The purge began.
Oleg and Engvall led the knights into the nobles' residences.
The nobles' private soldiers stood no chance against these battle-hardened knights.
Screams, pleas for mercy, curses, and the clash of blades rang out across Stormveil Castle's noble district.
The veteran Nioh personally led the raids on the noble households. When a white-haired old man was dragged out of his treasury, he was still crying out:
"Nioh! We've known each other for forty years! Have you forgotten how we..."
Shhk.
Nioh pierced his throat.
"I haven't forgotten." The veteran pulled out his sword and looked at the body on the ground, his voice hoarse. "That's precisely why I can't spare you. Traitor!"
He knew what he was doing.
Slaughtering nobles, especially exterminating entire households without sparing a single person, meant that these knights had now placed themselves firmly against the entire noble class.
No noble would ever trust them again, even though they themselves had originally belonged to the nobility.
They had become an isolated force.
No fiefs, no support, no retreat.
But Nioh knew this was a price they had to pay.
Horace had seemingly "trusted" them to carry out the purge, but in reality, it was a test-and a way of binding them to him, staining their hands red with noble blood so they could never return to their former camp.
Moreover, Horace had never truly lowered his guard.
Throughout the purge, Messmer kept "taking a stroll" at nearby street corners, calmly watching everything.
The Order of the Great Rune Knights patrolled throughout the city, ostensibly maintaining order, but actually keeping watch.
These Storm Knights could become the next targets of the purge at any moment.
"Move faster!" Nioh roared at his men. "Everyone on the list must be eliminated before nightfall!"
The knights gritted their