Just a warning, there's a bit of some disturbing content later on in this chapter. You've been warned. If you haven't read this book's description, or if you've read the previous chapters, it's a given that this book has depictions of blood and gore.

Especially some fucked up stuff.

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Someday In The Capital...

Akira: (deadpan) "...What the hell are these?"

Tatsumi: "Uwah! What a stash!"

Lubbock: "My cover in the Capital is running a book-lending shop. I'll loan you these free of charge."

Tatsumi: "Really!? Thanks!"

Akira: "Yeah, no thanks. I don't have time for such...things."

Tatsumi: "Lubbo... Thanks for worrying about me. I'm okay now. I've changed my tune about the whole Sheele business."

Lubbock: (grin) "...That so?"

Tatsumi: "I'll just borrow these."

Lubbock: "I knew you'd like them."

Akira: (thoughts) '...You guys are just a bunch of perverts, huh? Well, if Guy was here, he'd be parading with you guys, right now.'

Timeskip-Present Day

Tatsumi: "Rrrraaaaaah!"

The brown-haired teen had dashed forward, rushing forward towards Akame with a wooden training sword in hand. Akira was sitting on top of the tree behind Tatsumi, watching the two battle and fight it out.

What basically happened, Tatsumi had promised to Akame that he wouldn't die and would always come back. And now, here he was, desperately training and trying to get stronger as fast as he could. The sounds of wood clanging filled the air as both Akame and Tatsumi kept exchanging blows.

Akame then sends a powerful swing from the right, Tatsumi blocking it with his own training blade. But the force was too much as he was sent back, skidding across the ground as he began to pant heavily, looking up at Akame with an undeterred glare.

Tatsumi: "...One... One more time, Akame!"

Akame: "Shouldn't you take a break?"

Akira: "Training is fine, but overwork yourself like that and you'll just end dropping dead to the ground, you know."

Tatsumi: (wipes mouth of dirt) "I can't rest now. I told you, right? Come at me like we're in a real fight. Here I come!"

Once more, the brown-haired teen charges at Akame, who had readied her wooden blade at brace for the oncoming attack. But Tatsumi soon paused as some ice daggers were thrown at his feet, Akira having leaped from the tree branch he was on and threw a few downwards and landed in front of Akame. As soon as he stopped in his tracks, Tatsumi's face morphed to one of pain as a fist came intruding at the side of his face.

Bulat had quickly appeared and suckered punched him so hard that Tatsumi was sent tumbling to the ground, dirt and dust quickly picking up all around him. He soon got up, looking at Akira and Bulat bewildered.

Tatsumi: "Wh-What the heck, Aniki!? Akira!?"

Akira: "If this were a real fight, you'd need to be alert at all times."

Bulat: "He's right. You'd have to be aware of your surroundings too. You never know where the enemy may be hiding, right?"

Tatsumi: "Kuh!"

Bulat: (curious) "You're a lot more into it than usual. What's up?"

Tatsumi: "Nothing... I just want to level up as fast as possible. I promised Akame... That I will survive no matter what!"

Akame: (smiles) "Tatsumi..."

Bulat: "Heh." (slaps Tatsumi's back) "Now that is handsome! You're growing up! If you want to be even stronger, then team up with me! I'll train you right away!"

Tatsumi: "Aniki..."

Bulat: (grabs shovel) "Our first lesson starts now. Follow me!"

Tatsumi: "R-Right, Aniki!"

Akame and Akira then watch as Tatsumi and Bulat take off through the main entrance of the base. Just watching the two reminded her of a few old memories.

Flashback, Akame's Memories

Currently, a majority of the Elite Seven were standing at the porch of their house. The onlookers were currently watching their two best duking it out in front of them at the field, the Elite Seven's number two sending out an ice blast towards their blonde leader.

Najasho simply scoffed, dodging out of the way as he dashes forward towards the black-haired boy, who simultaneously did so. The rest of the Elite Seven watched with amazement as Akira was able to keep up with Najasho in a hand to hand combat match, the two kept trading blows without even landing a hit on each other. It wasn't until Akira had conjured an ice blade in his hand, thrusting it forward towards the blonde.

