This will be my final warning. You know who you are. Don't bother asking "What happens next." It's either you wait for the next chapter to come, or you just don't answer at all. Even if you ask, my answer will remain the same. I'm not going to tell you what happens next because I don't want to make people feel that the one person I told what happens next feels exclusive to hearing what happens next in the chapter.

And if I do tell someone what happens next, you just get spoiled for what happens next and there wouldn't even be a point in reading the next chapter. So this is my final warning. Do not bother asking "What happens next." If you do, I'm either going to delete the comment or just block you because honestly, I'm already tired of seeing the same comment on chapter after chapter, considering this has been going on for more than a few months as I've seen it in a few of my books other than this one. It's annoying. Again, this is your final warning. You know who you are.

P.S: The art above is by dark8651 and was found on Pinterest. I do not own any fanart or any images used in this book.

---

With their previously assigned assignments, Night Raid was sent to do them. Mine was to remain at base to heal. Akame, Lubbock, Bulat, and Tatsumi were sent to the outskirts of the Empire, the two boys being sent to a luxury ship called the Dragon Ship, to protect the requested civil servants that will help rebuild their new nation.

As for Leone and Akira, the two were sent into the Capital to spy on Esdeath. Najenda wanted to know what her motives will be for the upcoming future so they could plan against her.

As of now, Akira and Leone were walking through the Capital's streets, the Ice Cold Reaper having the hood of his tattered cloak on. So far, no one had seemed to recognize his cloak and suspected of him as the Ice Cold Reaper, the so-called famed killer from the east.

Leone: "What're you hiding your face for? It's not like you have wanted posters of you posted up."

Akira: "Even so, someone may recognize my face. The things I've done in the east..."

Leone: "Yeah, yeah. So anyway, what kind of person do you think this Esdeath chick is?"

Akira: "...A dangerous one... Probably one of our most challenging targets there is."

Leone: "Sheesh. You guys make it sound like she's the baddest bitch on the block."

Akira: "Don't be fooled, Leone. There's a reason why she's known as the 'Empire's Strongest.'"

Leone: "Yeah, yeah. We'll be fine.~"

Akira: "...I sure hope so. She's a woman I'd rather not trifle with."

Elsewhere, With Tatsumi and Bulat

On the Dragon Ship, which was sitting in the Grand Canal of the Empire, the brown-haired teen held a cup in his hand with wine in it. He stared in awe as there were many wealthy people here. Of course he was surprised, considering Tatsumi himself came from a poor village.

Tatsumi: (in awe) "Whoa... Super ritzy."

He then felt a pat on his shoulder, turning his head around slightly. Although he couldn't really see him, Bulat was behind him, thanks to Incursio's ability of invisibility.

Bulat: "You're the son of a local wealthy landowner. Don't act so dazzled by the Capital's fortune. Don't forget to act the part."

Tatsumi: "R-Right, Aniki!"

Tatsumi then headed over to the ship's railing, staring off into the port as he could see loads of people staring at them from the bottom. It was the lower class, them not being able to board such a luxurious ship. He then turns around and closes his eyes, leaning up against the railing.

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'We're assuming the people posing as Night Raid might make a surprise attack here...' "But this place is packed... And the old man we're guarding is safe behind a wall of muscle. There's no way they could get to him here. We missed the mark on this one."

Once again, Bulat slaps Tatsumi's back, the brown-haired teen recoiling forward as he turns around, rubbing his back and looking at Bulat annoyed. Bulat crosses his arms.

Bulat: "Don't let your guard down making assumptions, Tatsumi."

Tatsumi: "Oh... Aniki..."

Bulat: "I was able to get on board with Incursio's invisibility. There's no telling what tricks our enemies may have up their sleeves, see?"

Tatsumi: (sighs) "You're right... Sorry, Aniki..." (sweat drops) "How many times have you hit me now...?"

Bulat: "Just think of them as lashings of love. Of love... Love.~"

Tatsumi: "You don't have to repeat it three times! ...I gotta say, that armor's pretty handy. It's how you got on this ship and all."

