The Hall of Eternal Heaven was sealed.
Imperial Guards stood at every entrance.
No one was allowed to leave.
The festive atmosphere had vanished.
In its place...
Only tension remained.
The captured assassins were forced to kneel in the center of the hall.
Their cultivation had been sealed.
Black iron chains bound their arms.
The young woman who had served the poisoned wine remained silent.
Despite being captured...
There wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes.
Only resignation.
Lucien stood before her.
"What is your name?"
Silence.
"I asked..."
"What is your name?"
After several moments, she finally spoke.
"...Luna."
"Family name?"
"I don't have one."
Lucien's gaze remained calm.
An orphan.
Trained from childhood.
Exactly the type of assassin most organizations preferred.
Grand Marshal Kael stepped forward.
"Your Highness."
"Shall we begin the interrogation?"
Lucien looked at Luna.
"No."
The Marshal frowned.
"No?"
Lucien nodded.
"If we torture her..."
"She'll die before speaking."
Luna's eyes flickered with surprise.
He understood.
She had already prepared herself for death.
Lucien crouched until they were at eye level.
"Look at me."
She slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met.
Lucien saw no hatred.
Only exhaustion.
"Who threatened you?"
Her breathing became uneven.
She immediately looked away.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"You've been trained to lie."
"But not well enough."
"If you truly wished to kill me..."
"You would've poisoned yourself the moment you were captured."
"You didn't."
"Which means..."
"You still want to live."
Luna's body trembled.
For years...
Everyone had called her a weapon.
A tool.
No one had ever asked...
Whether she wanted to live.
A tear rolled silently down her cheek.
She hurriedly wiped it away.
"I..."
"I can't say anything."
"They'll kill my little brother."
The hall became silent.
Elena's expression softened.
Even Emperor Adrian narrowed his eyes.
"So that's the chain binding you."
Lucien stood.
"Where is he?"
Luna bit her lip.
"I don't know."
"I've never seen the place."
"They only bring him to me once every few months."
"If I disobey..."
"...he dies."
Lucien looked toward Cassius, the commander of the Black Raven Guard.
"Cassius."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Find the boy."
Cassius didn't ask how.
He simply bowed.
"It will be done."
Luna laughed bitterly.
"It's impossible."
"They leave no traces."
"They change locations constantly."
Lucien looked back at her.
"Perhaps."
"But you made one mistake."
She blinked.
"What mistake?"
"You assumed..."
"...House Noctis searches like ordinary people."
Cassius smiled for the first time.
"The Black Raven Guard has been hunting shadows long before those people learned how to hide."
Just then—
A Black Raven Guard rushed into the hall.
He knelt immediately.
"Urgent report!"
Cassius frowned.
"What happened?"
"The assassin's poison..."
"...matches the poison used in three noble family murders over the past two years."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"So this isn't their first move."
The guard continued.
"We also found the same symbol carved into the poison capsule."
He presented a small fragment.
Upon it...
Was the image of a black sun surrounded by twelve golden stars.
The same symbol Iris had described.
The same symbol seen on the secret jade token.
Lucien quietly memorized it.
Meanwhile...
Luna stared at him in disbelief.
He wasn't questioning her.
He wasn't torturing her.
He wasn't threatening her.
Instead...
He was trying to save the only family she had left.
Her voice trembled.
"Why?"
Lucien answered simply.
"Because you're not my enemy."
She looked confused.
"You tried to kill me."
"No."
"You were ordered to."
"Our enemies are the people holding your brother."
For the first time in years...
Luna began crying openly.
Not from pain.
But from relief.
Elena watched the scene quietly.
She smiled to herself.
This...
Was the real Lucien.
The man the world never saw.
Cold to his enemies.
Compassionate to those forced into darkness.
She found herself admiring him even more.
At the highest seat...
Emperor Adrian looked at his son with pride hidden behind his calm expression.
Many rulers inspired fear.
A few inspired loyalty.
Only the greatest rulers...
Could turn an enemy into an ally.
Lucien had done exactly that.
As the interrogation ended...
A system notification appeared before Lucien.
Ding!
Hidden Investment Opportunity Detected.
Target: Luna
Current Status: Broken Destiny
Potential: SSS-Rank Assassin Queen
Would you like to invest?
Lucien's lips curved into a faint smile.
"An Assassin Queen..."
"Interesting."
He looked at the kneeling girl.
"From today onward..."
"No one in this palace will harm you."
Luna stared at him, unable to believe what she had heard.
"Your first task..."
He extended his hand.
"...is to survive."
Slowly...
With trembling fingers...
Luna reached out and accepted it.
At that moment...
The destiny of a forgotten assassin changed forever.
And somewhere, hidden in the darkness...
The mastermind behind the Black Sun Organization learned that one of his most valuable pawns...
Had just been stolen by the Crown Prince.