After leaving the Palace of Versailles, Winston didn't return home.
Instead, he made his way directly to the estate of House Smith.
The drastic transformation in Napoleon—and the perilous mission he had been assigned—meant he needed to consult an ally immediately.
…
Meanwhile, back at the palace, Napoleon was once again alone.
But he didn't idle. Instead, he delved into the stack of briefings submitted recently by Secretary-General Winston.
Among them, one issue appeared over and over again:
The rampant rise of criminal gangs across imperial cities.
Reports detailed how these gangs were oppressing civilians, extorting businesses, and destabilizing society.
The local police departments had attempted multiple crackdowns—yet results were minimal.
Thus, they submitted requests to Parliament, hoping for additional funding to expand police forces and suppress gang activity.
But Napoleon, reviewing the documents with a cold expression, could see right through the ruse.
Anyone with half a brain could guess what was really going on.
Even if the Ministry of Finance approved funding, most of it would never reach actual law enforcement.
Those police departments and security bureaus only wanted an excuse to embezzle money.
Once the funds arrived, they would vanish—straight into private coffers.
As for suppressing gangs?
It wouldn't be surprising if those very gangs were secretly fostered by the same officials requesting the funds.
Vile parasites!
Napoleon clenched his fists without realizing it.
But beyond the gangs, two other matters in the briefings stood out to him.
The first concerned his own wedding.
His fiancée, Josephine, hailed from House Tascher, one of the French Empire's most prestigious noble families.
Initially, Napoleon XVI hadn't needed to participate in the ceremony personally—after all, he had been lying unconscious in bed when the engagement was arranged.
House Tascher, it seemed, had their own motives. The wedding had been indefinitely delayed.
Still, Josephine's beauty was legendary across the empire. Countless noble sons openly longed for her.
As for Napoleon? He didn't care in the slightest.
In his memory, Josephine had been a snot-nosed girl. The idea of her being a stunning beauty didn't quite connect.
But the second issue—that was what truly captured his attention.
Because the matter at hand was unfolding right in the capital—Paris.
According to the intelligence report, a new gang had emerged from the city's criminal underworld—made up of awakeners.
They called themselves the Blackfish Gang.
After their formation, the gang had rapidly spread chaos throughout Paris, committing heinous acts with impunity.
They specialized in predatory lending—ruining families with extortionate interest rates.
Once their victims were bankrupt, they would sell the men as slaves for profit… and the women?
They were dragged to gang-run taverns to be used and violated.
Worst of all, the Blackfish Gang operated the only tavern in Paris that admitted beastmen—and served them human flesh as a delicacy.
As for the source of that meat… it didn't need explanation.
It was pure madness. Unforgivable depravity.
Napoleon felt his blood boil. His fists tightened.
But then, he paused and forced himself to calm down.
There was one detail that stood out like a bloody thorn:
Awakeners.
Their presence inside a criminal gang in Paris—of all places—meant there was something bigger at play.
Paris was under the watch of Cardinal Austin, a master-ranked figurehead of the Ordon Theocracy.
Under normal circumstances, no awakened individual would dare cause trouble in such a city.
So how did awakened beings become part of a gang?
Who was backing them? Which faction was behind this?
He didn't know. But one thing was certain—
If they dared cause chaos in his capital, then they should be prepared to pay the price.
Napoleon stepped out of the palace, ascending the walls of the inner city.
From that high vantage point, he looked toward the outer districts. His eyes sharpened, his voice thundered.
"Use the most brutal means possible to annihilate the Blackfish Gang.
Skin every last member alive, stuff their husks with straw, and mount them on spears throughout the city as a public warning!"
At his command, the Elemental Assassins moved immediately.
He left two behind for protection. The other eight assassins were deployed into the field.
As they melted into shadows, Napoleon turned once more to gaze at the outer city.
Criminal gangs of this scale couldn't survive without offering bribes to the Prefect of Police.
The question was: how deep was the Prefect's involvement with the Blackfish Gang?
And Napoleon knew exactly who the Prefect was—
A known ally of the Minister of War, Nock.
Could the Blackfish Gang be tied to Nock himself?
…
Imperial Guard Headquarters, Capital City
Commander Gaia stood rigid, his expression dark.
He addressed his deputy:
"Harland, the gangs in the outer city have been getting worse. That Blackfish Gang especially—what's your take on all this?"
Harland, a man known for his sharp instincts, frowned deeply.
"Commander Gaia… doesn't this all feel a little off to you?"
Gaia paused, falling into deep thought.
Harland continued:
"Paris is under the jurisdiction of Cardinal Austin.
Under normal conditions, awakened individuals wouldn't dare to act so brazenly here.
But now? The Blackfish Gang does whatever it wants—openly. That suggests powerful backing."
"And another thing, Commander—
Don't you find it strange that no other faction is reacting to this?
Everyone is silent. Coordinated silence.
That tells me… this isn't just gang activity. Something bigger is unfolding."
Commander Gaia wasn't a fool. He hadn't reached his position without a keen political nose.
But more than politics, he understood what unchecked gang violence meant for the empire.
Especially in the capital.
His fists clenched as fury flared in his eyes.
"Those damned bastards. For their own petty gain, they treat commoners like livestock.
Do they not understand what'll happen if the capital descends into chaos?
Do they think they'll be spared?"
"These short-sighted fools…"
Harland shook his head, sighing.
"The Imperial Guard is strong, no doubt.
But if we act without orders, the Grand Marshal will strike us down.
She's been eyeing your position for years."
At that, Gaia's face darkened.
The Imperial Guard was one of the few remaining forces still loyal to the emperor.
If Gaia lost his command…
It would be a severe blow to the Royalist Party as a whole.
Harland added quietly,
"And besides, there are awakeners among the Blackfish Gang.
There may be other factions behind them.
Even if the Guard moved in, we might not be able to stop them."
Commander Gaia knew it was true.
This wasn't just a matter of street thugs anymore.
It had spiraled into something far beyond his authority.
After a long pause, Gaia made a decision.
"Then we don't act. Not yet.
Let's see what Secretary-General Winston decides.
For now, our priority is to protect His Majesty."
"…As for the Blackfish Gang…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
But the fire in his eyes had not dimmed.