Your Excellency Is Strong, but My Art Style Is Above Yours!

You could tell from the changes in this small town alone. The stubborn ailments that the court and the Revolutionary Army found so difficult to eradicate, the evil factions the people saw as overwhelmingly powerful—all of them were like pebbles by the roadside to you. You did not even need to deal with them specifically; you could simply kick them aside.

The reason you made it sound so easy was because there was no difficulty at all, right? Was this... the composure that only a true powerhouse possessed?"

The girl fell silent for a moment. She instinctively looked toward Iori's face, but the mask prevented her from telling what expression he wore.

She was truly curious about how Iori had done it. It seemed impossible to explain through brute force alone.

Seriously speaking, in terms of strength, both Esdeath and General Budo possessed the combat power of an entire army in a single person. In terms of status, the Minister and the Young Emperor were an impeccable combination. In terms of popular support and influence, the many churches represented by Anning Dao had penetrated nearly every village and town.

Yet so many capable people had gathered together, and not one of them could accomplish what Iori had.

From an even broader perspective, the Empire's overall national strength remained formidable. Even though it had fractured internally into several factions, it could still firmly suppress the surrounding foreign tribes.

There had not been any large-scale Natural Disasters or anything like that in recent years...

Yet the world had continued to deteriorate day by day!

Farmers grew grain but could not fill their own stomachs. Craftsmen built magnificent palaces yet lived in crude shacks. Treasuries throughout the land stood empty, while officials' private vaults overflowed with gold.

Emperors, ministers, generals, religious leaders, the Revolutionary Army... These important figures, whether they possessed righteous causes, power, or violence, watched such phenomena run rampant before their eyes... It was not that they lacked the ability to change things, but few of them truly put their hearts into it.

—Wasn't that strange?

She thought seriously for a while, then reached a conclusion:

Iori was an exception!

"Sometimes, I suddenly realize that you're actually a great man."

Akame's usually piercing gaze softened. Her smile was utterly pure, free of any distracting thoughts.

"It feels as though there's nothing in this world you can't do, so long as you're willing!"

"Perhaps that really is the case."

Iori deliberately put on a solemn expression. "Then why aren't you hurrying up and clinging to my thigh? The merit of serving a rising dragon is worth a fortune!"

"It would be even better if you could be more serious."

Automatically ignoring Iori's baffling nonsense, Akame remained gentle. Having spent so much time around him, she had long grown accustomed to his inexplicable phrases.

"We should find more towns like this. Once places like this are everywhere in the Empire, we can truly retire from the front lines."

"That'll take a lot of effort. I don't have enough hands." Iori turned toward her and asked half-seriously, "Interested in changing jobs?"

Akame did not take it to heart. She and Iori were old friends, and there was even a faint hint of something ambiguous between them in private. Though the topic was sensitive, their relationship meant there was no need for restraint.

So she casually asked back, "Become your subordinate? That's not—"

"Come be the boss's wife."

"—Not something I couldn't consider."

Akame blinked after saying that, then suddenly realized what had come out of her mouth. "Huh? What did I just say? That doesn't count! It didn't count!"

Ding~ Your friend Akame has retracted a message~

Beneath his mask, Iori slowly curled his lips into a thoroughly wicked smile, as if he greatly enjoyed teasing people this way.

"You seem very resistant. Do you dislike me that much?"

"Dislike you? No! I definitely don't dislike you. Rather, it's... that has nothing to do with this!"

The black-haired girl was slightly flustered, but she quickly calmed down and realized she had fallen into Iori's "trap" again.

"Is this really that amusing? You deliberately led me into embarrassing myself, didn't you?"

"Can't be helped. Your flustered expression is just too entertaining~"

"You..." Akame had never imagined that someone could make her laugh from sheer anger, but before she knew it, her hand had already gripped the hilt of her sword.

Then Iori said something else, and she immediately tensed up—

"Since you object, I'll go ask Esdeath instead."

Chapter 74: Too Bad There's No Cane Nearby

As if by reflex, the moment Iori said Esdeath's name, Akame felt a stabbing pain deep in her head. Her mood instantly darkened, and it showed on her face.

She had already realized Iori was joking, but she still felt inexplicably conflicted.

