Russia's large-scale airstrike had caused significant damage to Papaldia—nearly all of its most important ports were rendered inoperable, and the majority of its naval power was severely crippled, making it highly unlikely that any future maritime operations could be carried out.

  Emperor Phillip witnessed the sight of the harbor engulfed in the smoke of destruction. Recognizing the extreme danger posed by Russia, he convened a meeting with the generals present to deploy them to the battlefield and directly engage the Russian forces.

  Inside the room with a rectangular table and a highly detailed map, the Papaldian generals, along with the emperor, listened to the reconnaissance report.

  Based on the latest information, the Russian army had advanced quite a distance with their vehicles. Cameras from Civilization Zone 1 captured their specific appearance—a rugged, turtle-like design, prompting Phillip to call them "iron turtles."

  "This is what Russia has achieved in the past few days. Due to the lack of strong resistance from us, the rural areas quickly fell into Russian hands without achieving any significant objectives."

  Phillip looked at the red chess pieces representing Russia and the blue ones representing Papaldia, showing the terrifying dispersion of his nation's forces. When he looked toward Russia, he saw a cluster of interconnected red areas. Faced with Russia's overwhelming presence, he couldn't help but sweat, realizing he had underestimated them, but he still held onto his belief that Russia was a barbaric nation.

  He pondered whether Russia was being supported by another country in this war. If so, which nation was backing Russia? Phillip rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

  So far, Russia had shown that everything was focused on its air force and army, with no navy to speak of. This was strange, as the navy was usually the first to demonstrate a nation's strength. This could be explained by Russia having struck a significant deal with a major power, likely a superpower like Mu.

  Mu was notoriously secretive about its military technology, making it the prime suspect when rumors surfaced about Mu developing new weapons. This was the main reason for Mu's expansion of trade across regions, seeking resources for those research projects.

  If prototypes had indeed been completed, selling them to a barbaric nation incapable of replicating or understanding the technology would be the perfect advantage—both to weaken the enemy and to gain additional benefits. However, there were also nations in Civilization Zone 1 that were suspicious, as they harbored no goodwill toward the empire.

  It was also because of their rhetoric: opposing the current regime in Papaldia and demanding reforms. Such individuals were often hypocrites, as they were also the most resource-hungry. Phillip considered these nations a clear threat, but that didn't guarantee anything for his own country if conflict broke out with them.

  Returning to Russia, if any nation was directly supporting them, it could only be Mu. Phillip disliked those arrogant individuals on his land, profiting from it. But before he could deal with them, he needed to address the immediate enemy.

  "Russia is a nation full of surprises, but their tactics are too focused," Phillip said. "To seize the initiative, we must employ a different strategy—guerrilla warfare. Russia is about to pass through a heavily forested area; we'll use the terrain to inflict as much damage as possible."

  A general looked at the area Russia would traverse—a place unsuitable for large-scale troop movements, forcing them to split into smaller groups, making them less mobile and more vulnerable to ambushes.

  "That's an excellent plan, Your Majesty," the general said. "With such complexity, we can use adventurers to ambush the enemy—inflicting damage without harming our main forces."

  Phillip nodded, pointing at the map.

  "The Russian army may be strong, but in the end, they're nothing more than savages. A few unexpected and powerful strikes will leave them helpless."

  "Understood. Is there anything else you wish to add?"

  "Quickly monitor and find evidence that Mu is behind Russia. Track the ambassador and continuously spy to find any signs of Mu's presence on Russia's side."

  "Do you suspect Mu is behind this? Is it because of their actions in recent years?"

  "That's one reason, but more importantly, only Mu has sufficient motive to do so," he said. "Just to weaken us and gain profit, they would do anything to achieve that."

  Phillip added, and the others in the room listened, agreeing with him. The meeting continued longer, with adjustments to military strategy and changes in how to confront Russia.

  ...

  In another room, where the Russians were relaxing. They were all very relaxed but also extremely vigilant about their surroundings. Since they were playing a role, they had to act accordingly while ensuring their safety.

