"I'm relieved," Leone patted Mine's back.
"U—" The pat triggered another pressure shift; more white Symbiote leaked. The room went quiet. Leone gulped. Heat rose; instincts howled.
Part of it was that she'd already decided to be next. Part of it was her Teigu—Beast King Form—stoking the wild in her, and Akuto's succubus bloodline amplifying that wildness.
Najenda noticed Leone's state and tilted her face up, staring at the sky.
(He said only those he fancies can use the Pieces. And tonight, he took every man from Night Raid.)
(Which means, to him, I am a "woman," too.)
(With such a powerful "friendly enemy" orbiting us… what will Night Raid become?)
Even in her war-sharpened mind, the sight of that telltale "white" had sent her thoughts spinning in odd directions.
Elsewhere, Akuto didn't know what ripples he'd set off. He was preparing to meet the Little Emperor.
In theory, the civil official of his rank should be summoned weekly. But thanks to the Minister's meddling, he hadn't set foot in the palace in over a month.
Dressed in formal robes, he was escorted into the inner palace after endless checks. Unlike the last time—when he simply flew in—he went by the book today.
"By His Majesty's order—civil official Akuto, attend!"
"Please follow me."
He climbed the white jade stairs toward the deepest hall—only to be blocked by a mountain of a man with a double-door frame.
"General Budo. Something urgent?"
Catching him here wasn't "proper," but urgency could excuse much.
"My apologies. Heavy matters," Budo said gravely.
"I've arranged a fight for you today. You must win. Only then can you receive the office I requested."
"I see. By the way, General, remember the Anvale tonic I mentioned? A caravan arrived yesterday. They planned to auction it, but I intercepted a bottle."
He produced a jar fancily decorated like an old-time syrup.
If Budo had arranged a bout already, there was no backing out. Since he'd moved, Akuto wouldn't renege.
"Much obliged." Budo accepted it, chatted a bit more, then excused himself to "apply the medicine."
Soon—it was time.
Accompanied by a herald, Akuto entered the hall that symbolized supreme power. To him, "supreme power" here was just "supreme punching power." It was only because of absolute force that the Minister ran roughshod.
A blue-haired girl strikingly like a certain Hydro Archon sat the throne—still in safety shorts, still exuding that mix of innocence and forced solemnity. With the Data Eye he'd redeemed, Akuto could see the "Supreme Emperor's Seat" barrier tied to both the Emperor and the Minister.
(That the Little Emperor is shielded, I get—but the Minister, too?)
"Civil official Akuto! How dare you gaze directly upon His Majesty!"
Budo's roar split the air.
"Such lèse-majesté must be punished!"
[Teigu—Adramelech!]
Lightning—blue-white, blinding—smashed down on Akuto before the Emperor could speak.
"General Budo. A bit much for the Great Hall, no?" the Little Emperor frowned.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I merely wished to demonstrate Akuto's power in your presence."
"He has the strength of a grand general. Your Majesty need not fear for his safety."
When the smoke cleared, Akuto stood untouched behind a shell of water. Not a hair out of place.
"Even if you intended to recommend talent," the Minister said between bites of meat, "to break decorum in the hall demands punishment."
"Your Majesty, clear rewards and punishments—this is the way of a wise ruler."
"Mm~"
The Emperor nodded as if half-understanding.
"Then, Minister—how should we punish Budo?"
"Er… perhaps half a year of palace confinement? And transfer the forfeited stipend to Akuto as compensation. What does Your Majesty think?"
"Sounds good. Let's do that."
As usual, she followed the Minister on small strokes.
Akuto gave the Minister a discreet thumbs-up in his heart.
(Confining Budo will only let the Minister sprawl further.)
(But if Budo dared do this anyway… he must be ready to play a different card.)
Decision made, the Emperor lifted her scepter and stood.
"Budo—do you accept this punishment?"
"I was at fault. I accept."
"However, as I said, I did it to recommend talent. Since I am punished, I must see it through."
"Oh? He's the one you want to recommend? The one who developed Anvale and captured Night Raid traitors?"
The Emperor had been curious about Akuto for a while. Ever since her accession, she'd heard nothing but bad news—or "managed" numbers. Then came this outlier—Akuto—who, without the Minister's help, turned a village into a boomtown. In a flood of bad news, he was a single bright branch.
If he could manage the Empire… even if it didn't "multiply," at least it might rise—right?
If the Empire flourished, she could go play!
She eyed Akuto, then looked at Budo.
"What do you mean by 'see it through'?"
"I judge that Akuto has, besides a general's strength, the breadth to serve as Minister."
"I have therefore made a private agreement with the Minister to test Akuto together—and see if he can share Your Majesty's burdens."
"The Minister has already reviewed this month's results in the Capital."
"In a single month, tax revenue equaled half of last year's; crime fell sharply."
"Eh? One month equals half a year? That's six times," the Emperor muttered after visible mental math.
"Correct. Sixfold," the Minister said, suddenly all agreeable.
"Akuto brought in caravans from Anvale, revved commerce, set fair taxes—the market came alive."
"Hence the sixfold levy."
"Even an old dog like me must admit his excellence. In my view, he's fully qualified to share Your Majesty's burdens."
That sixfold levy, of course, had seventy percent skimmed by the Minister's clique—which explained his smile.
Akuto had expected the Minister to speak for him, but hadn't expected Budo and the Minister to "test" him together. So Budo hadn't ignored him after all.
"What remains is a demonstration of personal might, before Your Majesty and the Guard," Budo said bluntly.
"If Akuto wins—please grant him a post befitting both his strength and his governance."
It was nearly "forcing the palace," simple and crude.
The Emperor, ignorant of political nuance, lit up. "A fight? With General Budo himself?"
"Approved! When do we start?"
She loved a good fight most of all.
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