Having completed their tasks, the Elite Seven were called back to the Suekuni Trade Firm by Gozuki. The children then met up with him in the meeting room.

Gozuki: "Everyone's here. Akira's instincts about that man were right on the mark. I got him to talk. We now know the location of their salt works."

Gin: "So where is it?"

Despite her nonchalant bored tone, Gin felt elated. She sent a small unnoticeable grin towards Akira, him nodding slightly before he returned his gaze back to Gozuki.

Gozuki: "Gappi Marsh, of all places."

Akira: (raised eyebrows) "That dangerous place where most Danger Beasts gather?"

Green: "Seriously!?"

Natala: "That's what makes it the perfect hideout."

Gozuki: "I've been near Gappi once. It's a little too dangerous to be putting a hideout out there.

Green: "Since it's a saltworks, there are probably a fair number of laborers...I'm impressed they managed to keep themselves safe."

Gozuki: "I'd prefer to avoid fighting too many high-class Danger Beasts myself, but this is our mission, so we have no choice. We're going to Gappi! And we're going to crush the source of the rebel army's cash flow!"

Akame: "Roger!"

Timeskip

Finding themselves on the outskirts of the marsh, Gozuki sat on a stump of a tree. The Elite Seven were next to a flowing river, Gozuki going over the plan as he held up a map.

Gozuki: "We've identified the locations of two separate saltworks."

Akame: "They probably have two so that if anything happens to one, they'll still have income from the other."

Akira: "But from the plan, I'm assuming we're going to take them both out at the same time, right?"

Gozuki: "Yeah. We'll split into teams."

At the crossroads as to where it splits, leading to the saltworks, the Elite Seven had now been divided into two teams. Akira, Akame, Kurome, and Green on one team with Natala, Gin, Gozuki, and Poney in the other.

Akame: "Poney! You're not fully recovered, so don't overdo it."

Poney: (grin) "I know. I promise I won't drag down my team!"

Akira: (sigh) "Just don't die. Please."

Poney: "You got it!"

Akira then lets out a small smile nodding. He had high hopes that his family would come back in one piece, especially since they had Gozuki going with them. Gin sent a smile towards Akira as well, he himself sending a nod her way.

Heading into their respective directions, they begin heading towards the saltworks they were assigned to take out.

With Gozuki's group...

Poney opened the door to the saltwork they were assigned to take out. Peering her head in, she took around. There was no one inside, though the equipment had clearly been used recently.

Poney: "There's nobody here, Daddy."

Gozuki: "Though evident it was a functioning saltworks not too long ago. They may have fled just before we got here. They're hiding themselves pretty well. These guys are tough..."

Outside the facility, Gin and Natala were patrolling the perimeter. Gin rested her sword on her shoulder, a look of disinterest on her face as they kept walking.

Gin: "Not even a Danger Beast to be seen. What a disappointment." (irritated face) "All I seem to have lately are disappointments."

Natala: "Gh...! ...Listen, Gin. I'm sorry. But I've also steeled my resolve! Now I'm...I'm ready to answer your feelings!"

Gin: "Huh? Oh. No, no. I'm not interested anymore, see?"

Natala: "...Huh?"

Gin: "Timing's important too. Remember that you, sillyhead. Besides, that Akira guy and I are kind trying things out."

Natala: "I...see..."

Unknown to them, the enemy was close to them, all this time. In fact, their enemy was the leader of the Oarburgh Association, Merraid Oarburgh. The woman had a sadistic grin as she was closely behind the two assassins, her umbrella looming over the two.

Merraid: (thoughts) 'My, my. Such intimate confidants. Could they be couple...? Well, that girl said she's trying it with someone else. But still, how sad.' (looks to Gin) 'She's just my type. Girls really ought to go out with only girls. Don't charge down the wrong path.'

For some odd reason, Gin felt a malicious sadistic intent, her quickly turning around. But there wasn't anyone there. Natala looks at her confused.

Natala: "What is it?"

Gin: "I sensed another presence just now..."

