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Inside the estate of Honest...
Everyone was frozen in shock.
"H-He really just went for it?"
One of the officers stared with wide eyes, muttering under his breath.
What the hell just happened?
Wasn't there supposed to be a standard process?
First both sides show their cards, then negotiate...
And only if talks break down, it escalates into a fight, right?
"We're already fighting?"
Mine instinctively raised her Pumpkin Gun, completely confused.
Things were moving way too fast.
She hadn't even had time to process it all.
Najenda spoke calmly, "They made one major mistake from the start. Negotiations only happen when both sides are on equal footing..."
Now she fully understood—
The kind of terrifying power Lord Minato possessed.
This was strength beyond the rules of this world.
Minato stood there calmly, like he'd just squashed a bug.
Beside him, Akame and Leone were already in position.
"Lord Minato, I approached you in good faith, and this is how you respond?"
Honest took a deep breath and growled coldly, "So you're really going to burn it all down?"
"Kill him!"
With that one command, the Four Rakshasa Demons lunged forward.
They didn't have Imperial Arms, but their strength was on par with those who did.
Over the years, they'd quietly eliminated countless threats for Honest.
Today wouldn't be any different—or so they thought.
Shing!
Murasame was drawn, and Akame's figure vanished in a blur—like a shooting star, she went straight for the Rakshasa Demons.
Splat!
Blood sprayed into the air. Suzuka, one of the four, widened her eyes as her vision began to blur.
She barely caught a glimpse of Akame flashing past her three companions.
Bang... Splurt!
Suzuka collapsed to the ground, and just after that, three more spurts of blood filled the air.
A clean cut appeared on each of their bodies.
And Akame—
Was somehow already standing back beside Minato, as if nothing had happened.
Like the whole thing had been a hallucination.
At the same time—
Leone suddenly appeared right in front of Honest.
"W-What are you doing!?"
Honest let out a high-pitched shriek, only to see a giant fist zooming toward him.
The next moment—
He could hear every bone in his body shattering.
As he slipped into death, only one thought remained:
"I... I really died just like that?"
"I was the Great Minister Honest..."
Silence.
Absolute, deathly silence.
None of the surrounding officials even dared breathe too loudly.
Some were already slowly backing away, silently praying Minato wouldn't notice them.
Even Honest was dead.
They were all scared stiff.
Then Minato stepped forward.
"So... I heard you guys supported Honest?"
"Huh?"
Everyone froze. Their entire bodies trembled.
"No need to be so scared."
Minato looked around the room, smiling softly. "Do I really look that scary?"
Even Honest only said a few words before getting wrecked. You tell us!
Everyone was screaming that in their heads, but they all just kept shaking their heads.
"See? That's better."
Minato said warmly, "From now on, I call the shots in this empire. Who's in favor? Who's against?"
Sure, some of them were parasites.
But if you wiped them all out, who would be left to do the actual work?
That's why he hadn't gone after the ministers right away.
But who would've thought Honest would personally gather his cronies right in front of him?
Well then—
Might as well make an example out of them and tame the rest like dogs.
"I support Lord Minato with both hands. If anyone disagrees, they'll have to deal with me first!"
"Me too! I fully support Lord Minato!"
And just like that, none of the people Honest counted on even dared to speak up for him.
Minato didn't even bother with these fence-sitters. He just handed them all off to Najenda and headed back to the palace with Akame and the others.
One day later...
News of Honest's death had spread all over the Capital.
The city erupted like it was a festival. People were literally dancing in the streets.
But the empire's officials...
They were dead silent.
Because they knew—
The entire power structure of the Empire had just been flipped upside down.
What came next was Najenda's purge.
One move after another shook the city with blood and chaos.
Countless corrupt officials were removed, replaced by capable and honest ones.
All of this made Minato wildly popular among the common people.
In just a few days—
The Capital underwent a massive transformation.
And even when there were some uprisings, Akame and the others crushed them effortlessly.
"Lord Demon, the Revolutionary Army contacted me."
"I turned them down, so they'll probably go all out against us soon."
Everything Najenda had seen in the past few days gave her hope—she was now fully committed to Minato.
As for the Revolutionary Army? She never really trusted them anyway.
"Let them come," Minato said without even looking up from his book.
That day wasn't far off.
When it came down to it—
The Revolutionary Army's strength came from the support of corrupt officials and nobles from all over.
Now that he held the power in the Capital, it wouldn't be long before he extended his control to the provinces.
If they didn't want to slowly fade away, they'd be forced to strike.
And when they did, he'd deal with them all at once.
That's just how people from the Motherland operate—calm and confident.
Najenda nodded, then remembered something. "By the way, Esdeath's back from the front lines."
"Oh?"
Minato looked up, a glimmer in his eye. "She's finally returned?"
Now that she was back...
It was time to make her his too.
"Master, are you adding another to your collection?"
Leone popped up out of nowhere, grinning. "But that woman's seriously dangerous."
"More dangerous than me?"
Minato raised an eyebrow.
Leone laughed nervously.
Okay... yeah, Master's still more terrifying.
"Master, I don't like that woman."
Akame said flatly, "She's just a battle-crazed lunatic."
"You... actually voiced an opinion?"
Minato looked at her in surprise, then chuckled. "Then how about this—tonight, I'll make it up to you with some mana recharge, deal?"
Hearing that, Akame's cheeks turned pink as old memories flashed in her mind.
But she didn't say no.
She just gave a firm nod. "Okay, Master."
Leone stared at Akame in shock.
Wait a sec—
Did my teammate just get... possessive?
Maybe I should step up my game too...
Since when did we start competing for Master's affection?
Najenda sighed at the scene before her and asked:
"Lord Demon, should I summon Esdeath?"
"No need."
Minato stood up from the throne, eyes gazing into the distance.
"Because... she's already here."
"....."