Sunday, 07.05.2364

For nearly two days, Finn had stayed almost continuously in his room.

After being released from captivity, he returned to his quarters to recover from the wounds he had recently sustained—those from his fight with Kawao and the punishment inflicted by Feratu.

One day, Feratu would pay for everything he had done to him over the years.

Of that, Finn was certain.

Most of his wounds had healed by now. Only a few bruises remained here and there, along with a bandage wrapped around his torso that seemed to shrink a little more with each passing day.

He left his room only to eat.

While the other commanders helped with the city’s reconstruction, he remained in the garrison.

Yet he felt no guilt about it.

Unlike most other commanders, Finn was well-liked by the citizens. They knew he came from the lower class before working his way up.

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And they knew he treated them well, befriending and helping them whenever possible, instead of controlling them through fear, hatred, and despair.

That’s why Finn was confident the people of the city wouldn’t hold a grudge against him, even though he had destroyed half the city.

They knew he would never do something like that intentionally.

But if he were to help with the reconstruction now, the other commanders would bully him again. And he couldn’t afford to fight back, not while he was in such a precarious position.

It would also harm the morale of the citizens if they saw him in such a state.

He sighed quietly to himself.

What would become of him?

Suddenly, a small flame shot through his window and landed in a corner of the room.

The flame didn’t shatter the glass but passed through it like a ghost.

Finn immediately knew what it was.

A messenger flame.

A special flame that carried a message only accessible to its intended recipient.

The flame hovered slowly from the corner to his outstretched hand, where it landed. It felt slightly cool to the touch.

Quickly, a red and gold silhouette formed within the fire—the silhouette of the Emperor!

“Fetu!

Proceed immediately with your unit to Kaisan and deliver your report to me.

Afterward, you will receive your judgment!”

The Emperor’s firm and resolute voice resounded.

Moments later, the flame vanished, leaving behind a small symbol on Finn’s palm—a golden phoenix encircling a flame.

The symbol indicated that the message had come directly from the Emperor.

Finn took a deep breath and prepared to leave.

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Later that same day, Finn departed for Kaisan with his unit.

As he had expected, the citizens of Kurani did not greet him with hateful looks.