Headed by a Snake

Lieutenant Shao Ran returned to the Vanzano Estate a few bells afterward...

He had tried his best to resuscitate the kid, but his basic training never taught him how to un-kill a boy punched so hard, his insides exploded. He ended up burying the body in the depths, a few malms off the coast-- underneath some heavy rocks, too. No one would find him there... not unless they were able to breathe underwater like he could.

He sterilized the kid's heirloom sword with a burst of his Golden Crow flames and left it in a trash heap behind an Olea Garden. No fingerprints, no mana signature, no witnesses. No one would be able to track the murder back to him...

Ran had done a lot of questionable things in his life, and this was easily in the top ten...

The top five, at least.

Maybe top three.

"Lieutenant Ran!" A voice called out for him.

Sea god's shitebox.

Ran resisted the urge to run away and dive back into the waters. The Sea Wolf fleet was known for their speed, having the fastest ships in the Royal Navy. He could be half-way back to Port Saint Guinefort by now...

He could swim there without his ship if he wanted to.

Ultimately, it didn't matter. Either he'd be crucified in the Holy Country or he'd sail back to the Kingdom to be keelhauled by the High-Captain...

With a reluctant heart, Ran turned to the voice. As he thought, it was Tycon, the green-haired, golden-eyed noble... and the only Lieutenant in the Fleet that was paid less than he was.

He took a deeeeep breath.

"Fancy seein' you here, Ty!" Ran laughed heartily, just like a normal, not-suspicious person would, "Ha ha ha! I'm so surprised that I'm laughing! I'll do it again: Laugh laugh laugh!"

"Right..." Tycon narrowed his eyes... "And please do not call me that. I prefer my friends and close allies call me Tycon."

"Sure, sure! Yeah! My bad! Ha! Haha!" Ran was laughing so hard and so not-suspiciously that tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

The noble pursed his lips, "Walk with me, Brother-Lieutenant. I wish to discuss Athena's training."

That was fine. Athena's training was fine. Athena was a genius. And she was alive, too.

Shao Ran walked alongside Tycon as they headed towards the training area, "I gave her a training regimen in the morning. She's good. She's real good."

The back of his neck was drenched with sweat. He thought those same, exact thoughts about Chaleb Moretti.

"Concerning Athena... remember to train her hard, but to avoid injury." Tycon warned, "You recall that most humans do not have the regenerative capabilities of a Sea Wolf?"

"EEEEEEyeahhhhhhh!!!" Ran spoke up... much louder than he intended.

"Excellent," Tycon nodded. "Ensure she has a proper rest cycle, as well."

Shao Ran clenched his eyes shut, "Y-yeah. I sent the other kid to uh... rest."

Permanently.

"Very well..." Tycon grimaced... "As you know... Sol Invictus' goal is to restore the name of House Vanzano. The young lady winning the upcoming martial tournament is imperative to our plans. It will both boost Athena's popularity and grant our financial officer, Sorina, a strong foothold to open new business locations. From what I've been told, Trade City Caeruleum's influence is not small."

"Y-yeah. We'll win, for sure," Ran laughed uneasily. "Death to the enemies of Sol Invictus! We're the best! Unmatched, even!"

Tycon chuckled, shaking his head and smiling. The two walked in silence for a moment... which felt like ages to Ran.

He was glad Tycon didn't have a heart-reading ability or anything like that. If he was facing Lieutenant Eilian, the High-Captain's second-in-command... by now, he'd have been pierced throat-hole to other-hole by a water spear thicker than a ship mast.

"Brother-Lieutenant, I wish for Miss Athena to not only be the best in her class... but the greatest that both Sol Invictus and the Sea Wolf Hidden Sect are capable of producing. For all intents and purposes, I want her to be able to carry her house's name by her own power, alone."

Ran nodded slowly... It was what any teacher wanted for their students... to be better than they are.

The green-haired noble sighed, "It has been very difficult to rely on anyone else..."

Tycon stopped and abruptly turned, placing his hands on Ran's shoulders.

Ran's mouth twitched. Had he been found out?

No, there was no way. Tycon was still smiling...

"Brother-Lieutenant, I have seen you fight. I have seen your heart. And above all, I am proud to name you as kin."

Ran gulped as his heart pounded in pride... and thrice-harder in guilt. This situation was all wrong!

"There are three people that I trust unreservedly in this estate..." Tycon confided, "There is Sorina Capulet, who I trust on all matters concerning business. There is Athanasius Mors, who I trust to defend Athena Vanzano with his very life..."

Tycon grinned, placing his fist upon his chest, "And there is you, Lieutenant Shao Ran... Brother-Ran. You are the only one I can trust to train our Guild Letalis... with the honor of your sect and the professionalism of your station as an Officer of Marines."

Ran bowed his head deeply, "Brother-Tycon... I... I...."

He had to tell him. He just had to!

Tycon shook his head, chuckling derisively, "Honestly, if I didn't have at least one person I could rely on for this, I'd have considered leaping off of one of Silva's rocky cliffs."

"Blood and thunder..." Ran saluted crisply... though his voice quavered in uncertainty and his volume was pathetic.

He couldn't tell Tycon the truth-- not anymore. His eyes stung from the threat of tears. He felt like crying, he really did.

"Victory at sea, Brother-Ran," Tycon patted Ran's shoulder before returning the salute. "And thank you for listening to my complaints. Only you, I have full faith in, to execute and complete your mission without fail."

"Y-yeah... I got'cha, Tycon." Ran averted his gaze, "Without fail. For sure..."