47: Night Raid's Position, An Invitation to a Banquet / 48: Appointed Captain, Personally Welcomed by a Big Shot

And they had also killed quite a few people from Minister Honest's faction.

"Such outstanding talent."

"Exactly what our Empire needs."

Minister Honest tapped his fingers against the armrest, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Someone who could stand against five Imperial Arms Users was, in a sense, comparable to Esdeath, one of the Empire's guardians.

And that person was said to possess no Imperial Arms.

If he were given an Imperial Arms, it was hard to imagine what kind of sight that would be.

At the thought, Minister Honest could not help but reveal a delighted smile.

He immediately took a great interest in the young man who had just arrived in the Imperial Capital.

A light rain began to fall from the sky.

A crow hopped about atop a gravestone.

After looking around, it soon flew down from the gravestone and pecked at a scrap of food.

Suddenly, as if it had heard something, it quickly flapped its wings and vanished.

A young woman slowly came to a stop before a gravestone.

She placed the bouquet in her hand before the grave.

"Master, I will avenge you."

"I won't spare a single member of Night Raid."

The young woman was Sayo. Two days had passed since Oka's death.

As she looked at her master's gravestone, Sayo's voice was full of sorrow.

Her reddened eyes were filled with hatred.

It could be said that the deaths of all the family she had lost were connected to the Revolutionary Army.

Thus, she hated Night Raid, an organization born from the Revolutionary Army, even more than before.

"It's raining."

Facing the gravestone before her, Sayo's tears finally fell.

Oka had been her master, and after she lost her father, he had become someone she regarded as a father.

She cried silently, without making a sound.

An umbrella suddenly appeared above her head. When she gently turned her head, she discovered that it was Yorii Tsugikuni.

"Thank you."

Although Yorii Tsugikuni had failed to save Oka earlier,

she was still deeply grateful to him.

At the very least, when facing so many members of Night Raid, Yorii Tsugikuni had been the only one who dared to step forward.

Night Raid's Attitude, Banquet Invitation

After staying by the cemetery for a while, Sayo and Yorii Tsugikuni headed back.

Koro followed behind Sayo, much quieter than usual.

"Yorii, don't worry. I've completely pulled myself together."

"I'm full of energy now. I can get back to work right away."

As they walked, the pale-faced Sayo broke the silence and smiled.

She clenched her fists to encourage herself, but she used too much force, making the gesture look less natural than usual.

Yet the trace of sorrow still lingering in her eyes could not be hidden no matter what she did.

"Mm."

Seeing Sayo's emotions stabilize so quickly, Yorii Tsugikuni felt relieved.

He had also experienced the feeling of losing family and friends.

He still remembered that bone-deep despair clearly.

Therefore, Yorii Tsugikuni could understand some of Sayo's pain.

He also knew perfectly well that Sayo had merely wrapped up her pain and hidden it deep within her heart.

After leaving the cemetery, Yorii Tsugikuni and Sayo boarded a carriage.

Come to think of it, it's nearly time to visit your grave again, Uda.

Sitting in the carriage, Yorii Tsugikuni watched the gravestones flash past.

He thought of his wife, Uda.

She had been the love of his life, and his greatest regret in this life.

Back when he had been in the Demon Slayer Corps, many young people had said they wanted to save the world from suffering and become selfless, great people.

But in Yorii Tsugikuni's eyes, everyone had the right not to be so selfless or great.

So his reason was simple: find that man, then... kill him.

The carriage moved forward slowly.

Before he realized it, Sayo, seated beside Yorii Tsugikuni, had fallen asleep.

Perhaps people instinctively sought out places of warmth and comfort, because Sayo unconsciously leaned against Yorii Tsugikuni's shoulder.

"Sayo?"

Yorii Tsugikuni had originally wanted to wake Sayo.

But when he saw Sayo curled up and sleeping soundly, he finally shook his head and gave up.

The girl who was usually as spirited as a little rooster now looked like a homeless kitten.

"Regarding Yorii Tsugikuni, unless it is necessary, we should not provoke him lightly in the future."

Sitting on the sofa, Nadjeshda lit an Imperial-brand cigarette. The ashtray on the table before her was stuffed full of smoked cigarette butts.

