Chapter 87: The Prime Minister: The Clown Was Me All Along
"By the way, Chelsea is still alive."
"...Is that so? That's great."
"But she can't come back right now because she's on a mission for me."
"A mission?"
"Ah. A mission... that only she can do, and one that she is very happy to do. When you find out, it will absolutely, definitely blow your mind."
"Well, that's something to look forward to."
This rescue operation allowed Kobayashi to successfully win over Night Raid. At the same time, he told them his entire plan, including his intention to use Tatsumi as bait.
Since the Minister and his cronies wanted to lure them in, he would naturally turn their scheme back against them and take the opportunity to initiate the final, decisive battle.
He had been a sneaky bastard long enough. It was time to make his grand appearance.
Returning to the Jaegers' base.
As soon as he entered, he saw Esdeath floating in mid-air. Her long, silver-white hair drifted behind her, and fine, powder-like ice crystals swirled around her, glittering. Under the sunlight, she looked like a proud and aloof goddess of frost.
"What is this...?"
"Kobayashi, you're back."
Esdeath descended from mid-air upon seeing him.
"This is a new move I've developed. By manipulating the ice that surrounds my body, I can also float in the air. Although I can't fly as freely as Run, it's perfect for using a flashy performance like this to awe the enemy."
She asked, "What do you think, Kobayashi?"
"...Ah, what a troublesome ability," he replied in a low voice.
And here I was thinking I could just throw her into a volcano if I couldn't beat her. Is that plan completely useless now? As expected of Esdeath, her potential for development is immense.
But unexpectedly, she suddenly took a step forward and hugged him, saying gratefully, "This is all thanks to you, Kobayashi."
"...Eh?"
Feeling her softness, Kobayashi blinked. He didn't quite understand what she meant by that.
Esdeath explained, "Living with you during this time has deepened my understanding of ice. And I don't know why, but just thinking of you calms my mind, and my control over ice has become stronger."
"Ahaha... well that's great... mmm, that's great."
Kobayashi's tone was very subtle. He gave a perfunctory compliment while looking down at the blue crystal on his chest, and couldn't help but curse in his heart.
Great my ass! DAMMIT, AQUA!
"Perfect timing, you're back."
Esdeath roused him from his thoughts. "I said before that I would take you for an audience with the Emperor. Come with me to the palace again now. There is an important mission for you to complete."
"...Yes, I understand."
The two of them once again headed for the royal palace.
On the way, Esdeath suddenly said, "I heard from my subordinates that you killed the Prime Minister's son, Syura?"
"I did," he admitted crisply.
"Well done," she praised.
It was just as he had guessed; he wasn't being blamed.
One reason was that Syura had publicly spoken of wanting to be Emperor, which meant he had already found the path to his own death. Even if General Budou found out, he would surely have cut him down, and no one would have been able to stop him.
The other reason was that Syura had been targeting Esdeath recently. To eliminate the rift between them, the Minister would definitely make a concession. Sacrificing Syura was his gesture.
"The Emperor will make you an official later," Esdeath said out of the blue.
Kobayashi raised an eyebrow slightly. It was very sudden and strange. He didn't quite understand.
"This was decided by me and the Minister yesterday," Esdeath said, her plain tone revealing her powerful influence in the Capital. She explained, "The execution is in three days. At that time, General Budou and I will be facing the enemy. Just in case, we need someone who can control the overall situation."
"So that person is me?"
"Don't worry, Run will also assist you."
"I understand."
The two arrived at the palace. Led by a guard, they passed through several large gates and several checkpoints before finally seeing the well-protected little Emperor, sitting high on his throne.
"Your Majesty."
"...Your Majesty."
Esdeath knelt without hesitation. Kobayashi, a bit hesitant and a beat slower, still knelt on one knee.
"General, you have come."
The little Emperor on the throne looked down at the two of them, full of authority despite his young age.
He waved the scepter in his hand and pointed its tip at Esdeath. "General, the enemy will surely appear at the execution in three days. This concerns the honor of the royal family. Are you confident you can carry out the execution smoothly?"
"Your subject is confident," Esdeath answered decisively.
"Very good."
The little Emperor nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Kobayashi. "Is this the candidate you recommended? He is quite young."
"Your Majesty. Please do not judge a person's strength by their age. I have great confidence in him," Esdeath slightly contradicted him.
The Emperor should have been furious at being contradicted by a subject.
But he was not angry. He said, "Since he is a person recommended by the General, it means he has real talent. Then I shall appoint him as... as... Minister, what should he be appointed as?"
The little Emperor turned his head to ask the Minister beside him.
The Minister was in the middle of tearing at raw meat with his teeth. His pale teeth and ferocious expression, glaring viciously at Kobayashi, made it seem as if he were eating his flesh.
Hearing the question, he immediately put on the gentle smile of an elder.
He suggested softly, "Your Majesty, why not make him the Commander of the Imperial Palace? He should have no problem leading the palace's Imperial Guard."
"The Imperial Guard..."
The little Emperor did not obey as meekly as before. Because the current leader of the Imperial Guard was General Budou. To make an appointment, his consent was still needed.
However, the Minister took a roundabout approach. "Not your Imperial Guard, but the Imperial Guard protecting the execution ground. We only need to dispatch a few soldiers to maintain order at the site. With you and General Budou present, the enemy won't be able to stir up any waves."
General Budou's duty for generations had been to protect the royal family, so as long as it wasn't a real seizure of power, he wouldn't care. Furthermore, with the recent constant rebellions, he often had to go to the surrounding areas to quell them and was frequently not in the palace. It was precisely because the Minister knew this that he was being so audacious.
"Alright. We shall do as the Minister says."
The appointment was officially made, and Kobayashi accepted the order with pleasure.
At this moment, the little Emperor looked down at them and suddenly asked, "General, didn't you say you were looking for a lover? How about this person beside you? The Commander of the Imperial Palace is equivalent to a general. He should meet your standards, right?"
"Well..."
"Your Majesty! It is not appropriate to speak of this now!"
The Minister suddenly and forcefully interrupted, as if scolding him. "The great enemy is at hand. We should not be discussing such romantic affairs. It is good that you can be considerate of General Esdeath, but you must also be mindful of the occasion. It will not be too late to discuss this matter after the enemy has been captured and the rebellion has been successfully quelled."
"...Mmm, the Minister is right."
The little Emperor lightly brushed the matter aside.
However—
The Minister will absolutely not let them get together!
He didn't pursue Syura's death because he wanted to eliminate the rift with Esdeath. But that doesn't mean he won't avenge Syura!
I will definitely kill Kobayashi and have him torn apart by oxen!
When the enemy appears, I'll use 'failure to supervise' as an excuse to have the Emperor sentence him, throw him in the dungeon, and kill him immediately. Even if Esdeath pleads for him, it will be too late.
This is the brilliant plan he had come up with!
It should have been like this.
However, why...
The little Emperor, sitting high on his throne, looked down at the Prime Minister, who was being held down by the guards, raised the scepter in his hand, and said coldly:
"—Prime Minister, for the crime of disrupting Our policies and delaying government affairs, We sentence you to be torn apart by oxen."
Why did it turn out like this?!!!
The Minister stared with his eyes about to split, at the little Emperor, and at... Kobayashi, who was standing beside him!
(End of Chapter)