Once again, Najasho scoffed and pushes the blade out of the way, then sweeping his leg, knocking Akira off his feet and causing him to fall on his back. He grunted in pain and in annoyance, Najasho offering his hand down to the fallen boy with a teasing smirk. But Akira simply clicked his tongue in annoyance and swats his hand away, getting up and dusting himself off.

Guy: (laughing his ass off) "Oh, man! I never thought you'd lose that pathetically, Akira!"

Akira: (mutters) "Tsk. Piss off."

Cornelia: "Guy, knock it off!" (sighs and smiles at Akira) "I think you tried hard enough, Akira."

Akira: "Yeah... Thanks, Corey."

Najasho: "You better not slack off from training just because you lost, shrimp."

Akira: "Shut up, Najasho! I'll kick your ass one day!"

Guy: "No you won't! Because I'll be the--Hey! That's my dick your freezing with ice, asshat!"

Akira: "If that's what it takes for you to shut up, you damned idiot."

Guy: "Son of a--Come here, asshole!"

Now, Akira and Guy began to get into a scuffle, Cornelia having to be the one to try and separate the two. Green and Poney still remained on the porch, now laughing as they watched the two boys argue with each other, Guy having Akira in a headlock and the icy blue-eyed boy trying to freeze Guy's balls off.

However, Akame walked up to Najasho.

Akame: "Do you really think he'll be able to beat you?"

Najasho: "Hmph... With the way he is now, no, he can't. But one day... He will. I can tell. But I'm not going to let the shrimp beat me so easily."

Akame: "Chief..."

Najasho: "I'll be inside if you shrimps need me for anything."

Flashback End

Akira: "...Hey, you okay? You've been staring at me for quite a while now."

Akame: "H-Huh...?"

While reminiscing of the fact, Akame didn't realize that she had her red eyes set onto Akira, a curious look on his face as he gave her a side glance. She smiled and shook her head, now gaining his full attention.

Akame: "It's nothing. Would you like to go hunting with me?"

Akira: "Any particular reason?"

Akame: "Aside from our meat supply running dry, no, no other reason."

Akira: (sigh) "Fine. Let's go."

Just before they could go off, they could see Fenrir running past them. He seemed to be growling at something as he took off in a direction that was more to the outskirts of the Capital. Confused, Akira gave chase after his wolf companion, ignoring the calls from Akame.

Elsewhere, Outskirts of the Capital...

A carriage could be seen going through a village, it being surrounded by guards. The two people inside the carriage glanced outside, seeing the village residents having unhappy faces.

???1: "...This village is in bad shape too... And this Empire claims to be on the side of it's people."

???2: "It is because of your concern for those people, Father, that you are returning to the den of snakes in the Capital. I think it is very honorable."

The two people riding in the carriage was the former Prime Minister of the Empire, Chouri. And his daughter, Spear, who is also a disciple of the Temple of the Imperial Fist.

Chouri: "This is no time for me to retire. The nation is falling apart. It's gotten so bad, I'm going to give the Minister a piece of my mind!"

Spear: "And I will protect you, Father!"

Chouri: "You've grown into a fine woman. Your only shortcoming is that you're too daring for any man to want for a wife..."

Spear: (blushes) "Th-That has nothing to do with this!" (mutters) "Besides, I'm not that intimidating. I just know my way around a lance. If I just found the right man, I could settle down just fine, I think."

Chouri: "...Sorry."

Spear then perks up, peeking out the window to look up ahead. There were three unfamiliar figures up ahead. They seemed to be suspicious, causing Chouri to be nervous.

Chouri: "More bandits!? There's only so much social disorder I can tolerate!"

Spear: (exits out of carriage) "I'll scatter them like I've done before! Stay sharp!"

Having instructed the rest of the men, they all readied their weapons as they readied for battle. One of the figures, the one with the mustache, looked to his bearded colleague.

???1: "Daidara."

Daidara: (grin) "On it."

Soldiers: "Here we come!"

Spear and her soldiers charged forward, the bearded man grinning as he took off a double-bladed axe off his back. 

