Uchiha Madara's words left everyone in Night Raid dumbfounded. Their collective reaction was: There's such a move?!
Instantly, their gazes towards Uchiha Madara changed. This guy is definitely a master at manipulating power.
Without needing to look at their eyes, Uchiha Madara knew what they were thinking. His inner thoughts were quite disdainful. In the history of the Celestial Dynasty, such things were far too common. He could effortlessly make them dance in circles with just a few minor tricks.
Patting the armrest of his chair, Uchiha Madara asked Najenda:
"How about it? Najenda, what do you think of this method?"
Najenda pondered, thinking for a while, then raised her head and looked at Uchiha Madara, her eyes regaining their composure:
"Uchiha Madara, I must say, your method can effectively avoid large-scale warfare, minimizing turmoil and destruction to the lowest point. It is the best method I have ever seen. However, I still have some questions to ask!"
Uchiha Madara extended his hand, indicating she could ask freely.
"Uchiha Madara, in your plan, there is one unavoidable point, and that is the little Emperor. You said you want to put the little Emperor under house arrest. Is this method of handling really good? And what will happen after Bud becomes regent, after the little Emperor grows up?"
"The little Emperor matter is easy to resolve!
Although he is the Emperor, he is still too young and doesn't have enough understanding of facts. During his house arrest, we will send people to teach him and correct the little Emperor's ideology.
Even if he can't be corrected, it doesn't matter. At worst, we'll just keep him under house arrest. After he comes of age, we'll casually arrange a queen and several concubines for him, let him have princes, and then slowly cultivate a suitable successor among the princes."
Uchiha Madara's explanation left Najenda both shocked and impressed, impressed that Uchiha Madara could even think of such a method!
She lowered her head in thought, then once again posed a question:
"Now, the court is full of Prime Minister Honest's cronies. Once Honest is purged, his cronies will probably not be left. In that case, with no one available in the court, how will you govern the prosperous Empire?"
Uchiha Madara chuckled, then replied calmly:
"This is even simpler!
Although Prime Minister Honest desperately purged dissidents when he first controlled the court, there are still so many loyal and capable officials in the Empire whom he couldn't completely purge. Moreover, most of these people are scattered throughout the Empire. We can just summon them back when the time comes!"
Najenda nodded, convinced in her heart.
After a while, her eyes became extremely complex. She opened her mouth and finally asked the last heavy question:
"Uchiha Madara... if everything truly goes as you say... then this plan, you can easily carry it out. It doesn't need our participation at all. It doesn't need Night Raid's power at all!"
Najenda's words were filled with self-deprecation.
It wasn't just Najenda; the other Night Raid members were also feeling pretty much the same at this moment, all quite despondent.
Look at them. They, Night Raid, had fought desperately for so long. Although they had eliminated some evil roots, they had barely shaken the deep-rooted darkness and corruption of the Empire.
And Uchiha Madara? Here, any plan he casually proposed was highly feasible, even to the point of not needing the power of Night Raid and its members at all!
Compared like this, they felt so defeated...
What was the use of all their desperate fighting for so many years?
The idea is good, but in reality, it's all about high-level planning!
In a certain sense, Night Raid finally realized their true selves: shattered and inferior.
Leaning back in his seat, Uchiha Madara looked at Night Raid's somber reaction and smiled faintly:
"Heh heh, have you realized the cruelty of reality and your own insignificance?
"Forget it. Looking at you all, I won't make things difficult for you anymore. My final question to you: will you ultimately submit to me? If you submit to me and completely become mine, this plan can be immediately initiated. If you don't submit to me... hmph!"
Uchiha Madara's grunt contained too much meaning. In short, this grunt represented many bad endings for Night Raid.
How could Night Raid not hear the meaning in Uchiha Madara's words? One by one, they exchanged glances, their eyes complex.
Najenda—looked at her companions—confirmed their gazes, and finally looked at Uchiha Madara... with a wry smile.
Before coming here, she had made all preparations, including death, but she had never imagined being persuaded and willingly submitting to Uchiha Madara, this great demon king. This was simply unimaginable before!
Looking at Uchiha Madara, Najenda asked the last question:
"Uchiha Madara... Your Excellency, this plan, can actually be carried out without us, right?"
Uchiha Madara answered proudly:
"I only have this plan because I intend to subjugate you. If I didn't plan to subjugate you, I wouldn't bother with such a thankless task. If you don't submit, I won't bother to execute this troublesome plan!"
A look of mental and physical exhaustion appeared on Najenda's face.
At this point, what more could she say? Uchiha Madara came up with a plan to overthrow the Empire just to subjugate a Night Raid. Faced with such an overwhelming presence, Najenda was speechless.
A flicker of defeat flashed in her eyes, also a flicker of relief. Najenda lowered her head and slowly bowed towards Uchiha Madara. Finally, she knelt on one knee on the ground.
She said in a low voice:
"Najenda... representing Night Raid... submits to Uchiha Madara... My Lord!"
Uchiha Madara looked at Akame, who was silently beside him.
A trace of struggle flashed across Akame's face, but she still replied:
"My Lord!"
He looked at Lubbock, who only had his head sticking out of the mud. The young man shivered, then bowed his head respectfully:
"My Lord!"
He looked at Bulat, who was paralyzed and lying on the ground over there. This big brute let out a soft sigh:
"My Lord!"
Then he looked at Leone, Sheele, Mine, and Chelsea, who were tied to the crucifixes.
Although all four of their mouths were sealed, all of them resigned themselves to their fate.
Alright, there was only one left, the son of Susanoo, who was sealed by a meteorite. This guy's opinion could be ignored. He listened to Najenda!
At this point, the entirety of Night Raid submitted to Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Madara had subjugated the entirety of Night Raid!
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