That afternoon, Sheele walked out of the basement, pale and haggard. Weak, she could only lean against the wall, limping towards her bedroom upstairs.
A closer look at Sheele's pitiful state: an iron collar around her neck, her skin covered in burning red whip marks, her legs weak. Her gaze and complexion were primarily filled with hatred, but also a trace of shame that she couldn't hide.
Just like that, Sheele, filled with both anger and humiliation, walked up to the third floor, where she saw Leone, Mine, and Chelsea. Looking up, Leone, Mine, and Chelsea all looked at Sheele with sympathetic eyes.
Sheele instantly understood. The whip marks on Leone's and the others' bodies were probably not from torture and beatings as she had imagined, but from being tormented by Esdeath, just like herself!
Lowering her head, Sheele reluctantly climbed the last few steps. She looked at her three companions who had been tortured and let out a helpless sound: "What exactly happened? Can you explain it to me!"
The four of them gathered in Leone's bedroom and chattered for about half an hour. During this half an hour, not only did Sheele learn about Uchiha Madara's situation from Leone and the others during this period, but Leone and the others also learned about the urgent situation of their Night Raid companions outside.
"So that's what happened..." x4.
After understanding everything, the four of them all let out gasps of realization, filled with despair. Sheele immediately gritted her teeth: "Last night, I snuck in and saw your three miserable states. I thought you had all been severely tortured and beaten. I never expected that it was... this Esdeath fellow!"
Mine pushed up the glasses on her nose, helplessly saying: "Although the experience was strange and bizarre, all in all, that's what happened~!" Chelsea, pouting and hugging her arms, said, "Actually, this Uchiha Madara is quite good.
Although he captured us, he merely placed us under house arrest in the manor. He didn't do anything excessive. It's just Esdeath, when she came back, for some reason, she seems very unhappy with us, and actually, actually..."
Upon saying this, Chelsea's face also flushed, unable to continue. Leone leaned on the table, supporting her chin with her hand, looking exhausted: "Uchiha Madara seems to have never intended to harm us from the beginning; he just intended to subdue us. So, although we're in a sorry state now, our lives aren't in danger. But, boss and the others don't think so, do they?"
Sheele's face looked a little grim, and she mumbled: "I didn't expect things to be like this either. I went back overnight yesterday to explain your terrible situation to boss and the others. They are now extremely worried, probably even planning to fight to the death to rescue us..."
Leone immediately became alert: "Then isn't that playing right into Uchiha Madara's hands? If boss and the others all arrive, it will be the perfect opportunity to capture our entire Night Raid in one fell swoop!"
Mine slapped the table, fuming: "Uchiha Madara planned this! Capturing us so early was to capture the entire Night Raid!" Now they understood everything. However, precisely because they understood everything, all four of them fell silent.
Although they understood Uchiha Madara's scheme, what could they do at present? Knowing how formidable Uchiha Madara's Flying Thunder God was, they had no hope of escaping him.
The naturally foolish Mine also seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. Her usually light voice also carried a hint of a whimper: "No way, are we going to watch boss and the others walk into a trap!?" The four of them, sisters in misfortune, looked at each other, utterly helpless.
Outside, in the open space of Uchiha Madara's manor, a series of dense and violent clangs of steel continuously resounded. Flashes of explosive sparks continuously flickered, and waves of shock and impact continuously erupted. Upon closer inspection, it was Esdeath clashing with Uchiha Madara.
Ever since Esdeath returned, her daily sparring with Uchiha Madara had become commonplace. Especially after Esdeath saw Uchiha Madara's martial arts, which had reached an almost divine realm, she was even more delighted and eagerly sparred with Uchiha Madara every day.
Uchiha Madara naturally welcomed all challengers. At this moment, Esdeath held a Western sword, and Uchiha Madara held a black sword. The two were clashing fiercely here. Although it looked like a fierce battle, in fact, it was all Esdeath's wild attacks, and Uchiha Madara's defense was impenetrable.
From time to time, Uchiha Madara would suddenly launch an attack to make Esdeath flustered, and once Esdeath was flustered this time, she would never make this kind of mistake again. To put it plainly, Uchiha Madara was training Esdeath.
Holding the black sword, while training Esdeath, Uchiha Madara said: "...Esdeath, in probably two or three days, the remaining members of Night Raid will arrive. Don't make a move then. Let me handle them completely!"
The Western sword slashed from the left. Uchiha Madara lightly slashed, parrying the furious Western sword. Esdeath asked while attacking: "Why?" Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut!?"
The black sword lightly trembled, then gently parried the wild Western sword. Uchiha Madara explained: "I want to completely subdue Night Raid. How can I do that without completely defeating them first?" A slash aimed at Uchiha Madara's throat. Esdeath responded: "Alright."
He lightly rotated his body, and Uchiha Madara evaded the slash. He asked Esdeath: "Oh right, Esdeath, you hold a position in the Empire. Help me get someone from the Empire's Assassination Department! I might need her during the process of subduing Night Raid."
Seeing that one slash failed, Esdeath's body became extremely flexible as she counterattacked: "Huh!? Who is it?" The black sword parried the incoming Western sword. Uchiha Madara looked directly at Esdeath's stunningly beautiful face: "She is a Teigu user, a girl named Kurome!"
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