Night Raid's First Meeting with the Young Emperor (5.1K)

Therefore, no matter what method Honest comes up with, he absolutely must kill Yotsuba Mahiro!

However, the news of the Night Raid and assassination that had stirred up a storm throughout the city eventually reached the ears of the real Night Raid.

They hadn't taken any action in recent days, and because Tatsumi and Lubbock had gone to the Imperial Capital to gather information about Esdeath without permission, they hadn't left the base since.

Today, on the table in front of them lay more than twenty leaflets advertising Night Raid, all uniformly labeled --

The message reads, "[NightRaid shall be punished by Heaven]".

In the main seat, Najenda, with her chin resting on her hands, looked solemn and remained silent.

The others remained silent as well.

They had also heard about the recent events in the Imperial Capital.

There were multiple assassinations of civil servants, but the people who were assassinated had no clues or logic to follow, as if it were a random killing, with people of good or bad being assassinated.

It felt like two groups were having a killing contest.

"This thing is obviously a fake, isn't it? It's clearly an attempt to frame our Night Raid and ruin our reputation!"

Lubbock was the first to break the silence, picking up the counterfeit, low-quality flyer, glancing at it, and then tossing it back onto the table.

"Yes, that's only one aspect, but more importantly, it's about two different forces using our name to engage in a covert power struggle."

Najenda said it incisively.

She had even guessed who these two sides would be; when it came to forces with such audacity, there were only two factions in the entire Imperial Capital.

The assassination faction led by Yotsuba Mahiro, and the corruption faction led by Minister Honest.

"Boss, what should we do next?! Although... although I don't understand political factions, it's unforgivable that they've used our Night Raid reputation to do all sorts of bad things!" Tatsumi said indignantly.

"Yes, Tatsumi, you make a good point, but for now, we can only let these people be for the time being."

"Why?! Are we really going to let these people do whatever they want?!"

Tatsumi was about to ask that question, but before he could speak, Najenda explained again:

"The reinforcements sent by the Revolutionary Army are on their way and should arrive today, so we have something even more important to do."

"What is it?"

"The rescue operation for Leone and Sheele!"

While the rules of assassins are important to those bastards in the church who are impersonating other organizations, replenishing our fighting strength is even more crucial right now!

With only a few people at the moment, there's simply no way to sustain the operation!

However, upon hearing this, both Tatsumi and Lubbock gasped in shock.

Everyone knew that Leone and Sheele had not been executed after their arrest, and their detention location had even been investigated.

The problem is, how do we rescue them?

The location where these two men were being held was what shocked them the most.

He was actually locked up inside Yotsuba Mahiro's mansion!

That was a den of dragons and tigers no less dangerous than the imperial palace, according to information Leone had previously sent.

Although there were no guards in the mansion, the maids were very strong and not to be trifled with!

Each person wields a strange weapon; while not as powerful as Imperial Arms, they can still catch people off guard.

Not to mention the three head maids at the very top.

Despite their seemingly delicate appearance, Mekime and Remus were once members of the Assassination Department. Although they were eliminated, their abilities are quite remarkable.

The strongest of them all is Yotsuba Mahiro Mine's personal maid.

He possesses exceptional marksmanship and anatomical skills that even the Elite Group Assassination Department cannot surpass.

He also possesses the Imperial Arms [Pumpkin Pumpkin]...

The mere mention of Pumpkin caused Najenda's shoulders to ache slightly, and a bitter smile crept onto her lips.

That Imperial Arm, which originally belonged to her, was forcibly taken by Yotsuba Mahiro along with her right arm, only to be given as a gift to her maid in the end...

Thinking of this, Najenda felt both amused and exasperated.

"Alright, it's about time. Let's go greet our new member."

Najenda, no longer wanting to dwell on the matter, changed her mind and got up to greet the newcomers.

Amidst dense forests and high above where snowflakes fall, a giant manta ray hovers in the sky.

That's the Special Dangerous Species [Skybat Elmonda], a dangerous species tamed and raised by the Revolutionary Army specifically for transportation.

On Elmonda's back, two people were riding.

At that moment, Elmonda seemed to receive some kind of summons, and suddenly swooped down to the ground. Its flapping wings created huge waves that crushed the surrounding trees, and it landed steadily on the ground.

The two people riding on his back jumped off as well.

One of them was a man, who was two meters tall and looked very imposing. He was also carrying a strange weapon that looked like a barbell.

As for the other person, he was covered by a thick cloak.

But when the person removed the hood, Akame was slightly taken aback; she realized the person was actually looking at her.

Have they met before?

"It's been a long time, Akame."

Just as Akame was wondering where she had seen this orange-haired girl before, accompanied by cheers, the girl pounced on her and gently rubbed against her.

"Hmm~ After all these years, Akame- chan is still as adorable as ever."

The girl lifted her long hair and admired her closely, making Akame blush with embarrassment.

She had a lollipop in her mouth, headphones on her head, and an outfit resembling a uniform on her upper body, while wearing a mesh pleated skirt on her lower body, revealing a pair of slender and delicate legs, clad in black ankle socks and small leather shoes.

