Leo knew Night Raid's target was the backyard, and without hesitation he sprinted toward it.
In the corridor he passed the viscount's wife, or what was left of her. She had been cut in two.
Outwardly beautiful but inwardly cruel as a snake, her wide eyes were frozen in shock and disbelief. She had only just died.
Leo bent down and touched her face. The skin still held some warmth; she had only just gone cold.
He swallowed the nausea rising in his throat, stepped over the body, and accelerated toward the backyard.
On the way he ran into Tatsumi.
Tatsumi's face was full of grief and righteous anger, clearly furious that the household that had "sheltered" him was under attack.
Spotting Leo, also a guest in the mansion, he forced a small, sad smile.
"Mr. Leo, assassins attacked the viscount's mansion tonight. The lady has been killed. Those evil thieves are despicable! I must protect Miss Aria, will you come with me?"
Leo nodded once. "Alright. We'll go together."
Inside, he thought how naïve the boy was to the family's true nature.
Tatsumi had no idea that his two hometown companions were already suffering in the backyard's prison.
Looking at Tatsumi's innocent eyes, Leo sighed inwardly.
What a pure boy. Tonight events would shatter that innocence.
A faint voice echoed in his mind, the lingering resentment of the patrol officer whose body he'd inherited.
The voice came in fragments, weak and fading:
"Latercomer… if possible, help restore the Empire's order… give the people a stable home…"
Leo did not hesitate. He answered silently, "I hear you. I can't promise lightly, but I'll do what I can."
The faint voice whispered once more, "Th… thank… you…" and then slipped away.
The young patrol officer, talented, alert to danger, gifted at reading lies, was gone from this world.
He had been the man behind the name "Leo the Clear." Leo felt a twinge of respect for the fallen officer, and a small obligation to honor that wish.
But if honoring it meant walking through hell, he would politely refuse.
This world was not lovely. He had transmigrated less than ten minutes ago and had already killed someone.
Survival came first.
Two paths stretched out before him.
The first:
Kill Aria before Tatsumi does, earn Night Raid's favor, and join them.
Rejected at once.
Night Raid's arc in the story ended mostly in tragedy, and he could see himself doomed by association,
even the protagonist with plot armor died at the end.
Facing Esdeath made his scalp crawl; in the anime she was only defeated by plot, but this was reality.
Esdeath alone could purge Night Raid. Why would nobles let their heads be taken by assassins otherwise?
The second: stay in the Imperial Capital and survive by skill.
Dangerous, yes, but far safer than courting Night Raid's fate.
Before he could think further, swords clashed and screams split the air ahead. The Night Raid struck fast.
If Akame targeted him as an imperial hound, his otherworld journey would end here.
Whether this transmigration was a blessing or a curse, if it was an unavoidable curse he would have to grit his teeth.
As a government officer, if the viscount's family was wiped out suddenly, he would be implicated.
This family had tangled ties to the minister.
He had strangled the viscount; Sheele had cut the lady in two.
The principal culprit remained, Miss Aria.
To make the case airtight, he had to keep that damned girl alive.
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You can check my other book, if you love yanderes