Kurome frowned as she tried to persuade him.
"Ran, this matter can be settled privately later."
After spending so much time together, there was already a bond between everyone.
Kurome was willing to help Ran, but something like this could not be brought into the open.
"Tomorrow, when we're guarding the execution grounds, you absolutely cannot make a move. It will bring trouble to the Jaegers and Captain."
Wave shared the same opinion.
"Kurome's right, Ran. Just endure it a little longer."
Ran felt somewhat moved, though this was only an excuse.
He was not the protagonist of this performance.
At the seat of honor, Uesugi Ryu's figure suddenly appeared.
This was Esdeath's usual seat, and now Uesugi Ryu was openly sitting there.
What that represented went without saying.
"There's no need anymore. Tomorrow will be the day Wild Hunt and Honest are destroyed."
The moment Uesugi Ryu appeared, the three people on Ran's side instantly stood up.
Seryu was extremely happy to see Uesugi Ryu and also stood up.
Kurome's pupils contracted as if she instantly understood something.
Wave looked utterly confused.
"Mr. Uesugi, why are you back? Where's Captain?"
Uesugi Ryu crossed one leg over the other and leaned against the chair as he calmly said,
"Esdeath has something to deal with right now. I'll be commanding the Jaegers in her place."
"For the sake of the Empire, we need a major cleanup. Isn't that right?"
Kurome's expression turned cold as her gaze swept across the people who had stood up.
"If you do that, it's rebellion! What exactly happened to Esdeath-sama?"
Uesugi Ryu slowly stood up. His wide coat blocked the only bit of light shining into the room.
Those savage and dazzling golden eyes ignited like flames, becoming the brightest thing in the room.
"It's only rebellion if you fail. If you succeed, it's called a revolution!"
"What reason is there for a minister who commands such scum to continue existing?"
Seryu stared blankly at Uesugi Ryu, who radiated overwhelming presence. She had never met the Emperor.
But in her mind, this was what an Emperor should look like.
Seryu immediately voiced her agreement.
"Mr. Uesugi is right! This is an act of justice!"
Koro looked confused.
But sensing his master's excitement, he also voiced his support.
"Shoo! Shoo!"
Wave looked conflicted. He knew about all the darkness within the Empire.
And all of it was indeed inseparable from the Minister.
But could the Jaegers alone really accomplish this?
Uesugi Ryu turned to look at Kurome. He was absolutely confident he could persuade Wave.
As for Kurome, he could only try his luck.
"Esdeath is temporarily outside the Empire. I'll persuade her after this is over."
Kurome had been brainwashed by the Empire's assassination unit since childhood.
Drugs combined with psychological conditioning were not easy to undo.
Kurome's face darkened as she subconsciously placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.
Seeing this, Uesugi Ryu narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice,
"Kurome, think carefully. Are you really going to draw your blade against your comrades?"
BolS also looked worried.
"Kurome-chan, calm down!"
Kurome clenched her teeth tightly. She suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Wave stepped forward and grasped Kurome's small hand that was holding the sword.
"Kurome, let go. You can't possibly be Mr. Uesugi's opponent."
"Besides, this matter isn't necessarily betraying the Empire."
"Wild Hunt threatens the Empire's safety. That's a fact."
Wave turned around and looked firmly at Uesugi Ryu.
"If Kurome doesn't want to do it, then let her hide away and leave Yatsufusa behind."
He took the sword at his waist and held it horizontally before himself while shielding Kurome behind him.
"I'll make up for her share!"
Looking at this scene, Uesugi Ryu suddenly laughed. He deliberately said in a cold tone,
"The enemies Kurome was supposed to handle aren't something you alone can deal with."
Wave took a deep breath and shouted,
"Don't underestimate me so much! Then I'll stake my life on it!"
Kurome raised her head and stared blankly at Wave.
"Wave, why?"
Wave turned his head and revealed a bright smile.
"If you ask why, it's because I, as a man, fell in love with you!"
"And changing the Empire from within is also my dream!"
