"Lord Francois, send me!"
"Let me go!"
"I'll smash my head against the gates of the Royal Palace in the Imperial Capital!"
As expected, the moment Francois returned to the Ceremonial Affairs Department and told his subordinates what had been decided in the Council Hall, they scrambled for the chance to go as an envoy.
Renner was dead, but the Ceremonial Affairs Department officials could hardly wait to become the next Renner.
Francois was gratified, but he also had a headache. Whoever he sent could be neither too cautious nor too extreme—like the one who wanted to smash his head against the palace gates.
The person could not be too talented, given what had happened before, but could not be so foolish that he got himself killed before finishing the job, either...
"Minister Francois, let me go." A young ceremonial officer stepped forward.
His name was Duran, and he fit Francois's requirements perfectly.
"You'll die."
Even though Francois had proposed the plan himself, now that it was time to carry it out, he showed the same hesitation as Annan.
"No. I'll live forever in the hearts of the Free City People!" Duran's expression burned with fervor. "Death will be my medal of honor!"
I don't know who they learned it from, Francois thought bitterly. Everyone in Free City acted as though their lives meant nothing...
"All right. I'll leave it to you."
Duran was overjoyed. The other ceremonial officers looked bitterly disappointed, as if they had missed out on some wonderful opportunity.
Francois did not linger. He still had to notify Renner's family...
On the third day after the Empire issued its extermination order, every legion completed a head count.
The Hellfire Legion had 5,000 members;
the Guard Legion and Musketeer Legion had 2,000 each;
the Disciplinary Legion had