TSSAH 03

Chapter 03

It had already been a year since I completed my revenge on my family at Wickers.

After barely escaping the Krolin Kingdom, I wanted to go straight to the Bernheim Empire, but…

I had to avoid potential pursuit, and at the same time, I didn’t have an identification card that would allow me to safely cross the border.

Since identification cards list appearance, eye color, and the like, preparation was necessary.

The artifact necklace my father left me had a critical limitation.

It couldn’t be helped since artifacts aren’t omnipotent.

I could change my hair length and color, eye color, and facial features relatively easily, but there were limits to altering height, bone structure, and body type.

Also, I had to deactivate the disguise for a few hours every night to recharge the mana.

The function could last a few days without recharging, but it was best to keep it as close to full charge as possible whenever I could.

Anyway, after pondering how to throw off Wickers’s pursuit as much as possible, a good idea came to mind.

Changing my gender as well.

I cut my hair short, slightly altered my eyes, nose, mouth, and facial bone structure, and flattened my chest like a man’s.

But apparently, cross-dressing consumed a lot of mana, and I couldn’t perfectly change my voice either.

I also couldn’t increase my height, so in the end, I ended up looking closer to a late teenager rather than a young adult.

After a period of preparation, I created the identity I now use: ‘Runelc Eins’.

After that, I crossed into the Bernheim Empire and successfully got a job with the Nox family’s action squad.

And looking back now, it was a perfect choice.

After all, you hide a tree in a forest, and a book in a library.

No one would think that I, Helena of Wickers, with whom Nox had various grudges and ties, would be working here openly.

And in disguise as a man at that.

“Go ahead and search all you want.”

I smiled contentedly, thinking of that despicable, persistent bastard Edward, who must be absolutely fuming by now.

“Next, please.”

I gestured to the other wagon in line.

I had joined the action squad simply because they had a lot of members and it was easy to find a position as a low-level grunt.

Since everyone visiting Nox had to pass through the main gate, it was also perfect for keeping watch for anyone trying to infiltrate by following my trail.

Besides, because I made the inspections a bit more thorough due to my own circumstances, I had somehow gained recognition within the action squad for having a good eye and sharp instincts.

“Ah, it’s hot.”

But my situation was still what it was.

I wiped my sweat, opened the cover of the wagon, and spoke.

“Mr. Baker of the Cheshire Merchant Guild.”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“According to the order form, it says thirty casks of Kenzia mountain wine.”

“Th-that’s correct…”

“Hey. Just by looking, that’s clearly thirty-three casks.”

“Excuse me? No, it isn’t!”

“Mr. Baker, if you’re going to be like this, shall I open every single one and check?”

When I glared at him sideways and said that, the Cheshire Guild employee subtly averted his gaze and obediently turned his wagon around.

Since the ducal estate itself was the size of a small town, problems arose from people engaging in shady deals within it.

But Nox strictly controlled the quantity of goods entering the ducal estate.

Who knew if there were drugs or even people hidden inside those unlisted casks?

“Alright, next…”

Just as I was about to call the next person.

“The Duke has returned!”

The action squad members who had been lounging around the outpost all rushed out, making the wagons lined up in front of the main gate move aside.

*Clatter, clatter!*

*Thud, thud!*

Along with the rough sound of hooves, a dark green carriage bearing the Nox ducal crest, along with several riders following it, fluttered their cloaks and passed through the main gate in an instant.

It was so fast that a gust of wind followed them.

“Whoo, that’s terrifying.”

Senior Jake, who had come up beside me, whistled.

“Last year, I went to the main building on an errand.”

The main building referred to the castle located in the center of the private grounds within the vast Nox ducal estate, where the core departments and the Duke’s office were situated.

“I happened to see the captain of the Royal Guard in the hallway for the first time.”

“The captain of the Royal Guard? You mean Kane Degrave?”

“Yep. I went straight to the bathroom to check, you know. I think I might have had a little accident in my pants.”

Senior Jake shivered, making a fuss about how scary it was just to recall it.

“They say he’s the most skilled in Nox, and even the Royal Guard captain is like that. If we actually ran into our Duke, we might just die of a heart attack on the spot.”

I usually ignored most of what Senior Jake said, but this time I had to nod in agreement.

Killian Nox.

