After a brief, stony silence, Edward spoke in a low voice.

"I will grant you this: tracking me down and even finding the Seven Arcs with such paltry clues was impressive."

"Am I supposed to thank you for the recognition?"

Even among the Liberation Brigade's twelve ghosts, Edward had prided himself on his ability to plot from the shadows. Being caught so easily was therefore deeply humiliating, a bitter blow to his pride.

Yet although he was angry, he did not lose his composure. He merely drew an object from inside his clothes as he spoke coldly.

"But coming here alone was your mistake."

"Then why are you taking out a paintbrush? Planning to paint something here?"

"I do intend to paint."

As Limon watched dubiously, Edward swept his blood-red brush through the air. The instant a strange shape took form in midair, the shadow at Edward's feet writhed and rose. Limon narrowed his eyes as it assumed the shape of a familiar monster.

"... I see. I thought it tasted a little strange for blood. It was paint all along, was it?"

"True art changes reality."

Edward smiled coldly. Stroking the shadow monster that had risen beside him, he continued.

"You were fortunate enough to survive last time thanks to Countess Rose. You will not be so lucky today."

"Hmm. That sounds like you're saying I was the target when you sent these monsters to attack us before."

"You only just realized that?"

"No, I figured that out a while ago."

Limon scratched his cheek. He had suspected that the attack was aimed at him. Rose had told him that, apart from when Jessica died, the only time the shadow monsters had openly appeared before her was when the two of them were attacked during the Misty hours.

Besides, there had apparently been a prophecy that 'Lee' would threaten the Liberation Brigade, so he could understand why he had been targeted. There was just one problem.

"I still don't understand why you used such a crude method."

"... A crude method?"

"You're the sort who never steps into the open, just manipulates people from behind the scenes. Why did you make such an obvious move that time?"

"Because you had the insolence to associate with Countess Rose."

"Hmm?"

Limon blinked at the unexpected answer. Then, seeing the unmistakable emotion in Edward's eyes—something other than anger—he looked incredulous.

"Don't tell me you attacked me out of jealousy just because I walked around London with the countess?"

"Watch your tongue. Countess Rose is not a woman some lowborn wretch like you may freely speak of or even look upon."

"But you can?"

"Only a perfect woman like her is worthy of becoming the Crown Princess of the British Empire."

Limon was dumbfounded.

"Is that really something the man who plotted behind the scenes to corner House Seaserpent should be saying?"

"That was in service of a great undertaking."

"A great undertaking... Don't tell me you mean your ambition to sweep aside both House Seaserpent and the Magus Guild and seize control of the British Empire?"

"It is not ambition. It is a righteous cause."

Edward's reply was categorical. His eyes blazing with conviction, he glared at Limon and continued.

"House Seaserpent has forgotten loyalty in its efforts to show mercy to the ignorant masses, and the Magus Guild is too vulgar to know honor. Thus, I shall guide them onto the proper path."

The British Empire belonged to its king by right. It was only natural that House Seaserpent and the Magus Guild should swear loyalty to him. He could make the British Empire richer and stronger—a true empire that held dominion over not merely Europe, but the entire world. That, he declared, was true 'justice,' a true 'righteous cause.' Watching Edward assert all this without the slightest doubt in his eyes, Limon gave a hollow laugh.

"You think everything will go your way?"

"It already is."

The moment he heard that, Limon furrowed his brow. It was not merely because his long years of experience had revealed the meaning behind Edward's words. He had realized what the faint commotion he had begun hearing in the distance a little earlier actually was.

"... You've thrown all of London into chaos."

"You are quick on the uptake, as expected."

Edward continued with a cold smile.

"The only reason I could not move my works until now was that they were bound by the Great Barrier of London. But thanks to the Monarch of Magic, that tiresome curse is gone."

"And now, when the monsters you've unleashed tear through London, its citizens will condemn the Magus Guild for removing the barrier."

"And House Seaserpent's reputation will hit rock bottom for failing to protect London."

"So you'll make the Magus Guild and House Seaserpent fight over who's responsible, escalate the conflict, and finally swallow them both whole?"

"All the preparations are complete. All that remains is to carry them out."

Having heard that much, Limon frowned.

"And you don't care whether London's citizens die in droves in the process?"

