"You! How dare you tattle on me to Master! I'll do this to you~"

"Ouch! It really hurts, so stop!"

I, Count Liam Sera Banfield, had summoned a young girl to my office.

I was punishing the girl, Ciel Sera Exner, by clamping her head between my fists and grinding them against her.

Ciel's crime—she had informed my master, Yasushi, the Sword God, that I was reluctant to marry Rosetta.

I had been trying to run away from my marriage to my fiancée, Rosetta Sera Claudia, but when Ciel told my master everything, I lost my escape route.

Of all things, Ciel had used my master to corner me.

"Hah, hah... This time, it really made me break out in a cold sweat. I never thought you, of all people, would outsmart me."

Freed from my noogie, Ciel held her head with her hands, her eyes welling with tears as she glared at me.

"I didn't think it would turn out like this either!"

You didn't think it would? Could it be you were convinced I wouldn't marry Rosetta after all?

Too bad, but that's not happening.

"Hmph! I wanted Rosetta's title, so I planned to marry her from the start. Even without Master telling me to, I would have married her within ten—no, a hundred years."

Normally, once my training as a nobleman was complete, I would be considered an adult.

Not in terms of age, but in a social sense, I'd be seen as a full-fledged individual.

Everyone around me was telling me to hurry up and marry Rosetta and have children...

Even though humanity can now live in space, a society that still emphasizes bloodlines seems almost comical.

But that's this world for you.

I'm a winner in this world, and I intend to take full advantage of my position and enjoy it.

I've decided to live my second life freely, without having to worry about anyone else.

To obtain that freedom, marrying Rosetta was crucial.

If I obtain the ducal title Rosetta holds, I'll be one of the Empire's foremost great nobles in both name and reality.

—Truth be told, I was planning to marry her quickly, but my plans went awry because Rosetta fell for me far too soon.

Originally, I was supposed to forcibly marry a Rosetta who despised me.

Ciel, still holding her head, continued to give me a protesting look.

"I won't let you have your way."

Rosetta fell so easily, but this one still resists me.

In light of that attitude, I'll let her off the hook this time.

Using my master is unforgivable, but Ciel is the precious daughter of a friendly noble lord, entrusted to my care.

I can't punish her easily, and this level of resistance makes things more interesting.

Besides, I haven't suffered any irreparable damage.

Ciel is only capable of such minor mischief.

"Can you really stop me?"

"I'll definitely open everyone's eyes and show them that you're a villain!"

"I'm looking forward to it. I hope your words reach them."

"D-Don't mock me! I'll definitely expose your true colors!"

This is it, this is it! The classic conversation between a villain and someone brandishing justice!

But—if it's my word against Ciel's, most people will judge my words as correct.

That's because I'm more trusted by those around us than Ciel, who knows the truth.

Ciel can't outsmart me.

—This whole incident was an accident that happened because Master got caught in the middle.

"No matter how much someone like you resists me—huh?"

My gaze shifted from Ciel to the office window.

Black smoke was rising in the distance.

I also felt a slight tremor, so I wondered if there had been an explosion.

"An accident? No, that's not it."

"Huh? W-What?"

Ciel didn't seem to understand what was happening.

This dullness is proof that she could never be a threat to me.

Shifting my gaze to the floor, I decided to call for my guards.

"What happened?"

Seeing me ask a question to the floor, Ciel first gave me a look as if I were a fool. Who are you talking to? Her eyes said.

But then a black shadow appeared on the floor, and a person rose up from it.

It was one of Kukuri's subordinates wearing a mask—Kunai.

"Thieves have infiltrated. We have already secured the surrounding area."

"—Infiltrated, you say?"

I narrowed my eyes at Kunai, who was kneeling with her head bowed.

Kukuri and her subordinates are few in number, but they are elite.

However, failure is not an option.

"Where is Kukuri?"

"The chief is on-site, taking command."

"Summon her when it's over. Letting thieves into my mansion..."

As my irritation caused a slight leak of killing intent, I saw Ciel start to tremble violently.

Oops. I hurriedly suppressed my killing intent.

I was worried she'd be so terrified she'd stop resisting me, but Ciel was acting brave.

Good, you're the best!

"Kunai, you've dealt with all the thieves, haven't you?"

When I looked back at Kunai, she, who would normally answer immediately, hesitated for a moment.

I sensed bad news was coming, which made me even more furious.

