Hearing the guard's report, Ileina smiled slightly.
"Why would our great hero need to request anything? Just come right in."
But she knew that if she didn't have the guard relay permission for her to enter, this rigid assassin would absolutely never come in.
"Alright, then tell her I allow her to enter."
"Yes!"
The guard bowed to Ileina and immediately ran out of the meeting room.
Before long, Catherine opened the door and walked in.
As soon as she entered, the members in the meeting room unanimously stood up and applauded her.
Hearing everyone's applause, Catherine didn't become arrogant, but simply bowed deeply to everyone in the meeting room.
After the applause faded, Catherine spoke:
"Mission accomplished without disgrace. The Blood Cult Leader assassination operation has been completed. Thank you all for trusting me."
Catherine paused, then continued:
"However, while executing the mission, I crossed the Northern Forest and went to the Elasia Empire."
Catherine's words startled everyone present.
"What? Crossed the Northern Forest?"
"Really?"
You have to understand, the Northern Forest was full of extremely powerful magical beasts everywhere, and even when the Holy Kingdom was at its strongest, they rarely set foot there.
So the "Night Shadow" unit actually took such a huge risk to complete their mission?
Catherine's determination earned the admiration of everyone present.
Military Commissioner Caroline gave Catherine a thumbs up.
"Actually, my previous suggestion didn't play any key role. What really played the key role was your determination and courage!"
Faced with everyone's praise, Catherine just shook her head.
"But very unexpectedly, we didn't encounter even a single magical beast in the Northern Forest."
Everyone wasn't too surprised to hear Catherine's words.
Internal Affairs Commissioner Adeline smiled at Military Commissioner Caroline:
"Perhaps this is what they call heaven protecting the virtuous."
Caroline also smiled:
"If you put it that way, didn't that charlatan who didn't encounter magical beasts also have heaven's protection? Too bad, in front of Catherine, none of that stuff works!"
Someone below also chimed in:
"Indeed, maybe that so-called bullshit deity was really protecting him, but unfortunately, in front of Catherine, all that stuff is useless!"
Catherine shook her head.
"The point I want to make isn't about crossing the Northern Forest, but about what happened after reaching the Elasia Empire."
Everyone was somewhat puzzled by Catherine's words.
The Elasia Empire? What could that possibly have to do with us?
After all, the Elasia Empire was ruled by that old bastard with equally rotten origins, and he couldn't possibly be interested in the current Holy Kingdom that was controlled by Blood Clans, in complete chaos, and filled with war everywhere.
Even if he wanted to take advantage of the Holy Kingdom's troubles, his army couldn't cross the Northern Forest where magical beasts roamed freely.
But when Catherine mentioned the Elasia Empire, Ileina, who usually maintained a relaxed expression, put on a very serious look.
"You said you went to the Elasia Empire?"
Catherine nodded.
"That's right."
"Did anything happen there?"
Caroline asked puzzledly.
"Yes, I met someone, and actually, this person was the one who eliminated the Blood Cult Leader."
Everyone immediately became interested.
The impatient Caroline urged:
"Stop being mysterious and tell us who it was."
Catherine nodded.
"It was Holy Princess Ileina's former close friend in the Elasia Empire, the princess of the Elasia Empire—Elashia."
"What!?"
Catherine's words instantly shattered the almost invariably composed expression on Ileina's face. Hearing this name from Catherine's mouth at this moment was like thunder striking her!
Ileina stood up with a "thud" and cried out to Catherine:
"You said Elashia?!"