The uninvited guest entering the cave was an elder who appeared to be in her late forties or fifties. Although a kind smile hung on her face, her presence was extraordinarily intense. Even Esdeath, the weakest of the trio, could detect the abnormality about her—to say nothing of Cerydra and Hysilens.
'What is with this person?'
Esdeath narrowed her eyes. This elder possessed an indescribable air of composure, as if she were so confident in her own strength that she didn't view the three of them as a threat at all.
"I didn't expect anyone to be here already... The snow is too heavy outside. I hope you don't mind an old woman bringing her family in to hide for a while?"
Through eyes narrowed into slits, the elder constantly scrutinized the three people sheltering in the small cave before finally fixing her gaze on Cerydra. The girl's clothing was exquisitely ornate, and she carried a distinct aura of a high-standing ruler. Clearly, she was the leader of this small team and the one with the power to make decisions.
"Seeking shelter from the blizzard? Of course, there is no problem."
Cerydra, in a rare move, didn't look directly at the woman. Instead, she remained nestled within her quilts, huddled together with Hysilens and Esdeath.
"In that case, many thanks... You lot! Move the things in, quickly!"
At the elder's shout, figures outside the cave began bringing their carriage inside. The people entering afterward also took the opportunity to size up Cerydra's group.
'These people... aren't simple!'
Both Cerydra's group and the newcomers could judge that the other side possessed significant strength. However, because there was currently no conflict of interest, both parties chose to ignore any suspicious factors and avoid interfering with one another. After this blizzard passed, they would go their separate ways, likely never to meet again.
They were strangers; there was no need to make things tense.
Cerydra and the elder reached this unspoken agreement almost the instant their eyes met. Perhaps it could be called the tacit understanding of the strong.
Cerydra originally intended to leave it at that—until a certain person appeared, causing her to abandon her previous plan.
This new group consisted almost entirely of females accompanied by a modest carriage. They looked like traveling merchants, yet there were subtle discrepancies. The leading elder, despite her age, moved with veteran precision; every action, from moving luggage to arranging camp, lacked any wasted motion. She was an elite expert.
As for the other three females, they were young girls around ten years old. What caught Cerydra's eye most was a specific girl with vibrant orange hair.
Cerydra recognized her. Hysilens recognized her too.
Anyone who has seen Akame ga Kill! would have a deep impression of this person. Even with the age difference, it did not hinder the identification.
That was Lollipop... no, that was Chelsea!
Indeed, she was the future member of the assassination group "Night Raid," the beautiful assassin who would eventually possess the Teigu "Phantasmagoria: Gaea Foundation." However, compared to her future mature self, the current girl was still quite green, likely having only recently begun her career.
Sensing Cerydra's gaze, Chelsea—who was currently sucking on a lollipop—looked over at the child roughly her own age. She smiled and waved a hand, projecting a friendly signal.
Cerydra returned the smile.
If Chelsea hadn't been in this team, Cerydra might not have been able to immediately identify their faction; she would have simply regarded them as hidden experts. But with Chelsea's presence, combined with the powerful elder, their identity was obvious.
The Revolutionary Army's assassination squad!
Specifically, an organization that didn't appear in the main series of Akame ga Kill! but was featured in the prequel, Akame ga Kill! Zero. While they belonged to the Revolutionary Army in name and maintained tangled ties with them, these girls actually belonged to the Oarburgh assassination clan—the organization responsible for training assassins for the rebellion.
'To think... the surprise army would appear just like that!'
Just moments ago, Cerydra was fretting over the long years it would take to seize the Northern Kingdom. She even thought this mission would be a protracted slog. Who would have guessed she would stumble upon this unexpected chess piece?
The Oarburgh Assassination Clan... how should I use you to maximize your utility?
Considering Chelsea's talent and the varied strengths of the clan members, Cerydra began to run simulations in her mind, calculating how to squeeze every drop of benefit from this encounter.
As the final chess piece in her mind clicked into place, a full smile blossomed on the girl's face. She found it! A way to shorten a decade-long plan for the North into just two or three years!
'To think I would encounter such power here!'
Just as Cerydra sensed the old woman's strength, Barbara Oarburgh could feel the oppressive weight radiating from the other side. If she chose to act against them, it would undoubtedly trigger unnecessary trouble. Since they were strangers, why not let this memory be a pleasant rest rather than a bloody slaughter?
Put simply: 'I can't beat them, so don't start anything.'
Barbara Oarburgh exchanged a look with Cerydra before silently warning her disciples not to seek trouble, lest both sides suffer. Their assassin clan had an extremely important mission in the Northern Kingdom; they could not afford delays over trifles.
While these three individuals were powerful, Barbara had long ago memorized the dossiers of the Empire's powerhouses, and Cerydra's group didn't match any of them. This meant they weren't Imperial agents—there was no reason for a conflict.
At the end of the day, the clan only collaborated with the Revolutionary Army to oppose the Empire. There was no need to clash with other factions.
Adhering to the principle of seeing through things without speaking out, Barbara acted as if nothing were amiss. She and her three disciples finished moving their cargo into the cave.
It was precisely at this moment that a voice suddenly rang out from within the cave, causing the group's movements to freeze.
Keeping silent would have benefited everyone, but the petite girl chose to poke through the paper window and bring everything into the light.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became razor-sharp.
"You lot... are assassins, right?"