It did not really matter.
He had already obtained the core of the ritual.
Everything else was merely icing on the cake.
Uesugi Ryu neatly stacked the documents and casually placed them on the desk beside him.
"No need. These are enough."
Tatsumi could not read anything from Uesugi Ryu's expression, though he was somewhat surprised.
Still, his task was only to record Uesugi Ryu's reaction and wording.
The rest would be left to the Boss.
Tatsumi nodded calmly.
"I understand."
Even after the transaction was complete, Tatsumi did not leave immediately.
He opened his mouth to speak.
But Uesugi Ryu cut him off first.
Taking a light sip of whiskey, Uesugi Ryu said casually,
"You're Tatsumi, right? Interested in working under me?"
Tatsumi frowned, unsure what Uesugi Ryu was trying to pull.
He answered firmly,
"No. If you're trying to make me betray my organization, forget it."
Uesugi Ryu glanced him over, then walked to the window.
"My ideals do not conflict with yours. What I pursue is knowledge and power."
"In other words, as long as my needs are met, I do not care who sits on the throne."
Tatsumi looked puzzled.
"So that's why you betrayed the Empire?"
Uesugi Ryu suddenly laughed.
"When did I ever tell you I belonged to the Empire? I am simply myself. Nothing more."
Such intense individualism.
A man like that would never willingly join the Revolutionary Army.
Tatsumi lowered his head, falling silent.
"Treating the Empire as your personal property. Becoming an emperor above the emperor. Is that your ideal?"
Resting one hand against his cheek, Uesugi Ryu gazed down through the second-floor window.
"More or less. In truth, the Empire and the rebel army are not so different."
Tatsumi frowned deeply and retorted sharply,
"That's not true! The Revolutionary Army genuinely fights for the people!"
Uesugi Ryu glanced at the indignant Tatsumi and said flatly,
"A change in the emperor's name does not alter the nature of the throne."
"The Revolutionary Army is cooperating with the western tribes."
"Let me guess. Land along the border in exchange for military assistance, correct?"
Tatsumi froze.
He truly did not know much about those matters.
For a moment, he could not tell whether Uesugi Ryu was telling the truth.
A faint smile appeared on Uesugi Ryu's lips.
"You do not know, do you? Risking your life for the rebels without even knowing their full intentions. How very youthful."
"Go back, find out the truth, and think carefully."
Tatsumi found himself speechless.
He instinctively wanted to argue.
But this was Uesugi Ryu's territory, and discretion seemed wise.
He would investigate those matters later.
Until then, he would not be swayed by Uesugi Ryu's words.
A Teigu was ultimately only a weapon.
It still required someone to wield it.
Uesugi Ryu had simply wanted to see if he could poach a talent.
After all, a few words cost him nothing.
"The Empire may be rotten, but it is still preferable to rebels who trade away territory for aid."
"And do not tell me you can simply relocate the border citizens afterward."
"You, of all people, should understand how difficult it is to leave one's homeland."
"Or will you abandon them to the foreign tribes? That is not something you can dismiss with a few simple words."
Faced with Uesugi Ryu's pointed questioning, Tatsumi offered no response.
Mere speculation without proof would not shake his resolve.
And honestly, arguing with himself was rather boring.
After taking another sip of whiskey to wet his throat, Uesugi Ryu picked up the documents and headed for the door.
"My door will always be open to you."
"If you ever change your mind, come here. Someone will receive you."
The door closed softly behind him.
Tatsumi remained standing there, dumbfounded.
He had come hoping to persuade Uesugi Ryu.
Instead, he had been lectured.
....
On the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
Deep within a dense forest, a group was searching relentlessly.
Seryu ran between the trees with Koro at her side.
"Q, Q, Q..."
Koro's nose twitched.
Suddenly, he pointed a paw toward a nearby tree.
"Over there? Understood!"
Scooping Koro into her arms, Seryu leaped onto a branch.
A few dried drops of blood stained the rough bark.
Seryu's eyes lit up.
"Captain! We found blood left behind by the criminals!"
A smile of excitement spread across Esdeath's face.
"Night Raid. At last, we've found your trail."
Ran, however, did not look nearly as pleased.
Leaving such an obvious clue did not seem like Night Raid's style.
He turned to Esdeath.
"Captain, it is probably a trap."
Esdeath strode forward confidently toward Seryu's position.
"It does not matter. We will search deeper, Ran."
Ran said nothing further.
Spreading his wings, he took to the sky and began scouting in the indicated direction.
Stylish walked over to Seryu, adjusting his glasses helplessly.
"Seryu-chan, it seems you beat me to it."
Seryu turned around, smiling shyly.
"Doctor! It's all thanks to Koro. I didn't do anything!"
Stylish merely smiled.
Then he waved to the enhanced soldiers behind him.
"Stylish Corps. Do not disappoint me."
"Understood, Lord Stylish!"
One bizarrely dressed man with an exceptionally long nose dropped to the ground, sniffing rapidly.
His sense of smell had been specially enhanced.
While Hekatonkheires was powerful, it was not a true reconnaissance-type Teigu.
Discovering blood had involved a fair amount of luck.
The subsequent search was left to Stylish's enhanced soldiers.
Before long, they led everyone to the source of the scent.
Ran folded his wings and descended.
As he dropped lower, a massive hidden base came into view.
Landing beside Esdeath, he remarked,
"Well concealed. It would have been impossible to spot from the air."
Stylish looked up at the base.
His enhanced soldiers had already begun scouting inside.
After a few moments, he shook his head.
"No sounds. They have likely fled."
"The trap has been cleared, Lady Esdeath. It is safe to enter."
Esdeath led the group straight inside, heading directly for the conference room.
A bright red flag hung on the wall.
Emblazoned upon it was a blood-eyed owl.
The owl was poised for the hunt, its gaze sharp and fierce.
It was Night Raid's unmistakable emblem.
Esdeath's gaze fell upon the chair before her.
She detected a faintly familiar presence there.
A thoughtful expression crossed her face.
No one understood Najenda's style better than she did.
If Najenda had deliberately left this flag behind, there had to be another purpose.
A disdainful smile curled Esdeath's lips.
"Najenda. So it was you."
With a casual flick of her hand, a flash of cold light swept through the air.
Rip.
The flag split cleanly in half and fluttered to the floor.
Esdeath turned and strode out.
"Stylish, call Uesugi Ryu back."
"Put your experiments on hold. It is time for our hunt."
Stylish immediately nodded.
"Yes, Lady Esdeath."