"Honestly, can't you be more serious? I'm discussing something very serious with you."

"No, I'm quite serious."

Iori asked in surprise, "If I'm rejected, shouldn't I naturally move on to the next target? Why do you think I'm joking?"

"..."

"Could it be that you want me to keep pestering you after confessing?"

"This..." Akame's eyelid twitched slightly. She suddenly realized she had fallen into a trap, and without noticing, Iori had backed her into a corner with his words.

Should she explain her attitude now?

"Wait, I really don't understand... Why would you choose Esdeath? You've only met her once in total!"

"Love at first sight. Is that not allowed?"

Akame narrowed her eyes. "I feel like I've heard someone say something similar before."

Where the girl could not see, Iori smiled freely. He had once used those very words to tease Akame.

"It's the same situation." Iori spoke as though it were only natural. "Her personality is kind of... that, but Queen Esdeath really is beautiful, isn't she?"

"...I have to admit that much." Akame placed Esdeath's image beside her own in her mind and judged them objectively.

As for facial features, everyone had different preferences, so she would set that aside for now.

In terms of temperament, Esdeath was unquestionably the complete victor. Akame was not bad herself, but compared to that Queen who stood above the rest, she was indeed somewhat lacking.

As for her figure... uh, wasn't that comparison far too brutal?

Akame was not flat, but she was merely at the normal level for a girl her age. Esdeath's development, however... was completely like that of a supermodel—tall and upright, full-chested, curvaceous, with long, straight legs.

Akame felt that even if she ate well and grew to twenty, she probably still would not catch up to that Queen—

No! Why am I worrying about this?

I wasn't planning to agree anyway. What does it have to do with me who he goes after? Something this absurd should be someone else's problem!

Akame firmly settled her heart, but the moment she opened her mouth, her words came out with a slightly different meaning. "Do you like Esdeath that much? What exactly do you like about her?"

Perhaps realizing that sounded too much like jealousy, Akame added another sentence so Iori would not misunderstand. "What reason do you have for... taking a liking to Esdeath?"

Big breasts, uniform, long legs—several labels instantly flashed through Iori's mind.

But who was he? Naturally, he could not be so blunt, so he polished the answer a little.

"It's a little embarrassing to say, but lust."

"..."

Akame was dumbfounded. It took her quite a while to recover, and she immediately felt embarrassed, angry, and faintly disappointed in him. Her eyes reflected Iori's figure as though they were saying, Look at how pathetic you are!

"There are other benefits too."

Iori listed them one by one. "First, it can establish a more solid alliance. I subdued her a few days ago, but a mere verbal promise is obviously too flimsy.

"Second, it can increase the military's stability. When the soldiers learn that their leader has an extremely close relationship with the leader of the rebels, close enough to wear the same pair of pants, the unease caused by the 'uprising' will naturally disappear.

"Third, she's also a huge... ahem, an extremely excellent marriage prospect, isn't she?"

After hearing that, Akame actually found it quite reasonable. At least on the surface, she could find no reason to reject Esdeath.

"No, no... I still find it hard to imagine Esdeath getting married and having children like an ordinary woman." The black-haired girl frowned tightly. "I always thought she would spend her whole life like a lone wolf..."

"Setting aside her identity as an Imperial General, Esdeath is still a normal person. She is a young girl whose heart has just begun to stir, so naturally she has considered the possibility of getting to know someone and falling in love.

"Perhaps all of you see her as some terrifying monster, but beneath her fierce achievements and conduct, she also hides a soft maiden's heart. You simply never noticed it."

"A maiden's heart? Hehe, you really are joking." Akame smiled casually, clearly unconvinced.

"She's only interested in challenging the strong. I don't think she would be like an ordinary girl, blushing furiously and having her heart race for someone she loves~"

"Being too confident isn't a good thing. People are complicated. How do you know what Esdeath is like in private?"

"Don't say it as though you know her so well!"

Akame secretly rolled her eyes at Iori. You've only met her once too, so why are you acting as if you have everything under control?

"Besides, even if you pursue her, Esdeath might not like your type."

"Mm, that really is a problem." Iori reached up and rubbed his mask. "In more ways than one, it's inconvenient..."

Akame gazed deeply at him, paused, then shifted her eyes elsewhere.