"My deepest apologies. We let all the thieves escape. We are currently cooperating with the military to block their anticipated escape routes."

"Were skilled operatives sent in?"

I grew more cautious, thinking skilled operatives who could outwit Kukuri's team had been sent, but Kunai's demeanor was strange.

"W-well, we haven't even been able to confirm that."

"You haven't been able to confirm? Hey, what did the thieves do? Did they target Amagi or Roset—someone? Or were they after treasure?"

For a moment, I was concerned for Rosetta's safety, but I swallowed my words.

"Fortunately, no one was injured. However, what was stolen was Lord Liam's genetic material."

"—What did you say?"

I was relieved to hear that no one was harmed, but then I was momentarily stunned to hear that my genes had been stolen.

A group capable of outsmarting Kukuri's team ignored my head and my treasure, and stole my genes instead?

Is this some kind of demonstration of power?

◇

Near the Banfield family's capital planet.

Several of the Empire's secret special operations ships were present there.

In the hangar, personnel handpicked from the Empire's dark underbelly, including special forces, were gathered.

The man in command held up Liam's genes, contained in a test-tube-like vessel.

"That was easier to get than I thought."

Those around him looked relieved, but some seemed let down by the anticlimactic result.

"We didn't see any of the Shadow Clan."
"I heard their numbers were small, but this was just too easy."
"They're just outdated, bloodthirsty beasts. They're probably no good at anything other than assassination."

They hadn't encountered the Banfield family's covert ops, Kukuri's team, whom they had been wary of.

This fact lowered their opinion of Kukuri's team.

They can't even properly protect the mansion where their precious master resides—they thought.

But there was a reason they were able to complete their mission safely.

"Y-You guys, who do you think you have to thank for this success? If you'd done a better job, I wouldn't have taken this much damage."

Lying on the floor was the Guide, who had been reduced to just a hat.

His tattered and scorched appearance showed the hardship he'd endured protecting them.

The body he had worked so hard to recover was lost during the operation to steal Liam's genes.

The reason they never ran into Kukuri's team and managed to obtain the genes safely was all because the Guide had led them.

The Guide, in his hat form, shed tears.

"If I hadn't helped you, you all would have been wiped out many times over!"

In order to save them, the Guide had been reduced to just a hat.

But the Guide wiped away his tears and looked up at Liam's genes.

"However, it was worth it. Liam—your enemy is yourself!"

◇

"'A failure, Kukuri.'"

Inside a specially prepared dome-shaped room, Tia, who was stationed at the Empire's border, was participating via video and audio.

Tia was displayed on a large screen, but she was giving a cold look to Kukuri, who was begging for my forgiveness.

The others around were the same.

Marie, for instance, was crossing her arms, looking furious and restraining herself from attacking.

"Not only did you allow the thieves to infiltrate, but you let them escape. You're truly useless. Aren't you ashamed as a member of the covert ops?"

Blamed by the two, Kukuri didn't talk back and only apologized to me.

"I will apologize with my own head and the heads of all my subordinates involved in this failure. However, my clan will continue to pledge its loyalty to the Banfield family. Please, I beg you, grant us one more chance."

I scoffed at Kukuri, who had offered to atone with her life.

But Klaus, who was by my side, defended Kukuri and her people.

"Lord Liam, our house has no covert ops to replace them. If the punishment is too severe, it will hinder future operations."

Until now, Kukuri's team had been so competent that I'd left everything to them, which has now backfired.

There's some truth to what Klaus says, so I decided to let Kukuri off.

"In light of your past achievements, I'll let it slide this time. —Find those thieves and make sure you eliminate them."

"Yes, sir!"

When Kukuri replied, both Tia and Marie looked like they wanted to say something to me.

—If I were to kill Kukuri here, I would have executed the two of you long ago.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Klaus moved on to the next report.

"Lord Liam, regarding the next report."

"—The matter of Prince Cleo's attack, right?"

"Yes. Prince Cleo was attacked by someone, and all the guards we dispatched have been killed. This includes not only knights and soldiers, but also three of Lady Kukuri's subordinates."

"Wiped out."

When I muttered that, everyone's gaze turned to Kukuri.

Kukuri was feigning composure, but she must have been seething with rage.

Tia said.

"'How pathetic. Why don't you say something?'"

Kukuri said nothing.

In this tense atmosphere, I thought to myself.

