"Your Majesty, I have fulfilled my mission!"
In the Imperial Palace, General Budo knelt on one knee before Naruto, reporting to him with a solemn expression, "Everyone on the list you mentioned has been rescued."
At this moment, less than an hour had passed since Naruto ordered him to 'save the people on Minister Honest's execution list'.
General Budo had already rescued everyone on the list from Minister Honest's prison.
Not only that, he also took the opportunity to rescue other unexecuted benevolent officials imprisoned in Minister Honest's prison, as well as innocent commoners, numbering over a thousand people, almost emptying Minister Honest's prison.
His execution and speed could only be described as swift and decisive.
"Very good!"
Naruto smiled with satisfaction after hearing General Budo's report, then said to him, "Admiral General Budo, I have an even more important matter I wish to entrust to you, and I hope you will agree."
"Your humble servant is afraid!"
Upon hearing Naruto's words, General Budo's single-knee kneeling posture immediately changed to both knees, his forehead lowered until it touched the ground, and he said in a deep voice, "Whatever Your Majesty wishes for your humble servant to do, please give a direct order. Please do not use words like 'ask'. Your humble servant cannot bear it."
"…Alright."
Although he hadn't fully accepted the identity of 'the Emperor', Naruto was quickly getting used to this high-and-mighty way of interacting with people, so he quickly got into character, his face stern, and ordered General Budo, "Admiral General Budo, I now command you to arrest Minister Honest. Can you do it?"
"Your Majesty, you?!"
Upon hearing Naruto's command, General Budo suddenly raised his head, looking at him with shock, seemingly unable to believe that Naruto would issue such an order.
He had originally thought that there was merely some conflict between the Emperor and his most trusted minister, and that they would soon reconcile. During this time, he could seize the opportunity to rescue some innocent people from Minister Honest's clutches, which was already the limit.
He never expected the Emperor to now issue an order to arrest Minister Honest. Could it be that the Emperor had suddenly awakened, and that the glory of the Empire would reappear?
"Your humble servant obeys!"
After his surprise, General Budo immediately accepted Naruto's order, then quickly got up and left, moving even faster than when he received the rescue order an hour ago, as if he feared the Emperor would retract his command if he was even a moment too slow.
There was nothing he could do. He and the entire Empire had suffered under Minister Honest for a long time. Previously, due to 'ancestral teachings', he could not act against Minister Honest.
But now, with the Emperor's command, he could finally legitimately arrest Minister Honest, this parasite of the Empire. Heaven knew how happy he was!
If he didn't execute this order quickly and the Emperor regretted it, he would have nowhere to cry.
"Wait—."
Naruto watched Admiral General Budo's rapidly departing back. He was so fast that Naruto couldn't even utter the supplementary command he had intended to give: 'If the Minister resists, it's fine to kill him directly.' He could only shake his head speechlessly.
This was the second time Naruto had seen General Budo act this way. Even if he was slow, he understood what was going on.
It turned out that not only did he not trust General Budo enough, but General Budo also didn't trust him much.
But thinking about it, it made sense. The former Emperor was always obedient to Minister Honest and never listened to General Budo's advice. Now, with such a sudden change, anyone would be suspicious.
It was just that they probably never imagined that the Emperor's will had been replaced by another person.
"Esdeath!"
At Minister Honest's mansion, he looked intently at the blue-haired woman standing opposite him and asked in a deep voice, "If I fall out with His Majesty, whose side will you support?"
As soon as Naruto issued the order to arrest him, Minister Honest immediately received the news.
In Minister Honest's view, the Emperor issuing such an order to arrest him indicated that he was truly breaking free from his control. Having no other choice, he could only take the final step.
Force the palace, then place the Emperor under house arrest.
Killing him was definitely not an option.
The Emperor was the last bloodline of the Imperial family and the only one capable of activating the ultimate Imperial Arm, National Defense Machine God · Supreme Throne.
That Imperial Arm was the Empire's last trump card, and also his last trump card, so the Emperor definitely couldn't be killed—only placed under house arrest.
