Inside the underground passage beneath the imperial palace.
A sinister middle-aged man wearing small round glasses and slicked-back hair was frantically fleeing outward with several subordinates.
"Damn it, how did things suddenly end up like this?"
Saikyu tightly clutched a strange book in his hands.
On the cover of the book was the eye of a Danger Beast.
It was the Teigu World Book: Rongo Rongo, which recorded maps of countries across the world.
Not only that, the distribution of resources throughout the Empire was clearly marked within this book.
It even possessed a certain degree of prophetic ability, capable of predicting major disasters.
Saikyu smugly adjusted his glasses, inwardly celebrating the wisdom of hiding in the shadows all this time.
The group ahead suddenly stopped. Saikyu raised his head and looked forward.
A black-haired, red-eyed girl holding a long sword blocked their path.
"Akame!"
As Akame looked at Saikyu, deep hatred flashed through her dark red eyes.
The Imperial Assassination Unit had been established under Saikyu's leadership.
Her companions during training had died one after another, and she had been forced apart from her younger sister.
It could be said that Saikyu was one of the primary causes behind Akame's tragic experiences.
Saikyu's heart trembled. He immediately turned around, preparing to flee backward.
Kurome slowly emerged from the darkness with her hands behind her back. She revealed a sweet smile.
"Long time no see, Onee-chan."
"It's rare for us to fight side by side again~"
When Akame looked at Kurome, her cold expression instantly softened.
A drop of cold sweat slid down Saikyu's temple. He knew the Jaegers had likely rebelled.
Now that the two sisters had trapped him from both sides, it seemed his life was about to end here.
Saikyu's mind raced rapidly.
After hesitating for a moment, he immediately stretched out a hand toward Kurome and ordered,
"Kurome? Hurry up and protect me. Are you trying to betray the Empire?"
"Betray the comrades who died for the Empire?"
Those words instantly struck Kurome's weak spot. She lowered her head and stopped moving.
The reason Kurome had not fled the Empire together with Akame back then was because she could not betray those dead comrades.
Worry appeared on Akame's face as she stared fixedly at Saikyu.
"I'll send you to the grave!"
After saying that, Akame kicked off the ground and charged straight forward.
Even without Murasame, Akame still possessed superb swordsmanship.
She swung her long blade, cutting down the guards along the way one after another.
The corpses collapsed onto the ground with dull thudding sounds.
Within the dim tunnel, only Saikyu remained.
Seeing Kurome fall silent, Saikyu thought his words had worked.
He hurriedly passed by Kurome and fled toward the rear.
Akame stopped in place and looked nervously at Kurome.
Kurome slowly drew Yatsufusa, the blade pointing toward Saikyu behind her.
"The one betraying the Empire now is you. Die!"
Black pupils and crimson pupils overlapped together.
Complicated emotions flashed through both pairs of eyes.
The long blades cut through the air. Under the candlelight, dazzling sword flashes streaked past.
The two swords separately sliced across Saikyu's waist and neck.
Puchi....
Two bloody lines slowly appeared across Saikyu's body. With terror in his eyes, he looked at the two sisters before him.
A sharp pain struck him. Saikyu's body split into three pieces, mixed with blood and internal organs as they slapped onto the ground.
"Onee-chan!"
Sheathing her blade, Kurome suddenly threw herself into Akame's embrace.
Akame's body stiffened. Her expression dimmed as she froze in place.
Honest was dead. The source of the chaos had disappeared.
But the battle was not over yet. Her companions were still waiting for her.
Akame's lips moved slightly as she softly asked,
"Kurome, have you been doing well?"
"Onee-chan, I've been doing very well."
Kurome buried her head against Akame's body, a happy smile appearing on her face.
"Now that the Empire has changed, we can be together again."
Akame tried to free herself from Kurome's embrace.
Kurome raised her head and stared directly at Akame as she said quietly,
"Onee-chan, you're being naughty. Isn't staying together with me nice?"
"Kurome?"
..............
[Current Public Order: 92]
[Main Quest: First Stage Complete. Calculating rewards...]