She was very curious about what Iori looked like beneath his mask. Even if he had been horribly disfigured beyond recognition, she wanted to see him at least once... But she would not bring it up herself, lest she touch upon Iori's painful memories.

"Then, since you object so strongly, I won't ask Esdeath."

"Wha—"

Akame hurriedly said, "Why are you making it sound as though I have ulterior motives?!"

"Hahaha..."

The two continued walking through the market. Iori mischievously teased Akame several more times, leaving the valiant female assassin exhausted in both body and mind.

As their conversation was about to end, Iori brought up Esdeath again. This time, however, he did not dwell on personal feelings, but focused on her war with the northern foreign tribes.

Then they discussed the recent institutional reforms led by the Minister, as well as the rapid expansion of Anning Dao's influence, which had left every faction vaguely uneasy...

"The situation is getting more and more tense. The Empire is beset by internal troubles and foreign threats. Although the Revolutionary Army has occupied a great deal of territory, it has no spare capacity to restore people's livelihoods. The lives of ordinary people are still difficult."

"No spare capacity?" Iori suddenly sneered. "Do you think they've truly done everything they could and have no other choice, or are they unwilling to devote resources to anything beyond war at such a crucial time?"

"..." Akame fell silent for a moment. She already had an answer in her heart.

The Revolutionary Army was not some grassroots force that had suddenly risen to prominence. They had been preparing in secret for a long time before raising their banner, and they had existed as a separatist force for a long time as well. How could they possibly have lacked spare capacity all this time?

Judging from how they could remotely supply Night Raid with logistics and intelligence, allowing them to wreak havoc in the Imperial Capital, the Revolutionary Army clearly had plenty of spare capacity!

Then had the Revolutionary Army ever paid attention to the people's livelihoods in its own territories?

The answer was yes. They had paid attention, dealt with the issues, and made efforts—but ultimately gave up. They discovered that thorough reform would create many enemies for themselves, and that local governors in the regions they sought to expand into would resist to the death... severely affecting their strategic plans.

To win over more fence-sitters, they naturally had to make certain promises and preserve a portion of those people's interests.

For the same reason, they could even form alliances with foreign tribes!

And it was not just the Revolutionary Army. Wasn't the Empire the same?

Many people could see where the problems lay, but few were willing to offend others or take risks to change everything. And among those who could succeed...

It was instead Iori, an unknown bounty hunter who had only truly begun acting a few months ago, who had already made things look fairly convincing.

Important figures like Honest, Esdeath, and Budoh absolutely possessed the ability to do the same thing, yet Akame had never seen any of them truly do it...

Akame was not a politician, and her education was rather ordinary. She had only begun to feel these doubts after seeing so much alongside Najeta and Iori, but she could not articulate anything more specific...

She only knew one thing:

Iori truly was special. He really could see every ordinary person!

Though he had a rather unpleasant side to his personality and seemed to be a lecher, still... even if one day Iori stood opposed to the Revolutionary Army, Akame figured she would choose to support Iori's side.

Just like Najeta had when she pledged loyalty to Iori that day!

As for being lecherous... so long as he did not go too far... it was not entirely unacceptable... She would just consider it dedicating herself for the sake of the people!

Chapter 75: A Sudden Turn for the Worse

Like sparks falling into an autumn mountain forest, the wildfire of rebellion instantly spread throughout the entire Empire. Its rapid development surpassed the expectations of everyone who considered themselves a "player," Iori included.

Some things allowed you to decide how they began, but not how they ended.

Iori did nothing more. He merely advanced his plans step by step. He had originally expected it would take some time to build momentum, yet in just one short month, he witnessed how this enormous nation collapsed.

Once the people's anger was ignited, whether it was the Revolutionary Army, the Minister, or even Anning Dao, they could only follow the tide. None could resist that wave that destroyed everything.

Iori had originally wanted to guide and intervene in the process of changing dynasties, preserving as much vitality for the country as possible while allowing the people to suffer a little less.

But reality proved that no matter how much he prepared, he could not control everything. The Empire's collapse even outpaced the speed at which Iori and the Revolutionary Army seized territory...

Illusory prosperity required a thousand years to build, yet its destruction needed only a single night.