Chapter Twenty: Defection from the Empire

Due to Esdeath, the troops marched at a speed significantly faster than anticipated.

They quickly reached the border and killed all the Foreigners rampaging there, leaving none alive.

Most of these were killed by Esdeath's subordinates.

But it didn't stop there.

"What? You're going to encircle and suppress the Foreigner tribes?"

Nacita stared at Esdeath in shock. Didn't she know that the harsh environment outside the Empire didn't support large-scale troop movements?

"I know what you're worried about. I'll only bring an elite squad along with my Three Beasts. If you don't want to come, you don't have to. Besides..."

Esdeath looked directly into Nacita's eyes. "Annihilating the entire Foreigner army this time won't make them feel pain. Before long, they'll organize another army and continue to harass the border. Only by terrifying them with slaughter will they truly feel fear."

Listening to Esdeath's murderous voice, Nacita didn't know how to respond.

She understood the logic behind Esdeath's words.

But the places where those Foreigners lived were extremely harsh, making it unrealistic to kill them all.

That's why the Foreigners were so detestable.

In the end, Nacita decided to bring her personal guards and accompany Esdeath.

Then, besides being shocked by the strength of Esdeath and her subordinates, she was also shocked by the cruelty of her subordinates.

She had initially thought Esdeath was bringing her people to clear out the fleeing remnants of the Foreigner army.

But she never expected Esdeath to not even spare the Foreigner tribes!

After all, there were many women and children among those Foreigners!

Yet Esdeath's subordinates didn't hesitate to strike.

Nacita wanted to intervene but stopped herself.

She was an Imperial citizen, and more importantly, an Imperial general. Both her bloodline and her stance did not allow her to plead for the Foreigners.

Furthermore, after dealing with the Foreigners for so many years, she was well aware of the harm they posed to the Empire.

To the Imperial people, only dead Foreigners were good Foreigners.

For the next few days, Nacita did not continue to clear out Foreigners with Esdeath.

It wasn't out of compassion, but purely because her presence was no longer needed.

Every time she went out with her subordinates, they felt like they were just there to make up the numbers.

After the border situation was resolved and upon returning to the Imperial Capital, Nacita's emotions still couldn't calm down.

She never expected a simple expedition to reveal Esdeath's immense power.

"With this strength, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the Empire's strongest Imperial Arms user."

While shocked, Nacita thought of the atrocities committed by Esdeath's troops and then considered the increasingly corrupt Empire, letting out another sigh.

Nacita was a very upright person and couldn't turn a blind eye to the various evils within the Empire.

She thought of the Rebel Army within the Empire.

The current Rebel Army, due to the Empire's disregard, or rather, the fact that no one took those rebels seriously, most people in the Empire were focused on how to squeeze more profit from the common people.

The rest were considering how to protect themselves.

As for those who advocated for the suppression of the rebels, they were the morally upright faction.

Although the rebels claimed to be "resisting the tyranny of the Empire," rebels were still rebels. No matter how good their words sounded, their actions genuinely threatened ordinary citizens.

After all, the initial goal of these so-called rebels was simply a group of farmers on the verge of starvation who gathered together in an attempt to seize some food.

By now, they had long abandoned their original goal of "filling their stomachs."

Nacita had already been subconsciously concerned about the Rebel Army, and now she paid even more attention to intelligence regarding them.

"Speaking of which, it's been two weeks, and Nacita doesn't seem to have made any moves?"

In the spacious room, Esdeath and Ozneth sat at opposite ends of a long table.

Ozneth gnawed on a large piece of meat placed on the table.

"I don't know why..." Ozneth swallowed the meat. "Nacita clearly had intentions to leave a few days ago, but she hasn't made any significant moves recently. However... strangely, that woman has been sounding out her subordinates recently, as if she intends to take her entire unit with her."

"Oh, that's interesting. What a thought she had."

"With that woman's personality, she probably wouldn't let her subordinates risk danger with her. She must have been stimulated by something."

Ozneth looked at Esdeath. He found it strange. Did Esdeath do anything out of line to Nacita during their last expedition?

"Stimulated? I don't recall doing anything excessive. Besides slightly displaying my strength in front of her."

Ozneth: "..."

Ozneth was somewhat speechless.

He knew exactly how powerful Esdeath was.

It seemed Nacita realized that if only she joined the Rebel Army, they might not stand a chance against Esdeath if they ever encountered her. So, this was her way of bringing more people to the Rebel Army!

"Esdeath."

"?"

"If Nacita rebels, kill as many of her subordinates as possible."

The Rebel Army was a rabble, no comparison to the regular army.

The addition of an elite army to the Rebel Army was undoubtedly a threat to the Empire.

And anything that posed a threat to her had to be eliminated!

Another week passed, and Nacita finally made her move.

Upon learning that Esdeath had returned to the northern part of the Empire, Nacita, under the guise of clearing out bandits, led her subordinates in defecting from the Empire.

In reality, after leaving the Imperial Capital, Esdeath hadn't returned north but had gone into hiding, waiting for Nacita's actions.

Nacita and her subordinates didn't take the main road but instead traveled along a seldom-used path.

Along the way, Nacita was restless, constantly feeling as though something was about to happen.

But there was no turning back now.

She could only lead her trusting subordinates towards the Rebel Army's headquarters.

"I hope nothing unexpected happens."

As the saying goes, speaking of the devil.

"Yo~ Isn't this General Nacita? Weren't you out hunting bandits? What are you doing here?"

On both sides of the road, soldiers clad in armor emerged, and the voice belonged to someone Nacita knew all too well.

"Esdeath, didn't you already return to the northern border?" Nacita asked through gritted teeth.