Liver

In other words, a move like this is suitable for dealing with enemies within a certain range. Any further than that, and she'd have to use wide-range attacks.

For example, using water pillars to attack…

Besides controlling water, Lilith also practiced controlling ice.

Compared to water, ice was more stable, and some ice-based attacks were more powerful than water-based ones. However, controlling ice consumed significantly more energy than controlling water.

But for Lilith, a member of the Bloodline, consumption was the least of her worries.

Currently, the biggest factor affecting Lilith's strength was the terrain.

She could already condense water molecules in the air into water masses, but there simply wasn't enough water.

Lilith pondered if there was any Imperial Arm that could expand her perception range. That way, she could determine if there was groundwater underground and then draw it out for combat.

That scene would surely be spectacular!

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

While Imperial Arms couldn't be mastered by just anyone, if the scope was widened, there were bound to be one or two lucky individuals who could wield them.

After several days of preparation, hundreds of potential Imperial Arms users had been selected.

Then, these individuals would step forward one by one to be tested on their suitability as Imperial Arms users.

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

However, Lilith wasn't interested and therefore didn't go.

Lilith guessed that Esdeath's interest in such selections was likely due to boredom in the Imperial Capital and a desire to relax.

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

"Someone."

"My lady, what are your orders?" A maid-like servant approached.

"Has anything happened recently?"

Lilith had been staying indoors these days, so she learned about outside news from the maids.

"As for major events, I heard that General Liver, who was stationed outside, has been brought back to the Imperial Capital for treason."

"Liver?"

Lilith recalled that this person seemed to be one of Esdeath's Three Beasts.

However…

The reason Liver was charged with fabricated crimes seemed to be because he hadn't made offerings to Osnet.

He was then stripped of his general position and brought back to the Imperial Capital.

However, Liver's situation wasn't entirely about offerings.

The minister's demand for offerings also implied forcing him to choose a side.

After all, Liver was a general commanding a substantial military force. Osnet naturally wanted to control such a general.

But Liver refused to collude with Osnet.

So, wouldn't Osnet have to eliminate him rather than wait for him to become an enemy?

No, it should be said that by refusing Osnet, Liver was bound to become his enemy.

Osnet's framing of Liver with fabricated charges was also a way to pressure him.

Logically, a normal person would rebel in such a situation.

But Liver knew the Empire's might. Even if he rebelled with his army, facing the Empire, even a corrupt one, they wouldn't be able to contend with it.

He didn't want the soldiers who had fought and bled alongside him to die so meaninglessly, so he chose to sacrifice himself.

In the evening, Esdeath arrived at Lilith's residence with two strangers.

"These two are the Imperial Arms users selected this time."

Esdeath came to Lilith's side and introduced them. "The shorter one is Nyau. Her Imperial Arm is a flute; the taller one is Daidas. His Imperial Arm is an axe. However, the third Imperial Arms user has not yet been found."

Lilith nodded slightly.

"Greetings, my lady!"

Nyau and Daidas were somewhat nervous and quickly bowed.

When they saw Esdeath, they thought she was incredibly beautiful, but they didn't expect to see someone even more charming than Esdeath.

"This is my adjutant, Lilith. In the future, if I am not around, you will take your orders from her."

"Yes, my lady."

Nyau and Daidas were very nervous when facing both Esdeath and Lilith, instinctively gripping their Imperial Arms tightly, as if that could help them relax.

"Regarding the third Imperial Arms user, are you still planning to find someone through the selection process?"

"No, this selection has tested almost everyone with good potential in the Imperial Capital. It will be difficult to find another Imperial Arms user in a short period."

"So?"

"So I plan to go take a look at the prison."

"The prison..."

Lilith's first thought was Liver. It seemed Esdeath had also heard about Liver.

She wasn't worried about whether Esdeath could subdue Liver.

But the problem was which Imperial Arm Liver would use. After all, in her original world, Liver had used the Water Dragon Possession: Black Marlin.

Lilith had no intention of offering her own Imperial Arm. It was hers, why should she give it up?

Liver, a dignified general, should have decent aptitude and be able to obtain other Imperial Arms. Even if he couldn't, he could use Subordinate Arms, which were a step below Imperial Arms.

Esdeath was not one to dally. Without even eating dinner, she set off for the prison and brought Liver out.

Lilith didn't know what Esdeath did to Liver, but when she saw him, he had already been conquered by Esdeath.

In the end, Liver obtained a sword-type Imperial Arm.

It seemed Liver was very satisfied with it.

A few days later, Esdeath and her party set off to return to the Empire's north.

After all, if they were gone for too long, the northern Foreigners might make a move.

While Esdeath had confidence in her subordinates, her haste to return also stemmed from her desire to test her strength against the northern Foreigners.

Although Esdeath had sought out many bandits and Dangerous Species around the Imperial Capital these past few days, the bandits were too few in number, or the Dangerous Species were too weak, leaving her quite unsatisfied.

It was fighting those fearless Foreigners that was truly exhilarating.

Thus, Esdeath and Lilith, along with three Imperial Arms users, headed for the northern border.

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

What right did they have!

However, Esdeath didn't believe in tears. No matter how much they cried, she wouldn't lower her butcher's knife.

What Esdeath didn't expect, however, was that shortly after arriving at the northern border, she would be summoned back again.

The Empire's north was as stable as a mountain with powerful Imperial Arms users like Esdeath stationed there, but the other directions were a different story.