His full name was Killian Cresseter Nox.

The reason I had hesitated to hide within Nox.

The sole Duke of the Great Bernheim Empire and simultaneously the head of the organization called Nox.

He was a man with immense power in both hands, but the reason he was scary wasn’t just because of that power.

Killian Nox is ruthless.

He killed his stepmother and half-brother at the age of 18.

Killian Nox is cruel.

After dealing with his stepmother and brother, he personally tortured and weeded out the factions within Nox who had followed them until they confessed their crimes.

There were rumors that the screams from the underground prison of the Nox mansion didn’t cease for a hundred days.

Killian Nox is frustratingly capable.

Having inherited the ducal title and the position of leader, Killian Nox had multiplied the organization’s size several times over in the past eight years.

He delegated all illegal businesses that could be a weakness to external, loyal families with no official ties to the Nox house, and frantically began expanding into large-scale legitimate enterprises.

Railways, civil engineering, distribution, mercenary businesses, trade via the Nox merchant guild, and even high-class opera and art galleries.

All those businesses became golden geese in Killian Nox’s hands.

Without a single failure.

The enormous capital secured this way soon became absolute power.

Most of the Empire’s nobles were in debt to the Nox family, and even the Emperor was busy trembling and trying to curry favor with Killian Nox by any means possible.

Lastly, Killian Nox has good instincts.

A sixth sense, or something, that surpasses the five senses of an ordinary human.

This was the reason I had hesitated to hide in Nox.

That ‘instinct’ was a cold, blue blade that cut down spies and traitors.

In fact, this was his most famous trait.

He was so eerily accurate at rooting them out.

Even when I was in Wickers, I lost several of my personally trained agents trying to plant spies in Nox.

‘Well, I did succeed in the end, though.’

Anyway, because of this, there were stories circulating that Killian Nox had a mysterious ability to see into people’s minds.

And giving those rumors a strangely credible weight was the golden Dragon Eye that was said to have been passed down through the Nox ducal family.

Not an ordinary round shape, but with vertical slit pupils, like a legendary dragon.

Apparently, one of their distant ancestors was a dragon or something.

According to testimonies from those who had seen Killian Nox directly, when you met his eyes, you became frozen stiff as if under a spell.

Of course, those stories couldn’t be true.

But it was undeniable that he was a man with an unusually developed instinct, something that could only be explained as a gut feeling or perception.

I am currently not a spy for another organization, nor do I have any intention of betraying Nox.

Nevertheless, since there were shady circumstances involved, it was best to live without catching the attention of someone like Killian Nox.

“Well, it’s not like I’ll ever meet him anyway.”

Even if I was part of Nox, I was just in the action squad, barely guarding the outer perimeter and acting as a gatekeeper.

And as a low-level grunt within that action squad, there was absolutely no way I would ever run into Killian Nox.

“Rookie, it’s time for your shift change.”

The night shift members had arrived and taken the visitor log from me.

I immediately headed to the action squad’s lodgings located on the outskirts of the ducal estate.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

Whatever else about Nox, I liked the benefit of giving even low-level members a room with their own bathroom.

Forcing my tired body to move, I washed up roughly and got ready for bed.

It was still early, but I planned not to wake up until tomorrow morning.

*Click.*

I locked the door securely and drew the curtains tightly so no one could see inside.

Then, in front of the mirror, I deactivated the artifact.

*Swoosh*—

Along with a sensation like a gentle breeze enveloping my entire body, my form slowly reverted to its original state.

The short, tousled ash-blonde hair gradually grew longer, waving like a current until it reached my waist, then dyed itself a jet-black color.

At the same time, my facial structure softened, and my height increased by about two knuckles.

But the biggest change was undoubtedly my eye color.

Runelc’s cloudy sky-like eyes gradually reddened like a sunset, finally turning into the color of a drop of blood.

The face of Helena Morton, known only to me in this world.

‘No issues.’

After confirming that the necklace’s function was working fine, I leaped onto the bed and fell asleep.

The terrible insomnia that had plagued me throughout my time in Wickers had long since disappeared.

I’m not sure how long I slept like that.

*Flash.*

I opened my eyes and grabbed the dagger I had placed under my pillow.

*Creak, creak.*

Suspicious footsteps were approaching my door.