In the Inner City, at Ebert's manor.
The butler paced back and forth, waiting for good news from the men sent to do the job.
But the man who returned was no assassin. He was the lookout they had left outside.
"They spotted them on the spot? The assassination failed!?"
The butler cried out as though the sky had fallen, then hurried to knock on the baron's study door.
"What are you afraid of?" Baron Ebert asked, noticing his unease.
"My lord, they found us. The assassination failed..."
"Idiots! How could you do this?!" Baron Ebert shot to his feet.
The butler stared at him. "But, my lord, weren't you the one who ordered the assassination...?"
"I mean, how could you let yourselves get caught?" Baron Ebert roared.
He had thought teaching a petty Guard Captain a lesson would be simple. Yet those useless fools couldn't even manage that!
"Are they dead?"
"That fellow is probably still alive..."
"I mean our men!"
The butler's heart sank. "I don't know..."
Baron Ebert paced a few times, then sat behind his desk and wrote a letter for the butler. "Take this to Peacekeeper Milburn. Tell him it was a misunderstanding, and don't botch this too!"
"Yes, my lord."
The butler took the letter and hurried out of the study.
Baron Ebert felt exhausted. A baron like him, forced to clean up his subordinates' mess...
Just then, the butler backed into the room again. Baron Ebert snapped, "What are you doing back?"
"Because that way's blocked."
Annan followed the butler into the study, speaking with a faint smile.
"Who are you?"
Baron Ebert studied Annan, certain he had never met him.
And since Annan had changed into a City Guard Officer's uniform, the baron failed to connect this promising young officer with the