However, to place the Emperor under house arrest, he would have to get past Admiral General Budo. And in the entire Imperial Capital—and even the entire Empire, or even the entire world—perhaps the only one who could directly confront Admiral General Budo and potentially win was the woman named Esdeath before him.
"Fall out? Why?"
Esdeath heard Minister Honest's words and couldn't help but ask curiously, "The Emperor is so cute and obedient. Why would you want to fall out with him?"
Almost everyone in the Imperial Capital knew that the Emperor was merely a puppet who followed Minister Honest's every command.
But now Minister Honest was actually going to fall out with the Emperor, which made Esdeath very confused.
"Hmph, the child has grown up and has his own ideas."
Minister Honest showed a sorrowful expression, even taking out a handkerchief to wipe away non-existent tears, then said helplessly, "If I could, I wouldn't want to go this far. It's all that General Budo's fault!"
When Minister Honest mentioned General Budo, his eyes suddenly sharpened and his expression turned ferocious. He said coldly, "That old stubborn fool always instills useless ideas into His Majesty when I'm not around, causing His Majesty to now be suspicious of me. So, if we want to regain control of His Majesty, we must get rid of that guy!"
"Esdeath, you should understand that we are on the same side!"
Minister Honest's expression changed like a chameleon, and he once again showed a fawning expression toward Esdeath, saying, "If I lose power, the power you possess in the Empire will also be taken back. I know you might not care about these things, but without power, you won't be able to do as you please like you can now."
"Is that so?"
After hearing Minister Honest's words, Esdeath tilted her head in thought for a moment. Then her languid expression instantly became extremely aggressive, and she chuckled, "Then let's do it. And if the opponent is General Budo, perhaps it will allow me to enjoy the pleasure of battle after a long time."
Esdeath was a pure battle maniac who believed in the law of the jungle. She was cruel and bloodthirsty, often taking pleasure in tormenting and torturing her enemies. To fully indulge in these desires, she allied with Minister Honest, because only Minister Honest, who truly held the highest power in the Empire, could give her what she wanted.
If someone else were in power, they would never grant her such freedom to act as she pleased.
At this time, Esdeath had just returned from the north. Not only had she swiftly pacified the northern barbarians, but she had also buried 400,000 people alive. Even the hero deeply trusted by the northern barbarians was easily defeated by her and tormented until he willingly licked her boots.
To others, this was an undeniable great victory.
But in Esdeath's eyes, the war to pacify the northern barbarians could not be considered a true war at all; it was merely a one-sided massacre by her. And the battle with the prince and hero of the barbarians was even less of a battle; it was simply bullying the weak.
She had not enjoyed a battle that truly made her go all out in a long time.
Esdeath was now extremely eager for a battle that could pique her interest, even excite her, and General Budo happened to be one of the few opponents who could do so.
"That's for sure."
Minister Honest couldn't help but laugh when he heard Esdeath's words, echoing, "After all, General Budo is known as the Empire's strongest Admiral, along with you!"
In the eyes of others, Esdeath was like Minister Honest's loyal subordinate; they had a superior-subordinate relationship.
But only Minister Honest knew that Esdeath was not his subordinate, but an ally.
Esdeath never disobeyed Minister Honest's orders, also because those orders were all things Esdeath wanted to do. Just like this time, the reason Esdeath agreed to Minister Honest's request to deal with General Budo was only because she was interested in General Budo's strength and believed General Budo could allow her to enjoy battle—not because of Minister Honest's order.
This was also why Minister Honest, as the Empire's Minister, would show such an almost fawning expression toward Esdeath, who was supposedly his subordinate.
There was nothing he could do, because the woman Esdeath was simply too strong!
Boom! ~
Just as Minister Honest and Esdeath finished their conversation, a dull, thunderous roar echoed through Minister Honest's mansion.
"They're here!"
Minister Honest came to the door and looked up at the gathering thunderclouds in the sky. His face instantly turned gloomy, because those thunderclouds were not naturally formed, but a natural phenomenon that only occurred when Admiral General Budo's Imperial Arm was unleashed in its combat form.
The Imperial Arm, Thunder God's Wrath · Adramelech, was a thunder-type Imperial Arm capable of influencing nature and controlling lightning in battle.
