"What are you doing?"
A commanding voice rang out. Esdeath jumped straight down from the Jaegers' meeting room window, already seething with rage at the scene before her.
Before Esdeath had finished speaking, Ogre restored its rotting body and continued buying time against Natala, the former assassination unit captain Kurome had summoned.
Looking at Captain Ogre before her, Esdeath could not help feeling startled.
"Is this Ogre? Didn't he die in the line of duty long ago?"
Although Captain Ogre had only been an obscure, low-ranking Imperial Guard captain, he had been exceptionally skilled at using connections, pulling strings, and doing business. He had dealt with Dr. Stylish often, so Esdeath had some impression of him.
Seeing the wounds inflicted on Ogre by Run's Teigu, Thousand-Mile Flight: Mastema, rapidly healing, Esdeath soon had her answer.
"Freeze!"
Esdeath bent down and struck the ground with one hand. In an instant, an immensely thick layer of ice formed beneath her feet.
Everything that touched the ice, which radiated freezing mist, became a beautiful ice sculpture. Whether it was the super Danger Beast, the Kaiser Giant Frog, or the undead Lin Feng had summoned, Esdeath froze them all.
Even the puppets summoned by Kurome's powerful Teigu were completely subdued by Esdeath almost instantly. The gap in strength was absolute.
Outside the ice, the members of the Jaegers felt the temperature plunge several degrees.
"Damn it...!"
Kurome spoke through gritted teeth, unwillingness churning in her heart.
More than they resented Lin Feng, Bols and Run hated their own weakness and helplessness.
They had once thought that possessing Teigu gave them a certain standing and fighting strength within the imperial palace, but now that a comrade had been killed, all they could do was watch helplessly.
The pain and frustration of that helplessness filled everyone's hearts.
"This is Dr. Stylish's zombie. Among the Empire's Teigu, the only one capable of summoning the dead is your March of the Dead: Yatsufusa, Kurome."
"But now Dr. Stylish has turned against you and attacked you. That means..."
The brim of Esdeath's white cap hid her eyes. What lay within her cold expression was unclear, but she had plainly understood everything.
"Did you stand by and watch Dr. Stylish die?"
Kurome, Bols, and Run all lowered their heads. Esdeath's words pierced them like needles, leaving them utterly ashamed.
"You don't need to blame yourselves..."
Esdeath's body suddenly began to tremble. She bit her lower lip with her upper teeth, nearly breaking the skin.
More than disappointment in the Jaegers Unit's strength, she felt guilt and regret over her own failure.
"I'm the one who deserves punishment. This was entirely my responsibility."
"I underestimated Lin Feng's abilities. I thought he was just an ordinary strong fighter. I never imagined he could go this far..."
"How many people in the Empire could escape a combined attack from four of you Jaegers? Dr. Stylish's death was entirely due to my carelessness."
Esdeath's face was ashen.
Last night, before falling asleep, Esdeath had heard Lin Feng declare that he would kill Dr. Stylish.
Yet Esdeath was a pure battle maniac. Fighting ability was her sole measure of a person.
Even a god couldn't escape the entire Jaegers roster, so we might as well deepen our bonds.
Thinking back now, Esdeath's thinking had been so naïve.
Lin Feng was far stronger than she had imagined.
Her appreciation for this Lin Feng grew, but her resentment toward him grew even more.
"With that kind of ability, he should have been able to kill all of you effortlessly, yet he only killed Dr. Stylish..."
Dr. Stylish was an inventor who had been promoted directly into the Jaegers Unit under Minister Honest's authority.
Because of his twisted personality, sick hobbies, and peculiar sexual proclivities, no one in the Jaegers Unit, Esdeath included, had been particularly fond of him.
Even so, Dr. Stylish had still been a member of the Jaegers Unit. How could they allow a comrade to be disposed of so casually?
"Leave this matter to me. I'll see it through to the end."
A cold glint flashed through Esdeath's eyes.
"Lin Feng... I'll make you my slave... One day, you'll wag your tail and beg for my mercy just like Numa Seika..."
Inside the District Thirteen Imperial Guard station.
Lin Feng had rushed back to the Imperial Guard from the imperial capital without stopping.
Having sensed Esdeath's arrival, Lin Feng knew that a period fraught with danger lay ahead, so he had returned early to prepare.
"Seryu, are you here?"
After searching the station, Lin Feng finally found Seryu at the shooting range.
Seryu was practicing firing her heavy weapons at moving targets.
Hearing Lin Feng's voice, Seryu was both surprised and delighted. Although she had only heard that Lin Feng had gone to participate in the fighting tournament yesterday, his absence all morning today had inevitably left her uneasy.
With no one at the helm, the station without its leader was like a heap of loose sand, and many matters still awaited Lin Feng's attention.
"Seryu, take care of the work at the station for me for a while. It won't be long, just two or three days."
Lin Feng spoke rather helplessly.
"Uh... did something happen?"
Seeing this rare reaction from Lin Feng, Seryu felt very puzzled.
"I went to the imperial palace in the capital and met General Esdeath... Anyway, I have some urgent matters to handle next. They concern the safety of the entire Imperial Guard. They're extremely important."
Not wanting Seryu to worry, Lin Feng did not tell her that he had killed Dr. Stylish.
"Seryu, then as we agreed, manage the station's affairs for three days. I'll go put in a word afterward. There shouldn't be anyone coming by during this time, and you won't have to deal with too many difficult people."
"Uh... yes, sir!"
Seryu gave Lin Feng a military salute. Koro, whom she was holding, copied her and saluted Lin Feng as well.
"Ow!"
Seeing Seryu being so playful, Lin Feng lightly chopped her on the head with his hand.
After finding Seryu, Lin Feng left the Imperial Guard and returned to his quarters to look for Sheele at home.
"Sheele? Are you here?"
He knocked on the door to Sheele's room. When there was no reply, Lin Feng simply took out his key and went inside-that was the kind of relationship they had.
Upon entering, Lin Feng saw only Sheele lying languidly on the bed, her legs curled up like a lonely, helpless kitten.
Sensing her door opening, Sheele opened her eyes. The moment she saw Lin Feng's face, she woke fully.