Akuto and Sayu being all lovey-dovey stabbed straight into the hearts of the girls standing behind them…
Of course, Sayu didn't come alone this time—she had a sizable escort behind her. They were:
Pony, Tsukushi, Gin, and Taeko.
Pony, one of the Elite Seven, a brown-haired girl who blindly obeyed "Father Gozzi." Graceful figure, agile body—just a single exchange reveals how smoothly she moves once she slips into those Teigu pants.
Tsukushi, also one of the Elite Seven: a petite, baby-faced beauty with a great figure. She has tacit coordination with Akame, boasts excellent eyesight, and is skilled at shooting. In the original plot, a clash of beliefs led to Akame trying to persuade her to leave the Empire—Tsukushi betrayed her there and later died in a duel with Tatsumi.
Gin, a member of the Enhancement Squad and Blackeye's classmate. She always wanted to make the Elite Seven, a strong-willed green-haired, black-eyed beauty. In the original plot, during the assassination war with Oberg, she ran into the Insect Queen Mera, who implanted eggs in her body—she exploded and died.
After the plot change, Akuto saved Gin when Mera was about to casually crush her—so among all the girls, Gin's affection for Akuto is among the highest.
Taeko, disciple of Barbara (an elder of the Assassination Syndicate), and a friend Cornelia met by chance at a hot spring. In the original plot, because they stood on opposite sides, Taeko slew Cornelia after a fierce battle, and later died at Tatsumi's hands when she attempted to assassinate him.
After the plot change, Akuto intervened during Taeko and Cornelia's fight and subdued them both.
Being captured stung Taeko's pride, but when she later saw her own master Barbara and leader Mera get captured one after another, she suddenly felt much better. If even the leader's been caught, then she doesn't have to fight Cornelia to the death over "sides" anymore. All in all, Taeko is quite grateful to Akuto.
Over more than a year of firsthand witnessing, these girls' views shifted in three distinct stages.
They were all kind-hearted girls who held onto justice; seeing Akuto's forward-thinking policies and the happiness of the common people, they could no longer convince themselves not to join.
And since none of them could resist Akuto's strength anyway, why not throw themselves into the work they desired in the first place—fighting for the people's well-being?
Compared to assassinations, cracking down on bandits, maintaining public order, and hunting wanted criminals suited them far better.
The most stubborn were Barbara and Mera. Unlike the young girls, those two were seasoned veterans; their outlook wasn't going to change so easily. That's why Akuto deliberately brought Mera along when he left Anvale City—to keep her from stirring up trouble while he was away.
Feeling the fresh scent in Sayu's hair, Sai Akuto gently stroked her silky black locks.
"Alright, Sayu. I know you missed me a lot, but… hugging like this isn't very appropriate right now."
"Eh?"
"Oh… o-oh~"
Realizing all the eyes on them from every direction, Sayu's cheeks flushed red; she let go in a hurry.
"Ara-ara~ Akuto-sama and Sayu-sama are such a sweet pair~" Tsukushi teased, sticking out her pink tongue with a playful smile.
"Sayu, things might get busy for you for a while. I've decided we start opening the trade routes in and around the Capital now."
"Really? Akuto-kun, you've finally decided? Great! I'll execute the plan immediately!"
The moment she heard that the next phase was on, Sayu's eyes flashed and she snapped into command mode.
Under Akuto's long-term tutelage, Sayu now possessed remarkable leadership.
"First, Gin—return to Anvale City and inform all officials of city-lord rank and above to proceed per our prior blueprint: develop and flood the trade routes around the Capital.
"Next, Taeko—go back to your master Barbara and assign the trained official security personnel into our caravans.
"Although the distance to the Capital has been shortened significantly, on the road day to day, the caravans will still—"
Under Sayu's direction, everyone moved in an orderly fashion.
Halfway through, Akuto cut in:
"Sayu, include Mera in your calculus. She's managed the Assassination Syndicate long enough—she should be handy."
"Hm? Akuto-kun, by Mera you mean… the former leader of the Assassination Syndicate, Mera?"
"Ara."
Hearing herself called out, Mera's languid gaze flashed with playful interest.
"Akuto, you don't think I'm the kind who obediently follows orders… do you?"
Akuto certainly didn't expect Mera to be docile—but there are ways to… encourage cooperation.
"Mera, if you're willing to help, I'll grant you the right to move freely around the Capital's outskirts."
At that, Mera licked her red lips, her eyes going a shade darker.
"So you mean you can drag me back any time you want?"
"That's… implied. But not the main point," Akuto smiled.
"Mera, that right also includes the right to hunt. Because your favorites—Akame and Esdeath—will both be appearing in the Capital."
