"So, who exactly is that person…?"
Lubbock had been listening for quite a while without understanding and couldn't help asking.
"That person is… the Governor of Anvale City — Akuto!" Najenda slapped the table and answered loudly.
"Akuto? I feel like I've heard that name before?"
The purple-haired, big-busted city girl Sheele tilted her head.
Seeing Sheele's hazy look, Mine covered her face helplessly.
"Sheele, don't I often buy you those premium cakes from Anvale City?"
"We even went to ask about the cake-making method. The shop owner said the technique for making those cakes was invented by Anvale City's governor, Akuto."
"Damn! This Akuto is too evil. Just to empty my wallet, he actually invented food that tastes this good!"
Mine touched her empty wallet and bared her teeth in pain.
"Mine, don't blame your habit of loving to spend money on someone else."
Najenda stretched out her mechanical arm and tapped Mine's head bonk bonk.
A stab of pain hit; Mine instantly went into a head-hugging defensive posture.
Besides Mine, another Night Raid member also started complaining.
"So it's him? So he's the one!"
The green-haired young man Lubbock stared at Akuto's portrait, furiously scratching his messy hair.
"Boss! This Akuto is the culprit behind my bookstore going bankrupt!"
Thinking of how he had lost not even the principal he invested, tears almost came out.
"Huh? Lubbock, your bookstore went bankrupt? When did that happen?"
Najenda was very surprised. How did a good bookstore just go under? Didn't that mean they'd lost an activity stronghold?
"Uh…"
Lubbock froze, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry, boss. I haven't had time to report it to you yet."
"Because recently there's been this 'printing press' and 'reformed papermaking'… so… my bookstore went bankrupt." Lubbock's expression was full of grievance.
"If it's just that books aren't selling, it shouldn't be enough to make you fold, right?" Najenda frowned.
"Hah? How not? Those limited-edition books, I hoarded them to sell when the price went up! I even took out loans for that!"
"And now! Because the new printing and papermaking got popularized, a book that used to be worth 1,000 gold isn't even worth 10 gold now!"
"If it weren't for my strength, I'd have—"
Najenda was speechless.
You take out loans and can't repay them, and you blame someone else for pushing technological reform?
"Lubbock, borrowing has risks; invest with caution~"
"How about this — I'll personally give you some money to open another shop."
"This time, you absolutely must not pull any 'cornering the market' or 'leveraging' stunts."
Najenda spoke earnestly.
"Boss! You are the best!"
Lubbock was so moved he tried to give Najenda a passionate hug.
Facing the incoming Lubbock, zzzap — a current of warning!
With a heavy thud, Lubbock was swatted out of the air.
"Lubbock, don't misunderstand. As Night Raid's boss, I can't let everyone lose an activity stronghold in the capital."
Najenda gave Lubbock a gaze full of pressure.
Hmph! If Lubbock hadn't invested recklessly, how could the bookstore have gone bankrupt so easily?
"Ahem… anyway, thanks, boss!"
After a round of discussion, Najenda patted the table.
"Tonight, we move!"
"Everyone has seen it — Governor Akuto's personal ability is extremely strong, and even we, living in the capital, are under his great influence."
"A talent like this staying with the Empire is too much of a waste. We must bring him over to the Revolutionary Army!"
Najenda wasn't only skilled at combat; she also understood politics deeply and knew how important a top-tier talent like Akuto was.
"Boss, what if Governor Akuto isn't in danger at all, but instead is maintaining his full combat state?"
Akame asked seriously.
As the only one present who had crossed blades with Akuto, she knew his terror well.
In her view, there was no way Akuto would get tripped up by so-called 'evil nobles.'
"In that case… we bring him back to the Revolutionary Army! Let him continue to shine for the people!"
"Let's start working out the concrete strategy now!"
Najenda directly skipped some questions that were harder to answer.
Late night.
The Countess's mansion.
Tonight's moon… was very round.
Under the clear moonlight, the figures slipped in.
At the very front was a black-haired beauty in a sailor suit.
Under the moonlight, the girl's thoroughly trained thighs reflected the silvery glow.
Her fair thighs crossed and strode, very eye-catching.
"…?"
As if noticing a peeping gaze from the darkness, she stopped.
"Everyone be careful. The moment the mission shows no chance of success, we withdraw immediately."
Before entering the core area of the mansion, Akame reminded them sternly.
The golden-haired beast-eared onee-san beside her was noncommittal.
"Akame, this Governor Akuto is indeed strong, but we're not pushovers either."
"Just because he beat your former companions doesn't mean he can beat us!"
Leone was full of confidence.
After all, Akame's former companions used Shingu (Relic Arms), while Night Raid's members used Teigu (Imperial Arms)! They weren't even on the same level!
