1.
On the fourth day since the <Black Wolf> resumed activity after a brief hiatus.
Nahan successfully verified the Empress’s list through the members he had dispatched.
To cut out the unnecessary details and get straight to the point—
“They’re all trash.”
Lactea, having finished her report, wore a faint smile as she immediately added a question.
“Shall we begin the cleanup?”
Between her slenderly narrowed golden eyes, a chilling killing intent flickered, unfathomable in depth.
‘Even though I’ve become strong enough to be considered the most powerful in this world, why do those eyes still terrify me so much?’
Barely regaining his composure, Nahan shook his head as he set down the documents Lactea had handed over.
“I trust you all, but just in case, I’ll review it one last time.”
He couldn’t help but kill people sometimes, but there should never be any innocent victims.
“Yes, Captain. Yuria will assist me with the document review. Peter will conduct the on-site verification with Ruby and Dalan. But before that, let’s all have a brief meeting.”
“Yes, Vice-Captain.”
Smiling as she accepted the documents, Lactea issued instructions to the members and returned to the room where she had been reviewing paperwork.
Only then did Nahan’s shoulders relax slightly.
He moistened his parched throat and gazed out the specially treated window.
“…Ryang! Run faster….”
“Already…. can’t….”
A giant man and a cheerful woman were running toward him, like tiny dots in the distance.
The report that No. 2 had been successfully located came early yesterday morning. It seemed they had finally made contact and were bringing him back.
‘So bright and cheerful. Really, so bright.’
Perhaps it was thanks to that foolish duo that he was still holding on to his sanity.
Nahan let out a small chuckle as he watched the two approach, bickering as always.
Only after regaining that small peace of mind did he notice the emerald-green plants.
This was the <Emerald Forest> hideout.
Located a little distance from Dalan’s cabin, it was a newly established base Lactea had discovered. Construction had recently been completed.
On paper, it was labeled as an observatory for researching the forest’s ecosystem, but that was just the official explanation.
Currently, it was functioning as the primary base of <Black Wolf>.
‘Ruby really is competent.’
If Han-Ryang and Luna were in charge of the “sunshine,” then Ruby handled the practical, grounded tasks.
From what he’d heard, Lactea was even more capable, but due to her unique situation as a missing imperial princess, she focused solely on internal affairs.
‘Come to think of it, that bastard Black Wolf really did a great job recruiting members.’
Not a single one overlapped in skills—each had their own area of excellence.
Which made Nahan curious.
‘No. 2.’
Even in the <original work>, he barely made appearances. But every time he did, he played the role of a critical catalyst that resolved key problems.
To prove his competence, Black Wolf had given him just one mission.
—Surveil the Heroes of Light.
—Yes, Captain.
He was assigned to monitor the Hero Party—Heroes of Light—without being discovered, during their expedition to subjugate the Demon Legion.
In the original work, he completed the mission and continued to carry out only the most difficult tasks solo, always succeeding and returning safely.
The original story and the system window never lied. So this time, the one joining them was surely—
“Nos. 3 and 4 were too slow, so I returned first, Captain.”
—An unbelievably terrifying monster.
“No. 2 of <Black Wolf>, Kassler. Reporting back after completing the special mission.”
A clean, calm baritone voice came from beside him before Nahan even noticed. He turned his head naturally.
And was struck with admiration.
Neat blonde hair.
Clear, stormy blue eyes.
A solid, well-built physique and refined appearance at a glance.
With a dignified and resolute presence more fitting for the Heroes of Light than <Black Wolf>, Nahan squinted instinctively as if dazzled.
But only for a moment.
‘He was described as extremely competent. He might even be sharper than Lactea.’
Immersing himself in the persona of Black Wolf to avoid revealing he was possessed, Nahan lightly tapped Kassler on the shoulder.
“Well done.”
“?”
Immediately, Kassler’s gaze narrowed.
Oops.
‘Right, he doesn’t know about Black Wolf’s change in personality, does he?’
The formerly cold and emotionless Black Wolf offering encouragement—it was bound to raise suspicion.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“…?”
“Take a seat for now.”
Just as a flustered Nahan tried to turn his head naturally, Luna and Han-Ryang suddenly tumbled into the hideout with a crash.
“Did you see that!! My hand went in faster, didn’t it!?”
“Foul… it was…?”
“What do you mean foul!! Ugh, whatever! I’m asking the Captain, so just wait right there!!”
With a huff, Luna got up and confidently marched over, grabbing Nahan’s hand without hesitation.
“I won, right, Captain!!”
She was full of pride and energy.
“…Yeah.”
Letting out a small sigh, Nahan gave a curt nod as he placed a hand on her head.
“Try whining more, Han-Ryang!! Just try whining harder!!”
As Luna laughed triumphantly, Han-Ryang let out a slight chuckle and turned to Nahan.
“[Are you taking the child’s side, Captain?]”
“[You know she’s a kid—just let it slide.]”
“[Not wrong, but if you spoil them too much, they’ll turn rotten.]”
Grunting, the massive Han-Ryang lifted himself up and gave a piggyback ride to Luna, who was sticking her tongue out, then whispered quietly to the dumbfounded Kassler.
“He has changed—slightly. One cannot remain in misfortune forever.”
“…”
Thump.
He gave a comforting pat to Kassler’s shoulder and headed off toward Lactea with Luna.
“Hey!! What were you talking about with the Captain!!”
“No idea—.”
“Ugh…!! I’m gonna learn Eastern speech!!”
“With… that brain of yours—?”
“Aaaaaaaaaaack!!!!”