[Congratulations Host, you have obtained basic reward: Ordinary Attribute Point x1, bonus reward: Skill Level Upgrade Card x1 (maximum limit increased to B-rank)]
The system notification sounded beside his ear, and Uesugi Ryu was slightly stunned.
He barely even remembered this quest, but why had it settled once it reached 92?
[Quest Description: Eliminate the "evil elements" within the Imperial Capital, along with nearby bandits and Danger Beasts]
After thinking for a moment, Uesugi Ryu could not help laughing.
"The evil elements within the Imperial Capital. Don't tell me it counted me, the Jaegers, and the Four Rakshasa Demons as evil elements too."
"If that's the case, then it really can't go any higher."
[Host identity currently undergoing major changes. Adapting...]
[Current host identity: Powerful minister? Jaegers captain? Rebel? Coup instigator?]
[The Jaegers have followed the host in launching a coup. Relationship highly connected...]
[The Jaegers currently possess 6 Teigu users and have seized 4 Teigu from Wild Hunt]
[Side Quest: Recruit Teigu/Teigu Users. Completion Progress: 18/24]
[Congratulations Host, you have obtained rewards: Ordinary Attribute Point x1, Teigu Location Search Card x2]
[Teigu Tier Upgrade Card x1 (limited to a single normal Teigu. Fused Teigu cannot be upgraded)]
"Teigu Tier Upgrade Card?"
The Teigu Uesugi Ryu used most frequently right now were Observer and Black Marlin.
As for Shambhala, its spatial teleportation was already sufficient. Even if upgraded, it was impossible for it to reach the level of traveling between worlds.
Since it could only be used on a single Teigu, after some thought Uesugi Ryu directly chose to upgrade Black Marlin.
[Teigu: Black Marlin upgrading...]
The ring in Uesugi Ryu's hand lit up, then quickly transformed into a mass of pure blue energy and merged directly into his body.
Closing his eyes, he sensed it for a moment.
Aside from reducing the consumption required to manipulate water and allowing him to create water out of thin air, there were no major changes.
Basically, Black Marlin had simply been elevated to the same level as Esdeath's Demon's Extract.
Perhaps there were other secret techniques, but Uesugi Ryu would need to slowly develop them himself.
After consuming some mana, a puddle of clear water appeared in Uesugi Ryu's palm.
Creating something from nothing was something Black Marlin could not do before.
With a thought from Uesugi Ryu, the clear water slowly turned crimson.
"Logically speaking, as long as it's liquid, I should be able to generate it."
"But aside from blood and water, it seems I still can't do it."
Dispelling the blood, Uesugi Ryu added the two ordinary attribute points into Intelligence and Constitution respectively.
Both Intelligence and Constitution had reached 20 points.
He decided to save the Skill Upgrade Card for later. After hiding the system panel, Uesugi Ryu turned to look at Tatsumi, who was walking out from the ruins.
The corner of his lips curled upward as he inwardly mocked,
"He dragonized on his first time wearing it. Guess that's the protagonist for you?"
"How terrifying~"
Tatsumi stared at Uesugi Ryu and coldly questioned,
"What do you mean by this? Why did you let Budo go?"
Uesugi Ryu lightly picked at his ear with his pinky and calmly mocked him.
"With Esdeath gone, are you going to suppress the invading western foreign tribes yourself?"
"Don't say such stupid things, Tatsumi."
"The Revolutionary Army will join forces with the western foreign tribes in this uprising. Their objective is only to reclaim the territory occupied by the Empire."
Najenda's previous words echoed in Tatsumi's ears.
After experiencing so much, he was no longer that naive boy anymore.
If the Revolutionary Army's strength was greatly reduced in its struggle against the Empire.
Then the enemy probably would not limit themselves to merely reclaiming occupied territory.
Tatsumi had no response. Najenda walked through the ruins.
"Uesugi Ryu, now that everything is over, we should discuss what happens next."
"Esdeath will return sooner or later. We need to deal with her together."
Uesugi Ryu shook his head.
"I'll handle Esdeath alone. I won't trouble you all with it."
He raised a hand and pointed at Tatsumi.
"Now hand over the Teigu and honestly enjoy your peaceful lives."