Catherine's eyes opened slowly.
The first thing she felt was cold steel pressed against her throat.
Her arms were bound tightly to the chair, her body locked in place. The slightest movement would be enough to draw blood.
She took a controlled breath.
'That son of a bitch finally grew some balls,' she thought grimly. 'Kidnapping me instead of causing nuisances…'
'But how did he do it,' Then another possibility that was far worse surfaced in her mind.
'Or Hudson broke through… No. That's not possible.'
At first, she assumed Simon was responsible, but that explanation unravelled almost immediately.
To capture her inside her own mansion, past her guards required strength far beyond what Simon currently possessed.
Unless he had someone who was Master rank.
That thought sent genuine fear across her face.
If Hudson had advanced… she knew she was done for.
"Why are you so scared?" a calm voice asked. "I haven't even said a thing yet."
The speaker stepped into her line of sight.
Catherine's gaze lifted.
The man moved with unhurried confidence, as if this situation demanded none of his concern.
He took a seat across the desk, a golden goblet in one hand and a crystal sceptre resting casually against the other.
Her fear froze as shock replaced it entirely.
"Y… Your Majesty?" she said, the words slipping out somewhere between a question and disbelief.
"Yes?" Alexander replied mildly, watching her closely.
Catherine immediately put the calm mask on; however, her mind was spiralling.
'Why am I here... How much do they know… How did they find me… Wasn't the Imperial family supposed to be weak?'
She forced herself to bow her head, even with the blade at her neck and her body bound.
"I, Catherine Smith, greet Your Majesty." Her voice was as steady as it could possibly be.
Fighting was not an option; she knew that better than anyone.
The records left behind by the previous leaders of the Argus Giant Eyes. Trying to fight the Imperial Guard within the palace walls was suicide.
Some even described the palace itself as a weapon, however none of them had ever been able to explain how or why.
She had tried to gather intelligence, several times from the palace but after the third time she simply gave up.
Alexander acknowledged her greeting with a small nod, then simply stared.
The silence stretched forcing Catherine to break it.
"Your Majesty… may I ask why you have summoned me?"
Instead of answering, Alexander tilted his head slightly.
"I didn't know the daughter of the Smith family was talented enough to reach Level Five Expert."
She understood immediately.
He was toying with her.
So, she responded with the safest words she could think off.
"It is by the will of Your Majesty."
Alexander exhaled softly, unimpressed.
'I agree that I am a little arrogant,' he thought. 'But that answer is just ridiculous.'
He gave up playing and set the goblet down.
"I know you are the leader of Argus within the capital," Alexander said. He did not wait for her response. "Normally, I would execute you and your entire family for this level of betrayal."
Catherine remained silent, her expression unreadable.
"But" he continued, "I changed my mind."
He opened a drawer in the desk and withdrew a scroll etched with glowing runes. A magical contract.
"Your talent is to my liking," Alexander said calmly. "So, I will offer you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Your Majesty," Catherine said immediately, denying everything.
Alexander frowned as he stared at her.
"Then I suppose I'll contact Simon instead."
He turned slightly toward Victor. "Drag her outside and kill her… I don't want her blood in here."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Victor replied.
The moment his hand closed around her arm, Catherine immediately changed her mind.
"Wait," she said quickly. "I was stupid."
She could tell Alexander was not bluffing.
No one knew she was here, meaning she would vanish without a trace.
Simon would take her place, and she was certain he would sign whatever was placed in front of him without hesitation.
With Simon at the helm of the group… most of her loyal subordinates would not survive very long.
"I don't care," Alexander replied casually, not even looking at her.
Victor began pulling her toward the door.
Realizing she was seconds from death, Catherine threw everything she had left onto the table.
"I know more about Argus than Victor does," she said urgently. "And I can help you seize all eight branches."
Victor stopped.
"I also know where the entire central Imperium archives are hidden," she continued. "I promise, Simon doesn't."
"Wait," Alexander finally said.
Victor stopped dragging and stepped back but his blade returned to her neck.
Alexander pointed toward the desk. "Sign the contract."
Catherine swallowed.
"I've signed a lot of contr…"
She stopped when she realised Alexander's gaze had turned cold.
Without another word, she dragged the contract toward herself. She bit into her palm, pressed her blood against the parchment, and pushed her mana into the runes.
The contract flared.
"Good."
[You have successfully captured 'Argus Giant Eyes' (Imperial Capital Branch)]
[You have gained 1,000 Kingdom Points]
[You have subdued a Special-Grade subordinate]
[You have received 1,000 Kingdom Points]
[Name: Catherine Smith]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Shapeshifter]
[Rank: Expert (5)]
[Special Abilities: Dagger Fury (B), Morph (B)]
"So," Alexander said, reading the notifications, "you only control the Imperial Capital Branch?"
He waved a hand.
Victor removed the blade from Catherine's neck and began unbinding her.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Catherine replied, flexing her wrists once they were free.
She wondered how he knew so much already, but she kept that thought to herself.
"My grandfather once controlled the entire Central Imperium network," she explained. "Unlike the other six branches, ours had no Duke suppressing us since the Imperial family was too occupied at the time."
Her jaw tightened slightly.
"Before we could grow too strong, the other six branches united and forced my grandfather to break his contracts across the Central Imperium Region."
Alexander nodded. "And who controls it now?"
"Hudson," Catherine answered. "He's a commoner so he has no last name. I believe he's on the verge of reaching Master rank."
"I see," Alexander said. "That explains your fear when you woke up."
Catherine nodded once.
"Very well," Alexander said after a brief pause. "Alfred will handle your Simon problem."
'Alfred?'
Her breath caught, she turned just as Alfred appeared beside her.
A chill ran down her spine.
'So that was why.'
She bowed her head immediately.
"And I have a task for you," Alexander continued. "Send a message to the Reus Patriarch. Tell him your spies intercepted information suggesting the order to kill his son originated from the Palace. Inform him that a council meeting will be held tomorrow."
Catherine nodded. "It will be done."
Alexander turned his gaze to the two men beside him.
"Alfred. Victor. You both know what to do."
The room fell silent.
Catherine waited a few seconds before asking, "Your Majesty… what changes do you want me to make in the agency?"
Alexander glanced at her with a smile, "For now, keep doing what you do. I will decide the next step once we are done."
"Yes, Your Majesty" Catherine bowed.
"You are all dismissed… get to work."