  For the Russian soldiers, there wasn't much to do besides physical training and finding a few books. But that didn't mean they—people who didn't seem intellectual—would easily seek out high-level academic books, so Lise often went to the royal library to find the necessary materials.

  All requests came from Vorisimorsk and Petrov—the two most interested in the new knowledge here. Meanwhile, the members of Rys-21 often went out to survey and observe the reactions of the royal soldiers. Kamarov was doing push-ups on the floor, sweat dripping from his muscular body; Rompev was mainly maintaining the group's weapons with meticulous care.

  Lise didn't like staying in such an atmosphere, so she often went outside. Currently, she was strolling in the palace grounds. The sky was beautiful today, but she knew the atmosphere was gloomy. Just a few days ago, terrible explosions had occurred at the harbor.

  She had been told it was the Russian army's doing; she could hardly believe Russia was that kind of nation. That massive thing flew over her head like a real dragon. There was no mercy in the way they carried out their attack.

  She had also heard about the operation of something called a strategic bomber—one of the things that made Russia powerful. They spoke of it so casually, as if it were insignificant. This became even more apparent when the emperor's advisors inquired about it. Vorosimorsk evaded the question, while Kamarov was sarcastic.

  No one fully explained anything about themselves or anything related to their country, which was strange from her perspective. Most of the time, the group didn't do anything remarkable, just hunted monsters to maintain an active status.

  While wandering aimlessly, she passed a place that trained talents to serve the empire exclusively. This place was filled with potential noble children in key fields, developing and perfecting themselves in the best environment Papaldia had to offer.

  Was it worth it for these children to study day and night to achieve such high levels of success in society? She thought, continuing her walk through this opulent scenery. After a while, she returned to the group's room; stepping inside, she saw the same people continuing their tasks as before, and even Kamarov had joined in.

  "Still not done?"

  Her voice caught Rompev's attention as he relaxed by the window. He answered on behalf of the others. "Not yet, but we've got a good grasp of the general knowledge about this world."

  He continued, "However, it's relatively complicated in how the authors explain magic, which is quite vague compared to how our world operates."

  She listened, took a chair, and sat next to Rompev, deciding to chat with him a bit since he didn't talk much.

  "Then tell me about your world, one completely different from what's considered normal here?"

  "To put it simply, it's more uniform in terms of technology compared to here. At least, technology appears everywhere in the world; at a minimum, it's low," he said. "Every nation plays a role in each other's development, whether small or large, they can rise to become wealthy by creating their own unique features, like Switzerland did in its two hundred years of history."

  "Switzerland, it must be a powerful nation, right?"

  "Not exactly. What makes that nation strong is that no one dares to attack it, not because Switzerland possesses the strength to make all enemies wary. It's because this nation is the world's largest repository of wealth."

  "Basically, Switzerland holds the money of other nations. Why is that?"

  "Our context is different. With the advancement of nations' development, people from abroad bring money to invest in other countries, enriching themselves and those nations. Banks act as intermediaries in transferring money between locations, and Swiss banks are the most reputable for depositing money without fear of losing it, and the owner's information is kept highly confidential."

  He paused, looked at Lise's expression, and continued. "That's the reason for now, but before that, it was due to the instability of many nations with numerous wars throughout a long period in Europe—where Switzerland is located. You could say, the instability throughout the 20th century was the main reason for Switzerland's development."

  "Got it. And about that period, what was it notable for?"

  "It was notable for many things, but to sum it up in one sentence, it would be 'Paying a heavy price to mature,'" he said. "The price here was extremely devastating. We killed each other in two world wars to the point of nearly destroying the world. Tens of millions died."

  Lise was surprised, paying more attention to Rompev's words. "Two wars? Why did you do that to your own kind?"

  Rompev was bitter when mentioning it, though he couldn't fully understand what had happened during that period, he could still feel it through the veterans.

  "Why? Because of ambition. Because of power. Because we believed our ideals were right and others were wrong. But also because of fear. We feared that if we didn't act first, others would destroy us. And so, from rifles, we created nuclear bombs."

  "Nuclear bombs?" Lise frowned, curious. "Is that some kind of powerful weapon Russia possesses?"

