A loud collision, accompanied by Lubbock's scream, echoed in the Night Raid meeting room.
By the time everyone, including Akame, reacted, Lubbock was already rolling on the ground at Lin Que's feet, clutching his stomach.
"To be honest, I didn't mean to listen."
Lin Que lifted his foot to help Lubbock turn over, smiling as he met his gaze.
"But your thoughts were simply too strong; they naturally drifted into my ears."
"[Why would someone bypass my thread barrier and enter Night Raid's interior?]
"[Damn it! Because of my own mistake, the woman I like is in danger!]
"I'm not wrong, am I, Lubbock?"
"Cough... cough cough!"
An unprecedented severe pain spread from his left arm throughout his body. Lubbock seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he only coughed up a pool of blood.
"Lubbock!"
"Well~ you don't have to scream so miserably."
Lin Que looked at Najenda, who was beside him, "Although I'm not interested in men, he does have some ability. At least he can help run errands and do odd jobs when I'm not around."
"This is just a small punishment to make him understand the consequences of attacking me. Treating him afterward and saving his life will be easy."
As for whether his left hand will still be usable then, that's another question.
"No matter how good your words are, your attack on our comrade is still an undeniable fact."
Just then, Bulat, who had already donned his Demon Armor, stepped forward and confronted Lin Que.
"State your true purpose, otherwise I'll have to act!"
"Sigh, I hate stubborn people."
Bang—!
The meeting room wall instantly shattered, and Bulat's figure flew out of it.
"Still thinking of fighting me at this point? It seems you haven't quite grasped the difference in our strengths."
Standing in Bulat's original position, Lin Que's gaze swept over Maine and the others, finally settling on Akame.
"Want to try? Use your Murasame to cut me."
Extending his palm towards Akame, Lin Que smiled and reminded her, "Remember to use force~ otherwise, you won't even be able to cut through my skin."
Akame: "..."
Facing Lin Que's provocation, Akame did not act rashly.
Her gaze swept over the shattered wall not far away, and realizing that Bulat had not returned, a cold sweat trickled down Akame's forehead.
Before betraying the Empire, she had encountered many powerful individuals, including Esdeath, whom Najenda greatly feared.
But even that strongest in the Empire had never given her such a terrifying sense of oppression.
Her intuition told her that the other party was not bluffing.
Even if she swung her sword with all her might, she might not be able to cut through Lin Que's superficial skin, and it would instead provoke him.
But if she didn't act, her other comrades might become Lin Que's next targets.
The hand holding Murasame began to tremble slightly, and Akame, uncharacteristically, found herself in a dilemma.
"Akame! Don't move!"
Just then, Najenda's voice came from the side.
Although the time was short, she seemed to have gone through a mental struggle, and the expression on her face was extremely complex.
"We surrender."
[Group member 'Sea King' has subdued the assassination organization 'Night Raid'. World reputation increased by 280 points. Reward: 84,000 group points.]
"Good, it seems leaving you specifically was useful."
Calmly retracting his hand, Lin Que turned and walked towards the exit not far away.
"Bring the injured and follow me."
"Esdeath should be at the Imperial Palace by now. We'll meet up with her."
Najenda: "?"
Where? Meet up with whom?
...
Imperial Capital Palace.
"Welcome back, General Esdeath."
Sitting on the throne in the center, the Little Emperor looked at Esdeath, who had just entered the main hall.
"I have already heard from the minister about your battle achievements."
"Annihilating the Northern Barbarians in less than half a month—this truly is an unprecedented and great accomplishment."
"As a reward, I am prepared to bestow upon you ten thousand taels of gold."
"Besides that, is there anything else you want?"
"Your Majesty, there's no need to rush with the rewards."
Standing in the center of the hall, Esdeath replied.
"In fact, regarding the annihilation of the Northern Barbarians, there are some things I didn't make clear in the letter."
"The one who did this wasn't me."
"If you want to give a reward, it's better to give it to the right person."
"It wasn't General Esdeath who did it?"
The Little Emperor was stunned, momentarily unsure how to respond, and subconsciously glanced at Minister Honest beside him.
"Cough~ Since a reward is to be given, it must naturally be given to the right person."
Minister Honest naturally picked up the conversation: "Judging by General Esdeath's tone, you seem to know the person who did this."
"Can you tell me who the other party is?"
"I've already brought the other party."
Esdeath replied evasively: "Minister, if you want to meet him, why not just let him in directly?"
"Already brought?"
Silently glancing at Seryu standing behind him, Minister Honest suddenly burst into laughter, his corpulent body jiggling.
"Hahahaha! This is a pillar of the empire!"
"Since he's already here, of course I must meet him!"
"Someone! Go bring the person General Esdeath brought…"
"No need to invite, I'm already here."
Before Minister Honest could finish speaking, several figures had already leisurely walked in through the main entrance.
"Looks like I arrived just in time, not late."
"You are… Najenda? Akame?!"
Looking at the people walking in, Minister Honest, who was halfway through his sentence, subconsciously looked past Lin Que to Najenda and Akame following behind him.
He was all too familiar with these two; one was a former Imperial General, and the other a former Imperial Ace Assassin.
Especially Akame, noticing the Murasame she carried, even Minister Honest, who was bold due to his skill, couldn't help but feel a shock in his heart.
He subtly retreated two steps, then looked at Esdeath, who was standing in the center of the hall.
"General Esdeath, what is going on?"
"Why would the person you introduced suddenly bring people who betrayed the empire and barge in?"
Esdeath silently glanced at Lin Que, then replied truthfully: "I don't know."
Minister Honest: "???"
...