Imperial Capital, a dim underground laboratory.
"NO.8, time's up. Sit on the chair."
A woman wearing a mask, dressed like a nurse, held a syringe filled with a transparent liquid and said coldly to the girl in front of her.
The petite body, black hair, and black eyes seemed to have long been accustomed to this. The girl's expression was also somewhat cold, but she did not resist and directly sat down on a nearby chair.
If Akame were here now, seeing this cold expression on the girl's face, she would surely cry out in shock! Except for the short hair, the girl's face was almost identical to Akame's — it was her younger sister with black eyes, who had been separated from Akame for eight years!
Looking at the young girl, a flicker of pity flashed in the nurse's eyes, but it was only fleeting. In this corrupt empire, there were many people even more pitiful than them; after seeing so much, one becomes numb.
After receiving a signal from the adult standing on the distant platform, the nurse no longer hesitated and directly injected the strange transparent liquid into the slender arm of the black-eyed girl.
"Ah!!!"
Her entire meridians swelled, feeling as if she were being burned by fire. This bone-deep pain made the usually tough black-eyed girl scream loudly.
Although she desperately wanted the pain to stop, she knew she had to endure it. In this cold and ruthless place, those who cannot persist will die! Those who disobey orders will die!
So, to see her sister again, to get out of here alive, she had to endure!
"Ha… ha…"
After an unknown amount of time, the burning pain finally began to subside. Black-eyed girl lay on the chair, gasping heavily, completely drained of strength, as if she had just walked through hell!
"You're done. Go out and call the next one in."
Though her expression remained cold, there was a hint of admiration in her tone. She had been ordered to do this many times before, but this was the first time she had seen someone as resilient as this girl.
In the nurse's memory, many had bitten their tongues to commit suicide because they could not bear the pain caused by the drugs!
Nodding silently, the black-eyed girl struggled to stand and staggered toward the door. Although her cold face still looked somewhat youthful, a resolute light flickered in her eyes.
"Sir, the minister has already handed these girls over to that Death General. If we continue to use these drugs Dr. Stylish brought, won't that general be angry?"
Watching the black-eyed girl leave, a soldier-like figure on the platform stepped forward and anxiously said to the bald man wearing glasses.
"Hmph! That minister, I don't know what deal he made with that Death General, but he actually handed over the assassination group I painstakingly trained!"
Cold light flashed in his eyes, and his face was full of anger. Thinking about how the assassins he had spent countless efforts to train were now working for others made his heart ache.
He heard that Gozuki also didn't get along well with him. Four of the elite seven were sent away, but at least he still had three left! If he gave away all these girls, he'd only have one left!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. If it weren't for the fact that everyone in the General's Mansion was a humanoid demon, the bald man would have wanted to assassinate them all by now!
"Sir, I heard that General Sora left the Imperial Capital a few days ago. This time, General Esdeath is coming to take over and will arrive soon."
Seeing the bald man so furious, the soldier was terrified, sweating coldly down his back, but still cautiously reminded him.
"That woman… Hmph, what's there to fear? These girls' quality is nowhere near the elite seven. I'm just following the normal plan to enhance their abilities!"
Though he said this, the bald man sneered inwardly. These drugs could enhance the girls' strength, but at the cost of burning their lives. Even if the other side took them, they wouldn't last long!
Like Gozuki, the boys and girls were just tools to the bald man. Since the tools were no longer his, why should he cherish or be polite to them?!
The soldier dared not say anything more. Looking down at a silver-haired girl walking in, he felt a wave of unease.
It was well known throughout the empire how terrifying those two demon generals were. More importantly, they never reasoned with anyone…
…
Imperial Capital, General's Mansion.
"Hahaha, I'm free! Finally free! That big bad guy can't control me anymore, hahaha…"
Standing in the courtyard, hands on her slim waist, the entire mansion echoed with Miss Mine's laughter — a mixture of pride, relief, and endless bitterness.
All the women inside the mansion had dark lines on their foreheads. This wasn't the first or second time. Since Sora left, every morning after waking up, Miss Mine would shout like this several times in the courtyard.
