"Shallow!"
Budoh was as stubborn as a rock. "I can already see that you and the Revolutionary Army are not walking the same path. Otherwise, you wouldn't have stood by and watched them suffer such enormous casualties without stopping it.
Even if you are cooperating now because you share a common enemy, you will eventually fall out. This country will descend into chaos once more... and His Majesty will be able to return as king then!"
"With such insight, I don't know whether to call you clever or foolish." Iori shook his head and looked at Budoh with amusement. "You make a lot of sense, but cooperation can only break down when both sides are evenly matched. If the gap in strength is too great, it's merely an 'annexation'—surely you don't think they can compare to me?"
"Precisely because of that..." General Budo stared gloomily at Iori and Esdeath. "Today, I will eliminate both of you, even if it costs me my life!"
"Ha!"
Before Iori could speak, Esdeath laughed first.
It was an undisguised emotional reaction, the kind that came from seeing something so ridiculous that she simply could not help herself.
"Just you?!"
As she spoke, the temperature of the air dropped again and again. Patches of pure white frost had already begun to form across Budoh's armor.
"Justice shall prevail!"
Budoh's expression was so resolute, like that of a pilgrim or martyr, that Iori could not help but sigh inwardly.
"Why exactly are you willing to risk your life for an emperor who was stripped of power long ago? He never showed you any real kindness, did he?"
"His Majesty was born supreme." Budoh answered solemnly. "The one I serve is the inheritor of the Empire's thousand-year imperial authority—the righteous cause is mine!"
"Born supreme... heh!"
Iori