Benson was utterly stunned when he saw Azula casually escorting the enemy troops back into camp.
His own large force had spent so much time and effort searching without even catching a glimpse of the rebels—yet Azula simply took a stroll outside and brought them back?
Seriously, she was making him look like an idiot.
He quickly noticed something else: the Royal Guards showed no signs of injury, and the support troops he had ordered to stay on standby weren't battered either. They hadn't even participated in the fight.
From this alone, Benson could tell that Azula not only found the enemy in a very short time, but also subdued them quickly—with only twenty Royal Guards—and apparently with ease.
How in the world had she done that!?
Regardless of how he felt, one thing was clear to him now: he had wildly underestimated her.
Although Azula had mocked him endlessly before departing—infuriating him—she had now returned after perfectly completing the mission.
He had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask:
"How did Your Highness find their hiding place?"
"Just a little analysis based on the intelligence you already had. Nothing difficult."
Azula spoke lightly, then suddenly remembered something and added helpfully, "Just listen. Don't try to learn from it—you won't be able to."
"…Your Highness is joking."
Benson forced a smile, though his inner thoughts were a string of curses.
However, something confused him even more.
Fire lord Ozai's command was to annihilate the rebels… so why did Azula bring them back alive?
Was she being merciful because she was a girl?
He quickly rejected that idea.
Because Azula ordered Iroh's former subordinates to be tortured publicly on the spot.
Whips soaked in salt water lashed down fiercely, tearing flesh open while the salt bit into the wounds, making the pain unbearable.
Every strike deepened the raw, bleeding gashes, and the agony only worsened with each new hit.
Apart from Lidon and a few hardened men who gritted their teeth and refused to scream, nearly everyone else howled in torment.
The chorus of whipping, shrieks, and despair from almost a hundred prisoners filled the entire camp like the wails of the damned.
Within minutes, they were battered, bloody, their clothes torn, their skin raw and stinging.
Soldiers nearby watched in horror. Killing in battle was one thing—torture was another. Many turned their heads away, unable to stomach the sight.
Azula, however, watched with a relaxed smile, as if enjoying a pleasant afternoon.
Benson cautiously approached and asked.
"Princess Azula… may I ask what this is…?"
"Executing Father's orders, of course." Azula smiled sweetly, clearly entertained by the screams.
"Don't you think this is far more effective at deterring rebels? I even plan to drag them all the way back to the Imperial Capital, letting the common people see them like this. It'll definitely leave a deep impression."
She tilted her head, "What do you think?"
"I… I think Your Highness's insight is profound," Benson answered, trembling.
Was this young woman really supposed to be an innocent princess? How could she be this cruel!?
But Azula wasn't done.
"Actually," she continued, "I think Father's order has a flaw. Killing them so quickly would be too wasteful. The Fire Nation doesn't have that many capable workers. And it wouldn't frighten others enough."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"I plan to torment them thoroughly, then send them to labor until they die. That way they can still make one final contribution to the Fire Nation. Isn't that wonderful?"
"…Your Highness's insight is profound," Benson repeated, feeling lucky he hadn't offended her earlier.
The torture session didn't last long—they needed the prisoners alive.
Their wounds were treated just enough to ensure survival, and they were given water and food.
As Azula had said: sometimes living was far more painful than dying, and there would be more suffering during the journey home.
After the execution, Azula went to Kahn's tent.
He had been "meditating" since the torture began, but one glance at the slight furrow in his brow told her he hadn't truly entered the state.
She knew exactly why.
Azula sat down beside him without hesitation and scoffed.
"Don't tell me you're regretting it after watching them suffer? You're the one who came up with this plan. It's a bit late for regrets."
"Regret? Of course not." Kahn opened his eyes slowly.
"It's just… the plan is complete, but whether it succeeds still depends entirely on Ozai's decision. That feeling… bothers me."
Ozai wanted Iroh's former subordinates annihilated, yet Kahn was doing everything he could to save them.
That alone was difficult—but explaining it afterward would be even harder.
The only method Kahn could think of came from Ozai's own words:
'Find and annihilate them. Let them understand the cost of betrayal.'
Kahn reasoned that Ozai had two goals:
1. Force Kahn to sever all ties with Iroh's faction.
2. Use their deaths to terrify any other former Iroh loyalists.
Killing them was one method—but not the only method.
So if they wanted to change the order… they needed to go beyond Ozai's expectations.
Pain worse than death. A punishment harsher than execution. Only then would Ozai feel satisfied.
It was a gamble—and Kahn hated that.
"And if even this isn't enough to keep them alive," he added quietly, "then… yeah, I'd feel sorry for them."
He didn't usually care about strangers, but knowing who these prisoners were made it hard not to feel anything.
He now fully understood the discomfort of being at someone else's mercy.
He couldn't stay this powerless forever.
Truthfully, the plan had another purpose—one Azula had already deduced.
If Lidon and the others survived, they could become a future support force for him and Azula.
That's why they needed to talk to Lidon, and why Azula put on such a terrifying performance.
But the plan had a flaw.
Azula spelled it out.
"Instead of worrying about Ozai, maybe think about what happens if one of these idiots decides to expose our plan."
"Then there's only one solution." Kahn's voice dropped.
"Even if we try our best to save them, our safety comes first."
Azula smiled, completely satisfied with that answer.
...
Author's Note:
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