Chelsea smiled faintly and went on.
"After listening to Boss, there's one question I can't shake."
"By Boss's logic, that imperial civil official is clearly a capable good person—so why can't we work under him?"
"Precisely because he's a good person—"
"Yeah. Exactly because the civil official Akuto is a good person, we decided to call off the assassination. Judging by both ability and conduct, he's someone who deserves to live to see the new Empire." Leone chimed in.
"I see…"
Chelsea's smile didn't fade.
"So you're saying that, in order to reach a correct end, we can accept using incorrect means along the way. Right?"
"Ara~ I didn't expect someone with your record at HQ to ask something that naïve," Leone set the beer down on the floating tray, eyes sharp. "That's right."
"From the start, Night Raid has been an organization that uses the wrong means to reach the right end."
"In that sense, Chelsea, you're one of us."
"Sure. I get that part."
Chelsea nodded with a soft laugh.
"But between using the wrong means for a right result and using the right means for a right result—the latter is obviously more convincing."
"Isn't Akuto the one using the right means for the right result?"
Silence stretched.
At last, Akame spoke.
"Even though Akuto's policies do improve people's lives, I don't believe his starting point is right."
"To me, trying to save a nation that's already crumbling—that idea was wrong from the very beginning."
"A rotten Empire should be toppled and rebuilt."
"Trying to save what exists only prolongs the people's suffering."
"If you think Akuto is a good man, then let him shine in the new Empire. That's why we gave up on targeting him."
"So it has to be destroyed, huh…"
Chelsea smiled gently.
"Then if Akuto also chose to destroy the Empire—but not by joining the Revolutionary Army—if he led his own force to bring it down… would you still oppose him, Akame?"
Neither Akame nor Leone could answer right away.
Judging by results, Akuto's capability blows the HQ brass out of the water. But because of their stance, they couldn't just say they'd defect to him.
"Your premise is wrong, Chelsea. Akuto… he won't betray the Empire," Akame said.
"He's served as an imperial official since he was young. His teacher was a former minister of the Empire."
"With that background, he'll take down the current Minister on the court floor. He would never raise a banner in rebellion."
"I see, I see. So that's the box you're stuck in…"
Chelsea's smile turned just a touch crooked.
"In the end… it's a weakling's mindset."
"Huh?"
"What did you say?"
Akame and Leone were puzzled. They'd been getting along fine, and both felt Chelsea was kind at heart. Why did her stance become so "dangerous" the instant Akuto came up?
"I'm saying all of us—including me—are being boxed in by a weakling's way of thinking."
Chelsea explained slowly.
"Akame, tell me—why do you think reform from within won't work?"
"If it could, the Empire wouldn't look like this," Akame replied.
"That part's fair," Chelsea nodded. "But."
"You think something even you can see through is beyond Akuto's understanding?"
"Are you saying you understand politics better than he does?"
"If you don't, then on what basis do you assert he can't save the Empire?"
Akame opened her mouth, then fell silent.
"As a civil official, Akuto's talent is second to none."
"In force, he's shown the power of a grand general."
"Someone like that isn't afraid of dirty tricks. Even if political enemies push him down, he can rise again by sheer strength."
"Given time, the Minister will lose ground."
"And when he steps down and Akuto rises—will you still strike him?" Chelsea pressed.
Akame faltered for the first time. Chelsea was right—if she could see this much, how could Akuto not? If he chose that path… had they been the ones in the wrong?
"Chelsea, you're playing with fire." Leone grimaced. "Are you really HQ's envoy?"
"Maa maa~ I'm saying this because I've met Akuto before~"
Chelsea flashed a little devil's smile.
"Oh? So, before this incident?" Leone wrinkled her nose.
"Un. Akame-san knows. The Empire and the rebels once plotted to assassinate Governor Akuto. Akame and I were both on that op."
"It's just that I'm no good head-on, so I didn't take part in the final clash."
Akame nodded silently. That assassination changed the course of her life.
"You back Akuto because he's your type?" Leone teased.
"No way. I look at more than faces; I look at character and ability."
"Oh?"
The mood lightened a bit. Even so, Chelsea's words lodged like a nail in Akame's and Leone's hearts.
Akuto's power to destroy and to build—both maxed out.
Night Raid's destructive power—maxed; constructive power—limited.
The Empire… maybe it really should be handed to someone like him?
Three days later.
Akuto passed another leisurely three days.
At dusk, in the civil officer's residence, Akuto and Shayu were calmly handling paperwork.
"Akuto-sama, between your own strength and your policies, Anvale City's caravans already control forty percent of the Capital's market."
"Forty percent? That pace is fine. Don't push too fast; don't touch the Minister's interests yet. For now, we shouldn't declare war on him in the open."
"Understood. We've tapped a relative of the Minister to speak in our favor. With him mediating, we can keep expanding without tripping alarms."
"And when he senses a crisis…"
Akuto and Shayu shared a glance and smiled.
"By then, we'll have a block of vested interests on our side in the court. Short of brute purges, they won't be able to shake us."
"When that time comes, I won't have to be just a 'civil official' anymore."
He did care about position—not for vanity, but because the higher he climbed, the more authority he held. Only then could he, at the moment of betraying the Empire, strike its dragon vein and national fate hard enough to lower the "Supreme Emperor's Seat" barrier from "Maou-class."
For that, he needed more power in hand.
As they discussed which new nobles to court, a violent explosion boomed outside.
"Mm."
From the Grand General's manor, a golden beam tore the sky, blasting away a tank-like hulk of a man. Then a warrior with a huge mirror on his back rushed in, swinging Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi in pursuit.
"So it's begun?" Akuto smiled.
"Cornelia, Pony, Tsukushi, Silver, Taeko—you five, go assist General Budo."
"Yes!"
Having received Akuto's order, the already-prepared squad moved out.
After bonding with Akuto, each had been granted a Slime Symbiote and a Rule-Breaking Piece. With both, they'd surpassed Bulat's level. Not yet at true Grand General class, but each was a "quasi-general." With 4.1 mana control layered on, they could even pressure a general one-on-one.
With those five reinforcing him, even if Budo had been caught flat-footed, he'd rally fast. And once the line re-formed, Night Raid would be pushed to the brink.
That was when Akuto would harvest.
Minutes later, an enormous golden cannon roared—Romantic Battery: Pumpkin's ultimate strike. It carved a path through the Imperial Guard ranks; Night Raid saw a perfect chance to escape.
In the original timeline, this was where they slew General Budo, but Mine paid with her mind, reduced to a husk. Now, seconds after that radiant blast…
"The first one to use a Rule-Breaking Piece… as expected."
Click.
Click!
Once Akuto felt it, the golden cannon suddenly spammed shots like its life depended on it.
(End of Chapter)[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"][Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop][Thanks for Reading!]