Looking at the brimming-with-confidence Leone, Akame could only tighten her grip on the demon sword Murasame.
"Let's hope so…"
Just as they were about to press deeper—
Clack—
The mansion's front door suddenly opened, and a black-haired, black-eyed youth slowly stepped out.
In the pale moonlight, the bright-eyed, clean-toothed youth smiled faintly.
He merely stood there, yet his presence alone filled the air.
"Welcome, everyone from Night Raid. I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Akuto looked unhurriedly at the few people before him.
The dangerous long-haired JK beauty — Akame.
The muscle man in armor — Bulat.
The wild, golden-haired beast-eared onee-san — Leone.
And the purple-haired, bespectacled city girl — Sheele — who had almost just tripped over the steps at the door.
These were Night Raid's vanguard.
As for the others, like Lubbock and Mine, they should be on the flanks handling support.
While Akuto was sizing up the Night Raid members, the beast-eared one spoke up first.
"So you're Governor Akuto of Anvale City? I thought your portrait was touched up, but I didn't expect you to be even more handsome than in the picture."
Leone might be rough around the edges, but her aesthetics weren't bad at all.
The portrait they'd acquired was from a year or two ago. Now, Akuto had not only grown, but had also unlocked his Succubus bloodline, his charm rising by more than one level.
"Miss Leone, your compliment honors me." Akuto smiled slightly.
With those words, Night Raid's members were stunned for a beat.
Leone had never been on any wanted list — how did Akuto know her name!?
Casting a glance at the stunned Leone, Akuto smiled and shook his head, then turned to Akame.
"Akame, old friend — aren't you going to say hello?"
Akame said little. She presented her "blade" directly.
"Governor Akuto, we're here today under orders to take you away."
"With your identity and ability, staying in the capital is far too dangerous. No matter how great your local authority is, you can't fight the ministers at the Empire's highest rung."
"To prevent you from being persecuted for your 'former disciple of the Grand Minister' identity, Night Raid will be responsible for sending you to a safer place — one where you can better exert your abilities."
Her tone was formal — formal enough that Akuto laughed out loud on the spot.
"Hahaha~"
"I truly admire how the Revolutionary Army can make poaching talent sound so righteous and noble."
"Think for a second — if I weren't prepared to oppose the Grand Minister, would I have come to the capital on my own?"
Hearing this, Akame paused slightly.
No matter whether it would work, she did admire the courage it took for Akuto to come to the capital to oppose the Grand Minister.
However…
"Even if you are prepared, Governor Akuto, we still can't allow you to remain in the capital. To say nothing of others — just General Esdeath alone isn't someone you can oppose."
"Rather than being senselessly crushed by the Minister, I'd much prefer you join the Revolutionary Army and raise the banner with the people oppressed by the Empire."
"The Empire is rotten from within and must be toppled from the outside so that this country can stand right again!"
Akame's gaze was resolute, and her voice was compelling.
Unfortunately, Akuto had long since passed the stage where he could be easily swayed by others.
"Akame, is this the patter Najenda taught you?"
Akame fell silent.
With a single sentence, Akuto killed the momentum. What else could she do but be silent?
It wasn't about obeying Najenda blindly, but she had been deeply influenced by Najenda.
Akame's betrayal of the Empire was a long process, affected in turn by "what she saw with her own eyes," "the warning from the leader of the assassination guild Gozra," "the advice of Anvale's governor Akuto," and "the dreams of former Imperial general Najenda," among a series of people and events.
Among these, because she had spent the longest time with Najenda and Sayo, her influence from Najenda ran deepest.
Normally, Akuto wasn't willing to waste words with Akame, but since he'd promised Cornelia, he had to try persuading her before acting:
"Akame, don't you think you've got it backward? It's not that I should go to your side — it's that you should come to mine, just like… your former companions."
Clap.
Akuto clapped lightly, and several figures stepped out of the shadows behind him.
These girls… were Akame's former companions!
"Cornelia, Pony, and Chikushi? You…"
Akame was both excited and delighted — she had thought those companions had all been killed by Akuto. She never expected there would be a day she could see them again!
However, she rejoiced far too early.
Under her shaken gaze, Chikushi proactively hugged Akuto's arm, sandwiching it between her ample curves.
"That's right, Akame. We're working under Akuto-sama now~"
Seeing Chikushi so bold, Sayo frowned gently.
"So you really submitted?"
Hearing this, the one wearing the Teigu Yuu no Pantsu — Pony — stepped forward.
"Akame, we didn't 'submit.' We simply witnessed Akuto-sama's dream and ability and chose to realize that dream together with him."
"Akame, how about you come with us, too? Akuto-sama is the one who can truly protect us and guide our growth."
Pony also extended her hand toward Akame.
(End of Chapter)
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