  Rompev nodded, his voice lowering. "Yes. We call it the 'ultimate weapon.' Once it's dropped, everything is wiped out—not just people, but land, plants, life. Yet we've made thousands of them. Just to threaten each other."

  Lise noticed the change in Rompev's mood, sensing she had touched on a sensitive topic, so she quickly shifted the conversation.

  "So it's not just nuclear bombs, right? As you said, what's the maturity here?"

  His eyes brightened a bit. "Exactly. That's another part of the 20th century, the better part. We've surpassed the sky, touched the vast stars for the first time. A fellow countryman of mine, Yuri Gagarin, was the first human to enter space. We've also set foot on the Moon. Those grand dreams remind us that humans can achieve wondrous things."

  Lise smiled slightly. "A world with deep wounds, but also hope. So what have you learned from that suffering?"

  "This is just my perspective, and it doesn't represent anyone," Rompev said. "Everything my humanity has gone through is a tragedy, but it's more of a push. War, or here, competition, has driven humanity's development at the fastest pace in all of history."

  He continued, "It has a price, but it's a worthy price for a generation to live in a brighter future, and that's what I'm experiencing daily; feeling the vitality of a society born from past conflicts, and I accept it, using it as a mirror to avoid that path again."

  "This has been an interesting conversation. I hope we'll have more like this in the future, especially since I'll be returning to my home—where you'll probably come too, right?"

  She asked, but it wasn't the main point. It didn't seem to have any ulterior motive, so Rompev nodded. He looked out the window again and saw the sun was setting. He stood up and told the team.

  "It's time, let's go."

  He reminded everyone it was time to eat, and there was nothing particularly special about the meal—it was just like the luxurious meals of the wealthy.

  All five went out at the same time, meeting Rys-21. He reminded them to take a bath and then leave immediately. Their group arrived at a special room—a communal bath inside the palace. Another opulence of Papaldia.

  As usual, some servants were already there, waiting for them. The servants' assistance wasn't significant, but it was the government's way of monitoring them. But it wasn't time to act yet, so what they were doing was completely meaningless.

  The team quickly undressed and entered the bath. To be honest, there weren't many opportunities to bathe outside, especially with so much work to do. Now they could relax in the warm water. For Lise, it was great, but she felt a bit shy being with the men.

  However, for the Spetsnaz, it wasn't an issue; no one cared.

  "I wonder what they'll feed us this time?" Kamarov smirked, glancing at the others.

  "Who knows, we shouldn't pay too much attention to it," Petrov replied.

  "Now then..." Kamarov glanced at a nearby servant, alert, "how will we prove ourselves?"

  "You're acting like you'll do something," Petrov mocked. "Or do you think you're some kind of sensor?"

  "No," Kamarov retorted. "I'm more than that."

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  "Goodness. There's nothing to do, so how can we prove anything?"

  Even though they had taken the job, there was nothing to do; a completely empty task of no value to the Spetsnaz. Though it was an opportunity to learn more, it wasn't something anyone truly cared about.

  Regarding ammunition, it was sufficient for a while before they'd have to leave to avoid exposure. The time to leave would be when the plan was activated; until then, they'd continue to gain the trust of those here.

  "What about you, Kavkaz?" Kamarov struck up a conversation with the other team; though with a sarcastic tone. But for Rys-21, it wasn't an issue.

  "We'll have to see what we're up against first," Kirill replied. "But in my opinion, it won't be what we imagine. We'll figure it out when the time comes."

  "The enemy will mostly be assassins," Kavkaz analyzed. "If it's a secret assassination, we won't have many problems, but if it's direct, it'll cost quite a bit of ammo."

  Kavkaz continued, "To be blunt, whether we want to or not, we'll have to leave."

  "Leave..." Kamarov said slowly, thinking a bit about it. "At least it's not now."

  Pavel nearby also joined the conversation. "Probably, I mean we'll have to work without causing any impact; waiting for those assassins is completely pointless."

  "I wonder if the emperor has offended anyone?" Kamarov answered himself. "But he doesn't look far, this entire empire is basically his enemy."

