Just a small chapter to introduce another group Night Raid will have to fight. Nothing too special.

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It had been three months after the assassination of Bolic of the Path of Peace. There was a faction within the religious organization that had been formed in order to stage an armed revolt, believing that setting themselves against the country responsible for such suffering was the right thing to do. Attacking numerous warehouses and viceroys and government officials that enforced heavy taxes, it seemed that they were making themselves known aside from the Revolutionary Army and Night Raid.

The religion's leader had disagreed with this and wished for no blood to be shed, but he bent his ears to the convincing argument that was being made by his executive team. They had made a fair point, the leader would need more land and provisions in order to provide for his growing flock of people. In response to the fresh turmoil, the vast majority of the oppressed citizens had decided to join the chaos, the scope of the revolt spreading to every corner of the Empire.

During this same time, waiting for an opportunity to present themselves, the western tribes had mounted a massive invasion against the Empire. The Empire's soldiers weren't ready nor prepared for this, suffering many defeats, the invaders pouring in. 

The ruling power at the Capital began to grow concerned for the state of the Empire. Both internal and external. And it didn't help that a frigid winter had graced the land.

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Imperial Capital, Palace Courtyard

Prime Minster Honest and the young emperor of the Empire were in the palace's courtyard. A cold chill filled the air as a great cold of the winter had come upon the land. The young emperor knelt in front of a pond that once contained fish, now gone due to the cold air.

Emperor: "Minister? I heard that our army has once again fallen at the hands of the western invaders. ...Are we going to be okay?" (sigh) "The enemy's just so big."

Honest: (chuckles) "Now, now. Who told you such things, Your Highness?"

Emperor: "Seigi, the Administer of Domestic Affairs."

Honest: (sly grin) "I see... Well, it sounds to me as if Seigi is shirking his duties."

Emperor: (tilts head) "What do you mean?"

Honest: (sniffles due to cold) "He is responsible for dealing with the uprisings plaguing our Empire right now. Feeding you unfounded lies about the invaders only misleads you." (grins down at the boy) "Don't you worry about the enemy. I've already summoned General Esdeath and her unit."

Emperor: "Oooh! In that case!"

Honest: "Yes. General Esdeath will surely drive back the invading enemy. Their numbers are of no consequence."

The young boy only smiled at the minister's words. However, he was blinded by his ignorance, following everything his "trusted advisor" said without question, unknown to the fact of the true state his beloved country was in. Let alone realizing that he was being controlled and used as a puppet leader while he controlled everything from the shadows. 

Honest: "When an Empire's been around as long as ours, these things happen. But you have nothing to worry about. You keep doing as you always do and maintain the calm posture that reassures our people."

Emperor: "You got it! A country can never stand tall if it's ruler shows weakness. Thanks, minister! You're always helping me out!"

Oh, how the young boy was naive, blinded by his own ignorance and his trust in his most "trusted advisor." Because of Honest's influence, the young emperor is ignorant to his people's pleas for help, dishing out harsh and horrific punishments and executions. Add in to the fact that his morality has been warped, his sense for right and wrong is discerning. He had a good heart, thinking he's doing everything for the good of his country and people, but he's nothing more than a puppet.

It's as simple as that.

Honest then moved inside and sat down in his personal dining room. He was annoyingly munching away at his food, eating at his own leisure like a pig. The person in front of him only kept a grin.

Honest: (clicks tongue in annoyance) "Damn... All these rebellions and invasions of late are such a pain in the ass... The stress has made me gain weight."

Man: (laughs heartily) "It's because you overeat, Pops!"

Honest: "Well, that's because these delicacies are so good!" (munches on meat) "I sent my darling son on a trip, even outside of the country, but... You came back better than ever. I couldn't be more pleased, Syura."

The minister's son, now known as Syura, simply leaned back in his seat as he kept his confident grin. His tone then grew more serious.

Syura: "I've done the rounds, and been to every corner of the world." (looks out window) "I'd always thought so, but the Empire is pretty darn advanced. The archipelago to the South and tundra to the North are so rural, you know? They don't even have guns."

Honest: "The second largest civilization after our Empire would have to be the kingdom to the West, don't you think?"

Syura: "Yeah. The way they utilize alchemy and their unique culture is fascinating. My one regret... Is that we weren't able to go to the island nation to the East. It's said to still be underdeveloped."

Honest: (pats mouth with napkin) "The farthest reaches of the eastern ocean are unknown territory, so it can't be helped."

Syura: "But..." (malicious grin) "That homework you gave me for my trip--'Gather anyone talented who can be of use.' I think I can safely say I more than fulfilled the assignment, Pops."

Honest: "Well, well. I'd love for you to show them to me."

Syura nodded and took his father to the coliseum. Seated in his personal booth, Honest sat himself comfortably as he gazed down into the arena below. 

There were several prisoners gathered in the middle, all terrified and shakily holding weapons in their hands. They were unaware of what was to occur, or happen to them. Syura leaned over the railing a bit and called down to them.

Syura: "Hey, guys! You're all on death row! All that awaits you is the hangman's noose! So how about this? Why don't we play a little game?"

The sound of the wooden gates that led to the arena could be heard opening. Hooded figures began to make their way inside, powerful auras emanating each and every one of them.

