"Is everyone alright?" Although he was surprised to see Kaede standing next to Kurome and Akame, Nahash still looked around and asked, while still supporting Poney.
"I'm fine. If anything, I've only been running into small fry," Cole said.
"We're fine too," the others said.
"By the way, can you leave that guy to me?" At this moment, Gin clenched her right hand with her left, creating a creaking sound. She was smiling, smiling very happily.
"Fine, whatever," Green said, looking at the octopus he had tied up. It was useless now.
"Damn octopus, you've finally fallen into my hands!"
"Um, could you not kill me?" The octopus was still fantasizing about surviving.
"What do you think~" Gin narrowed her eyes. She had stripped it bare and was one step away from finishing it off; if she hadn't been stopped by someone, she might have already done it.
Gin felt a bit lucky that there was a rule in the mausoleum that prisoners could not be touched without the leader's permission.
And now, this octopus had fallen into her hands. Hehe...
Setting aside the study of how this octopus would die—whether it would be grilled or killed directly—Kaede noticed some familiar people over here.
"This attire, it's definitely the Incinerator Squad." Kaede looked at the few people standing next to a giant rabbit, their upper bodies bare and wearing masks on their heads.
Hmm, Kaede recognized this rabbit. It was a Flame Rabbit, a Danger Beast that couldn't be cooked using standard methods and required special techniques. It tasted quite good.
This Flame Rabbit suddenly shuddered all over. Being stared at by Kaede gave it a feeling that disaster was imminent.
"You are the Incinerator Squad, right?" Kaede walked over.
"Yes, we came this time to deliver the Flame Rabbit to you. We are quite confident in the speed and stability of the Flame Rabbit," said the leader.
"It's not for eating, huh." Kaede felt a bit regretful.
"Cough, cough!!" Hearing what was said, the leader was shocked that she wanted to eat their precious transportation. One had to know that while Flame Rabbits were easy to catch, they were very difficult to tame. The leader immediately looked at Kaede with vigilance in his eyes.
"Alright, alright, I'm not here to ask you about that." Kaede said, seeing the vigilance in the leader's eyes.
"Hmm." Although he said that, the vigilance in the leader's eyes did not relax.
"Is Boros with you this time?" Kaede asked.
"Yes, he is. Are you looking for him?" The leader was stunned for a moment. As the only person among them who possessed a Teigu, of course he had to bring him along for safety.
"Yes, have him stay behind to control this rabbit for us, and you can leave." Kaede said directly, without mercy.
"..." The leader had black lines on his forehead, then turned to find Boros. Although he could refuse Kaede's request, it was best not to. After all, she was from the assassination squad; if she were displeased, she might assassinate him one day.
"Boros, someone is looking for you."
"Eh?" Boros, who was staying by himself, was a bit surprised. "Who is looking for me, boss?"
"A beautiful young girl. She requested that you take them back, and also, I have something to tell you." The leader's eyes turned serious.
"Yes."
"You must protect our transportation well; don't let her eat it!" the leader said with a serious expression.
"Oh." Boros nodded, then froze for a second.
"Huh?"
In the end, the leader left with the remaining people, leaving Boros standing in front of Kaede.
Boros stood there looking a bit fidgety, his body twisting; it was completely inconsistent with his physique!
Kaede also looked at this scene with black lines on her forehead. Is your art style off, or did you run into the wrong scene?
"Um, what did you need me for?" Boros asked first.
"Nothing, I just wanted to see what kind of person you were based on what they said about you." Kaede looked at Boros, having already memorized him. There was no need to take off the mask; as long as Kaede had seen him once, she couldn't possibly mistake him.
"They?" Boros's tone changed.
"Yes, your daughter is very cute," Kaede said. "So I wanted to see what kind of person you are, being able to protect your family like this in a society like this."
"Yes, she is very cute, and she is also very beautiful, so even if I have to try my best, I will protect them." Boros gritted his teeth, his eyes wide. "With hands full of sin and an insignificant life! Absolutely! I must absolutely protect them!!"
"..." Kaede seemed to pause, feeling the determination and will Boros unintentionally revealed, and said nothing.
"Uh, um, sorry, I scared you." Boros scratched his head, looking at Kaede with a hint of closeness in his eyes. After all, being able to say those things to him meant something; Boros wasn't stupid.
"Heh, is that so." Kaede looked at Boros, then spoke, "You... are too weak."
"Uh..."
Boros completely didn't understand why Kaede said that, and then he saw Kaede disappear from where she stood.
Without touching her blade, Kaede flashed directly to Boros's side and pressed him to the ground. Boros didn't even have a chance to resist, or perhaps it should be said he didn't even react in time?
"That's why I said, you are too weak..." Kaede said, then stood up and turned around.
"If you encounter any trouble, you can come find me. I often go to the alley in the Empire's snack street to take a look." Saying this, Kaede jumped onto the Flame Rabbit's back and then immediately collapsed onto it.
"Big Sister, what's wrong?" The commotion on their side had naturally alarmed the people in the Elite Group. Seeing Kaede's state, Akame and Kurome hurriedly ran over and asked.
"It's nothing..." Kaede lay there, looking at Akame and Kurome's pretty faces above her. She stretched out her hand, and wisps of sunlight passed through her fingers, shining on Kaede's face.
"I was just thinking, it turns out that in a society like this, such people still exist." At this moment, Kaede's eyes softened unexpectedly, the first time they had softened for a reason other than Kurome and Akame.
Perhaps by doing this, Kaede would have one more thing to attend to in the future, but would she care? She wouldn't care at all, as long as she followed her heart.
Boros didn't get up either, looking at the azure sky. The white mask completely hid his expression.
"That's right, I am weak, but despite that, I will try my best to protect their smiles. This Empire, that kind of society, I will definitely not let them be corrupted!" Boros knew it was difficult, but so what if it was difficult?
His life had long been filled with sin; even if he died now, it could only be said he deserved it. So, it would be better to use this rotting life entirely to protect their smiles!
As long as their smiles remained, even if he alone went to hell to accept endless punishment, he would be happy, right!
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