  "Speaking of living standards, it's enough to compete with prehistoric times," Kamarov continued. "Living here is no different from living in concentration camps."

  "You guys don't have any nice words for this place, do you?" Lise stepped into the conversation.

  "Even Kamarov here—the most open-minded—can't have a good view of Papaldia," Petrov said.

  Vorosimorsk had been silent until now, deciding to join in.

  "We won't be here long. The Russian army has shown signs of intensifying the attack, so we need to boost morale during this time to achieve high efficiency."

  Hearing this, Kamarov immediately complained. "Come on, Captain, it's not like we don't have time to relax besides work. You're too strict."

  "I'm not saying that to..."

  Before he could finish, a servant entered the room. The sound of footsteps caught everyone's attention. The servant announced:

  "The emperor requests to meet everyone at the important meal coming up, hoping all will attend to feel his majesty."

  After speaking, the servant left immediately. It was a very quick announcement, reminding them there was no more time for chit-chat. Everyone left their positions and dressed quickly. Voro-12 and Rys-21 stepped out in their assigned attire—a standard 19th-century European outfit from France. It felt perfect in each person's mind, as if they were part of the empire.

  Arriving at the dining room, they entered and saw a long table with Emperor Phillip already there, along with other nobles. The attitude of these people was hard to read, with almost no change in their expressions—emotions nearly nonexistent.

  Upon seeing them, Phillip became more cheerful. "You've arrived. We've prepared exquisite dishes to make you more comfortable in this stifling place."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty," Vorosimorsk replied. "We appreciate your hospitality. Though so far, we haven't done much."

  Vorosimorsk's cold expression made Phillip uncomfortable, feeling disrespected directly, but he had to maintain his tone to avoid any incidents.

  "No problem," Phillip said, "just the presence of a skilled soldier from Mu with advanced weapons is enough to deter anyone who dares to come here."

  "So you've spread the word everywhere?"

  "Indeed," Phillip confirmed. "But for a beneficial purpose, to reduce the number of assassins who might come here and make them fear our reputation, that's what I'm doing."

  "Yes, I understand."

  Everyone quickly sat at the table with a stifling atmosphere; the warm orange light from the lanterns on the ceiling made the room feel warm, but it was unusually cold. The meal proceeded in silence as no one had anything to say or wanted to say.

  Phillip looked at the Russian group, unaware they were the enemy, extremely suspicious but not because of the war, but related to the purpose of these people—concerned about their loyalty.

  But that was completely impossible for the Spetsnaz. Both Voro-12 and Rys-21 were strange names to Phillip, as any adventurer would choose a very flamboyant name, but these people before him didn't follow any common rules. Plus, their activities during their short time here were highly suspicious.

  They didn't cooperate with any other groups except for one mission assigned by a noble. They didn't perform tasks suitable for themselves—which could help their rank rise quickly, like other groups, but instead only hunted goblins and basic monsters; completely unsuitable for the quality of their weapons.

  And especially: Where did those weapons come from? Though they were from wealthy families, it was contradictory in terms of logistics. Who was supporting them? If so, why was it only known now?

  These questions haunted the emperor, his suspicion continuously increasing, almost to the point of losing control. Though he had placed trust in these people, the mystery of their identity and motives made him uneasy.

  'No matter the angle, these people are too mysterious.'

  He looked at his meal, the sweetness of the meat today was strangely bitter, as if it was reminding him to be more cautious with those he had placed his trust in. He narrowed his eyes, sinking into a moment of silence.

  Suddenly, an idea popped into his head: Use a mission to test these people. Specifically, hire seasoned assassins to test them. It was a good idea at this time to know their level and dedication to the job.

  The silence in the room continued; the stifling atmosphere persisted. But only Phillip found some comfort, he looked at the other nobles, they were quite relaxed but didn't know what to say.

  This was an opportunity to elevate his status with these old families—the only ones he couldn't do anything about in his reforms.

  "I think we should get to know each other better," he said. "Both sides should try to talk, get to know each other so this meal isn't wasted."

