The Judge didn’t say a single word from start to finish—this whole thing was classified, and nothing could be leaked until it was over. Darian had only provided info on a few people, but it was clear others were involved too.
Unfortunately, even after reading the memories of those twenty, they probably wouldn’t be able to catch everyone. Still, it was already a big achievement.
Another extremely serious order was sent by the Supreme Judge. At that moment, the Empire’s strongest military forces were gathering and preparing for a potentially bloody battle.
Their target was one of the most powerful High Humans in the Empire. The leader of the Red River Pact clan—Anbon.
There was no proof of his involvement in the betrayal, but obviously, if his vice-leader and several people from his clan were traitors, he’d be arrested and investigated thoroughly. And Anbon was known for being hot-headed and completely unpredictable.
There was no way he’d accept this quietly. Luckily, he didn’t live in the capital—he was off training in the continent’s deserts, where barely anyone lived. In just a few hours, chaos would erupt in that region.
Back in the courtroom, the Judge turned to Darian.
But Darian wasn’t looking at him—he was staring at Rhea, dazed. She was in her final moments, barely hanging on.
When the Judge noticed, Darian snapped out of it and turned to him, desperate.
"No. This is a separate matter," the Judge said coldly and sighed. "If you’re not satisfied, read the report. I’m allowing you to see all the evidence."
Darian didn’t have time for that. So he looked around at the people in the courtroom.
They were all looking at him with sympathy and quietly shook their heads. Their eyes said they wanted to help... but they couldn’t.
Darian’s eyes shook. He was almost sure now that Rhea had actually betrayed the Empire, but how could they have such solid proof?
If there had been even the tiniest hole in the case—something he could exploit—these people would’ve pointed it out and tried to give him some kind of support, even if it didn’t change anything.
In the end, Rhea was someone old and respected—everyone knew her. No one ever thought she’d betray the Empire, but the evidence left no room for doubt. Still, nobody felt good about it, especially the ones who knew what she’d gone through in the past.
Darian clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his skin.
He wasn’t some superhero—he couldn’t predict everything, and he wasn’t sharp enough to have seen all of this coming. He was just a kid trying to survive, and thinking he could fix it all easily was just some dumb fantasy.
But that didn’t make the pain any easier. If only he’d met Rhea earlier, if he’d noticed sooner... maybe he could’ve done something.
’Shit... shit... shit...’
Darian’s eyes were red as he watched Rhea’s life slowly slipping away right in front of him.
He couldn’t do anything.
He knew she didn’t deserve this, and maybe—just maybe—she’d done the right thing.
But he didn’t have the strength to save her.
Gregor’s face was twisted as he watched it all happen, then he looked Harper straight in the eyes.
Right then, Harper used her blessing in front of everyone and struck Leander at the back of the neck, knocking him out before he could do anything reckless.
Obviously, using any kind of power in there was forbidden, but everyone present was strong and influential. They all felt what she did, and they knew she wasn’t a threat to any of them. Silently, they chose to ignore it and let her act—even the Judge.
Matteo caught Leander’s body, but tears were running down his face nonstop.
Right after that, Rhea’s life force could be felt flickering, like a candle being blown out—barely hanging on for just a few more seconds.
Velye dropped to her knees, crying. Harper turned away, not wanting to watch her benefactor die without being able to do a thing. But her face was so twisted with pain that everyone felt it in their chest. She was holding back the tears, which somehow made it hurt even more than just letting it all out.
Everyone from the chained clan stared at Rhea wide-eyed, even if they couldn’t show any other reaction.
Almost all of them had been recruited by her, joined the clan because of her, and were cared for like they were her own children.
They wanted to stop this no matter what, but... because they knew her, they were sure of one thing: she wouldn’t want them dying for nothing.
And also... she loved her son more than her own life. Leander was free. She definitely kept him out of this on purpose. He needed to live. As for the rest of them... they had to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.
"Young man, you’ve done a great service to the Empire. But betrayal is still betrayal. That can’t be forgiven," the Supreme Judge said to Darian, completely emotionless. "The rest of the clan has been absorbed. The punishment will fall only on these two, who have also lost their right to be a clan."
A funeral silence spread through the room.
The Judge waved his hand with a huff. "Let’s finish this quickly and avoid more pain."
Everyone looked at him.
And then, their world seemed to move in slow motion.
Rhea, unconscious and in her final moments, suddenly twitched.
Her eyes snapped open. It was the body’s last survival reflex—burning up all the life she had left in a final attempt to fight.
That fight would never happen.
The needles in her body trembled.
Then, all of them moved at once.
To the members of her clan, it felt like an eternity—as if their hearts were being stabbed all at the same time.
The needles pierced deep inside her.
In that exact moment, her life vanished completely.