Meanwhile, the second covert operations team remained on standby.
Led by Knight Captain Zion, with his knight squad positioned across Ephor, and Jeremiah commanding the mage unit, they waited in silence. Their orders were clear do not move until confirmation of Rudolf Steiner's elimination arrived from Josey and Allen.
They did not have to wait long.
Deep within the underground tunnels, the slaughter had already begun.
The tunnel floor was drenched in blood.
Ephor knights lay scattered like broken dolls, bodies twisted at unnatural angles. Allen and Josey stood amidst the carnage, both of them soaked from head to toe in the blood of their enemies.
It had been a one-sided massacre.
Allen's breathing was steady, controlled, his blade dripping crimson. Josey, on the other hand, threw his head back and laughed a wild, manic sound echoing through the tunnels.
"Hahaha…!" Josey wiped blood from his face. "It's been so long since I enjoyed a bloodbath like this. This… this is why I became a mercenary."
Allen shot him a sharp look. "Shut up. Let's just grab this bastard."
Ahead of them, Rudolf Steiner stumbled forward.
His body could no longer keep up with his terror. His legs shook violently, sweat poured down his face, and his breath came out in desperate gasps. He tripped and fell hard against the stone floor.
Allen walked toward him calmly.
He grabbed Rudolf by the collar and lifted him up.
"Your days of living are over, Chief Executive Judge," Allen said coldly. "We will send you to the almighty judge Goddess Aria."
Rudolf's eyes widened in pure fear.
"P-Please…!" he cried. "Let me go! Why are you doing this?! I'll give you anything money, fame, women just name it! I'll give you everything!"
Allen stared at him.
"I want only one thing."
Rudolf laughed nervously. "Y-Yes! I'll give it to you!"
Allen's grip tightened.
"First listen to what I want," Allen said. "I want your head. Only your head. I'll place it among the people as a statue of our beloved judge. The rest of your body I don't want it."
Josey whistled. "Bro… Allen, you're giving me chills. Don't waste time. Zion's team is already moving. Grab his head already."
Rudolf screamed and shoved Allen away with all his strength.
He ran.
Josey clicked his tongue. "What are you doing, Allen? Why let our prey walk?"
Josey grabbed a sword from the ground and hurled it with terrifying precision.
The blade pierced straight through Rudolf's right leg.
Rudolf collapsed, screaming and clawing at the ground, crying for help that would never come.
Allen approached slowly.
"No one is coming," Allen said. "This is your judgment for what you did to innocent people. For passing verdicts in favor of the wealthy. For killing the innocent. For placing your filthy hands on common women."
Allen raised his sword.
In one swift motion, he severed both of Rudolf's hands.
Rudolf's scream cut off as Allen followed with a single, clean slash.
Rudolf Steiner's head separated from his body and rolled across the stone floor.
Allen picked it up.
They emerged onto the rooftop of Rudolf's estate.
The Ephor Dukedom flag fluttered on the flagpost.
Allen placed Rudolf's severed head atop it.
Blood poured down, staining the flag red.
The symbol of Ephor now dripped with the blood of its own corruption.
They climbed back down.
Using a magic scroll provided earlier by Jeremiah, they ignited the estate. Flames spread rapidly, consuming wealth, luxury, and lies.
The signal was clear.
The burning of Rudolf Steiner's estate.
Zion's team received it immediately.
Allen exhaled. "Our mission is complete."
He sheathed his blade. "We'll wait for the young master's arrival."
Josey stretched. "Good. Let's relax. I need a drink."
He looked at his blood-soaked clothes. "But first, I need to clean all this filthy blood."
They changed their clothes and headed toward a nearby tavern.
By then, people had begun gathering near the estate.
They saw the burning building.
They saw the head.
A man screamed, tears streaming down his face. "You deserved it, bastard! You killed my innocent son!"
He grabbed a stone and hurled it at Rudolf's lifeless head.
Others followed.
Stones rained down.
"ALL HAIL THE SECRET SAVIOR OF EPHOR!"
"THANK YOU, GODDESS ARIA!"
The crowd roared as flames consumed the estate.
The confirmation reached Presia Dukedom.
Roman read the report.
"Good job, Allen. Josey," he said calmly.
He lifted his gaze.
"All eyes Zion and Jeremiah team."
Then he turned to Jacob. " Father Call Knight Simon."
Moments later, Simon arrived.
"Prepare the battalion," Duke Jacob ordered.
Roman continued, his voice steady.
"As soon as the second mission is fully cleared, we will take control of Ephor. Prepare two hundred knights to assume command."
Simon bowed deeply. "At once."
The wheels of fate turned.
Ephor had fallen into chaos.
And its true ruler had not yet arrived.