  After that, the meal became more positive, the nobles and the adventurers could talk without using their titles. Phillip was satisfied with this, no matter what, grasping anyone's emotions was a sharp blade for Phillip—something that could help him kill anyone.

  He continued to observe and participated in the conversation, the other side was very normal, even with subtle gestures. Completely fitting for a citizen from Mu. Finally, the meal ended, and both sides returned to where they needed to be, only Phillip remained.

  ...

  "That meal was stifling," Kamarov complained, leaning against the window while sitting on it.

  "Yeah," Petrov agreed. "To talk about this... I think the emperor is targeting us."

  "Isn't that obvious?" Kamarov asked, confused.

  "No, there are many suspicious points," Petrov hesitated. "It feels like his calculations are extremely unstable; like a purge is about to happen."

  Kamarov rubbed his chin, his face relaxed but not comfortable hearing this. He sat up straight, looking directly at his friend, asking further:

  "So, in your opinion, what's he planning?"

  "Perhaps he's suspicious of us," Petrov gritted his teeth. "After all, our activities could easily be investigated."

  "But that doesn't mean the government would be suspicious as you're saying, right?"

  "No, our activities are very contradictory to what we've declared," he worried. "It's like humans need food to live, but no one sees us eating yet we're still alive."

  Kamarov suddenly realized, pointing at Petrov. "You mean our use of guns without a clear ammunition supply is the contradiction."

  "Yeah, now we'll have to figure out how to deal with the emperor's future actions."

  The two talked a bit more, mostly about different topics. But they didn't notice something else watching them.

  From a rooftop outside, six figures were observing the area where the Spetsnaz were resting. All were cat-like humanoids, similar to wildcats; all were assassins on a mission—to assassinate the emperor of Papaldia.

  "Now, this tyranny will end tonight."

  "But will it succeed? Remember, this is the royal palace?"

  Another joined the conversation. "True, there are rumors that a group of elite mercenaries has been hired by the royal family for protection."

  "No problem, Muala," the one beside him patted his head. "Kiri, Cran, Mitu, Cosla, what will we do when these tyrants weaken?"

  "Kill them." All said in unison.

  The one named Hu nodded lightly; no one intended to back down, so he felt more at ease. He pulled up his hood along with the others. He turned back and said:

  "This time, it's a one-way trip."

  The other five didn't say anything, just nodded. Hu took a deep breath. "For the homeland, for our people."

  "For the homeland, for our people." The voices echoed again, igniting the fire inside Hu. He steeled his resolve and all looked into the night.

  ...

  Rompev woke up from the large bed, beside him were others still deep in sleep. He rubbed his face a bit, then got up—grabbed his VSS and stepped out to the window.

  Under the dim moonlight, he saw Kamarov and Petrov sitting there; they were also surprised to see him in a tank top and shorts with his gun. Kamarov gently asked:

  "Trouble sleeping?"

  "Just a bit; it's like a sense of unease," Rompev rubbed his temples. He stepped up and sat on the chair beside them.

  "Does that unease bother you?" Petrov asked. "The atmosphere here isn't suitable for snipers. There are many types of stifling."

  "Perhaps..." he replied, "I'm not adapting as well as you guys."

  Kamarov retorted. "You're underestimating yourself, let me tell you. A sniper, no matter how bad, is very hard to deal with; meaning if we had to face you, it'd be a disaster for us."

  Kamarov paused, took a cigar from beside him, lit it, and took a deep puff, exhaling a cloud of smoke right in front of Rompev. "But that's just you, if it's more experienced individuals, it'd be beyond our capabilities."

  "Maybe you're right," Rompev sighed, looking out the window. Something was moving, making him squint to see better. "Does the Papaldian royal family have warriors running on rooftops?"

  "What the hell are you talking about?" Petrov wondered.

  Kamarov looked up at the rooftop following Rompev; indeed, someone was running up there.

  "Who's that?"

  He left his position and squinted to see better. There were several living figures running up there, heading straight for the emperor's room. Seeing this, Kamarov had to leave his spot and shout.