Bulat: (slams chest with hand proudly) "Yep! He allowed me to fight and survive on the front lines against the tribes of the South. He's like my very own partner! But... No matter how I tried in the end..."

Bulat: "I did the most foolish thing then... And ran off with my Teigu before they could arrest me."

Tatsumi: (grits teeth) "...That's crazy."

After explaining his life story, how he went from an accomplished soldier of the Empire to an assassin of Night Raid, the two remained on the deck for a little bit. It wasn't until Bulat's armor began to flicker.

Bulat: "Oops. I'm reaching my limit of invisibility... I've got to take my armor off for a little while."

Tatsumi: "People know your face, right? So leave the top deck to me."

Bulat: "Gotcha. I'll check down below deck."

The armored man, who was still invisible, heads off towards the lower deck, Tatsumi waving goodbye before he goes back to on alert mode. However, he was caught off guard by the sudden sound of music.

---

Meanwhile, To Akira and Leone, Capital, Main Street...

The two Night Raid assassins continued to walk through the dense crowd. While some Capital guards have grown a bit suspicious of a person wearing a tattered cloak with the hood covering their face, they would quickly lose sight of Akira, feeling it was unimportant to report their findings.

Leone and Akira then move into a dark alleyway, now completely out of sight from the rest of the crowd. Leone then looks at the icy blue-eyed teen with a stern expression.

Leone: "Sense her yet?"

Akira: "...Hold a moment... This way. Activate your Teigu and make sure to pick up any conversations nearby. I want to make sure there isn't anyone with her. If there is, it may be a fellow higher up and we may be able to hear them discussing some plans."

Leone: "Gotcha!"

The blonde lioness then gets pumped up, as she usually is when she transforms with Lionel. Once she did so, the two look to each other and nod, heading to the roofs of the two buildings they were standing in between. Once reaching the top, Leone began to follow behind Akira, the black-haired teen having found Esdeath's soul and he began tracking her. 

A minute passed by and they were still in the main street of the Capital, where the central shops and stores were lined up. The two began to stalk the blue-haired general, who was casually walking through the street by herself. Citizens of the Capital would bow and smile her way, Esdeath smiling herself and sending a wave. Leone wanted to desperately jump down and challenge the sadistic woman, but she would always be met with ice cold glares from Akira.

Following behind the general for a bit more, now finding Esdeath stopping at an ice cream shop. The sign of the shop read, "Sweet Shop, Spoiled Child."

The owner of the shop was standing outside, bowing in front of Esdeath.

Esdeath: "No need to bow to me. I'm just introducing myself to the people. I'm in charge of Capital security from now on."

 Shop Owner: (nervously shaking) "Yes, ma'am! That is most reassuring, General Esdeath! H-Here's a little something..."

Esdeath could see the shop owner reaching into his pocket, pulling out some money. She took two off his hand and looked at it for a moment before she simply smiled and started to push them in his eyes.

Esdeath: "I don't need bribes. Try that again, and I'll hurt you."

Shop Owner: "Gyaaah! It hurts plenty already!"

Esdeath: (sits by bench) "Bring me your specialty. Your shop is famous, isn't it?"

Shop Owner: "Y-Yes, ma'am! Right away!"

The shop owner runs back inside his ice cream shop, Esdeath continuing to sit on the bench as she enjoys the sun's rays, crossing her legs as she waited. From the nearby rooftop, Leone was sweating profusely. She could feel the sadistic and murderous aura radiating off of her. The warnings from Akira and Najenda were correct. Just being a few feet away from the icy general was enough to feel it.

How dark and dangerous her aura was. It was different from any other person she fought.

Leone: (thoughts) '...Esdeath is outside the palace on her own. Now's my chance to attack...! ...At least, that's what I would usually be thinking. Now that I'm in my beast form, I can really tell...! Exposing herself like this is a trap to lure out an assassin...!'

Akira: "...You can feel it... Can't you? That murderous aura radiating off of her. It's unnatural."

Leone: (thoughts) '...That's right. He's right. The proof... Is in the scent she's exuding... A sinister thirst for blood!' (scratches roof tiles) 'I was a fool to think... I'd have a shot at striking her down...!'

