Episode 5 of *Néro the Assassin* erupts into life as the Prince of Segur and the Archbishop convene Rochemort in a hushed, tension-laden chamber. They reveal to him that a message has arrived from Hortense, proclaiming her presence in Havreval. The prince, resolute and unyielding, dispatches his soldiers to retrieve her posthaste. Yet, amidst this whirlwind, another pressing matter looms large.
In her correspondence, Hortense has leveled a grave accusation against her father, alleging collaboration with a sorceress. The Archbishop, eyes gleaming with a fervent desire for retribution, is eager to mete out punishment to the consul.
Meanwhile, Néro's condition takes a dire turn. He resolves to escort Perla to the sanctuary of Port-Richet, where she will be shielded from harm and he can seek out an exorcist to vanquish the malevolent force within him. As they embark on their arduous journey towards the port, Néro endeavors to impart some rudimentary self-defense techniques to Perla, hoping to empower her against the lurking dangers.
The perilous odyssey proves to be a grueling test of endurance, with Néro's deteriorating health serving as a constant impediment. Their path is fraught with peril, and as they trudge onward, they find themselves beset by a band of ruthless thieves. Fortune, however, smiles upon them when the leader of the brigands, Artaud, recognizes Néro and, in a surprising twist of fate, spares their lives.
It transpires that Artaud and Néro share a storied past, having grown up together in the same orphanage and toiled under the yoke of Rochemort's tyranny. Artaud recounts how he narrowly escaped death during his flight from Rochemort's clutches, and he casts a suspicious gaze upon Néro, wondering if he was the assassin dispatched to end his life. Néro, with a steely resolve, vehemently denies any such involvement. In a bid to further deflect suspicion, he fabricates a tale, claiming Hortense as his wife.
At Artaud's encampment, they chance upon a disturbing sight: Artaud is engaged in the despicable trade of selling his prisoners. Among the captives is none other than Baron D’horville, a confidant of Rochemort. Hortense, her heart pounding with trepidation, fears that the baron might inadvertently divulge her true identity, unraveling the delicate web of deception she has so carefully woven.
However, Salome, Artaud's witch-like wife, unravels the truth with chilling clarity. She also coldly declares that Néro will meet his end in four days. Thankfully, Artaud, dismissive of her ominous words, warmly greets his friend. To solidify their deception, Hortense seduces Néro, and they share a night of passion.
Meanwhile, Lothar regards Horace as a naive fool for believing that Perla must die. The two part ways, with Lothar resolute in finding a way to deal with the looming threat of Rochemort. As he hunts down Néro, Lothar unexpectedly stumbles upon two of Rochemort’s assassins. With cunning persuasion, he convinces one of them to switch sides and testify against Rochemort in his upcoming trial in Segur. The female assassin, unyielding, kills her partner and trails Lothar, her intentions unknown.
Back at Artaud’s encampment, Néro continues to cough up blood, a grim sign of his deteriorating condition. Desperate for help, he seeks out Salome, only to be met with her cold refusal. That evening, Néro recounts to Artaud the tale of how he and Callista, his purported wife, first met. The story enrages Perla, as her father mentions her mother. Feeling suffocated, Néro steps outside for some fresh air, only to be confronted by the baron. The baron, in a desperate bid, threatens to expose Hortense’s true identity unless Néro saves him. Cornered and with no other choice, Néro kills the baron and frees the female hostages that Artaud had intended to sell to brothels.
Returning inside, he hastily warns Hortense just as Artaud’s men sound the alarm. Néro, Hortense, and Perla attempt to steal horses and make a dash for freedom, but their escape is thwarted. In a moment of desperation, Néro finally confesses the truth about Hortense and offers her to Artaud. He promises Artaud a hefty sum of 50,000 ducats for Hortense, requesting only a horse in return to take his daughter to the port.
The following morning, Hortense is livid upon learning that Néro has sold her for a mere horse. Her insults rain down upon him as he prepares to leave with an equally furious Perla. Unfortunately, Néro's farewell to Artaud is marred by an inadvertent slip—he unconsciously reveals his previous attempt to kill Artaud. Enraged, Artaud shoots him with an arrow and drags him back. He seizes Perla and Hortense as hostages, leaving Néro to hang on a pole, his life slowly ebbing away.
Back in Segur, Rochemort’s trial commences, but he vehemently denies all accusations. Just as the Archbishop is about to pass his sentence, a message arrives from Brother Penance. He has captured Neufontaine and sent the head of the leader as undeniable proof. He is on his way to Segur, where the nobles, desperate, turn to Rochemort for aid. However, Rochemort, ever calculating, proposes a more cunning plan, knowing his army cannot arrive in time to avert the crisis.
Rochemort hatches a daring plan: they will feign surrender to Brother Penance, presenting him with a counterfeit prince and offering the key to the city as a token of their submission. Once Brother Penance arrives, expecting a triumphant welcome, he will instead find himself ensnared in a web of deceit. The populace will greet him with feigned warmth, only to strike him down in the dead of night. Eager to broker the deal, Rochemort volunteers to meet with Brother Penance and negotiate the terms of this false capitulation. The Archbishop, swayed by Rochemort's confidence, dispatches two soldiers to accompany him.
Upon reaching Brother Penance's encampment, the two soldiers are swiftly dispatched, their lives extinguished by Brother Penance's ruthless hand. Rochemort, undeterred, steps forward to reveal the truth in a stunning reversal. He offers Brother Penance not just a city, but his entire army, in exchange for the right to mine the tin once Segur falls under Brother Penance's control. Brother Penance, intrigued by the unexpected turn, agrees to Rochemort's terms—but with a chilling caveat. He demands the death of the Prince and his family, including Hortense. On this matter, Rochemort stands firm, refusing to budge.
Meanwhile, the Segur Prince arrives at Artaud’s camp, his timely intervention saving Hortense from certain peril. Initially, he mistakes Perla for his beloved, but Hortense quickly corrects him, introducing herself and falsely claiming Perla as her lady-in-waiting, the Duchess of Vance. Before their departure, Hortense confides in Néro her schemes to keep Perla close in the palace and reduce Rochemort to a mere lackey. With a flick of her wrist, they leave Néro behind, dangling helplessly from a pole.
As they journey towards Segur, Hortense retracts her previous accusations against her father. She confesses to the Prince that she lied, driven by the revelation that her father had murdered her lover. Yet, she professes her readiness to marry the Prince, forging a political alliance that promises strength and stability. The Prince, blinded by relief, never suspects Hortense's duplicity.
Back at Artaud’s camp, a one-eyed woman arrives, her arrival heralding a twist of fate. She frees Néro from his predicament, asserting that Perla holds the key to saving the world. To prove her sincerity, she removes the poisonous necklace that had bound Néro and enlists his aid in locating Perla. Meanwhile, Horace stumbles upon a pregnant woman cowering beneath an overturned cart, her plight adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama.
