Is *this* the Empire’s mighty bandit general? One glare from Brother Kroso and he collapses, unable to rise?”

Kroso stayed silent, but Laina, hiding behind him, burst into laughter.

“How dare you! Who’s laughing?!”

Hearing the child’s mockery, the general sprang up—only to stand nearly naked save for threadbare underwear. Kroso’s void slashes had stripped him clean: no armor, no helmet. His trembling flab and furious scowl made him look utterly ridiculous, like a drowned rat.

“Stop disgracing yourself! Speak—who do you serve? Whose command did you usurp?”

Kroso’s patience snapped. This fool was clearly a pawn sent by the mole. As he spoke, his Innate Domain expanded, swallowing the area around the general. *Let them value their lives.*

True enough—the Imperial cavalry froze, paralyzed by the Domain’s life-threatening pressure.

“Don’t fear! He won’t dare kill us!”

Just as Kroso pressed forward, the general’s eyes darted. His terrified mask vanished, replaced by smug arrogance.

“Oh? And what makes you so sure?” Kroso almost laughed.

“Hmph! You *must* have seen the spirit dragon cavalry circling above! Harm me even slightly, and before sunset, the hundred-thousand-strong Imperial army camped around Chernost City will hunt you relentlessly! Unless you flee to the Abyss—you *will* pay with your life!”

Though bound by the Innate Domain, the general grew brazen. A stark contrast to his earlier panic.

Kroso’s brows furrowed slightly. He *had* sensed powerful presences overhead—but spirit dragon cavalry? Rare even in the Imperial Legion. This unit answered not to the Empire, but to a noble house in the Holy City… the very family backing the Imperial throne. Even His Majesty treated them with deference.

*Truly troublesome. The mole picked a perfect pawn.*

“Ha! Told you he wouldn’t dare! Hahahaha!” The general threw his head back, laughing wildly, utterly dismissive.

“You—who *are* you? Charging here like this… do you intend to shame your family’s name?”

Done with the farce, Kroso shifted focus. Such crude behavior clashed with that house’s honor. Something was off.

“Hmph! Speak my name and tremble!”

“At the Imperial Royal Arena earlier this year—you won against my elder brother through a despicable sneak attack! I am Valante Gokangi, his second younger brother!”

Nose in the air, face blazing with defiance, the self-proclaimed Valante roared.

*Ah. So that’s it.*

Relief washed over Kroso. If this noble—Valante, Greenlante, whatever—wasn’t the mole’s agent, this was manageable.

Baji’s younger brother? Given Imperial favor, likely held a general’s title too. No wonder he replaced a high commander overnight.

*Heh… “General material,” indeed.*

A faint smirk tugged Kroso’s lips. He fought hard not to laugh.

A clown like this wouldn’t need provocation—he’d volunteer to cause trouble.

*After cleansing The Church in the Holy City… this family needs “special attention.”*

“How dare you laugh?! Do you know how much wealth our family lost from your theft of The Church’s sacred artifact? Die a thousand times—ten thousand!—and it still wouldn’t repay you!”

“Oh… and so what?”

Done tolerating this cur’s bluster, Kroso decided: even if it worsened his wanted poster, this noise had to stop.

“Who says the Hero stole The Church’s sacred artifact? I wasn’t aware.”

Just as Kroso’s expression turned icy, the door behind him opened. A calm, gentle voice drifted out.

Everyone present froze.