  "Damn it," he said softly, then shouted. "Assassins!"

  The sudden shout startled the others awake. The surprise made them sit up in exhaustion. Pavel, with blurry eyes, asked:

  "What's going on?"

  "Assassins," Kamarov said. "And they're heading straight for the emperor's location!"

  Everyone was still in a daze, but Kamarov quickly lit the nearby oil lamp, illuminating part of the room. Those closest quickly regained their senses. Kamarov put the oil lamp down and said.

  "Gear up and move out now."

  Vorosimorsk, though still quite groggy, also understood what was happening. He looked around and saw that except for Rys-21, everyone in Voro-12 was fully awake. He didn't hesitate, got off the bed, and grabbed his gear at the foot of the bed.

  Rompev and Petrov looked at each other, though not understanding what was happening, they followed the actions of the other two. Rys-21, reacting to Voro-12's actions, was quite puzzled, but seeing their urgency, it was clear this wasn't just a simple matter. Kavkaz looked at his teammates and reminded them.

  "Put on your gear, quick."

  He got off the bed and grabbed his gear. The others quickly did what they needed to. Kavkaz looked to the side and saw Lise still sleeping, so he shook his head and sighed, pulling her up. His strong arm pulled the girl from her peaceful slumber; she grumbled:

  "What's wrong?"

  "We've got work," Kavkaz said. "If you want to go out like that, it's fine."

  Lise, in her nightgown, didn't pay much attention, she rubbed her eyes and asked again: "What work?"

  "Assassins."

  ...

  Hu and the others had crossed the rooftops and landed in the central garden of the palace. This was the connecting point to many areas; looking north and turning right would lead to the emperor's bedroom.

  "Cran, lead the way," Hu reminded. The one on the right nodded and ran according to the map in his memory. The others followed closely behind.

  The obstacles on the way were insignificant, and the soldiers weren't active at this time; making the area so quiet that only footsteps and heartbeats could echo.

  They quickly stopped before a room with a door intricately decorated and carved. This was clearly the place to go; Mitu stepped forward and took out lock-picking tools, starting the job.

  Meanwhile, Kiri—the group's mage—was observing the surroundings with extreme caution. Though they had high combat abilities, being discovered was the last thing anyone wanted; the royal soldiers would notice, and escaping would be extremely difficult.

  Muala, the youngest, was also observing the surroundings, with the eyes of a cat—she could see extremely clearly with high detail. The girl looked to the side, where they had come from, and saw something.

  A faint green light; not bright but enough to notice a change in the environment. The small girl looked into the space with extreme vigilance.

  "What's wrong?" Cosla—standing right beside Hu—asked.

  "Something's not right over there," Muala pointed to where the green light was.

  Cosla and the others stopped their work and looked in that direction. They opened their eyes wide and indeed, there was a faint green light in the quiet space. It wasn't natural, so Cosla stepped forward to look closer and ensure there was no issue.

  Elsewhere, Rompev was at a relatively close distance to a good sniping position, but that wasn't the issue. Thanks to Lise and the books they had access to, they could identify the subspecies of those humanoids, so the night vision goggles had been activated to mislead. Meanwhile, the other members would approach and eliminate these assassins.

  The lead group had gotten very close to the intruders; now divided into three groups approaching from three directions. To avoid detection, no one wore shoes to avoid the extremely sensitive ears.

  Petrov and Kamarov were together, along with Lise. The three approached the enemy from the southwest; with the coordination of the other members, they quickly got within a few dozen meters of the enemy. The three stopped before a corner; Petrov peeked out and saw six figures, one of whom could be identified as a mage, so they had to be extra cautious.

  "From here, gently," Petrov said, "or we're dead."

  "Got it," Kamarov replied. Lise just nodded in agreement.

  Petrov continued to look outside, he also saw the other two groups approaching and were close enough. Everything was in position and just needed to pull the trigger to succeed. He signaled Kamarov to sneak up below him and aim at the enemy.

  Kamarov complied, everything was going extremely smoothly and just needed to pull the trigger. But Lise didn't think so.

