Liva

In other words, techniques like this were suited for dealing with enemies within a certain range. Any farther away, and she could only attack with large-scale techniques.

For example, crudely using water columns to attack...

Besides controlling water, Lilith had also been practicing her ability to control ice.

Compared to water, ice was more stable, and some techniques were more powerful than those involving water. However, controlling ice consumed far more energy than controlling water.

But as a vampire, the thing Lilith feared least was expenditure.

At present, terrain was what most affected Lilith's strength.

She could now condense water molecules in the air into balls of water, but there was simply too little water.

Lilith wondered whether there was a Teigu capable of expanding her sensory range. That way, she could determine whether there was groundwater underground, then draw it out for battle.

That would certainly be a spectacular sight!

The next day, Ozneth sent someone to inform her that the selection for Teigu users was about to begin, asking whether she wanted to go watch.

Although not just anyone could wield a Teigu, if the pool was broad enough, there would always be one or two lucky people capable of using one.

After several days of preparation, several hundred candidates for Teigu users had been selected.

Then, they were tested one by one to see whether they were truly suited to becoming Teigu users.

Esdeath was quite interested in this selection, since they would be her future subordinates.

Lilith, however, had no interest in it and did not go.

Lilith guessed that Esdeath was interested in the selection because she had been too bored in the Imperial Capital and wanted to get out for some fresh air.

After all, the battlefield was the most comfortable place for Esdeath.

"Someone."

"My lady, what are your orders?" A servant dressed as a maid walked over.

"Has anything happened recently?"

Lilith had not left the house these past few days, so all her news of the outside world came from the maids.

"If you're asking about major events, I heard that General Liva, who had been stationed outside, was escorted back to the Imperial Capital on charges of treason."

"Liva?"

Lilith remembered. He seemed to be one of the Three Beasts under Esdeath.

However...

The reason Liva had been slapped with those baseless charges seemed to be that he had not offered tribute to Ozneth.

Ozneth had then stripped him of his position as general and had him escorted back to the Imperial Capital.

However, Liva's case did not have much to do with tribute.

By demanding tribute from him, the minister had also intended to force him to pick a side.

After all, Liva was a general commanding a large army. Naturally, Ozneth wanted such a general under his control.

But Liva had refused to join Ozneth in his corruption.

If Ozneth did not get rid of him, was he supposed to wait for Liva to become his enemy?

No, it should be said that the moment Liva refused him, he was bound to become Ozneth's enemy.

Ozneth's baseless accusations against Liva also carried the intention of forcing his hand.

Ordinarily, anyone facing something like this would simply rebel.

But Liva knew full well how powerful the Empire was. Even if he rebelled with his army, they could not contend with the Empire, not even a decaying Empire.

He did not want the soldiers who had fought alongside him through life and death to die meaningless deaths, so he chose to die himself.

That evening, Esdeath brought two strangers to Lilith's residence.

"These two are the Teigu users selected this time."

Esdeath came to Lilith's side and introduced them. "The short one is called Nyau. Her Teigu is a flute. The tall one is called Daidas. His Teigu is an axe. As for the third Teigu user, there is still no lead."

Lilith nodded slightly.

"Greetings, my lady!"

Nyau and Daidas, however, were rather nervous and hurriedly bowed.

When they saw Esdeath, they had already thought she was incredibly beautiful. They had not expected there to be someone even more captivating than Esdeath.

"This is my adjutant, Lilith. If I am not around in the future, you will obey her."

"Yes, my lady."

Both Nyau and Daidas were nervous in the presence of Esdeath and Lilith. Their hands unconsciously gripped their Teigu tightly, as though that was the only way they could relax.

"Are you still planning to find the third Teigu user through the selection?"

"No. This selection has tested nearly everyone in the Imperial Capital with decent aptitude. It will be difficult to find another Teigu user in the short term."

"So?"

"So I plan to take a look in the prison."

"The prison..."

Lilith immediately thought of Liva. It seemed Esdeath had heard about what had happened to him as well.

She was not worried about whether Esdeath could win Liva over.

But the issue was, which Teigu would Liva use? In the original world, Liva had used the water-based Teigu, Black Marlin.

Lilith had no intention of giving up her own Teigu. It was hers, so why should she hand it over?

As a dignified general, Liva should have quite good aptitude. He should be able to obtain another Teigu. Even if he could not, he could use Subordinate Arms, which were only a step below Teigu.

Esdeath was not someone who dragged her feet. Without even eating dinner, she set off for the prison and had Liva brought out.

Who knew what Esdeath had done to Liva? In any case, by the time Lilith saw him, he had already been conquered by Esdeath.

In the end, the Teigu Liva received was a sword-type Teigu.

It appeared Liva was very satisfied with it.

A few days later, Esdeath's group set off back to the Empire's north.

After all, if they stayed away too long, the northern Foreigners might make a move.

Although Esdeath had confidence in her subordinates, part of why she was so eager to return was that she wanted to test her strength against the northern Foreigners.

Though Esdeath had found quite a few bandits and Dangerous Species around the Imperial Capital these past few days, either there were too few bandits or the Dangerous Species were too weak. None of it had satisfied her.

Those fearless Foreigners were still far more satisfying to kill.

Thus, Esdeath and Lilith led the three Teigu users toward the northern border.

If the northern Foreigners knew that five Teigu users were coming to deal with them, they would probably burst into tears.

What had they done to deserve this?!

But Esdeath did not believe in tears. No matter how hard they cried, she would not put down the butcher's blade in her hand.

However, what Esdeath had not expected was that not long after arriving at the northern border, she would be summoned back again.

With formidable Teigu users like Esdeath stationed in the Empire's north, it was naturally as stable as Mount Tai. But the other directions were a different matter.