You Sure You Call This Patriotism? (5.1K)

"Tch, I'm not interested in secondhand goods like you."

Faced with the girl's declaration of never giving up, Mahiro couldn't help but scoff, then exerted a slight force on his palm.

With a snap, the girl's body went limp.

He casually tossed the remaining corpses aside, and before they even hit the ground, they Decomposition into dust and dissipated with the breeze.

"Natalia!!!"

Commander Sabatini let out a mournful cry, his eyes turning ashen with despair.

It's over, it's all over...

"Now, I'll ask, and you'll answer. Do you understand?"

Mahiro crouched down in front of the last remaining Sabatini. Just as Sabatini was about to refuse, he looked up and met those Kurome. The moment he did, he was captivated by the fleeting light in those eyes.

Whatever Mahiro were asked, Sabatini answered them without reservation.

Although "Mystic Eye" is just a regular optical vibration-based hypnotic magic, its effects are still terrifying in the hands of the Yotsuba Family, who are skilled in mental interference.

From Sabatini, he learned that the supporters of the Revolutionary Army in the northwest were the governor of Moonwave City, a fellow named Rakiri.

He remembered that guy.

He wasn't exactly Righteous Faction; rather, he was cut from the same cloth as Minister Honest.

It was only because of his own choice of sides that he could not gain a foothold in the Empire, so he turned to the Revolutionary Army.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that the empire's Righteous Faction, even if they were to resign from their posts and return to their hometowns, or be murdered by their ministers, would not go and join the so-called Revolutionary Army.

Moreover, winning over Rakiri, the governor of Lelang City, wasn't the end of it. The Revolutionary Army also used them to cooperate with the foreign tribes on the western border to fight against the empire.

The price is that when the empire falls, the lands on the western border will be divided among these foreign tribes for their administration.

This reveals the true nature of the Revolutionary Army's leadership and its behind-the-scenes supporters.

However, besides that, he also learned another important piece of information from Sabatini: a portion of the rebels had joined forces in the southwest.

Because an imperial general wanted to defect from the empire, he needed the support and assistance of the Revolutionary Army.

"That's astonishing! Does the Empire actually have generals who would cooperate with rebels?"

Nahashu and the others frowned.

The seriousness of this matter has exceeded their capabilities.

After all, he was a general of the empire, whose strength and wisdom were both top-notch. They were not confident that they could deal with him, even though they were strong enough.

"That's normal. They've probably been misled. The empire has lasted for over a thousand years, which is indeed problematic, so many people can't stand by and watch."

Mahiro explained nonchalantly, as if he didn't care at all.

"Yotsuba Clan, does the rebel army intend to cooperate with the northern and western tribes at the same time? If they are surrounded from three sides, the empire will face a very dangerous situation," Tsukushi said, blinking her big eyes.

"Whether it's dangerous or not isn't up to us to say. Don't forget that the purpose of our Assassination Department is only to eliminate hidden dangers within the empire; matters that are overtly discussed are not our responsibility."

"Yes, Yotsuba Clan!"

The group nodded, indicating that they understood.

"So, Yotsuba Clan, what should we do next?" Cornelia asked.

"Well, next, I need you to complete a mission—go to the northern border of the Empire and kill Rakiri, the governor of Lelang City. And this time I won't be going with you, so you'll have to rely on yourselves."

Young birds will eventually face the vast sky on their own.

Although they performed very well in the previous missions, it's time to let them leave my side and complete a task independently.

This is how we can see their flaws.

"No problem, leave Rakiri and the rest to us!"

Pony was the first to respond, followed closely by Little Silver and the others.

Even Akame and Kurome nodded seriously.

Only Cornelia asked the most crucial question.

"Then... what about you, Lord Yotsuba Clan? What are you going to do next?"

Upon hearing this, Mahiro grinned and said, "Naturally, I'll go and meet this general who's planning to betray the empire."

They marched towards the southwestern border, and were also there to support a general who had defected from the empire.

With such obvious circumstances laid out before us, even an idiot could guess who this person is.

After all, there were only two generals sent to the southwestern border to suppress the rebellion.

Could it be Esdeath?

That's impossible. Esdeath loves war and hates other races. Even if you don't know the original story, you can tell from her personality that it's impossible.

Therefore, this person is definitely Najenda.

And Najenda happened to have something he wanted.

So, Mahiro wrote a letter detailing the whole story and had Green deliver it to General Budo then gave it to the young emperor. Makoto then split up with the Elite Group and flew into the sky alone, heading rapidly toward the southwestern border.

"Tsk, if only I had the Imperial Arms Shambhala."

Mahiro, speeding through the sky, couldn't help but complain.

The Northwest and the Southwest, though differing by only one character, are separated by a vast distance, even farther than the journey to the Imperial Capital.

