One day later, Night Raid Headquarters.
Sitting in a chair in the meeting room, Najenda looked at the recently arrived message in her hand, an expression of incomprehension on her face.
After an unknown amount of time, the meeting room door suddenly pushed open, and Leone, with her beautiful golden hair, walked in from outside.
"BOSS, I'm here."
Leone glanced at Akame, who sat around the meeting room, also in silence like Najenda, and her expression instantly became serious.
"Why is the atmosphere so heavy? Did something happen?"
"Yes, there is indeed a problem."
Silently sighing, Najenda slapped the letter in her hand onto the table, getting straight to the point.
"Since everyone is here, I'll be direct."
"Our plan to infiltrate the Imperial Capital to clear out its pests and alleviate pressure on the front lines while the front lines were engaged in battle, it might have to be scrapped."
"Everyone, including Night Raid, will have to be disbanded and reorganized, assigned to other areas for combat."
"Huh?"
Leone froze, a confused expression on her face.
19
As one of the earliest members to join Night Raid, I am well aware of how much effort Najenda put into forming Night Raid.
It had just been established with great difficulty, and recently, assassination activities had begun.
After only half a month, it was already going to be disbanded?
"What exactly happened?"
"Esdeath is returning."
Najenda replied: "This morning, scouts the Revolutionary Army had stationed in the north sent word that the Northern Barbarians have suffered a complete defeat."
"Including that hero of the Northern Barbarians, nearly all members of the Northern Barbarians were wiped out."
"How is that possible?!"
Leone cried out in disbelief: "Didn't Esdeath only begin fighting the Northern Barbarians a little over a week ago!"
"That's right, a little over a week ago."
Najenda's expression grew increasingly troubled: "That's why I'm preparing to disband Night Raid, to avoid direct contact with Esdeath after she returns to the Imperial Capital."
"But..."
Leone opened her mouth, still unable to comprehend: "How was this even done? Is Esdeath really that strong?"
Najenda shook her head: "Everyone we had placed within the Northern Barbarians has lost contact. The specific situation is still under investigation."
"But according to the person who sent the message, the area near the Northern Barbarians experienced a violent tremor in an instant that day."
"If nothing unexpected, that was the cause of the Northern Barbarians' complete annihilation."
As for what exactly caused it, that is still under investigation.
It could be the Empire's secret trump card, that rumored ultimate Imperial Arm.
Or it could be that Esdeath's power has grown stronger, a newly developed technique.
The specific reason cannot be determined in a short time. The only certainty is that the Empire has become more troublesome.
Until the specific reason is clear, Night Raid remaining near the Imperial Capital will only needlessly increase the risk of being wiped out.
It's better to break up into smaller units, first disperse to other areas to support the front-line troops, and then reassemble and resume assassinations later.
"I agree with this idea."
"As for me, I'll just follow Najenda."
After Najenda finished speaking, Bulat and Lubbock both expressed their attitudes.
Seeing this, the remaining few also responded.
Maine: "I don't care, as long as the goal can be achieved."
Akame: "Temporarily leaving the Imperial Capital and waiting for intelligence officers to investigate is indeed better."
Sheele: "Um... I'll follow the arrangements."
Leone: "Wouldn't a complete retreat be bad? How about I stay behind to help gather intelligence?"
"If it's about gathering intelligence, I can help too."
Seeing that Leone intended to stay, Akame also spoke.
"Two people can cooperate with each other, and it's also more convenient."
"Then it's settled."
Najenda slapped the table, making a decision: "Akame and Leone will stay to gather intelligence, Lubbock and I will go to the Revolutionary Army Headquarters."
"Maine, Sheele, Bulat, the three of you will go to the southeast and west battlefields respectively, to help alleviate pressure on the front lines."
"What about me?"
Next to Najenda's body, a hand suddenly reached out and waved twice in front of her.
"Excuse me, Leader Najenda, where would be best for me to go?"
Najenda: "?"
Counting her, wasn't Night Raid only seven people in total?
She shouldn't have missed anyone, right?
After subconsciously pondering this question, Najenda finally realized something was amiss.
Bang—!
The chair was violently overturned, and Najenda rose, swinging her fist in a fluid motion towards the unknown presence beside her.
"Calm down, don't get excited."
Grabbing Najenda's mechanical arm, Lin Que casually detached the front half of it.
"Such weak and powerless attacks are useless against me."
"This strength?!"
Seeing her attack fail, Najenda didn't retreat rashly.
Standing in front of Lin Que, she glanced at Lubbock, who had a livid expression not far away, and then asked, "Who are you?"
"Of course, I'm me~"
Lin Que shrugged, "Who else could I be?"
Can the riddle-man just die!
Najenda took a deep breath and gestured to the Night Raid members who had entered combat readiness not far away.
"Akame, you don't need to move yet."
"Although this person snuck in, I can feel that he has no ill intent."
"Snuck in, no ill intent."
Lin Que almost laughed, "No wonder you've reached this position, Leader Najenda, you really have an interesting way of speaking."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Najenda, without changing her expression, asked again, "So, may I ask what your purpose is?"
"Sure."
Lin Que pointed at several young girls within Night Raid, "Simply put, I've taken a liking to you all. How about joining me?"
Najenda: "?"
Are you looking for a wife here?
"Not really."
Lin Que joked, "Bridal gifts are too expensive. I have limited assets, so I can only marry one or two."
"But that would be too unfair to those who aren't married. I'm a very loving person, so I've decided not to marry anyone at all."
"Since I'm not getting married, they naturally can't be called wives."
"You..."
Najenda's body stiffened, her pupils contracting into pinpricks: "You can hear my thoughts?"
"Not just yours."
Grabbing the silk threads that spread along the ground and up to his body, Lin Que smiled and looked at Lubbock, whose left hand was behind his back.
"I can also hear the thoughts of this one, you know~"
Bang—!
....