Subduing the empire was not difficult. The empire was already torn by civil war and was virtually in tatters.

But it took a significant amount of time to annihilate them, purely because the territory of the Tania Empire was unnecessarily vast.

“Sigh. Crossing the desert is more trouble than war.”

Moreover, there was a vast desert between the empire and the Grand Bazaar. Just traversing it would take at least a month.

‘I need to join the main forces in the occupied area and prepare for return soon.’

As they were born and raised in the desert, they knew very well how dangerous the desert was. Hence, there was a lot to prepare, but Hades’s impulsive actions kept delaying their departure.

Manute took out a letter that had arrived recently from his pocket and read the headline.

[Dash]Prince Tarek had his coming of age ceremony a while ago. He is persuading the wealthy merchants to expand his power quickly and is gaining trust from the Sultan and the citizens. If the general doesn’t return soon, the power supporting Prince Luhan will waver.

‘A letter written half a year ago has just arrived…. I wonder how Prince Luhan is doing now.’

If the power of Luhan Basil, the first prince of the Basil Dynasty, who Hades fully supported, fell and the second prince, Tarek, became the next Sultan, not only Hades but also he would inevitably fall into a dire situation.

“Only I am impatient, only me!”

“General. A group is approaching us. They seem to be the remnants of the bandits we just dealt with.”

When a subordinate came and reported, he put the letter back into his pocket, drew the scimitar from his waist, and gave orders to his subordinates.

“Maintain your positions and minimize damage. Let’s finish this before the general arrives. He’s not in the best mood these days.”

“Yes!”

“Sigh. I wonder if the general knows how much I’m struggling.”
He quietly sighed, readying himself for the impending battle.

[Star Icon][Star Icon]

Latifa grew impatient, despite the intriguing question she posed, as Hades remained silent.

“…….”

Hades continued to stroke his chin and survey the scene, including her.

People would have to fully focus on her to escape…..!

Seeing Brenda out of the corner of her eye, she was making a frustrated expression, seemingly very angry with Latifa, who couldn’t even distract attention.

Her lips became drier due to Brenda’s frightening face, and her head started to spin.

What to do……! I must have done something wrong again. Ah, wake up, Latifa! This is your last chance to save people!

She forced strength into her legs to steady herself, but the severe pain in her ankle brought tears to her eyes and tortured her again.

‘It’s too painful! I feel like I’m going to collapse.’

But she couldn’t back down here. Anxious Latifa moved her moist blue pupils here and there, only staring at the man standing in front of her.

The man in the black robe seemed to be thinking deeply and then responded in a slightly arrogant voice. He seemed to have seriously considered Latifa’s question.

“That’s right. I have returned the hound that came looking. I don’t know how it was returned, though.”

He hit the nail on the head. But there was no intention to reveal that she could talk to animals.

“……That’s not it.”

Latifa denied it with a mosquitolike voice.

Then Hades, perhaps a little wounded in his pride, slowly approached her, furrowing his eyebrows.

“There’s no way. I’ve thought about all possibilities, and the answer is none other than that.”

Yes, you. Come a little closer to me.

“Do you want to know the answer?”

“It has to be a convincing answer.”

“How I did it was…….”

Latifa took a breath again at his face, which had come close. His hot breath was felt, and it was so close that her image was reflected in his black pupils.

“Ah ha. I see.”

Then Hades, as if realizing something, laughed and locked eyes with her blue pupils.

“You’re distracting my attention again, allowing them to escape.”

“……!”

He hit the nail on the head again.

Was it even possible to deceive this man?

No matter how much she thought, it seemed absolutely impossible.

“I can’t be fooled twice.”

As she looked at him smiling with a relaxed expression, she felt that this was really the end.

But she had to hold onto this man somehow. If not, her guilt would increase again.

In the end, she made a firm decision and clenched her lips.

“Everyone, run now!”

Latifa clung to Hades’ arm and shouted towards the people. Closing her eyes tightly and putting all her weight on him wasn’t enough, so she wrapped her arms around his legs tightly.

She wrung out the last remaining strength to wrap around the squirming man. Despite her weakened body from not eating properly for days, she held onto him with all her might.

Yes, there was no way she could run anywhere with her ankle injured like this.

Feeling desperate, she shouted out loud again.

“Everyone, run away!”

And then the people who were hiding behind her started to scatter and run away. The surrounding hounds barked loudly, and many people ran out in a hurry.

“Ha?! Let go! Hey, it’s dangerous to run out now! Are you going to alert the thieves?!”

Despite Hades’ panicked shouting and swinging his arm around, she stubbornly clung to his arm as if possessed.

“Damn!”
As he watched people scattering in all directions in despair, Hades spat out a small curse.

“Haa… Well, Manute is on guard, so it should be managed somehow.”

Staring at the nowempty grounds, he swept the sweatsoaked bangs off his forehead with his free arm.

“I wish she would let go soon, my arm is starting to numb.”

But she was holding onto Hades as if the world would crumble once she let go of his arm, with an intensity that even blood would not pass through.

“Listen, we can’t stay here. The remnants will be swarming this place.”

As if Hades’ voice was inaudible, Latifa was trembling, her head lowered.

Finally, out of patience, he tapped her head lightly with his fingertips, and her grip around his arm weakened in an instant. Then she crumbled forward.

It seemed she had exhausted all her remaining energy to hold onto him.

“Kruh!”

Hades immediately caught her waist as she lost consciousness and collapsed. From her flying hair, a faint scent of jasmine wafted out.

“What on earth is happening.”

Although his tone sounded bothered, there was a small smile on his lips.

“Why did you bother to hold out if you were going to collapse into my arms like this?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her absurdity, trembling and collapsing right into his arms, after standing up to him fearlessly.

Was it because it had been a long time since he saw someone stand up directly to him, known as the mad dog of the Grand Bazaar?

“Whether you’re dumb, or brave.”

He murmured to the hunting dogs staring blankly at him, as he lightly cradled the slackened Latifa in his arms. Then he noticed her ankle, swollen to the point of discolouration, visible under the hem of her dress that had rolled up.

“My goodness. So you were standing with such an injury.”

As Hades carefully held her again to avoid touching the wound, he muttered quietly.

“I’ve found an interesting woman after a long time.”