"Sister Mine, Logue wants to play too! Logue wants to play too!"
"Hahaha, Logue is finally free! Finally free! Daddy can't control me anymore, hahaha…"
Little Logue was now completely Miss Mine's little shadow, standing on a stone step in the courtyard, imitating Miss Mine's posture.
Kije, who was busy handling affairs for her lazy mistress, twitched at the sound of her daughter's voice and thought to herself that she should keep little Logue away from that crazy Mine girl in the future. She hadn't learned anything good and was spoiling her precious Logue!
"Mine, you seem quite slack these days."
Esdeath's voice came from one side.
Wearing her general's formal uniform, a Western-style sword hanging at her waist, followed by Suzuka and Seryu, it was clear Esdeath was about to go out and happened to pass by.
"Tch, it's Esdeath. Why are you up so early today?"
"I finished today's training task long ago. You just do your own thing and stop bothering me so much!"
Still with her hands on her slim waist, Miss Mine waved at Esdeath with a look of impatience.
Esdeath, who was about to leave, stopped immediately upon hearing Mine's words. A strange light flashed in her icy blue eyes.
This girl Mine, these past two years I've been busy training other girls for my beloved and haven't had time for her. Her arrogance is growing!
"Mine, I heard from the sisters at home that you've been quite wild these days! Looks like you've forgotten the lessons I taught you. Since that's the case, I'll make you remember them all now."
The queenly aura was unmistakable. Esdeath licked her lips and walked toward Mine with a wicked smile.
"Uh…"
Cold sweat instantly appeared on Mine's forehead. She suddenly realized she had been too proud just now.
Suzuka and Seryu, arms crossed in front of their chests, knew Mine was about to be in trouble and looked on with detached amusement.
Seeing Esdeath approaching, as if recalling some bitter memories, Mine shuddered. Her pink eyes rolled around wildly, knowing that if this continued, she was doomed!
Gritting her silver teeth, a fierce look flashed in her pink eyes. Mine seemed to make a decision and suddenly lunged at Esdeath—
"Wuwuwu… Sister Esdeath, I was wrong! Please forgive me this once!"
"That big bad guy bullied me every day. My life had no light. Now that he's finally gone, I can live like a normal person for a few days! Please forgive me this once, I won't dare again!"
"Sister Esdeath, you are so gentle, kind, and forgiving. I know you will forgive me! Please let me off this once, just this once!"
Clinging tightly to Esdeath's slender jade-like leg, Miss Mine was truly crying her heart out. The sight was so pitiful that anyone who didn't know the situation would have thought she had suffered some tremendous injustice!
She gave a glance to little Logue beside her. Completely poisoned by Miss Mine's act, little Logue immediately and also grabbed Esdeath's other jade-like leg, imitating Miss Mine by crying and making a fuss.
Suzuka and Seryu on the side were completely stunned, their eyes twitching constantly. They exchanged a glance and only now realized that the proud Miss Mine was actually this shameless even in front of her lady…
At this moment, Esdeath's mouth twitched. For a moment just now, she had actually felt a trace of excitement, thinking that Mine had the guts to rebel against her. But now, looking at this scene, it was far from what she had expected…
"This time I'll let it slide. I still have important things to do for my beloved. If this happens again next time, I will definitely 'love' you properly!"
Losing interest, she kicked away the sticky Miss Mine like a piece of chewing gum. This girl had been trained by her beloved for many years, her small body was quite sturdy, so Esdeath wasn't worried about hurting her.
Having spent a long time with Miss Mine, little Logue had also become quite clever. She quickly let go of Esdeath's leg, made a mischievous face, and ran towards Mine in the distance.
Watching Esdeath leave, Miss Mine no longer pretended to be dead on the ground. She got up and kept patting her small chest, breathing a long sigh of relief. That was really a close call!
"Oh heavens, please curse this demon woman and that big villain never to come back! Amen…"
Looking up at the blue sky with utmost sincerity, Miss Mine silently prayed in her heart…