"So... so strong, Father! Who is she?"
Tsukushi's voice trembled slightly as she stared in disbelief at Arisa, who had just toyed with and annihilated the entire Oarburgh Assassination Syndicate as if they were mere playthings.
"Oh, she's... the Great General Selene's, uh... head maid?"
Good grief, even a maid was this powerful? Then that meant... that butler named Sebas must be a monster too, right?
Shaking his head to clear the distracting thoughts, Gozuki gave a bitter chuckle. Thankfully, he had pledged allegiance to Great General Selene ahead of time...
Otherwise, if Honest had sent him to assassinate her, he probably wouldn't have even made it to her doorstep before being slaughtered by one of her subordinates.
As for whether Gozuki felt guilty for betraying Honest, who had also come from the Imperial Fist—please. He'd been serving as that man's blade for years and had never once heard him talk about any so-called brotherly bond.
Brotherly bond? How many Imperial coins is that worth?
Seeing the terrifying strength of even a seemingly minor subordinate under Selene, Gozuki only felt more convinced that he had made the right decision.
But... since he'd already jumped ship, he should probably inform Mez.
To prove his loyalty to Honest, Gozuki's own daughter, Mez, had succeeded him as one of the Four Rakshasa Demons of the Imperial Fist. She now served directly under Honest as his personal executioner, code-named—Mez, the Horsehead.
The thought of having to fight his own daughter someday was... less than ideal. As Gozuki mulled over these thoughts, Arisa clapped her hands.
"Mission complete. Go wake your comrades and prepare yourselves—the Great General wants to see you."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Whether out of fear of Selene's authority or awe of Arisa's personal might, Gozuki had already accepted his position as a subordinate without hesitation.
Just then—"Najasho!"
With a loud boom, the dirt wall that Green had previously built as a temporary explosion shelter crumbled apart. From the breach emerged Cornelia, Poney, and Akame, weapons drawn and ready for combat.
"Oh, you're awake. Come over here and regroup," Gozuki waved.
"Father!?" ×3
"Father, Najasho, he..."
...
Seeing them start chattering again, Arisa sighed impatiently. "Enough. Talk on the way. We're heading back to the Imperial Capital immediately—the Great General wants to see you."
"Who are you... Father, is she an enemy?" Akame asked, instinctively raising her blade at the unfamiliar woman.
"Don't be rude, Akame. This is the reinforcements sent by the Great General."
Suddenly—Bzzz...
Arisa's body shimmered with violet light. The next moment, crimson Honkai energy particles surged around her, restructuring and condensing until a silver-white figure manifested before her as a projection.
A sleek azure minidress adorned with refined silver accents, covered with intricate, mesmerizing patterns and a skirt woven with silver thread. Most striking of all were her glowing, blood-red rhomboid pupils—cold and merciless.
"Great General!" Instinctively, Gozuki dropped to one knee, placing a hand over his chest in reverence.
Seeing their father so tense and deferential, the five remaining members of the Elite Seven weren't fools. They immediately understood the significance of this projection and followed suit, kneeling respectfully.
"Gozuki," Selene's calm voice echoed, "it seems the support mission has been completed... hmm? Two casualties?"
"Yes, Great General."
"My condolences."
Offering the briefest of formal sympathies, Selene turned her gaze to Arisa, who once again looked adorably blank. "Arisa, collect all the bodies of the Oarburgh Assassination Syndicate members. The more intact, the better. And make sure their brains remain unharmed."
As for how Selene knew Arisa's opponents were from the Oarburgh Syndicate... simple—she had been watching.
"...Understood."
"Good. Since the rescue mission is complete, return to the Imperial Capital immediately." With that, Selene's projection vanished.
...
A few breaths later, once he was certain Selene had disconnected, Gozuki finally let out a long exhale and slowly stood. Well, that was one of the downsides of serving under Great General Selene...
Ordinary people could handle it, but the stronger and more perceptive one was, the more unbearable it became to face Selene. The more sensitive one's senses, the more insignificant they felt before her—like they weren't even ants, just specks of dust adrift in the air.
Compared to her, Honest could only intimidate commoners with his vicious face and political power. Those with true strength barely regarded him as a threat.
"Well then... Gozuki, prepare to return to the Imperial Capital."
Following her voice, Gozuki turned to see Arisa opening a dark, pitch-black portal radiating with violet-red light. One by one, she tossed the corpses of the Oarburgh Assassination Syndicate into it.
Nodding, Gozuki turned to his disciples and called out, "All right, kids. We're going home."
...
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital — Upper City, inside the Habsburg Duchess' Mansion.
"Milady... Lady Arisa's transported 'spoils of war'—uh, the corpses—have been confirmed. They match the individuals listed on the Empire's wanted records: members of the Oarburgh Assassination Syndicate."
"According to intelligence cross-referenced with the information department, the identities of the deceased have been verified. Among them—the leader, Merraid Oarburgh; the steward, Daniel; and the elder, Babara Oarburgh. All major figures are confirmed dead."
"The Oarburgh Assassination Syndicate is now effectively wiped out."
Inside the warehouse, Liver reported carefully, choosing his words with care.
Selene nodded slightly, her crimson eyes settling on the six corpses lined neatly before her, each covered by a white sheet. "Which one is Merraid?"
"The first one on the left, Milady. Uh... forgive me for asking, but what exactly are you planning to do? Isn't this a bit... unlucky?" Liver grimaced, trying to dissuade her.
"Hey, Liver, don't get the wrong idea. I'm not one of those perverted nobles with a necrophilia fetish!"
Seeing Liver nervously pull out his communicator—as if ready to report to Sebas—Selene couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
"I just need to confirm some information."
She lifted the white sheet and extended her hand over Merraid's head, two feet above it. A violet glow shimmered into existence.
"Read."
...
"Damn it!"
"Milady, please, composure—a lady must remain graceful..."
"Graceful, my ass!" Selene snapped, grimacing. "Gods, what the hell was in her head!? Not a single useful thought! Just endless girl-on-girl fantasies!"
The deeper she delved, the worse it got. Merraid's dying thoughts were nothing but obsessive, deranged lust for Esdeath—
'I want her. I want her. I want her! I really, really, really, really want to fuck her!'
It was enough to leave a permanent scar on Selene's supposedly 'pure' mind.
Scowling, she stepped away in frustration and moved to Daniel's body. Raising her hand once more, the violet light flared again as she began another read.
"Hmm... this one's better. Najenda has already made contact with the Revolutionary Army..."