Within hours of the declaration, inspections began.
Sam coordinated with Liselotte's handpicked guards and used his spirit arts to detect hidden wards and concealed magical traps. He moved like a ghost, uncovering blood-stained rituals and hidden chambers beneath manors that had once been untouchable.
Sam (gritting his teeth):
"These people fed on suffering… they turned spirit beasts into fuel."
Ren, his wife and silent shadow, helped him fight off dark spirits that had been unleashed in desperation by fleeing conspirators.
Meanwhile, Jon, despite still healing, personally led the raid on House Belthrone, the largest and most dangerous of the noble houses. With his single eye glowing faintly from focused spirit vision, he cut down corrupted knights with brutal precision. He didn't use Gyūki's chakra—he didn't need to.
Jon (to a fallen enemy):
"I lost my eye protecting what you would've destroyed. Consider this justice."
Back at the council chambers, Liselotte sat with her advisors and drafted new reforms—laws that would limit noble power, protect spiritfolk trade, and fund healing for spirit beasts harmed by extraction.
That night, as moonlight spilled across Amande, Liselotte stood on a balcony with Jon and Sam.
Liselotte (softly):
"I couldn't have done this without you both."
Sam (smiling):
"Just don't make me wear noble robes. I'm still adjusting to belts and boots."
Jon (with a smirk):
"You're a lord now, Sam. Deal with it."
Liselotte's laughter was like wind chimes in the spring breeze. But in her heart, she felt something more—gratitude, admiration… and the first signs of affection toward the man who had bled to protect her.