From around the corner they were just heading, Gozuki turns towards them. He had a grim look on his face, easily shown that something was up.

Gozuki: "There's a huge pile of Danger Beast carcasses just up ahead."

The two were confused as to what he meant. Going up ahead just a bit more, their eyes widened. Just as they were told, at the bottom of the overlook up ahead, there were loads of Danger Beast carcasses, the things that were left were mostly their bones.

Gozuki: "This is bad. There's a good chance we've walked into a trap. We're getting out of here!"

The three begin to take off, heading to Poney so they can take off with her as well. But from the grass, something had hitched onto Natala's pants. Some sort of tracker bee.

With Akame's group...

Akame: "There's no one around...was everyone devoured by Danger Beasts?"

Akira: "...It does seem a bit strange. If they were devoured by Danger Beasts, how come we haven't run into any?"

Kurome: (eyes salt stations) "It seems like this place was functional not too long ago...maybe they all ran."

Green: "Should we check out the neighboring villages? They might be sheltering them here."

Akira: "That's a long shot, Green. There aren't any neighboring villages. If anything, the closest one here is pretty far."

Akame: "You think the village might aid the dissidents?"

Akira: "I don't want to consider it as a possibility, but it's too soon to rule it out."

Akame: "It's really only a small portion of the population that's thriving...life's tough wherever you go."

Kurome: "Sooner or later, the good guys will do something about it."

Akame: "...Do you really think they will...?"

Akira: "I've been thinking the same thing. From all the towns we've visited, the people were always complaining about the Empire. Hell, their faces showed discontent. Are we...are we really doing the right thing?"

Kurome: "We've been told that that's not something we should worry about. We only need to focus on the mission."

Akame: "That's true, but...I don't know if it's really the right thing to do...to leave it at, 'we don't have to worry about it.' After all, our efforts are meant to bring smiles to the faces of the people."

Akira: "...Are our efforts really bringing smiles to them? All I see are sad sacks of shit complaining about this Empire every day. The amount of discontent on their faces that I wake up seeing. It's honestly...it's honestly sickening."

Kurome: "Big sis, Akira-kun? What's the matter? It's a little strange for you two to be talking like this, don't you think? You two are always so serious. You tend to read too much into things. Don'cha think?"

Green: "...Akira, Akame...I understand what you two are saying."

Akame: "Green..."

Green: "But Father would be mad if he heard you two talking this way."

Akira: (sigh) "Right...sorry. I'll try not to dwell on it. It's just...you guys are the only family I have left and you're all very important to me." (clutches raven skull necklace) "This necklace is the only thing I can remember from my birth. I don't know who my parents were. I never met them. I honestly want to leave this Empire behind, but I can't...knowing I'll leave you all here. The amount of promises I've broken...to Corey...Najasho...hell, even to Guy. I guess what I'm saying is, I don't want to lose anyone else. I may be tired of fighting, but I don't what I'd do if I found out if a single one of you guys died."

Green: "...I know how much you've been suffering. You've been blaming yourself for their deaths, especially for Corey's. Sometimes, you even turn us away. You can always talk to us, Akira."

Akira: "I know, I know. I'm just...stressed."

Green: "It's okay. I get it." (looks to Akame) "Like Akira said, don't dwell on it. Just focus on staying alive. It's for your little sister's sake, too."

The red-eyed girl begins to ponder both Green's and Akira's words, especially Akira. When they first started this, Akira was completely devoted to the Empire. Unlike herself, Akame was simply doing this for helping the country, but also the possibility of being reunited with her sister.

The ravenette looked to her icy blue-eyed partner, his eyes showing a different resolute in them. His objective has always been the same, protect his family, no matter the costs. But Akira was willing to abandon the Empire and have all of them leave for the sake of their protection. He no longer cared for serving Gozuki or the Empire. His eyes showed that. From what Akame noted, this may have started when Corey's death had occurred, her death being the one to take a blow at his sanity. She then looks to Kurome, who was happily munching on her cookies near the doorway.

Akame: "...You're right."