Night.
On the streets of the Imperial Capital, Akuto was drifting aimlessly.
As he walked, he was sending instructions to Sayu.
The content was very simple.
Akuto wanted Sayu and the others, while governing Anvale City, to instill into the people the idea of Akuto supremacy.
Simply put — loyalty!
Akuto needed the people to be loyal to him, not the Empire.
This way, when the time came, the national fortune that once fed the Empire's Dragon Qi would instead deal the greatest damage to it.
He spent half the night walking, yet nothing happened.
[Looks like… if you're not the "male protagonist," it really is hard to trigger events when you want~]
Sighing, Akuto was about to return to the inn and try fishing again the next day.
Just then—
Click!
A carriage stopped nearby.
Akuto's lips curved slightly as he turned around.
Finally, the bait had been taken. His effort wandering the Imperial Capital at night had paid off.
"Mmm~"
A light sound followed. White boots touched the ground gently as a golden-haired girl stepped down from the carriage.
Akuto studied the uninvited girl. Without doubt, she was an exquisite noble beauty. Her attire was luxurious, carrying an aura of elegance and grace. Beneath her delicate, pretty face was a pale blue bow, equally refined and cute.
A dark blue corset outlined her slender figure, while her pale blue dress swayed gracefully in the night breeze. Below her slim waist, her white boots looked dainty and adorable, her pale legs like works of art.
Akuto's personal rating was… very satisfying.
Under his gaze, the blonde girl parted her lips softly and spoke:
"Good evening, sir. May I ask, are you from outside the city?"
"Ah, yes. I did come from outside," Akuto replied casually.
Hearing that, the girl's expression softened with interest.
"From outside? I see. You seem troubled… did you encounter some difficulty?"
Her soft voice, paired with gentle blue eyes full of kindness and concern, carried natural charm.
"Hmm, you could say that. I've been thinking about how I could make a name for myself — maybe even be granted a high office by His Majesty the Emperor." Akuto answered honestly.
"Hahaha—! Sir, you're certainly ambitious! You've only just arrived in the capital, and you're already thinking of catching the Emperor's eye?"
Aelia assumed Akuto was just a naive dreamer who wanted to rise overnight.
"Sir, if you don't mind, would you come to my home for a talk? My family is a great noble house in the capital, so I might be able to help you a little."
"After all… our household does wield some influence here."
The blonde girl extended her hand, smiling warmly, radiating friendliness and allure.
"Wouldn't that be a little too sudden?"
"Sudden? Not at all. My mother and I love speaking with people from outside the capital to broaden our horizons."
Seeing Akuto hesitate, Aelia boldly took his hand.
"Sir, the capital nights are cold. For your own health, surely you shouldn't stay outside too long, don't you think?"
She even gave him a playful wink.
"Since you insist… how could I refuse?" Akuto smiled, agreeing smoothly.
Arriving at Aelia's mansion, Akuto quickly noticed the situation wasn't quite as he remembered.
[If I recall correctly, Aelia had a father.]
[But now it seems she only lives with her mother, Countess Rosa. And their basement wasn't full of corpses… but rather drugs and captive girls.]
[So, the Akame ga Kill world's plotline has shifted too, just like the Highschool of the Dead world?]
[If their goal is using drugs to control beautiful girls for their pleasure… then why target me?]
Glancing at the reflection in the window, Akuto realized.
Ever since awakening his Succubus bloodline, his looks and aura had become more devastating than ever.
[Tch… could it be they're actually targeting me because of this?]
He was right.
Because of the altered world line, Aelia's mother, Countess Rosa, had been pregnant out of wedlock, mocked and despised for it. After her husband's death, she temporarily inherited his title, intending to pass it down to Aelia once she grew older.
But with newfound power, Rosa's unstable nature spiraled. She vented cruelty upon the weak. Tired of abusing her maids, she and Aelia began preying on beautiful girls from outside the capital.
Normally, they'd never bother with men. But Akuto's overwhelming aura and beauty had broken that rule.
Back at the mansion, Rosa listened to her daughter's suggestion and decided she had to have Akuto for herself. The Succubus blood within him gave her feelings she had never known before.