"The losses will not be that great. Even if they are, any true Briton should consider it an honor to sacrifice themselves to build a great British Empire."

"... Yeah. You're a real Liberation Brigade son of a bitch, all right."

Limon's expression turned icy. Ryu Gang-cheol, Bellows, and Eugene had all been merciless killers, but even they had not been bastards of this magnitude. At least they knew they were villains. Edward, however, took others' sacrifices for granted with his absolute belief in his own superiority, never doubting that he embodied justice. His attitude was downright revolting.

"Babble all you wish. You will die here regardless."

Edward paid no heed to the disgust in Limon's eyes. He simply gave a cold order.

"Dispose of him."

SSSSSS.

Watching the shadow monster charge at Limon on his command, Edward was certain of his death. The public knew him as a mere player in the level forties, but his true level was 92. In particular, the shadow monster he had summoned with 『Purgatory Sketchbook』 was not something a mere musician could handle. At least, that was what he believed.

SH Slash!

"...?!"

"If you're a picture, stay stuck to the floor like one. Why the f*ck are you running around?"

... Until Limon split the shadow monster in two with a mere twitch of one finger, that is.

Edward was stunned only briefly at seeing his shadow monster destroyed in a single blow. As befitted a duke-class player, he quickly regained his composure and immediately moved his brush again.

SSSSSS.

With every sweep of his brush, shadow monsters sprang from the floor like mushrooms after rain. The sight of countless monsters, each comparable to a typical high-level player, rising and charging would normally have been enough to inspire despair. The problem was that Limon was anything but normal.

SH Slash!

Every movement of his finger sent a flash through the air, splitting the shadow monsters apart. Edward's eyes widened as dozens of them were cut to pieces in the blink of an eye.

"So you had a little trick hidden away."

"A little trick it is, but it's still enough to cut your head off."

"... You do not know your place."

"We'll have to see which of us doesn't know his place, won't we?"

Killing intent rose within Edward. Given the prophecy that this man would bring disaster to the Liberation Brigade, a display of this much ability was unexpected, but not shocking. The sneer on Limon's face, however, wounded his pride.

That was why he decided to use a certain unique skill a little earlier than planned.

"『Constellation Descent Ⅹ』, Kaiser."

FLASH!

The moment he activated Constellation Descent, the unique skill granted only to the Liberation Brigade's twelve ghosts, Edward underwent a transformation. Mechanical armor extended from behind his back and encased his entire body, while the blood-red brush in his hand stretched out as long as a spear.

Now radiating an explosive presence, Edward smiled coldly.

"Do you understand your place now, lowborn wretch?"

Edward's voice brimmed with confidence. With the 'Artist Who Paints Hell' inhabiting his body, he was now a match for a Monarch. Whatever hidden talents Limon possessed, he could not possibly contend with Edward as he was now. Although this power would last only until the Star Spirit Machine's durability ran out, that was more than enough time to kill Limon and turn London upside down.

"Yeah, I understand."

Had the sheer overwhelming power numbed his senses? Limon nodded calmly. Taking something out of the case on his back, he continued in a low voice.

"And thanks for calling down your constellation so quickly. Now I won't have to waste time dragging this out."

"... What?"

As Edward looked puzzled at those inexplicable words, Limon released the sword thread in his hand. Gripping the sword he had drawn from the case instead, he took a light step.

One step to close the distance.

One step into the opening in Edward's mind.

One step to cut through Edward's shoulder.

SLICE.

Only after Limon had taken those three steps did Edward sense that something was missing and slowly turn his head. His eyes widened at his shoulder, with nothing beneath it, and the arm lying on the floor, still clutching the brush.

"Aaaaargh!"

Edward screamed as the agonizing pain finally hit him, clutching his shoulder as blood spurted from it. Watching him, Limon sneered.

"What's all the fuss over one measly arm? The other ghosts kept coming at me until they fucking died."

"Y-you... Don't tell me...!"

Even as he writhed in pain, those words snapped Edward back to his senses. The ability to sever his arm before he could even perceive it, despite the Monarch-level power he had gained through Constellation Descent—even allowing for his carelessness. The mention of the other ghosts. Above all, the sword in Limon's hand brought one person to Edward's mind.

"Limon Aspelder!"

"Show some respect, brat. Who said you could throw your elder's name around like that?"