Syura: "Whoever defeats those five people will be pardoned of their crimes and even given a reward! Feel free to work together to gang up on them all at once. No qualms free!"

Despite the orders they were given, some of the prisoners were still nervous and hesitant to act upon them. However, one of them readied their spear, causing the others to look at them.

Prisoner 1: "H-Hey... Are we going to do this?"

Prisoner 2: "Yeah. If we don't act now, we'll just end up dead."

Syura: (grin) "Oh. They're game for this. Good thinking. Tempting condemned criminals with a pardon to get them to fight..."

Honest: "Is a common practice when training assassins." (gulps down piece of meat) "It's a perfect test of their actual skills."

The prisoners all let out roars and cries as they ran towards the group of five with their weapons free. One of them tosses their cloak off of them, grabbing his katana by his side.

Man: "As decided by our game of rock-paper-scissors, I will go first."

Girl: "Nothin' we can do to stop you."

Man: (deep breath) "Ah, yes. My beloved Kotetsu. Now... I will feed you your meal."

The man put one foot forward and took a fighting stance, preparing to draw his blade. As he waited for them to draw near, the thundering footsteps growing closer, he unsheathed his katana. Doing several slashes past them, he skids to a stop and sheathes his blade, a smirk growing on his face as he dismembers and bisects many of his opponents.

Syura: "That's Izou. He's a swordsman who loves his sword more than anyone else and constantly feeds it blood."

More of the prisoners attempt to circle around the young girl of the five. She simply giggled to herself, thinking of their misfortune as she took out a microphone. Some of the prisoners were terrified to even approach, keeping a distance.

Girl: "Dear, dear. There's nowhere to run. Poor little humans." (snaps finger) "How about I at least sing you a peaceful song... To send you to your graves!"

Her hood and cloak was blown off, revealing the girl in a black outfit and skirt, along with stockings and high boots. She wasn't too bothered by the cold, the girl happily skipping along as she sung into her microphone. However, the soundwaves she sent out towards the prisoners' could be heard by them.

Before they even knew it, they were dead. Their skulls and bones cracked and shattered, all of them beginning to cough up blood. The girl adjusted her glasses, then giving them all a cute smile.

Syura: "That's Cosmina. She's a songstress convicted as a witch in the West."

Cosmina: (smiles happily) "Got them all in one go! ...Eeek!"

Man: (kicks Cosmina from behind) "Don't do that, you bitch! Don't go killing everyone off! What about me!?"

Cosmina: (pants seductively) "Now, now.~ I'll give you plenty of attention later.~"

Man: (growls in annoyance) "You'd only wreak my health!"

Walking away from the group was another hooded girl, her hands in her pocket as she surveyed the bodies on the ground.

Girl: (sigh) "These guys are hopeless. ...Hm? This guy's still alive."

The girl had found someone who was still alive. Knowing his end was near, he began to scream to the top of his lungs, trying to stall his imminent death for as long as possible. The girl tossed her cloak off and grabbed the man by the front of his jacket, an angered look on her face as she threw him upwards.

Girl: "Pipe down! You should feel... Lucky. Being killed by me is the best think you could ask for."

The girl had kicked herself off the ground and made her way up to the man she had just kicked. She then bit down onto his shoulder, the man feeling slight pleasure at first before he begin to feel jolts of pain all throughout his body. His skin began to deteriorate and grow saggy, reduced to nothing but the muscle beneath his skin.

She then landed on the ground with her own two feet. The body hit the ground behind her, making some sort of a "thudding" sound. The girl then wiped the blood off her mouth, satisfied with her kill.

Girl: "Yum!"

Syura: "That's Dorothea. She's an alchemist who can convert flesh into all sorts of things."

The last two members were then revealed. Though, one of them was dissatisfied that he was unable to show off his skills.

Syura: "That's Enshin. He's a pirate who ran amok in the archipelago to the South."

Enshin: "I'm so desperate to kill, I'm about ready to pop."

Syura: "That fatty huffing and puffing over there is Champ. He's a serial killer clown."

Champ: (thoughts) '...If there's no little kids here, I'm not interested.'

With his new group introduced, Syura turned to look around at his father. Honest had an approving look on his face, nodding in reply towards his son's demonstration of his group's power. He was deeply impressed, if anything.

Honest: "I see... You've amassed a fine troupe. But... Why are they all equipped with Teigu...?"

Syura: "Because I collected Teigu that had been scattered outside the country too, remember? Let them use them if they want. After all, these guys are world-class at what they do, see? Your four Rakshahsa were nothing compared to them."

Honest: (lightly chuckling) "That's an amusing challenge."

Syura: "It's no challenge. And to prove it, we're going to kill that trouble some Seigi fellow for you."

Honest: "Oh, my. You don't have to trouble yourself with that. With the country as it is... Now is my chance to expose those who pretend to be my faithful retainers." (wicked grin) "I'll take all those who stand against me and execute them one by one. We can invent crimes to pin on them. Heh heh heh."

Syura: (thoughts) 'That's typical evil for you. Just as I thought, it'll be hard work taking out my old man. Oh, well. First... To have some fun. With plenty of toys to amuse us.'