Exhaling a cloud of smoke, Nadjeshda looked at the somewhat dispirited members of Night Raid seated around her and made a decision.

Although their operation appeared to have suffered no losses, and they had not only killed Oka but also avoided any casualties,

the losses from this battle were greater than those from a battle with casualties.

This defeat had left the Revolutionary Army, which had used Night Raid to display its strength, utterly humiliated before the various forces of the Empire.

It completely shattered the powerful image they had worked so hard to establish.

This was an enormous loss for them. It directly caused some forces and individuals who had already been wavering and considering joining the Revolutionary Army to abandon the idea.

It rendered the long-term persuasion efforts of many of their comrades futile.

This was also Night Raid's greatest defeat since its founding.

"Are we just giving up like this?"

Brood was somewhat unwilling, but when he recalled the night Yorii Tsugikuni had utterly dominated him, his proud head could not help but lower.

His battle against Yorii Tsugikuni had been the most stifling fight he had experienced since becoming an Imperial Arms User.

When facing Yorii Tsugikuni, he had felt like a bull, while Yorii Tsugikuni had been a matador holding a red cape.

Every one of his charges had felt as though it struck nothing but air.

"If we did it again... one more time, I would definitely... hit him."

Mine was also unconvinced. During that battle, she had aimed at Yorii Tsugikuni several times.

But Yorii Tsugikuni had easily dodged every time, leaving Mine, who had wanted to say a few harsh words, sounding far less confident.

"That guy isn't human at all."

Leone took a swig of wine, then instantly clenched her fist and crushed the bottle in her hand.

She looked at her hands, whose swelling had already subsided, and still felt lingering fear when she recalled that day. If Yorii Tsugikuni had not used the back of his blade,

both of her hands would probably no longer exist.

"Actually, he should be a decent person."

Sheele sat in a corner and gently adjusted her glasses.

Even now, she could recall Yorii Tsugikuni's deep eyes.

Although they had fought Yorii Tsugikuni fiercely, he had never shown any killing intent toward them from beginning to end.

Akame sat nearby, stuffing herself with food. She seemed to have little interest in the others' discussion.

"But he is still a problem."

Leaning against the wall, Lubbock tugged at the nearly transparent threads in his hands, still able to feel the fear in his heart.

But the pride of a young man would not allow him to speak words of surrender.

Everyone fell silent.

Since Night Raid's founding, this was the first time they had chosen to avoid someone's edge because of a single person.

At the entrance to the Security Force.

Yorii Tsugikuni had just stepped down from the carriage with Sayo when he saw a young woman dressed in a long skirt, skirted trousers, and boots, playing with her long nails.

"You must be Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Suzuka. Lord Honest has sent me to invite you to a banquet."

Suzuka sized Yorii Tsugikuni up. Seeing that his youthful face did not quite match the astonishing strength described in the rumors, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

She took out an invitation, held it with both hands, and offered it to Yorii Tsugikuni.

"Lord Honest?"

Having only been in the Imperial Capital for a short time, Yorii Tsugikuni was still unfamiliar with the name Honest.

So he instinctively looked toward Sayo beside him.

"Then thank Lord Honest for his invitation."

Unlike Yorii Tsugikuni, who was unfamiliar with Honest,

Sayo naturally knew this important figure of the Imperial Capital well. When she heard that Honest wanted to invite Yorii Tsugikuni, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

After all, people like them rarely had the chance to come into contact with the Empire's upper ranks.

But after her surprise faded, Sayo quickly understood. The strength Yorii Tsugikuni had displayed earlier was indeed enough to draw the attention of Imperial officials at that level.

Taking the invitation for Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo indicated that she would explain it to him shortly.

Becoming Captain General, A Great Figure's Personal Welcome

"Then I look forward to Mr. Yorii Tsugikuni's arrival."

After delivering the invitation to Yorii Tsugikuni, Suzuka quickly departed.

"Honest is one of the Empire's upper ranks. He..."

As she walked into the Imperial Guard with Yorii Tsugikuni, Sayo began telling him about Minister Honest.

Before long, Yorii Tsugikuni had gained some understanding of Minister Honest.

Only then did he learn that this minister held such a high position.