There was a story that could capture the Emperor''s interest.


    That''s what Oliver told us.


    ''Tell us in detail, Oliver.'' Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Oliver spoke seriously.


    "Do you know about continental wanted orders?"


    We answered.


    ''Of course not.''


    "Of course I do."


    ''Ah!''


    Seems I was the only one who didn''t know.


    But listening to the details, it wasn''tpletely unfamiliar to me either.@@novelbin@@


    "The empire issues wanted orders for criminals based on their crimes and level of danger. Not just within the empire, but across the entire continent. Except for the Western Regions, there''s probably nowhere the wanted orders don''t reach."


    Right. I had actually met a criminal with a first-ss continental wanted order.


    Deshnan the Zookeeper (evil version). I even faced him and killed him.


    "There are five sses of wanted orders."


    From what I heard, ss 5 is for petty criminals.


    The ''continental'' modifier only applies from ss 1, and below that are just minor criminals.


    However, from ss 3 up they''re quite dangerous.


    The bounties are substantial, and when catching them they don''t care if they''re dead or alive. Many are wanted "Dead or Alive."


    Murderers are basically ss 3 or higher.


    "But why bring this up suddenly?"


    Obern asked the important point.


    "I''m currently working as a bounty hunter."


    Gasp!


    I wondered what Oliver was doing alone in the imperial capital. So he was doing such a romantic job...


    "...And?"


    "There''s a rumor spreading secretly. That an incredible big shot wanted criminal has appeared in the capital."


    Listening to this, Obern covered his face and wiped it dry.


    His eyes were slightly bloodshot.


    "So, you''re saying we should tell the Emperor about this?"


    His voice came out slightly trembling.


    It''s admirable he didn''t burst into tears about how we could capture the Emperor''s interest with mere information about a wanted criminal.


    "Yes, that''s right."


    "How could that work!"


    Would the Emperor be satisfied with information about a wanted criminal?


    Even I didn''t think so.


    But Oliver''s attitude was deadly serious.


    I too waited to hear what Oliver would say.


    "What if the one who appeared again in the capital is Oban VanKloss, the special ss wanted criminal?"


    "...!"


    Obern''s eyes grew wide.


    Who is Oban VanKloss!


    "Indeed..."


    Obern pondered for a moment.


    Oliver grinned.


    They''re having a conversation only they understand.


    "But is that even true?"


    "The credibility is quite high."


    "If he appeared again, the imperial army wouldn''t stay quiet."


    "It hasn''t been revealed yet. Only in Nahagu and the sewers ording to intelligence."


    Obern still looked like he didn''t believe Oliver.


    Looking at this, that criminal must be a real big shot among big shots.


    "It''s hard to believe, but it''s true. I even know that the Heaven Medicine Party controlling the drug dealers in Nahagu is connected to Oban VanKloss."


    Oliver ced his hand on his chest.


    "I swear. That this isn''t a lie. I bet my life... no, I bet Lady Rania''s honor."


    Oliver speaking like this somehow seemed desperate.


    "Do you perhaps have a connection to Oban VanKloss?"


    "He''s one of my revenge targets. Originally I couldn''t even dream of it but..."


    I stopped the conversation there.


    ''If you keep leaving me out and talking just between yourselves, I won''t let it slide.''


    Oliver and Obern made sheepish expressions.


    Oliver cleared his throat a few times and exined.


    "Oban VanKloss is a special ss wanted criminal of the continent."


    Indeed, there was special ss above ss 1 through 5.


    "He''s also one of the Nine Evils of the continent."


    Even I had to jump in surprise at this.


    ''So it really exists! Something like Nine Evils.''


    Three Stars, Seven Seats, Twenty-Four Beasts.


    The empire''s strongest.


    And if there were those, naturally there would be a list of viins too.


    That seemed to be the Nine Evils. The continent''s nine viins.


    ''What did he do to get a special ss wanted order?''


    Special ss criminals are watched even by the imperial pce.


    They are terrorists who carried outrge-scale attacks or traitors who rebelled against imperial authority.


    Oban VanKloss was both.


    "Hemitted terrorism at the parade grounds during a review ceremony. Over a hundred soldiers died, and over a hundred civilians died too."


    Oliver''s voice cracked as he said this.


    "My wife died then too."


    ''...''


    So he was married.


    I gently patted Oliver''s shoulder.


    "That was 8 years ago. The imperial army tried to capture Oban VanKloss but he seeded in escaping. It''s the army''s shame."


    Such a criminal could truly capture the Emperor''s interest.


    ''So that''s why you wanted revenge too, Oliver?''


    "To be honest... I couldn''t even dream of it originally."


    Oliver gave a bitter smile.


    "I have a kill list, but I never thought I could catch a big shot like Oban VanKloss myself. It''s shameful but..."


    Besides his wife''s matter, Oliver seemed to have his own circumstances.


    "If I can eliminate him even by borrowing the Emperor''s hand. That would be enough."


    That''s what Oliver said.


    This seemed like it could capture the Emperor''s interest.


    However, how to present this information to the Emperor.


    That was Obern''s job to figure out.


    ==


    If Obern had brazenly shouted to Emperor that he would deliver the head of the traitor Oban VanKloss, striding into the marble-columned throne room without proper introduction or ceremony, the Emperor would most certainly have snorted in contempt at such impudence and ordered his guards to cut off Obern''s head right there on the polished stone floor.


    To prevent such a fatal oue, they meticulously prepared their evidence first - Deshnan''s distinctive golden earring, its surface etched with the notorious criminal''s personal sigil, still stained with dried blood from hisst escape.


    Fortunately, the Emperor knew the significance of Deshnan all too well. The infamous thief and assassin''s reputation had spread through every corner of the empire, his crimes bing dark legends whispered in taverns and noble courts alike.


    Their n worked perfectly because Deshnan wasn''t just any wanted criminal - he was the very same mastermind who had repeatedly slipped through the previous emperor''s grasp, embarrassing the royal family time and time again. The old emperor had spent countless sleepless nights plotting Deshnan''s capture, emptying the royal coffers with ever-increasing bounties, only to be outmaneuvered at every turn.