[Anyway, if you want to rescue Bulat, head to General Budo's mansion.]
[If you run into danger, you can use my "Rule-Breaking Pawn" to boost your power—or even pull someone back from death.]
[Of course, the Rule-Breaking Pawn is not without a price.]
[See Scheele? Anyone who uses a Demon Pawn is, in effect, counted among my people.]
[That said, I respect you. I won't demand your allegiance right now.]
[As the price to defer the contract, every time you use a pawn… Scheele will spend one night with me to settle the tab.]
From these words, Najenda fully understood—this was a demon's fruit. Once swallowed, it meant accepting a demon's temptation, signing a contract, and offering oneself to the demon.
But… she had no other choice.
"Fine! I accept!"
Najenda knew Akuto was deliberately allowing them to move, even pushing them to assault General Budo's residence.
If they really attacked, they would be walking straight into Akuto's snare.
Even so, they still had to go!
Not only to save their comrade, but also to make Night Raid's name resound among the Empire's people.
If General Budo fell, the Empire's military will—and the people's confidence—would suffer a catastrophic blow.
[Good. Then we understand each other…]
Akuto smiled meaningfully and ended the link.
He was curious who in Night Raid would be the first to come warm his bed.
That uncertainty gave him the same thrill as "turning over name plaques."
Watching idealistic girls bow to reality, voluntarily serve him, and take the initiative to move their hips upon him—wasn't that delightfully satisfying?
"Boss, why did you agree to that shameless bastard's terms?!"
No sooner had Akuto's image vanished than Rabac leapt up.
"Rabac, have you considered what he'd do if we didn't accept first?" Najenda asked calmly.
"With his capability, if he launched a strike on Night Raid, even if we won, we'd take grievous losses and lose the strength to oppose the Empire.
"Besides, the Minister of Internal Affairs isn't our primary target. Easing relations with him is a workable option for now.
"And this is a pawn that can resurrect.
"If there's a chance at a second life, I believe many would choose that sacrifice."
Najenda had already prepared herself to be the first to use the Demon Pawn.
"No! I won't allow it! If anyone goes first, it's me!" Rabac's voice pitched up an octave.
"I want to see if he'd dare lay a hand on me, a man!"
"Uh, Rabac, that won't work," Leone scratched her cheek and set down the instruction leaflet.
"Why not?"
"The instructions say only those favored by Akuto can use a pawn.
"You're a guy. I doubt the Minister is that open-minded."
"Damn it!"
In the end, Rabac could only accept the painful reality that the girl he liked might, at any time, offer her purity to another man.
With the decision made to rescue Bulat and topple General Budo, Najenda immediately convened a strategy meeting.
"I know you all have doubts about my agreeing to Akuto's terms.
"Let me clear them up."
Thump!
Najenda slapped a portrait onto the table—Esdeath.
"Reliable intel says Esdeath will return to the Capital in a few days.
"To avoid facing three general-class figures at once, we must ease relations with the Minister of Internal Affairs and defeat General Budo before Esdeath arrives!"
"So that's it. Esdeath is coming back."
Akame stared at the Murasame in her hands.
She was confident she could slay Esdeath—but only Esdeath.
Beyond her, both General Budo and Akuto wore armor that thwarted Murasame's one-hit curse.
"Boss is right—easing relations with the Minister is necessary.
"Judging by his stellar performance in internal governance this past month, even if a new Empire is born, his administrative talent shouldn't be buried," Akame added.
The others nodded.
Mine: "Hmph! He did make my cakes more expensive… but he cut taxes on the poor and brought in caravans that curbed prices. On ability alone, I'll begrudgingly rate him ten out of ten as an administrator.
"On character, though? Just a handsome lecher!"
Leone: "Mm~ I agree with Boss. If Akuto wanted to hit us, he would've by now.
"Still, the Minister loves women~
"Mine, why not work that meager charm of yours and pull him to our side?"
Mine's answer was short and violent: "Scram!
"If anyone's bait, it should be you, cow-tits!
"Look at Scheele—he clearly prefers bustier types like you two!"
Hands together, Scheele smiled:
"No, Akuto-kun actually likes cute girls like Mine, too~ I've seen lots of girls get intimate with him—plenty of them are slim and petite."
Scheele beamed. In her eyes, since Night Raid had accepted Akuto's terms, everyone's lives would be safer.
To keep herself and her companions alive in these chaotic times, and follow Akuto in bringing blessings to the Empire's people—she found it wonderful.
"Ahem."
Najenda coughed. If they kept this up, the topic would go places it shouldn't.
"Enough about Akuto.
"To complete today's mission, the Revolutionary Army has sent us reinforcements."
Clap, clap.
"Newcomers, show yourselves."
At her cue, a boy and a girl walked in.
"I'm Chelsea. Nice to meet you all!"
The pink-haired beauty smiled around her lollipop.
"I am Susanoo…"
The kimono-clad figure spoke in a deep voice.
"Chelsea's Teigu lets her mimic others' appearances—excellent for assassinations, but not suited to frontal combat.
"Susanoo is a bio-type Teigu assigned to me by Headquarters. His regeneration is tremendous; he can serve as reliable line strength and burst strength both.
"Chelsea will usually act solo on assassination jobs.
"Susanoo understands my intent; coordination won't be a problem."
After a few notes of caution, Najenda raised her mechanical arm.
"For the revolution! For the people! We will crush General Budo and ignite the fires of rebellion across the land!
"Three days from now—assault the General's mansion!
"That's all!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
After dismissal, everyone busied themselves.
Chelsea handed out lollipops and soon blended right in.
That night, per Akuto's instructions, Chelsea proactively sought out Night Raid's two hardest nuts to crack—Leone and Akame.
With Scheele already secured, the line had been crossed.
In Akuto's assessment, Leone and Akame would be the toughest to sway.
To accelerate the plan, he dispatched the assistant he'd planted in the Revolutionary Army—Chelsea.
Chelsea had once been a member of the Oarburgh Assassination Group.
During an attempt on Akuto's life, she, like Akame and Kurome, was one of the lucky survivors.
Instead of fleeing far away, she kept trying to save people—and in doing so, she saw with her own eyes the daily prosperity of Anvale City.
This power wasn't merely military might. It was the power of technology, of policy, of hearts.
The Prefect of Anvale shone like the sun, pointing the way, leading development, and letting people live better than before.
In the end, Chelsea chose to defect of her own will.
Why? Because she could think for herself—because with Akuto she had glimpsed a future worth pursuing.
Chelsea believed that any reasonable person, after living in Anvale for a while, would naturally lean toward loyalty.
A year later, under Akuto's arrangement, she infiltrated the Revolutionary Army to keep him apprised of their movements.
Within their ranks, she realized many top brass were no different from the Empire's current elites.
To topple the Empire, they planned to invite foreign tribes—and give them land after victory.
Those headquarters "insights" only hardened Chelsea's resolve to follow Akuto.
Night Raid's assassins, however, were different from the Revolutionary leadership.
They shouldered the spirit of self-sacrifice to overthrow the Empire.
Helping the Revolutionary Army made them seem a bit naïve—but their resolve deserved respect.
If possible, Chelsea wanted them to turn back from the brink.
In the hot springs, Chelsea, Akame, and Leone soaked and chatted.
"Say, say, say~ senpai of Night Raid," Chelsea smiled, "didn't the conversation between Boss and Minister Akuto feel… off to you?"
"What was off?"
Akame turned slightly; a drop of water slid down the curve of her well-developed breast.
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