Chapter 44: Slay! The Traitor of the Imperial Fist Temple!
In the brightly lit main hall.
Everyone was gathered, not speaking, but standing there quietly.
An air of grimness and killing intent filled the hall.
"Is everyone here?"
After seeing that everyone had arrived, Najenda gave no opening remarks and directly threw a portrait onto the table.
"Raika, a traitor of the Imperial Fist Temple. According to intelligence from relevant personnel, he is responsible for the recent 33 cases of missing children aged 13 to 14."
"So, he's the next target?"
"That's him. To eliminate evil, one must be thorough!"
"Understood!" xN
After issuing the mission, Najenda looked at Kobayashi and said, "You're coming with us this time."
"Hmm?"
Kobayashi was slightly surprised.
Najenda smiled with ill intent. "It's time for you to see the darkness of the Empire."
Words alone could not make someone understand. Sometimes, only by seeing with one's own eyes could one know the meaning of their actions, just like the newly joined Tatsumi.
"You're not worried I'll run away midway if I leave the base?"
"It doesn't matter. As long as you participate in this mission, whether you leave or not is up to you. How about it?"
"I accept."
Seeing Kobayashi agree, Najenda nodded.
"That being said, why did all of Night Raid have to come?"
Kobayashi looked at the members of Night Raid surrounding him. It looked like they were protecting him, but in reality, it was more like they were corralling him to prevent his escape.
What do you mean, you're not worried about me running away?
Bulat flashed a hearty smile. "Don't say that. There's more of a sense of ritual when we do a mission together, isn't there? Let's happily take out the trash together."
I'll believe you when pigs fly. You damn muscle-man, you're up to no good.
Kobayashi slandered him in his heart, but he said, "Yeah, yeah," looking happy and expectant.
Speaking of which, this was his first time leaving the Night Raid base. He was actually a little excited.
The group moved quickly.
As assassins, mobility was of the utmost importance. But as they ran, Akame frequently glanced sideways. She really couldn't understand why Kobayashi used such advanced techniques yet moved like a novice, and yet the starkly contrasting movements perfectly achieved the same effect.
If Kobayashi knew what she was thinking, he could only answer her with—
Don't ask. If you have to ask, it's magic. Magic is the greatest!
"We're here."
According to the intelligence, Raika was hiding near the slums of the Capital, and this warehouse was his base.
The group landed on all sides, surrounding the warehouse.
With so many Teigu users to see him off, that traitor of the Imperial Fist Temple would surely be moved to tears, right?
Leone's eyes were dull as she grinned wickedly. "Kobayashi, don't you dare be so scared by the scene inside that you wet your pants."
"How is that possible?"
Kobayashi shot her a look.
Although he said that, he still became serious. Leone always scouted for intelligence before every mission. She definitely knew what was inside the warehouse, and she wouldn't have said that for no reason.
Screeeech—
The rusty warehouse door was slowly pushed open, and the piercing sound made one frown slightly.
A peculiar fragrance wafted out, seemingly some kind of spice.
How strange.
He had thought it would be a pungent smell of rot and blood. Why was it a fragrance?
The dim warehouse door was opened, and the bright moonlight shone into the dark space, revealing the tip of the iceberg of this world's darkness.
Spheres were threaded with ropes, tied to the warehouse ceiling, and hung in mid-air, swaying back and forth.
—They were heads.
All were the heads of children around 10 years old.
They were hung in mid-air, their facial expressions all different, and they were all remarkably well-preserved.
There was crying, pain, anger, terror, fear, and resentment. But without exception, all of their expressions were negative, and none of them had a body below the neck.
A cool, gentle breeze blew past, making a whistling sound, as if they were crying out about their tragic fate.
It was a horrifying scene.
"Welcome!"
A frivolous voice laced with madness came from the innermost part of the warehouse, where a dark figure was sitting on a chair.
By the moonlight, Kobayashi saw his face. He was a middle-aged man of about 30, with an ordinary, unremarkable appearance and a tattoo on his cheek. He looked exactly like the mission target.
"Raika, your time has come!"
Mine's hands, gripping [Roman Artillery: Pumpkin], trembled violently. She had never thought that the villain before her would be so cruel.
"People always say that, but in the end, they all died, without even their heads left."
Raika said with utter madness, but upon seeing Mine, he let out a whistle. "But you're different. I'll make you my next collection piece."
"What did you say?!" Mine was furious.
Is he treating me like a child? I'm already 15 this year, I'm an adult, and an assassin at that!
"Don't be so angry. It's a pity about that cute little face of yours," Raika said, looking regretful.
Then, he asked a strange question.
"Tell me, at what age does a person best display their talent?" Without waiting for an answer, he answered himself, "That's right, between 13 and 15. This is the age when talent and ability erupt the fastest, which is why I want to preserve them."
With that, he lovingly picked up a collection piece.
It was the head of a little girl. On her uncorrupted, pretty face was an expression of terror on the verge of tears, mixed with a hint of relief. There was also a faint wound on her forehead from where it had been scraped.
Just like before.
RyuZU took a step forward and said softly, "Master Kobayashi..."
"Ah, I see it."
Kobayashi couldn't help but clench his fists. He said to Raika, "Hey, did you know? That little girl you're holding, she actually had a sick mother and a frail little brother at home. She was a timid girl who was willing to scrape her head raw just to beg for forgiveness so she could go back and take care of her family."
"Oh? You know her? She's one of my favorite collection pieces," Raika said, slightly stunned.
But he immediately held her up and boasted, "Did you know? She was so scared at that time, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing desperately, begging for mercy. The way she begged for her life for the sake of her mother and brother was especially sacred. It was like a jolt of electricity. I felt like I had met my one true love. Then I told her, 'It's okay, I won't kill you.' But just as she was about to leave, at the instant a hint of relief appeared on her face...! I made my move! And in the end, I obtained the perfect collection piece!"
Mad.
He has completely lost his mind.
He was no longer human, but a demon in human skin!
The members of Night Raid gnashed their teeth as they looked at him, wishing they could eliminate him right now.
At this moment, Kobayashi stepped forward.
"Sorry, I know this isn't allowed, but could you leave him to me?"
He looked at Raika and said in a low voice, "I'm... a little bit angry."
"It's fine. As long as the mission is completed, anyone can make the move."
Akame, who had always abided by the assassin's code, did not refuse, because before they left, Najenda had told her that if Kobayashi took the initiative to ask, she should give him the chance to complete the mission. She was just following orders now.
"No one else will interfere."
"Thanks."
Kobayashi said his thanks softly, then walked alone to stand before Raika.
"Oho? Are you underestimating me?"
Raika's contemptuous gaze was undisguised. It seemed he was very confident in his own strength.
"Heh, I advise you to be careful. Don't get taken out in one hit," Leone's taunt was just as sharp.
"Taken out in one hit? Are you kidding me? I am a master of the Imperial Fist Temple!"
As if hearing a joke, Raika grinned, as if to display his own strength. Under the cover of the shadows, he moved like the wind and threw a punch at Kobayashi.
Only to have his wrist caught with casual ease.
"Take you out in one hit? That would be too much of a waste."
Kobayashi also grinned, revealing his ghastly white teeth, a cold chill in his eyes.
"What?!"
Raika couldn't help but widen his eyes.
(End of an book)
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Guys we only need 75 power stone for the next bouns chapter, come on you'll can do it.