"Minister Honest, get out here!"
Outside the mansion, General Budo's armor glowed with lightning, as if echoing the thunderclouds gathering in the sky. As he spoke, his voice seemed to carry the might of thunder, and the echoes boomed incessantly.
Behind General Budo, countless Imperial Guards had already surrounded Minister Honest's mansion.
"This guy really doesn't give me any face!"
Minister Honest heard General Budo's voice outside the mansion. His eyes narrowed slightly, but there was no panic on his face. He then turned to Esdeath beside him and said with a fawning smile, "Esdeath, whether we become prisoners or continue to wield the highest power in the Empire and live as we please, it's all up to you now."
"Heh! ~"
Esdeath chuckled, picked up her rapier, and walked outside, a hint of anticipation in her smile.
"Esdeath, you absolutely cannot lose!"
Minister Honest looked at Esdeath's back and said softly. Then he raised his hand to touch the gem on the headpiece on his forehead, muttering to himself, "If even you lose, what will I do?! ~"
Outside the mansion—
"All troops, prepare!"
General Budo stood with his arms crossed directly beneath the rolling thunderclouds, his gaze sharp as he stared at the main gate of Minister Honest's house. Just as he was about to give the command to charge, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"It's actually you!"
General Budo looked at the figure slowly emerging from the mansion, his face instantly becoming extremely solemn. He then shouted at her, "Esdeath, you are also an Admiral of the Empire. Are you going to defy the Emperor's command?"
"Sorry, more than the Emperor's command, I know what I want more clearly."
Esdeath slowly drew the rapier in her hand, her eyes filled with fighting intent as she looked at General Budo, and said, "Besides the Minister, none of you can give me what I want. And—"
With a flash, Esdeath's figure instantly appeared before General Budo, her rapier slashing down at him, and she laughed excitedly, "I've wanted to fight you for a long time—to see who is truly the Empire's strongest Admiral!"
Clang! ~
General Budo raised his arm, blocking Esdeath's attack with his gauntlet. He then looked at her with regret and said, "What a pity. I originally admired you greatly and believed you would become a true pillar of the Empire, just like me—but now, I have no choice but to kill you with my own hands!"
Boom! ~
As General Budo's voice ended, a dazzling bolt of lightning flashed from the thunderclouds in the sky and struck down toward Esdeath.
"Ha! ~"
Esdeath chuckled. With a wave of her left hand, a thick layer of ice instantly condensed in the air above her head, blocking the descending lightning. Then she kicked at General Budo, and a row of sharp ice spikes shot up from the ground toward him.
The Imperial Arm Esdeath wielded was called Demon's Extract, a blood-type Imperial Arm controlled by directly drinking it.
This Imperial Arm was forged from the blood of a super-danger beast said to live in the far north. The mark on Esdeath's chest was the symbol formed after drinking the blood of Demon's Extract. Its ability was to freely create and control ice.
Esdeath was the first person to fully control Demon's Extract. Before her, anyone who tried to control this Imperial Arm—even if they only tasted a single drop of Demon's Extract's blood—without exception, was driven mad by the desire for slaughter contained within it.
Only Esdeath, with her own even more brutal will, tamed this Imperial Arm filled with the desire for slaughter.
"It's useless!"
General Budo punched out, and dazzling lightning roared forth with his fist, instantly shattering all the incoming ice spikes and then evaporating them.
"Ice cannot withstand lightning, Esdeath!"
General Budo roared, clashing his fists together and then pulling them apart. A dazzling ball of lightning quickly condensed between his fists, then, under his control, transformed into a lightning pillar that shot toward Esdeath.
"Hey! ~"
Esdeath looked at the lightning pillar shooting toward her. Not only did she not dodge, she instead showed an excited smile on her face. Then she held her rapier level, its blade facing forward, and squeezed hard.
Crack! ~
A crystalline ice pillar extended from the blade of Esdeath's sword, colliding with the incoming lightning pillar. It was instantly shattered, but new ice immediately followed, seemingly endless, until the power of the incoming lightning was completely expended.
The Empire's strongest battle thus began!
---
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