At dinner, Akuto clinked glasses with Rosa.
"My, Akuto-kun, you truly have such broad knowledge. Compared to you, a little woman like me who has never left the capital knows so little."
Rosa sighed in genuine admiration.
"Not at all. I'm still young, and there's much I still need to learn." Akuto replied humbly.
Aelia hugged her arms over her chest, crystal blue eyes shining with admiration.
"With such knowledge and strength, Shu-kun, you'll surely carve out your place in the capital!" the blonde girl cheered, waving her little fist.
"That's right. Allow me to toast in advance to your success, Akuto-kun." Rosa smiled warmly, raising her cup.
[If I didn't know the two of them were depraved degenerates, I might actually be moved…] Akuto thought.
"Thank you, Countess Rosa. I'll do my best."
Akuto smiled and downed the drink, even though he knew it was laced with sedatives.
After several rounds of drinks, instead of Akuto collapsing, it was Rosa and Aelia who began to act strangely.
Rosa's gaze turned hazy, her body temperature rising, her skin flushed with a delicate redness.
"You… you mean…?" Rosa looked at Akuto in shock.
"That's right. I was the one who slipped something into your wine. That's why you're like this now," Akuto said casually as he poured himself another drink.
"Quick, summon the guards—!"
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Before Rosa could finish, her guards collapsed one by one to the floor.
Seeing all her guards fall, Rosa's eyes, once filled with lust, now flickered with fear.
She had never imagined she'd become someone else's prey one day.
"You… who exactly are you? A mere country bumpkin couldn't possibly have such power!"
"Me?" Akuto smiled faintly.
"I told you already. My name is Akuto. Governor of Anvale City — Akuto."
"You! You're that so-called 'Lord of Anvale'!?"
Rosa knew of his name, but never connected him to the title.
"Lord of Anvale?"
Akuto frowned. When had that nickname started? He had long been called "Saint Son Akuto" or "Miracle Akuto," but "Lord of Anvale" was new.
Hearing it didn't bring him pride, but a chill.
If even a mid-tier noblewoman like Rosa knew this title, it meant the name had already spread throughout the capital.
After a few moments of thought, Akuto brushed it aside.
His mentality was simple — worst-case scenario, he would rebel outright.
If things didn't escalate that far, then he'd stick to his plan, step by step devouring the Empire.
The Empire had more than twenty provinces. His own dominion of Longxi State alone had the power to rival nine others combined!
And with Sayu developing several surrounding provinces in secret, in a year or two, Akuto would have amassed power enough to shake the heavens.
"Countess Rosa, as I recall, your situation is quite special. You gave birth to a child without ever being with a man, correct?"
"You! How do you know that!?" Rosa's face paled. That incident, buried for over a decade, should have been forgotten.
"What if I told you… it was because of me that you had that 'special experience'? Would you believe it?"
"Because of you? Impossible!" Rosa scowled.
"Though you may not wish to believe it, it's the truth."
"When you first saw me, didn't you feel something strange? That's the proof."
"Hmph! What kind of proof is that!" Rosa, being mature and cautious, wasn't so easily swayed.
"That's fine. You don't need to believe me. I'll show you with actions."
Akuto's smile deepened.
"As for now… I'm curious how long you'll last."
As he said this, Rosa was already on the verge of breaking down.
Akuto released just a fraction of his Succubus bloodline's aura, and Rosa immediately pounced onto him.
Being her first time, she couldn't even manage to undo Akuto's clothes.
"Akuto-kun, who allowed you to call me like that?" Akuto arched a brow, grabbing Rosa's wandering hands to stop her.
Driven by instinct, Rosa quickly lowered her bottom line.
"Akuto-sama, I beg you…"
"Call me Master." Akuto said calmly.
After several seconds of hesitation, Rosa finally uttered it.
"M-Master…"
Akuto tilted her chin up with one hand, smoothing her hair as if petting a favored pet.
Rosa, however, could no longer think straight, clinging desperately as her mind surrendered completely.
(End of Chapter)
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