Kurome's pupils trembled continuously as two streams of tears slid down her cheeks.
Ran walked over to Kurome and Wave and extended one hand as he gently said,
"This is everyone's dream as well. Mr. Uesugi has been preparing for this moment for a long time."
"Kurome, as your friends and comrades, can you trust us?"
BolS also bent down and extended his hand toward Kurome.
"Come on."
Seryu carried Koro over in front of Kurome and revealed an innocent smile.
Koro also deliberately stretched his body in a goofy way while reaching out for a hug.
"Kurome-chan, everyone is one."
"Besides, look. Koro can't leave you either!"
Uesugi Ryu crossed his arms before his chest and revealed a slight smile.
This was also a good opportunity to deepen the relationship between Wave and Kurome.
"Ran, Mr. BolS, Seryu-chan, Mr. Uesugi, Wave, thank you everyone!"
Kurome nodded lightly, then blushed and threw herself into Wave's embrace.
Stylish held his head with a disappointed expression.
"Seriously. I clearly helped too."
"The medicine Kurome-chan has been taking these past few days was my latest development. It can alleviate the side effects caused by the previous drugs."
Though that was what he said, Stylish's gaze remained fixed on Uesugi Ryu.
Hearing this, understanding appeared on Uesugi Ryu's face.
Being able to persuade Kurome this easily had truly exceeded his expectations.
But if Stylish had been helping alleviate the side effects of the drugs, then it made sense.
Kurome looked apologetic as she stuck out her tongue somewhat embarrassedly.
"Sorry, Dr. Stylish. Thank you!"
Stylish adjusted his glasses and waved his hand.
"It's fine, it's fine. I was only joking."
Naturally, Uesugi Ryu understood that Stylish was trying to claim credit, so he praised him accordingly.
"You were a big help, Stylish."
Stylish immediately replied modestly.
"It was nothing. It's all thanks to that microscope."
Stylish's scientific research ability was extremely strong, but being able to create a special medicine in just a few days was still a little too outrageous.
Uesugi Ryu said nothing further as he thought to himself,
"It probably only has a major effect on the mental side. Maybe he already had this kind of antidote all along."
Looking at the atmosphere that had suddenly changed, Wave helplessly complained,
"What the hell? So all of you already knew about this, and only me and Kurome didn't?"
Though he complained verbally, Wave felt delighted inside.
Seryu quickly raised her hand.
"I didn't know either!"
Wave looked at Seryu in confusion.
"Then why did you instantly stand up along with Ran and the others?"
Seryu immediately turned her head away and shyly said,
"I was just excited to see Mr. Uesugi~"
Uesugi Ryu clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Next, I'll briefly explain the battle plan. You only need to deal with Wild Hunt."
"Champ will be left to Ran. As for the rest, divide them however you want."
Uesugi Ryu briefly explained the information regarding Wild Hunt.
There was actually nothing worth paying much attention to.
Kurome alone could probably wipe out Wild Hunt entirely.
After all, aside from Izou, Wild Hunt did not have any particularly noteworthy strong fighters.
As for the alchemist Dorothea.
Aside from her abilities being rather strange, her own combat strength was not very high.
The main purpose of dealing with Wild Hunt was to collect Teigu. Wild Hunt possessed a total of four Teigu.
Stylish rubbed his chin and was just about to speak when Uesugi Ryu deliberately added one final instruction.
"Dorothea needs to be captured alive. Stylish, Wave, and Mr. BolS will handle her."
Stylish relaxed upon hearing this. As a scientist, he was extremely interested in Dorothea's alchemy.
Uesugi Ryu clearly thought the same way, which saved him the trouble of bringing it up himself.
BolS brought over a tray with eight cups placed upon it.
Reddish-brown liquor gently rippled within the cups.
Uesugi Ryu raised his glass toward everyone.
"That's about it. Leave everything else to me."
"And lastly, make the Empire great again! Cheers!"
"Cheers! x6, Shoo! (Koro)"
Everyone clinked glasses together and then drank everything in one go.