Akira: (thoughts) 'Hmm... Let me try something...'

Just as Leone was about to head off, she eyes the icy blue-eyed teen creating something in his hand. Ice daggers.

Before she could stop him, Akira quickly moved, standing up and throwing them down towards the icy general before he crouched back down. He watched carefully, his eyes then widening in shock. Without even looking, Esdeath simply created an ice sword in her right hand and cut down two of his ice daggers, letting her ice sword dissipate and grabbing the last one.

She then held it close to her face, examining it very closely. Akira clicked his tongue in annoyance, Leone then grabbing him by his shoulders and shaking him repeatedly.

Leone: (hushed whisper) "Why did you do that!?"

Akira: "Just wanted to try something. But I should've know that she was keeping her guard up. Tsk. Anyway, let's go. Our position would've been compromised anyway."

Leone: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Akira: "You saw her posture, right? By the time we already arrived, she probably already sensed your leaking intent to attack her."

Leone: "...Shit."

Akira: "Either way, we should move before she finds us. I don't think she's pinpointed our location. Let's report back to Najenda-san."

Leone: "Right."

And so the two assassins left. Even if Leone didn't like it, despite wanting to take on Esdeath and hoping to get rid of her so it could make their future missions easier, taking on someone like Esdeath wouldn't be easy. So following their instincts, they retreated.

Down with Esdeath, she continued to examine the ice dagger. With it's design, it looking like a kunai, she really only knew one person that would create something of a design like this.

Esdeath: (thoughts) 'That vibe is gone... So they didn't take the bait... A shame. I was hoping to try out some new torture techniques... But the design of this dagger... Only one person creates this... No, it can't be. He's been considered dead for the last year or so...'

She thought it was strange. Esdeath then sighed and set the dagger next to her, the shop owner soon coming out with her order, as what she requested.

Esdeath then licked the sweet delicacy and her eyes lit up.

Esdeath: "This is good..." (looks to the sky) "When this mission's through... I'll let my Three Beasts have some too..."

Panting and hurried footsteps of the two Night Raid assassins were heard as they hurried across the rooftops of the Capital. The civilians below had looked up, wondering what the commotion was, but they weren't fast enough to catch sight of the two running up top.

Coming towards the slums, both Akira and Leone drop down and into a small alleyway, Leone deactivating her Teigu as the two began to take a breather. 

Leone: "Holy shit... She's... She's different from all the others..."

Akira: "She isn't called the 'Empire's Strongest' for a reason... But did you hear the news and rumors as we passed by?"

Leone: "Yeah... Aside from her Three Beasts, she's planning on building another group of security of Teigu wielders. Know anyone else that wields Teigus?"

Akira: "Aside from that Seryu girl and Esdeath herself, no. But from what I can remember from my memories... From a certain battle..."

Leone: "And?"

Akira: "...There is one other Teigu user, but I cannot recall her face or name. The only thing I can remember from news coming wind during my time in the east is that, there's a girl apart of an assassination squadron of the Empire. She wields one."

Leone: "...I think I know who you may be talking about."

Akira: "Who?"

Leone: "There's one other person who worked for the Empire as an assassin before. Ask her and you'll know who we're thinking about."

Akira: "...Akame."

---

Returning with Esdeath, after finishing her desert, she quickly made her way to the palace. Requesting records from a particular battle many months ago, she received the files on hand. She brushed her hand over the file's name as she had it opened, reading the document.

Months ago, a team of seven assassins were sent to the town of Sweun to deal with a group that were hired by the Revolutionary Army. An organization of legendary assassins themselves, the Oarburgh. And on that mission, a particular name rung out to Esdeath... Akira. He was a former student of hers, even if it was for a short while. Their base had been raided in Sweun, causing the members to flee with three of them being captured and one of them being killed. 

Three days after the initial day their base had been raided, the assassination group had returned the favor and assaulted the base of the Oarburgh's. However, while the rest of the group were attacking, and from what the report said, Akira had deviated from the original task to chase down the leader, Merraid Oarburgh. The report said he succeeded, but at the cost of his own life, so the report ended with two assassins marked KIA.