After all, the empire's territory was vast, making it the largest country in the world.

However, at this moment, in the ruins of the dense forest on the southwestern border, a woman was covering her eyes and staggering as she fled for her life, as if some dangerous creature was chasing her.

Her long white hair, which had been tied in braids, had come loose and swayed slowly with her steps, with streaks of bright red seeping out from between her fingertips.

As she fled, her armor was removed and thrown into the surrounding ruins. Apart from the clothes underneath the armor, she was left with only a strangely shaped spear.

The woman was injured.

To be precise, her entire right eye was removed.

Several hundred meters behind her, a woman in military uniform, her high heels clicking on the dirt, was slowly but surely chasing after her.

Beneath her long, icy blue hair, a terrifying smile, the kind only seen when hunting, graced her exquisitely beautiful face.

"... Esdeath...!"

With her only remaining eye, the woman searched for her pursuers behind her, but whether from anger or pain, she couldn't help but grit her teeth.

That's right, she is General Najenda, who defected from the southwestern border.

Because of the empire's corruption and Esdeath's inhumane methods, she was forced to despair of the empire and turned to the Revolutionary Army.

Unfortunately, Esdeath discovered this during the process.

Ultimately, with the help of her adjutant, she managed to escape from Esdeath at the cost of losing an eye.

However, she knew very well that Esdeath was just not really going all out.

It was just a joke.

Seeing that she was out of Esdeath's sight, she immediately crawled into a ruin to hide.

Hopefully, we can wait here for the Revolutionary Army's support to arrive.

At the same time, she was praying that Esdeath, that terrifying woman, wouldn't discover her hiding here.

However, it seems her prayers actually worked.

Those footsteps, capable of crushing the courage of any enemy, have truly vanished!

Then a cheerful male voice came from above her head.

"Oh, I bet you must be Najenda?"

Chapter 142 Are you sure this is patriotism? (5.1K)

"Oh, I bet you're General Najenda, aren't you?"

Who is it?!

Hearing the question coming from above, Najenda suddenly looked up and saw a young man sitting there, smiling at her.

"Who are you--"

Upon seeing this person Najenda's pupils constricted sharply.

"Hmm? It seems you know me."

With a Mahiro whoosh, Mahiro, who was sitting on the ruins, landed gently in front of Najenda and bowed respectfully.

"Although you seem to know me quite well, as a matter of courtesy, let me introduce myself."

"Yotsuba Mahiro to meet you, General Najenda. I am Yotsuba Mahiro, the head of the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Assassination Department."

After hearing his self-introduction, Najenda became wary.

She had heard many rumors about Yotsuba Mahiro while she was in the military, especially about her defeat of Esdeath. She had even tried to find out more about it indirectly.

Esdeath herself admitted it and vowed to put a collar on Yotsuba Mahiro sooner or later.

I never expected to run into this guy here. What's he doing here?

Are they hunting me down?!

With Esdeath behind and Yotsuba Mahiro in front, the situation couldn't be worse!

"Well, don't be so nervous. I've already dealt with Esdeath, so there's nothing to worry about."

Seeing Najenda's eyes darting left and right as if searching for something, and her extreme wariness towards him, even with her hand already on her Imperial Arm behind her, Mahiro found it quite amusing.

He jokingly remarked:

"Could it be that Lady Najenda, as an Imperial General, is afraid of a mere minister as powerless as a civil servant like me?"

Najenda, a civil official who was powerless even to kill a chicken, couldn't help but sneer.

Can a man who could appear here silently without her noticing and even defeat Esdeath be called powerless?!

However, provoked by Yotsuba Mahiro Najenda loosened her grip on the Pumpkin handle.

Based on her judgment, this man shouldn't have any hostility; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to talk to her so much.

Moreover, the opponent is stronger Esdeath; even if she resists, what can she possibly do?

It was nothing more than a futile act of resistance.

Thinking of this, Najenda also became more at ease.

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, offered him one, and said, "Want one?"

"No thanks."

Mahiro smiled and declined.

And so I watched as Najenda put the cigarette in her mouth, took out a lighter, and with a click, lit it with a small flame.

Then they took a deep breath, the exhaled smoke blurring their gazes as they met.

"How pleasant, General Najenda."

"I am no longer a general of the Empire."

"So, are you here to kill me, or to take me back to the Imperial Capital?"

"We'll see." Mahiro shrugged and chuckled, "It all depends on your performance. I might even let you go, who knows?"

"Hehe..."

Seeing him smile, Najenda smiled too, took another deep breath, and exhaled a puff of smoke contentedly, looking as if she had given up resisting.

"Minister Yotsuba Clan, whether you want to take my head back to claim credit or intend to take me back to the Imperial Capital for trial, please let me finish what I have to say, okay?"

"Hmm, I'm all ears."