"Eh?"
At those two names, Mera's lips parted—the drool nearly slipped out.
"Akame is Night Raid's ace, often active around the Capital.
Esdeath is the Empire's great general—beyond explosive, and very fun to 'spar' with."
"Well? Will you help?"
Mera hesitated only a heartbeat before agreeing.
"Since Akuto-kun requires my efforts, as your prisoner, I suppose I'll reluctantly lend a hand.
After all, Akuto-kun is such a rough man."
In the end, Akuto stopped above the innermost layer—the Imperial Palace.
His purpose was simple—he intended to directly control the Little Emperor!
If ministers can do it, why can't he?
Once he controls the Little Emperor, everything becomes easier—he could even summon "Former Grand Minister Tiao Li" straight back into office!
Maintaining invisibility, Akuto swept through the palace.
The more he searched, the more he sighed.
The Empire's First Emperor clearly referenced Qin Shi Huang—this world was a complete hybrid.
The Empire's territory echoed ancient China; there were foreign tribes to the north, west, and south; the present age was a cruel period of slaughter and forced assimilation.
Even the top provincial officials bore the ancient eastern title of zhoumu.
Of course, the western elements were just as heavy: the Imperial Capital's architecture was all in western style—downright European.
The palace had maids and guards, but no eunuchs—also western.
Even the Little Emperor was western—specifically, French-styled.
From outside the window, Akuto found the young emperor's chamber and admired the blue-haired "emperor girl" dozing languidly on the grand bed.
Even while napping, she wore a crown and a cape—very Furina of her.
But what most captivated Akuto were the white neck-high socks and the white pleated skirt she wore.
Catching sight of her white safety shorts under the skirt, he shook his head in regret.
Safety shorts… truly an uncivilized invention.
"Next, I just walk over, and—"
Akuto drifted toward Furina.
But the instant his feet touched the balcony, the blue-haired girl snapped awake and stared toward the window!
"Who's there!?"
"Hm? Detected?"
Akuto frowned, erased his presence again.
"Huh? No one?"
The emperor girl glanced at the balcony, then turned and resumed her nap.
After half a minute with no further reaction, Akuto moved toward her once more—only to halt.
A transparent barrier blocked his path.
Akuto's brows knit.
"In the original plot, there was a scene where Akame reached the throne but was blocked by a shield…
I thought it only activated when the Supreme Teigu engaged.
Looks like—even without any active defense from the Little Emperor—this shield is always on."
"How about… we try sleep gas first?"
Pffff—
Riding the breeze, Akuto wafted a dose of sleep gas into the room.
A few minutes later… nothing. By his senses, the girl's physical condition hadn't changed at all.
"As expected of the First Emperor—the Supreme Teigu even comes with an auto-protect pilot function?"
After trying several methods, Akuto chose to withdraw—for now.
Another ten minutes of observation.
Reading the emperor girl's surrounding energy currents, Akuto finally confirmed her defensive state.
"No doubt about it—the First Emperor's strongest Teigu, the Supreme Teigu 'Shikoutazer'.
A body shield beyond Maou-class… what craftsmanship."
"Without invoking 'Tyrant Dragon,' I can hardly break this shield. Unless… we drop it a tier—down from beyond-Maou to Maou."
Akuto wasn't about to waste a one-time "Tyrant Dragon" trump on the Little Emperor.
Until he truly mastered it, he would never trigger it lightly—unless his life was on the line.
"Judging by the energy source, Shikoutazer's power comes from the Little Emperor.
She's saturated with dragon aura and national fate; the Supreme Teigu draws on those to maintain the barrier.
"In other words, to weaken Shikoutazer, I need to weaken the Empire—shatter its people's faith and drain its dragon aura."
"So that's why—by the time Tatsumi and Will beat the Emperor in the original plot, rebellions were everywhere, the Revolutionary Army had stormed the Capital, and the Empire was already collapsing."
"Before I raise a rebel banner, my Anvale City is part of the Empire and has actually been feeding it plenty of dragon aura and national fate…"
"Am I… hitting my own foot with the stone I picked up?"
"Wait… besides the Little Emperor, there's another source of dragon aura!"
Akuto traced a second dragon-aura conduit with his eyes.
Through the palace walls, he spotted a greasy old man gorging on meat.
"The Minister?"
"So even if we ignore the Little Emperor—Minister Honest bound himself to the Empire's national fate as well?"
"Right… in the original, when the Supreme Teigu's barrier auto-defended, it even covered the Minister…"
Akuto frowned, then grinned.
"So you're forcing me to rebel, huh?"
(End of Chapter)
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