And yet, she had another file next to her. Esdeath had also read that one and it made the previous report's ending all the more confusing. A month after the Sweun mission, the very same team of assassins were sent to the area of Mount Hakuba, where they were assigned to take out a whole base filled with Rebel Army soldiers. On their way there, they had encountered a group known as the "Retribution Group." The report detailed that this group was made from the remnants of groups that were attacked by the group of assassins, the Elite Seven. And upon looking at the members, two of them were recognizable. The Elite Seven's No. 1, Najasho, and the Elite Seven's No. 2, Akira. And at the end of the report, the two would be marked down as MIA. 

And now Esdeath was left to her thoughts to ponder. How could her former student be marked KIA and then marked MIA. Although, there wasn't any evidence to show Akira's death, the only thing at the site were burn and scorch marks as a resort of the battle made between the two. And there weren't any trace of limbs or scents left behind, so in any case, he was considered dead. But Esdeath couldn't help but think that Akira wasn't one to die so easily.

Then she thought back to that dagger that was thrown at her. Those could only be made him, considering he was the only able to conjure ice weapons, aside from herself. Esdeath then began making connections to the murders in the east of the Empire. Ice shards were left at the scene of the crime as Imperial soldiers and corrupted Imperial officials were left dead on the ground. Witnesses say that the killer was a person wearing a tattered cloak and wielded a scythe. 

With the ice shards left at the scene, the scythe as a weapon, and a cloaked wearing man, it made it seem like Death had one of his advocates show up. That was when the name, "Ice Cold Reaper," was born. 

Esdeath went into the drawer of her desk, taking out the wanted poster of the Ice Cold Reaper. The picture only showed a figure with a tattered cloak with his hood on, and the handle of a scythe in the background. 

She had a few ideas as to how to lead this person out, but for now, she made one change on the wanted poster. She wanted the Ice Cold Reaper brought to her alive.

---

Akira: "And that's our report."

Najenda: "I see... That is very useful information. While it's not a lot, you two came back alive. Good work."

Both Akira and Leone had just returned to their base and reported back to Najenda. The vital information of Esdeath forming a security squad of only Teigu wielders had shown them that the Empire had figured out that the only way to combat Night Raid was with other Teigu wielders.

As to when this group was to be formed was something they don't know. So either way, they would need all the time and preparation they need.

Najenda: "There's nothing for you two to do at the moment. It's already a bit too late to help out  the others with their missions. Go take a break."

The two nodded and they went their separate ways. Akira had returned to his room and sat on his bed, his wolf companion running up to him and joining him as he licked his face, having missed it's master for a majority of the day.

However, Akira couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. This feeling was what had him deep in thought, aside from his mission. He then noticed it was raining outside, Akira having a sudden urge to go to the window. Getting off his bed, he walked to the window and looked outside. His hand was resting at the border of the window, but it soon fell to his side. His mouth was slightly agape, his eyes slightly widened as well.

Slowly coming out of the forest was the familiar brown-haired teen. But... Incursio's key was now in a sheathe, the sheathe strapped to his back. A body was also being supported over his shoulder, the armor being green, the pitter pattering noises of the rain splashing onto the armor being heard. The wet footsteps of Tatsumi's and the sound of the body's feet being dragged against the ground. The body's skin was pale, and on the body's face was a smile, a proud one. His pompadour hair was wet and unkempt.

The body was none other than Bulat. He had already left this world. 

---

A bit of a different chapter. Didn't include a lot of Akira, and I wanted to do something different. I did do the chapter of when Tatsumi and Bulat head to the Dragon Ship and during the chapter, they faced the Three Beasts.

While that still happened in this chapter, I decided to cut it out as that whole thing was for Tatsumi's character development and I had decided for Akira to go with Leone to get some info off of her. If you thought this chapter was boring, that's fine. But planning on getting the next chapter out sometime this week.

And I'm going to say this once again, if you've read the message at the very beginning of the chapter, do not, and do not ask something along the lines of, "What happens next." The comment will either be deleted or I'm just going to just block you, whoever keeps leaving those messages. You've been warned. You know who you are.