"You've probably all heard some of the rumors going around outside."
This was Night Raid's headquarters.
No one except Night Raid's members knew its location.
Lubbock, Bulat, Mine, and the other Night Raid members raised their hands in agreement.
Najenda braced both hands on the long office desk, her face full of displeasure.
"First, tell me what you've heard."
"While buying supplies, I heard people saying Night Raid was a bandit organization that committed every imaginable crime... and that was in the slums."
"Because of my family, I'm still in contact with some businessmen. They said Night Raid was a civilian organization belonging to Minister Honest's faction..."
"While I was hiding on the streets of District Eight gathering intelligence, I heard children laughing and shouting that Night Raid should die... they were even playing some stupid game where the Imperial Guard defeated Night Raid..."
"Enough..."
Najenda's expression turned grim. All the Night Raid members lowered their heads in silence. They had never imagined something like this would happen.
"Who the hell killed our spies... now we've lost another huge chunk of our intelligence sources..."
"It was the Three Beasts."
Lubbock asked angrily, while Najenda answered helplessly.
"Fortunately, they didn't finish the job. Some of our capable comrades knew to play along with Honest, so they weren't marked for assassination."
"Thanks to them, I learned that the ones who assassinated those loyal officials of the Empire were the Three Beasts under Esdeath."
Bulat was already seething. He had never expected the Empire he had once served to resort to such despicable methods.
Though they, too, were doing things that could not bear the light of day, this would instantly destroy the credibility and goodwill Night Raid had spent so long building among the people.
"Even the beggars we helped before are now cursing Night Raid for its brutality... how ironic!"
"There's no point lamenting it anymore. For every inch we lose, we'll take back a foot."
Najenda brought her fists together and clenched them tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
"We can't let them keep doing as they please. We must kill the Three Beasts immediately, then reveal to the public that they're the real culprits behind the assassinations of the loyal officials. Otherwise, the situation will spiral out of control."
"But what if the Empire sends other organizations to frame us again..."
"Don't worry. Once the public catches the Empire deceiving them even once, their trust in it will plummet afterward."
Najenda had already envisioned the path ahead.
The Empire's upper ranks already had an appallingly poor reputation among the people. Didn't everyone know the story of the boy who cried wolf?
"That's right. Let me handle this one. The Three Beasts all seem to have been members of the imperial forces before, so sending me should be more appropriate."
Bulat was the first to volunteer for the mission, and Najenda was naturally more than happy to accept.
"I'm going too! I want in on the operation!"
The green-haired young gentleman, Lubbock, shouted. This was the perfect time for him to show what he could do.
Tatsumi, who had failed his last mission, also raised his hand despite regretting his lack of strength.
"Tatsumi, are you really up to this? You already took on so many missions, and now you're still pushing yourself this hard. Isn't it too much?"
In an ordinary organization, hearing those words would usually mean a superior was blaming a subordinate for poor performance, using them as an excuse to keep him from doing any more work.
But Night Raid had none of those insincere social niceties. Najenda genuinely felt she had put too much pressure on Tatsumi.
After all, once they heard that Lin Feng was also participating in the dueling tournament, none of Night Raid's members could expect Tatsumi to win. They only hoped he would return safely.
"It's fine... I can do it! Let me go!"
Everyone had seen Tatsumi's rapid improvement in strength.
Moreover, he had reportedly lasted several rounds against Lin Feng, which only made every Night Raid member firmly believe that Tatsumi had now reached the average standard of their members.
"Good! You're exactly the kind of comrade Night Raid needs! Go, Tatsumi. Together with Bulat and Lubbock, skin those three monsters!"
"Yes!"
"Next, I'll announce the specific plan of action. I've received intelligence from our insiders. At three in the afternoon the day after tomorrow, the Three Beasts and a blue-haired man named Wave will carry out some secret missions. Before that, they'll stop to rest at a tavern in District Four called The Godfather."
Najenda looked toward Tatsumi, whose eyes shone with the same fiery sparks as hers.
Since it was that Lin Feng last time, there was nothing to be done. But now it's time to let this boy see how strong he's become!
Inside the restaurant in the slums of District Thirteen.
"Lin Feng, we're so happy you've made it big... to think you could still find time to come see us when you're so busy. What can I say..."
A drunken flush spread across the restaurant owner's face.
In the Empire, the standards for joining the Imperial Guard were extremely strict. Getting in was equivalent to securing a golden rice bowl, almost guaranteeing a lifetime without worrying about food or clothing.
And there were scarcely a handful of people in the entire Empire like Lin Feng, who had risen straight to captain after being recommended.
"Don't say that... I've long thought of you as family."
"We know... we know... since you became captain, our restaurant hasn't even had to pay taxes!"
After Lin Feng took charge of tax collection, he had been paying the taxes for the restaurant where he once worked out of the savings he had plundered from the Gathered Heroes Group.
When the restaurant owner saw that the tax collectors never came and learned that Lin Feng had been promoted to captain, he was, of course, deeply moved.
"Here, have another drink!"
"I'll have tea instead of wine for this one. I still have things to do tomorrow."
"Whatever you like, whatever you like!"
Lin Feng took a sip of hot tea. He had requested three days of recuperation leave to evade the imperial army's search and wait for an opportunity.
And now, Lin Feng was gradually beginning to feel that the opportunity he had been waiting for was about to emerge.
"That beast who looks neither male nor female is named Nyau, right?"
"I've only heard one or two people mention the name, but there's no mistaking his appearance. He's a little fellow who could easily pass for a woman!"
The owner leaned toward Lin Feng, cupped a hand beside his mouth, and whispered.
"And he's with the Empire... so many people came just now. I'm afraid the walls have ears here in the restaurant, so I don't dare say it outright!"
"No need. I already know everything I need to know. Thank you so much!"
Lin Feng clenched his fists.
"Are there really animals in this world who like collecting women's faces?"