  She stepped forward to get a better look but accidentally tripped and fell forward, at the same time she let out a scream that caught the assassins' attention. One of them reflexively threw a shuriken at Lise; luckily it only grazed her ear, so she didn't feel much pain.

  The others, seeing the situation unfold, had no choice but to pull the trigger. The surprise of dozens of bullets fired in bursts caught Hu and his group off guard. Death came unexpectedly, and some couldn't dodge in time, getting hit and falling.

  Hu was surprised by the attack from these strange individuals and was confused, but he didn't let his judgment cloud. He shouted when he saw everything had gone wrong. "Retreat!"

  He looked back and saw Mitu was dead there, and they ran at their speed to escape. But they couldn't escape the pursuit behind. Kiri quickly chanted and shot a fireball backward to hinder the enemy.

  But just as he did that, a bullet took Kiri's life.

  "Kiri!" Muala shouted. But Hu urged her to keep running. That bullet was from Rompev, who was watching the fleeing figures from afar. He could also see the others had caught up from behind and were firing continuously forward.

  The helplessness of these assassins made him a bit suspicious, but he didn't stop and continued firing below. Another shot was fired from him, heading straight for those people.

  Cran, while running, crouched low to avoid the enemy's attack from behind. But his sixth sense told him something was wrong, and it came from Muala. He looked at the girl and pushed her away, taking the bullet himself—a direct hit to the neck, making him collapse immediately.

  The remaining three kept running; as they reached the place they had jumped in. They quickly climbed up, but the bullets from behind kept coming. The three tried to climb, but everything ended quickly; Cosla was hit by two bullets, lost his balance, and fell below.

  Hu tried to get Muala up. When both stepped onto the roof, from Vorosimorsk's PKM, with its brutal burst, it turned Hu's body into a honeycomb. Hu, before collapsing, said: "Run... and tell them."

  Muala tried to run out of the palace. But Rompev wasn't going to let her go so easily; with calmness, he gave the girl a bullet to the head, turning her small body into a mess on the ground.

  He stood up and looked, seeing the others had arrived. He yawned and found a way down.

  Later, the royal soldiers also ran over and saw their battlefield. It wasn't until the next morning that the identities of those assassins were confirmed. No need to say much, it made Rompev's morals ache over his actions.

  Kamarov stepped up to comfort him. "You'll get used to it. We're not always the heroes."

  He said and then looked at the others. They were heading to the Papaldian emperor's office because of their actions—mainly for rewards. Everyone went to see what the emperor would say?

  Rompev stood before the Papaldian emperor's office door, his mind switching to combat mode. He knew that in the next moment, he would be sent into a battle with an unknown outcome. But what he didn't know was, from inside the room, Phillip was also thinking about the importance of this battle and what he would say to both sides.

  Rompev entered the room, his eyes meeting Phillip's, with the emperor's words. "You've done well, I'm very pleased with those from Mu. Here's a little reward for you, and you can do whatever you want in this splendid place."

  A cart filled with gold was brought out. Kamarov and Petrov exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable with this praise. Although they had thwarted the assassins, questions began to arise. Vorosimorsk, with a serious expression, spoke up: "Your Majesty, we did our best, but we couldn't have anticipated that so many skilled individuals would target you. We need to reassess the palace's security measures."

  Phillip nodded, but in his heart, he had a different plan. "We will grant you even more privileges. But that means ending this job will be incredibly difficult."

  "I will use this assassination attempt to execute another plan," Phillip said. By leveraging this assassination, he could pin the blame on Russia, drawing the attention of anti-monarchist organizations and thereby applying pressure on his enemies.

  The Spetsnaz team felt the tension rise as they looked at Phillip. Things were not right with this emperor. Vorosimorsk understood and decided to conclude this meeting. "Then, if you'll excuse us, we have some important matters to attend to."

  "Feel free," Phillip waved his hand dismissively.

  The Spetsnaz team left, leaving Phillip alone. He looked up at the ceiling, filled with more calculations; this would be his opportunity to make his enemies fail and seize the technology from these people. He chuckled in the room as he envisioned those beautiful scenarios.