"Yes... It was you. It was you from the start! You accursed plague!"

Edward gritted his teeth. He should have realized it when the prophecy named this man as the spark that would threaten the Liberation Brigade's very existence. There could not possibly have been another being as terrible as this plague, who had already driven three of the twelve ghosts to their deaths.

His mistake had been failing to realize that Lee and Limon were the same person, thanks to the flawless disguise and his preconceived notion that the Sword Lord would never stoop to playing music. But now it was too late. Having let his guard down because he thought his opponent a mere musician, Edward had been cornered before he could even properly wield his constellation's power.

"A man called the Sword Lord, concealing his identity and launching a treacherous surprise attack! You have no honor—!"

"You're one to talk."

How dare he speak of honor when all he had ever done was conceal his identity and use other people? Mocking Edward, Limon continued coldly.

"So, any last words?"

"...!"

Sensing the killing intent in Limon's icy eyes, Edward's face stiffened. He was arrogant, but not stupid. He would have avoided facing Limon even with his body intact. With one arm already gone, he could immediately grasp that resistance was impossible.

'I'm going to die like this?'

'Me, the Crown Prince of the British Empire?'

'Just because I failed to recognize this man's identity and let my guard down for a moment?'

He trembled briefly at the unbelievable reality. Then something occurred to him, and Edward shouted reflexively.

"My works will not disappear even if you kill me! No, they will run amok and rampage until they destroy London!"

"You expect me to believe that lie?"

"It is not a lie!"

Edward cried out desperately. 『Purgatory Sketchbook』 was not some simple summoning skill. In truth, it was a dimensional skill that used paintings to connect reality with another dimension, the 'Shadow World.'

His paintings were therefore doors that called beings from the Shadow World into reality, but also restraints that kept them from encroaching upon reality more than necessary. Moreover, he had already left his paintings throughout London in preparation for any unforeseen emergency.

Of course, if Edward died, those paintings would lose their power within a day. Until then, however, they would run rampant, spewing out an endless stream of monsters. It was precisely because of that danger that the skill bore the name Purgatory.

"Hmm. Is that so?"

For the moment, Limon accepted it. Cases in which summoned creatures went berserk upon their summoner's death were hardly rare.

"Then cancel the skill right now."

"What?"

"Get rid of all the shadow monsters you made. Surely you can at least cancel your own skill?"

"Don't be absurd!"

Edward shouted indignantly. It was obvious that Limon would kill him immediately if he did such a thing. Indeed, he had prepared that insurance precisely to use in a situation like this. Of course, he had never imagined he would have to play this card against someone other than Rose or Karl.

"You will hand over the Seven Arcs and leave this place at once! Otherwise, I will make my works run amok immediately!"

"You're saying I should do as you tell me if I don't want to watch London's citizens get slaughtered indiscriminately?"

"Precisely!"

Perhaps it was so absurd that he could no longer even feel angry. Limon regarded Edward for a moment with dry, emotionless eyes. Then, as though confirming one last time, he asked again in an unusually languid, subdued voice.

"So you want to try taking hostages against me?"

Had Yu Na-gyeong been there, she would have instinctively covered her face with both wings. Edward, however, smiled coldly.

"Interpret it however you wish. But remember that the lives of London's citizens lie in my hands."

"... Then it can't be helped."

Limon nodded. The instant Edward's face lit up with elation at the sight, a streak of light passed across his neck.

SLICE!

His head dropped to the floor, eyes still wide as if he could not believe what had happened to him even at the very end. Watching the body collapse, blood spraying like a fountain, Limon spoke in an icy voice.

"If you were going to take hostages, you should've chosen your opponent more carefully."

He did not negotiate with hostage-takers. For a moment, he gazed impassively at the corpse of Edward, who had made the worst possible choice because he did not know that ironclad rule—a rule all the more absolute for its simplicity.

"... So it's going according to plan after all."

After absorbing all the fragments of starlight that seeped out of Edward's body, Limon turned and swung his sword lightly.

CRACK.

The statue in the center of the concealed chamber split neatly into left and right halves, at last revealing a glass case. Limon looked at it—or, more precisely, at the single object inside it—with a curious expression. Then he took the whole thing and turned around.

Listening to the screams that had grown louder from the moment Edward died, he murmured softly.

"Sure enough, the older you get, the more you need insurance."