This axe was in fact a Teigu, the double-bladed axe, Belvaac. The axe can be held by anyone, but unless it is paired with someone, it cannot be used as a weapon. The axe itself grants tremendous offensive power and can be split into two different axes and can be thrown, heading towards it's desired target until it hits.

And like they were nothing, Daidara simply cuts them down with his Teigu, all while he kept a smile on his face. Spear was shocked as her troops were reduced to nothing, her lance she wielded being cut in half as well. The initial attack from Daidara's Teigu also cut her on her chest, her falling to her knees.

Then, the smaller of the three unknown figures walked up to Spear, crouching down at her level with a grin on his face.

???2: "Heh... Well done, lady. You actually managed to not die from Daidara's attacks."

Spear was very tense on what this boy was about to do to her. But she soon grew terrified as the boy had a look of glee, him taking out a knife from his jacket as he held it up in front of her.

???2: "But... If you'd known what comes next... You might have decided it would be better to die then."

The other two had went on over to the carriage, Daidara raising Belvaac into the air and bringing it down. The carriage was smashed into two and out came Chouri, tumbling onto the floor. He glanced upwards, Chouri gaining a shocked look.

Chouri: "You... You're officers of the Empire...!"

???1: (bows) "That's right. I've long admired your political strategies."

Chouri: "Then... Then why are you after me!?"

???1: "Our master's orders..."

And in a single second, the man walked past Chouri, his arm extended out as Chouri's head was no longer attached to his body. Later, his head could be seen falling down, landing on the ground. Pools of blood surrounded the area, with countless amounts of bodies lying in the area.

The one who had just murdered the former Prime Minister was a former general of the Empire, Liver.

Liver: "Absolute. No exceptions."

Daidara: "I took down fifteen of them! All right! This experience is gonna make me even stronger!"

Liver: "Now to scatter the flyers. Help me out, Daidara!"

The two now began to toss flyers into the air, the papers gently falling to the ground.

Daidara: "The Minister has an exasperating way of doing things... He should just redirect the blame for the deaths of his political enemies like he usually does."

Liver: "That tactic won't work on the civil servants protected by the Great General Budo's Army."

Daidara: "Ah! I get it! So it's our turn to step into the spotlight!"

Liver: (sweat drops) "I already explained that the last time we did this."

???2: "Hey! Hey! Liver! Look, look!"

Daidara and Liver then look to their other colleague, now grimacing at the sight. The boy was holding the skin of someone's face. It was Spear's.

???2: "Ta-daa! I'm adding another piece to my collection!"

Daidara: "...Your hobbies are as sick as ever, Nyau."

Liver: "I hope you made sure to finish her."

Nyau: (laughs) "She died of shock while I was still peeling it off."

Liver: "Good. Let's get back. I'll cook for us in celebration of a job well done."

Nyau: "N-No, thanks! I don't need that!"

Daidara: "Your flavors are as destructive as a Teigu! They taste so bad, even master Esdeath passed out for a few seconds last time!"

Liver: "Hmph. You don't have to worry this time. I gave it a subtle tang of by adding the saliva of an Evil Bird."

Daidara: "Don't put something like that in!"

As the three were walking off, having walked a good considerable distance, a wolf could be seen walking up to the scene. It was sniffing around all the corpses, whining in sadness at the loss of life.

It then calls for it's master over, leather combat boots could be seen walking through the snow. The wolf then nudges a paper over, the figure picking it up. The figure revealed to be Akira, a grim look on his face as he read the paper.

"Assassination done by Night Raid."

Hours Later, Night Raid's Meeting Room

Najenda: "Everyone's here. I have three pieces of bad news...brace yourselves."

Everyone had now met up in Night Raid's meeting room, everyone at attention. Most of them kept a grim look on their face, Tatsumi having a nervous one.

Najenda: "The first is we've that lost contact with our regional team."

Tatsumi: (confused) "'Regional team'?"

Akame: "The Empire is vast. We focus on our efforts on the Capital. There's another assassin team that works throughout the region."