The only one here who isn't making a pathetic display is Klaus, who just calmly does his job.

Then, Klaus defended Kukuri.

"The knights and soldiers were also killed. The enemy must have been extremely skilled. We cannot say it is Lady Kukuri's responsibility alone."

Klaus is right.

We can't just keep talking about this forever.

Let's just hurry up and deal with the problem at hand.

"Klaus, send new guards to Prince Cleo."

"About that matter, His Highness Prince Cleo has stated that he no longer requires the Banfield family's protection."

"What?"

"He said he feels bad about the casualties from this incident. However, his true feeling seems to be that he considers us untrustworthy. I've heard he has prepared his own personal guard."

We were entrusted with his protection, yet we failed and Cleo himself was injured.

It's certainly a major failure.

Marie's brow furrowed.

"He says he can't trust us? Does he have any idea how many people, resources, and funds we've provided him? The little brat acts so high and mighty, but he couldn't have even become a figurehead without Lord Liam."

Tia, likewise, didn't try to hide her displeasure.

However, she was calmer than Marie.

"'The knights and soldiers dispatched to His Highness Prince Cleo were elites. The enemy who defeated them must be quite skilled. Lord Liam, I believe we should dispatch someone from this room to the capital planet.'"

The people in this room are the key members.

Tia and Marie, who get the job done despite their personality flaws.

Kukuri, who failed this time but has a proven track record.

And finally, the most reliable of them all, Klaus.

"Sending Klaus would be best, but Tia can't be moved, and I want to entrust the capital planet's defense to Marie. In that case, the only one left is Kukuri."

When I looked at Kukuri with a grin, she stood up.

She must have guessed what I wanted to say.

"I would like to request an opportunity to redeem my name."

"—Very well. There won't be a next time."

"Yes, sir!"

"Klaus, prepare the forces to be entrusted to Kukuri. I'm leaving it all to you."

I decided to dispatch Kukuri, but it's not just the covert ops being sent to the capital planet.

We also have to dispatch replacements for the lost knights and soldiers, and I decided to leave their selection to Klaus.

"Yes."

Seeing Klaus reply so calmly, I thought to myself, "This is it, this is it!"

A knight with personality problems is no good, even if she's a beauty.

Tia, Marie, I'm talking about you.

Kukuri approached Klaus.

"Lord Klaus, there is something I would very much like you to prepare. Could we have a meeting right away?"

Klaus looked at me, so I gave a nod, and he left the room with Kukuri.

◇

Klaus and Kukuri, having left the room.

As for Klaus, he was secretly terrified.

(Why am I walking alongside a member of the covert ops? These people are scary.)

For some reason, Klaus had Liam's deep trust and was entrusted with various jobs.

But from his perspective, he couldn't understand at all why he was being treated as a high-ranking officer.

Moreover, he had even been given the position of the Banfield family's Head Knight.

While maintaining a blank expression so as not to reveal his inner turmoil, Kukuri spoke to him. Kukuri was tall, so she spoke to him while looking down from an angle.

"Lord Klaus, how about we say I owe you a favor for this?"

"A favor?"

"Yes. We were saved because you defended us, Lord Klaus. It's not exactly a thank you, but if there's anyone you want killed, please let me know. Be it Christiana or Marie, I will eliminate any nuisance for you."

Watching Kukuri laugh with a 'kuhahaha,' Klaus thought.

(So she's angry at those two as well? No, more importantly, killing each other among allies is absolutely not okay!)

"—Assassination is not necessary. Please just assist me when I'm in trouble."

"Those two are after your position, you know. If they get a chance, they will most certainly try to take your life, Lord Klaus."

(Those two do seem like they'd kill me to aim for the Head Knight position. I'd like to step down right now, but I wonder if Lord Liam would allow it—)

Although he heard from Kukuri that Tia and Marie were after his life, Klaus didn't consider killing them in return.

He understood that if anyone were to be lost in the current situation, it would be a huge blow to the Banfield family.

Klaus valued his own life, of course, but he also felt a sense of gratitude towards Liam.

He didn't want to drag him down.

To be more precise, he wanted nothing to do with extreme factional disputes.

"It's unnecessary. It wouldn't be for the good of the Banfield family. In that case, how about this for repayment: protect me from those two?"

"—Very well, it shall be so."

By defending Kukuri, Klaus had ended up forming a connection with the covert ops.