"That's only because Master doesn't like meat."
"Ieyasu, how long have you been in the Imperial Capital? You've already gotten noticeably fatter."
Tatsumi and Ieyasu had both grabbed the same piece of meat and started fighting over it. After winning it, Tatsumi teased Ieyasu.
After being transferred to become captains in the Security Force, they were able to eat the food provided by the Security Force for free every day.
Every meal, Ieyasu ate until he could not stuff another bite in. Even though he trained intensely every day, he still looked much fatter than before.
"You two are even fighting at the dinner table."
"Can't you just eat properly?"
Watching the two fight over food on the table, Sayo rolled her eyes at them.
Ever since they had been in the village, their rivalry had never stopped.
Yet Yorii Tsugikuni found the squabbling between them rather interesting.
Looking at them, he thought of his older brother.
How wonderful would it have been if he and his brother could have been like this?
Since I regained my youth, could my family have regained theirs as well?
As he ate the rice ball in his hand, a thought suddenly surfaced in Yorii Tsugikuni's mind.
Though the idea was absurd, he could not help feeling hopeful.
If that were true, perhaps his life could change.
"By the way, while I was out patrolling today, I saw many refugees heading into the city."
"It seems a famine has broken out in the southern region."
While eating, Sayo suddenly remembered something.
For the current Sayo, work had become a part of her life in many ways.
So even while eating, she could not help thinking about work-related matters.
"Come to think of it, I wonder how our hometown is doing."
"These past few years, droughts have caused many places across the Empire to suffer failed harvests for years in a row."
Hearing Sayo mention refugees appearing in the Imperial Capital, Sayo grew worried.
The three of them had already been away from their hometown for several months.
"When we get paid, we'll send money back."
"I just hope there won't be another terrible drought there this year."
Sayo's mention of their hometown made Tatsumi and Ieyasu stop fooling around.
The two became serious.
If the villagers back home had not pooled their money to send them out, the three of them would never have been able to reach the Imperial Capital.
Famine?
Sayo's news made Yorii Tsugikuni think of many things.
Over the course of his life, he had encountered many famines. After every famine, plagues and wars often followed.
Because of that, he began to worry about the Empire's future.
On the streets, carriages sped along one after another.
The elaborate decorations on those carriages made it clear that their passengers were either wealthy or powerful.
Carriages from every direction eventually gathered before a luxurious, heavily guarded estate.
Many people soon stepped down from the carriages.
Without even exchanging greetings, they quickly entered the estate.
After entering, they began waiting quietly in the reception hall.
As time passed, their numbers grew to several dozen.
Judging by their clothing, some were merchants, some were officials, and many were nobles. Yet not a single one dared to speak loudly.
They seemed to be waiting for some important figure.
"Greetings, my lord."
"Please uphold justice for us, my lord."
After the people in the reception hall had waited anxiously long enough for the servants to refill their tea five times, Honest entered with a stern expression.
Upon seeing Honest, everyone waiting in the hall hurriedly bowed to him. Each kept their head lowered, not daring to look Honest in the eye.
"Speak. What happened?"
Honest took his seat in the reception hall.
His indifferent gaze swept over everyone present, and his tone was full of authority.
Had Yorii Tsugikuni been there, he would certainly have been shocked. Honest at this moment seemed like a completely different person from the one he had met before.
"Many of our people have been arrested by Yorii Tsugikuni's Security Force members."
"He's only a minor Security Force captain, yet he doesn't give you the slightest respect, my lord."
An official stepped forward and explained why they had come to Honest.
His son had harassed a common girl in the Imperial Capital, and the girl had later drowned herself in the river.
Back when Oka was still in charge, the case had never been closed and had remained under investigation.
But shortly after Yorii Tsugikuni took over the Security Force, he swiftly closed the case.
His son was soon arrested by the Security Force.
During the arrest, he had subtly implied that he had been personally promoted by Minister Honest.
But to his surprise, it had been completely useless.
A Different Honest, Plans for the Future
"Oh?"
"So that's what this is about."
Hearing the official's words, Honest narrowed his eyes slightly.
He lightly tapped the armrest of his chair, still looking at the people in the hall with little change in expression.
"If he has not violated the Empire's laws, then all of you may leave."
"Let me offer you some advice: clean up your own messes. Do not drag me into them."
After pondering for a moment, Minister Honest slowly spoke. Though there was now a faint smile on his face, the pressure he gave off was far greater than before.
After hearing Honest's words, almost everyone present could scarcely believe their ears.
They had not expected Honest to yield on this matter.
Such a thing had never happened in the past.
Moreover, they could hear a threatening undertone in Honest's words.
This made them realize that Yorii Tsugikuni was even more troublesome than they had imagined.
Soon after making his stance clear, Honest left the reception hall.
"My lord, why are you letting Yorii Tsugikuni do as he pleases?"
Suzuka followed behind Honest. When they reached a deserted place, she asked curiously.
"Compared to those useless fools, someone like Yorii Tsugikuni is a true weapon."
Honest rubbed the signet ring on his finger. Having spent his entire life navigating officialdom, he naturally understood that something as insignificant as pride was not worth mentioning compared to gaining the protection of an exceptionally powerful expert.
As long as Yorii Tsugikuni did not openly oppose him, he would not easily provoke a conflict with the young man.
But even the finest weapon must be kept in check.
As he slowly walked toward his study, Honest began making his calculations.
As one of the Empire's highest-ranking officials, he had spent his life manipulating power and people. Naturally, he had ample experience in controlling subordinates.
In his eyes, Yorii Tsugikuni was an unpolished gem that still needed further refinement.
Late at night.
After gathering with everyone for a while.
Yorii Tsugikuni returned to his residence.
Since it was still early, Yorii Tsugikuni sat at his desk and began reading.
"An unfamiliar person is approaching... An unfamiliar person is approaching..."
Adai's green eyes suddenly lit up, and a mechanical alert sounded through the room.
Yorii Tsugikuni gently patted Adai on the head. He had already noticed the person outside the window.
"So this is your Imperial Arm. Its detection ability is quite strong."
A moth flew in through the window. After a brief flicker, Chelsea appeared before Yorii Tsugikuni.
Adai stood staring at her with a wooden sword in hand. Although the little mechanical figure looked somewhat comical, Chelsea inexplicably felt that it carried a trace of Yorii Tsugikuni's presence.
And it felt highly threatening.
"Why are you here?"
Seeing Chelsea appear, Yorii Tsugikuni looked at her in confusion.
Last time, he had made it very clear that he did not want any involvement with the Revolutionary Army.
"I was passing by, so I came to take a look."
Chelsea sat on the edge of the bed beside Yorii Tsugikuni.
Her main task lately had been to make contact with Yorii Tsugikuni. Naturally, she had not truly just been passing by, as she claimed.
Yorii Tsugikuni shook his head and gently patted Adai's mechanical hand, which rested on the hilt of the wooden sword.
Adai showed obvious hostility toward Chelsea, a stranger.
In fact, after imitating him for some time, Adai's current strength was roughly equal to Tatsumi's.
Yorii Tsugikuni had also gained a general understanding of this Imperial Arm's special ability.
It imitated its wielder and grew as a result.
As for how far it could grow, Yorii Tsugikuni could not say for certain.
"You've been searching for something all this time, haven't you?"
"Perhaps we of Night Raid might be able to help you."
Seeing that Yorii Tsugikuni was no longer paying attention to her, Chelsea did not get angry. Based on the information Lubbock had provided before, along with the several times she had interacted with Yorii Tsugikuni,
Chelsea discovered that Yorii Tsugikuni seemed to be looking for a certain place.
Before you continue