To be honest, no one in Akame's memory could match this kind of outfit.

"Eh? Akame- chan, don't you remember me?"

The girl blinked, seemingly noticing her confusion, and said in shock, "That's really going too far! It's only been a few years since we last met, and back then, Akame- chan, you even helped that awful devil Yotsuba Mahiro tie me up."

"You are... Chelsea?!"

Akame's eyes widened slightly as she recalled that memory.

"That's right, that's right, it's Chelsea. Now, let's put aside our past grievances and get along well, since we're both assassins."

"..."

Akame stared at him silently with deadpan eyes.

She remembered that Chelsea didn't look like this back then. She had dressed up as Cole using a Teigu. How could she possibly recognize her like that?

What's even more unexpected is that the assassin from the Oarburgh Assassination Group, who was once an enemy, has become an ally?

Fate is truly a wondrous thing.

"Oh? I didn't expect you and Akame to know each other, Chelsea," Najenda said, looking the two of them up and down.

"Uh-huh."

Chelsea nodded and said, "About a few years ago, my instructor, my senior sister, and I were on a mission. At that time, I was accidentally captured by that despicable devil, Yotsuba Mahiro, and even had some very bad things done to me."

If Akame and the others hadn't rushed into the room in time, I probably would have suffered even more torment, and I would never have been able to escape from that demon's clutches. (crying)

Chelsea seems to have become more lively than in previous years.

They can vividly describe even the most painful past events, and at the end, they even appear to be on the verge of tears.

Oh, right, here, take this.

Seeing that Akame didn't seem to react, Chelsea took out a lollipop from her pocket and handed it to her.

Akame's eyes lit up when she saw the lollipop, and she grabbed it.

"You're very welcome! Please take care of me!"

Hey, where's your integrity?

Is everything really okay?

Lubbock and Tatsumi stared speechlessly at Akame, who had been so easily won over by a lollipop.

The two of them didn't even know where to begin their complaints.

Furthermore, is it really safe for this seemingly beautiful young woman to be an assassin?

Compared to her, the other, even taller and more imposing man Bulat seemed more like an assassin or bodyguard, right?

Unfortunately, that guy isn't human; his full name is [Lightning Flash Susanoo], an Imperial Arm.

It was the Imperial Arm that Najenda obtained when she went to the Revolutionary Army for help some time ago, which awakened it from its long slumber.

Because she needed to go ahead, she didn't bring Susanoo with her, but instead had him accompany Chelsea as support.

This also makes the number of supporters look better, at least.

"Alright, enough chit-chat! Now we're about to begin our first mission since Night Raid's return—the rescue of our trapped members Leone and Sheele!"

"Our target this time is the residence of Yotsuba Mahiro, the head of the Imperial Capital Secret Police Force. The mission is extremely dangerous, so please be very careful!"

Upon hearing the name Yotsuba Mahiro, Chelsea's attention immediately shifted from Akame to Najenda.

Unexpectedly, after several years, she reappears, and her first mission is to take action against this old friend!

I'm really looking forward to it...

It's time to settle all the scores from the past, you devil!

The marks of pain and pleasure left on her remain vividly in Chelsea's memory even today...

Chapter 169 Night Raid and the First Meeting with the Young Emperor (5.1K)

When Yotsuba Mahiro received news that Night Raid was preparing to resume its activities, he was accompanying the young emperor on a stroll through the lower district of the Imperial Capital.

The market in the Lower Town was bustling with activity.

"Oh, isn't this Yotsuba Clan? Are you out shopping with your daughter?"

"Nonsense! Yotsuba Clan isn't married, so how could she have such a big daughter? I'd say she's a younger sister!"

"No, isn't Yotsuba Clan- sama quite old? I remember he looked like this when I first met him Yotsuba Clan years ago, and he hasn't changed at all since."

Mahiro's arrival seemed to make the already bustling market even more lively.

And perhaps because they loved the girl so much that they were also interested in Mahiro, they gave her a warm welcome.

In no time at all, the girl's hands were piled high with all sorts of food.

Seeing such a lively scene, the little emperor beside him, holding snacks in one hand and gently tugging at his sleeve with the other, his beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Hey, I didn't expect you to be so popular among ordinary people!"

"It's not that I'm popular. If Your Highness came out in your everyday clothes and frequently appeared in front of commoners, I think you would be more popular than me."

"Hmph, no way. My father taught me that a king should not show his face in public so easily, but must always maintain his dignity."

The young emperor muttered unhappily.

Although she didn't like the lectures her father had given her, she had to admit that some of the things he taught her after he ascended the throne were indeed useful.

However, she was soon drawn to the street vendors and, holding Mahiro's hand, headed towards them.

The young emperor today was completely different from how she appeared in court on ordinary days, and from how she looked when they first met. She had deliberately dressed herself very plainly.

This refers to what is known as civilian casual wear.

A light blue dress with gold thread detailing, below which a pair of slender legs were tightly bound by black stockings, and she wore ankle boots.

Even her long, emerald-green hair, which she usually kept hidden, was now loose and casually spread across her back.

A pair of emerald eyes sparkled with curiosity and surprise as they constantly surveyed their surroundings.