The distinctive alternating wail of an ambulance siren rang through the streets.
Though it was noon, a large number of police officers and government personnel were hurriedly clearing every vehicle that might block the normally busy main road.
Only after more than twenty minutes of clearing traffic did they finally manage to open a safe passage, just before the royal ambulance arrived.
Given the Kakin Empire's administrative capabilities, it was fortunate that this was the capital, where official authority was strongest, and that the drivers had all followed the police once they heard the orders came from the Royal Family. Otherwise, who knew how long clearing the road would have taken.
Inside the ambulance.
Dio sat leaning forward in an accompanying seat, his eyes lowered as he studied the translucent thread around his wrist.
Beside him, two of the queen's soldiers were drenched in sweat, trembling all over as they watched the two princes lying on the stretchers and prayed incessantly:
Please let them be all right, please let them be all right-
[A prince being assassinated] and [a prince being poisoned to death right under their noses] were entirely different matters.
If Mumuzawa and Malayan both died here today, none of these soldiers would escape. Every last one of them would have to die with them.
But if only one died, perhaps one or two particularly loyal soldiers might survive-
Across from them, the Seventh Queen, Sewanchi, sat with a dark expression, bracing herself with both hands, seemingly thinking about something.
After a long while, she suddenly spoke. "Dio-Mr. Dio. May I call you that?"
"Yes. Please go ahead, Your Highness."
Dio did not look up. He, too, was pondering something-
What did this thread Mumuzawa had given him mean? Had she realized something before losing her ability to