Najenda: "I'm looking into it now, but it's possible they've been possible wiped out. Please prepare yourselves for that possibility..."

Lubbock: "We have to bolster our hideout's defenses. You got it. I'll expand the area of my threads."

Najenda: "The second thing is... Esdeath has subjugated the North... And returned to the Capital."

The room then fell silent, a chill running through their spines. Even Akira felt it. From the memory he had remembered days ago, about the woman with blue hair was her. His former teacher, even if it was for a short time, Esdeath.

She was the closest person that could use ice powers like him, so she had him mentor him on how to control his powers.

Akame: "That was a lot sooner than we expected."

Lubbock: (irritated sigh) "She's always a thorn in our side!"

Najenda: "It seems most of Esdeath's men have remained up North to keep watch over things."

Bulat: "Then she won't be making her move to crush the Rebel Army anytime soon."

Akira: "Do we have sense of her current motive?"

Najenda: "I can't tell what her next move will be. Currently, she spends her days and nights in the torture hall, drilling the guards on their methods. Leone, Akira. You two go to the Capital and find out what Esdeath's up to."

Leone: (salutes) "You got it!~"

Akira: "Understood."

Leone: "I've always wondered what kind of person she is."

Najenda: "She's a dangerous enemy who is guilty of mass murder. Be careful, you two."

Leone: (nonchalant) "All right, all right." (thoughts) 'Heh heh... Then that means... She's another one I can take out if I get the chance. The wicked, sadistic general they call the "Empire's Strongest"... She's just as deserving extermination as the Minister...!'

Akira: "This is a serious matter, Leone. If she's taken out the North in such quick a time, she must be a force to be reckoned with." (thoughts) 'I should know, after all...'

Leone: "There's nothing to be worried about.~"

Najenda: (lights cigarette) "The last thing is... There has been a string of murders targeting civil servants in the Capital. So far, four civil servants have been killed, along with sixty-one of their guards."

Akira: (pulls out paper) "And here's the problem. Fenrir had found one of their sites and I investigated it. It was a shitty sight to see. There were papers found all over the site with 'Night Raid' written all over them."

Bulat: "What obvious impostors... They're trying to pin the crimes on us."

Tatsumi: "But don't people see right through the lie? I mean, suddenly openly crediting ourselves like that isn't our style."

Najenda: "People thought that after the first two incidents... But now more people seem to believe it's us."

Tatsumi: "Why?"

Akira: "From what I've heard about every case, the strongest bodyguard there is killed. From the recent victim I investigated, it was the former Prime Minister, Chouri. Thirty of those guards were quite capable and were killed by the killers, along with the best fighter there, his own daughter Spear, who was trained at the Temple of the Imperial Fist."

Najenda: "We're the only ones that can do that. That's the general opinion."

Akame: "So the culprits are equal to us in strength... Teigu wielders."

Akira: "That's the only possible answer. Mere bandits wouldn't be able to against highly trained guards from the Imperial Army, including one trained by the Temple of the Imperial Fist."

Najenda: "All the victims were reasonable men and women who were not a part of the Minister's faction. Just the kind of people the Minister wouldn't be very fond of."

Akira: "So instead of using the usual scapegoat of a random citizen, he used us instead. Tsk. Bastard. He'd rather not get his hands dirty and have someone else do the dirty work."

Bulat: "Then it's an invitation? They're trying to lure us out."

Najenda: "Now that we know this is a trap... I should tell you all... That these civil servants were capable and defied the Minister. They didn't interfere with Rebel Army scouts. These people were concerned for their country. They were the sort of civil servants we needed for our new nation. We cannot afford to lose any more such people. I think we should crush these impostors! Let me hear your thoughts!"

Tatsumi: (clenches fists) "Just the fact they're abusing Night Raid's name for their dirty work... Pisses me off!"

Bulat: (grin) "...Bingo... You said it, Tatsumi!"

Everyone else had a stern look, but Najenda understood they're resolve. They wished for the same thing that Tatsumi did. So having their answer, Najenda responds with a grin of her own.

Najenda: "Good... Then it's settled... We'll show them what happens when you use an assassin's name without permission!"