"Young Miss Olmedo? Sir? Lord Annan?"
The fawning call brought Annan back to his senses. Before him was the Court Director of the Purification Court, his face creased into a broad grin.
"Lord Annan, I'm one of your people..."
"I know... Wait, one of my people?" Annan only now registered what he had said.
The court head bent forward. "I... I'm with the Blade of Freedom too..."
He feared Annan would kill him along with everyone else to secure a promotion, so he had no choice but to reveal his allegiance.
Annan merely smiled at him. "Wanting to join the Blade of Freedom takes more than words."
The Court Director was drenched in cold sweat. He knew everything after all...
"I understand. I'll make my family change its ways at once..."
Annan nodded and watched the Court Director leave.
"You're letting him go?" Maria asked.
"I'm not even a Branch Court Head. Even if I dragged him out and killed him, the Court Director's position would only go to someone else."
Besides, unlike the others, the Court Director had not used the Blade of Freedom for his own ends. The Purification Court had arrested fewer and fewer of its members over time, and that was largely thanks to him.
"We'll see what he does."
The Court Director hurried back to his family and told his eldest son, Colin, who managed their businesses, to drop every deal he had in hand.
"Why? We just got the operating rights from the grain official..."
"Because we've reached too far. Someone important has expressed his displeasure."
Colin thought about it. His father was a councilor and the Court Director of the Purification Court. Who could be important enough to make him back down? Unless—
"Father, have you... been in contact with the Blade