Bicker Bicker.
Click.
Only when they faced Lactea did Luna quiet down, and Han-Ryang calmly delivered his report.
Seeing the slightly brighter expressions on the members’ faces, Nahan felt a quiet reassurance—no need for explanation.
‘Kassler must have picked up on it by now.’
That the current Black Wolf had softened compared to the past—and the members had accepted it.
Kassler too, just needed time to adapt to the lighter atmosphere.
“I will not smile.”
…Suddenly?
‘Why not?’
Was he thinking this cheerful mood was undermining the discipline of <Black Wolf>?
Nahan silently looked at him, and Kassler spoke in a serious tone.
“I am Kassler of the Cold Heart. The strongest assassin does not smile. No!!!”
“…?”
“Rather, it would be accurate to say… I cannot smile. For I abandoned emotion the moment I chose the path of shadows—as an as-sas-sin.”
…What the hell is with this guy?
As Nahan stood there speechless at the sudden emergence of this edgy assassin persona—
Clack!
The previously closed door burst open, and Lactea entered with the other members flooding out behind her.
“……Tsk.”
“……Why are you… I mean, you’re back.”
Lactea and Ruby, who were the first out, frowned and avoided Kassler, while Dalan gave him a few pats on the shoulder as he walked past.
Then came Peter and Yuria.
“Ah, this is Yuri, our newest recruit.”
“Please don’t talk to strange people, Sister.”
Yuria tilted her head in confusion at Peter, who immediately blocked her.
“Huh? Isn’t he a member too?”
“Technically, yes… but anyway, don’t engage. Let’s focus only on the Divine.”
After the two of them passed, Han-Ryang and Luna reappeared, and Luna clung tightly to Han-Ryang, who tried to avoid her, then turned to Kassler with an eager request.
“Kassler! Do that thing, do that thing!!”
“I refuse—.”
“Nooo, listen with me! It’s fun!!”
“[… Damn it].”
Finally getting the attention he didn’t want, Kassler looked blankly at Luna.
“Hurry! Do that thing!!”
Her emerald eyes sparkled with pure excitement and anticipation.
With a solemn expression, Kassler covered his face with his left hand, slightly parting his fingers to let his blue eyes gleam through as he muttered:
“To dare speak to me, whose heart is colder than the deepest darkness… Luna. Are you truly unafraid of death?”
“Oooh…!! So cool, Kassler!! Just a bit more, say a bit more!!”
“…You smile? Do you not know that when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you? I, Kassler of the Cold Heart, command you: Luna. Look away from the abyss at once, and I shall at least spare your life.”
As Kassler finished his dramatic warning in a serious voice, fully absorbed in his brooding assassin persona—
“Pffft!! Puh-HEHEK!!!”
Luna burst out laughing.
“Cold Heart, snrk, Cold Heart, he says!! Puhahak!! I seriously can’t take this anymore!!”
“…What’s so funny? I am the assassin who struck fear into the Empire, the Cold Hea—”
“PUHAK!! HUHEHEK!!! Stop!!! Please, just stop!!!”
“…”
Kassler looked genuinely wounded.
The rest of the members were cringing from secondhand embarrassment.
And then—
‘God, I really want to quit.’
—Nahan was beginning to spiral into existential dread.
2.
Right after the brief commotion caused by the addition of <Black Wolf>’s No. 2, Kassler—
Shrrrrk.
Lactea, having already prepared the briefing, spread out several maps and a list as the full team gathered for a meeting.
“The list the Captain provided consists of a minority from the Imperial faction and a majority from the Noble Coalition. If we purge all of them, Empress Reina Babylonia’s burden may be eased somewhat.”
Even with that alone, something seemed to dawn on her, and Lactea’s expression subtly stiffened. But Nahan, pretending not to notice, urged her with a look to continue explaining.
Eventually regaining her stoic expression, Lactea began going through the names one by one.
“This one sells Imperial intelligence to foreign powers. This one captures children to extract their hearts. This one is the head of an organization that dismembers the remaining body parts and sells them to lower criminal networks…”
As the list went on and her finger moved down the page, the severity of the crimes deepened, and the expressions of the members visibly darkened in real time.
“By the Captain’s order, each case was investigated dozens of times. All twenty-four individuals listed below have been confirmed as targets for ‘cleanup’.”
Finishing the report, Lactea held out the list to Nahan and added.
“Captain, your order.”
The air, which had been tense with fury, fell silent in an instant.
Taking the list, Nahan pointed to the first person Lactea had mentioned and asked.
“The one who sold information about the Empire to another nation. Does this crime qualify for cleanup?”
This time, Peter spoke up.
“Oh Divine One. Upon further investigation, we discovered that this individual consumes human flesh.”
“Human flesh?”
“Yes. He built an underground farm beneath his own territory and specifically raised women to consume—alive.”
Even hearing about it made Nahan feel sick to his stomach.
He went over the entire list again from top to bottom, rechecking Lactea’s report, occasionally dispatching members to re-verify certain names. The review lasted until sunset.
The conclusion.
“Halorand. Everyone except him was filth tied to the flesh-eating network.”
“Confirmed.”
Having confirmed that everyone except Duke Halorand was trash, Nahan clenched his teeth so tightly they might crack and gave a short, chilling order.
“Kill them all.”
Yes, Captain.
At last, <Black Wolf> was set to deploy.
.
.
.
“Captain.”
“What is it, Kassler?”
“You seem uncharacteristically enraged. That may cloud your judgment. As one with a Cold Heart, allow me to accompany you.”
Yeah, no thanks.
