'In this way, the Northern Prince completely becomes a puppet in my hands, and his army naturally falls under my name...'
'I believe that in just a few years, I will be able to thoroughly control the Northern Frontier!'
Within the meeting room, Cerydra sat in the primary seat, while Dux Gladiorium Hysilens and Dux Alptraum Esdeath sat to her left and right respectively.
Clearly, the Imperator now possessed significant power, becoming the titular master of this castle.
'Perhaps all of this is the arrangement of fate... If the Dux Fatorum were here, maybe he could provide some insightful prophecies?'
In the world known as Amphoreus, the Imperator once acted as someone else's puppet. She even ascended to the throne by spreading rumors of a distressed princess; even the name Cerydra was a fabrication...
Yet now, in this world called Akame ga Kill!, Cerydra directly became the one controlling the puppet.
Such a sudden reversal made Cerydra feel somewhat sentimental. Even if she is not the original article, witnessing this starkly different destiny makes it difficult not to harbor certain thoughts.
Ultimately, however, she must resolve the immediate problems first—especially the three captives from the Revolutionary Army!
Clack!
With the opening of the door, a soldier entered the room first and performed a knight's salute to the Imperator sitting in the main seat.
"Lord Imperator, the three individuals you designated have been brought here. Shall I let them in?"
"Bring them in!"
Upon receiving the order, the soldier saluted once more and exited the room, allowing the three girls from the Revolutionary Army to enter Cerydra's sight.
[...]
If it were yesterday, Merraid, Taeko, and Chelsea would have dared to whisper amongst themselves below, not caring if the Imperator saw them. Back then, Cerydra's identity was merely a small leader who gathered some peasants.
Such a status was a far cry from both the Northern Kingdom and the Revolutionary Army; it simply wasn't enough to earn their concern.
In the span of a single night, Cerydra's identity underwent a total metamorphosis, directly becoming the primary person beneath Northern Prince Numa Seika.
But anyone with a discerning eye could see that Numa Seika was not a prince with actual power in the true sense, but a puppet in Cerydra's hands—equivalent to the Little Emperor of the Empire.
As a result, Cerydra's status shifted once again, directly rivaling Minister Honest of the Empire!
Who is Minister Honest?
He is the ultimate target of the Revolutionary Army!
At this stage, while Honest hides inside the Empire and never ventures out, the Revolutionary Army can do absolutely nothing to him.
And now, unbeknownst to the high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Army, a "Little Honest" actually emerged in the Northern Kingdom?
And she just happened to be encountered by their assassination organization? How low are the odds? Their assassination organization doesn't know whether to call it luck or misfortune to have run into such a person.
As the successor of the Oarburgh clan, Merraid could already imagine what kind of expressions the Revolutionary Army leadership would make after she told them about Cerydra...
Would they choose to cooperate with Cerydra to oppose the more threatening Empire? Or would they view Cerydra as a future threat and eradicate her in advance?
No matter what action the Revolutionary Army takes, Merraid does not feel they can succeed. Cerydra overturned her own status in one night, becoming an existence "above ten thousand and below one" in the North.
If she is given enough time, no one knows how powerful a force Cerydra could build... and it just so happens the Revolutionary Army must face a colossus like the Empire, leaving them no time to deal with Cerydra.
Everything has come full circle; the development of events is almost entirely aiding her. Or rather... is this also part of your calculation, Cerydra?
If all of this is true, then Cerydra's methods are even higher than Minister Honest's!
How will she treat us? Will she silence us all to ensure the information does not leak?
The more Merraid thought, the more terrifying it became, until cold sweat even broke out on her forehead...
"You seem to be afraid. Are you worried I will silence you?"
Cerydra's voice drifted down from the head of the meeting table, immediately causing Merraid to shudder. Even her two sisters behind her grew tense.
[...]
Silence signaled affirmation.
Merraid had no way to take up the other's words, nor could she see through the other's thoughts... all she could do was remain silent while letting this wielder of actual power see her weak and fearful state...
Merraid could not directly change Cerydra's view, but she could use her actions to ensure the other did not view her as a threat.
It was almost like the "Discussing Heroes while Warming Wine" scene!
'In today's world, the only heroes are you and I!'
Boom—!
'Only I!'
Although acting weak is quite a loss of face and a test of acting skills, for the sake of survival, Merraid felt it was necessary to struggle a bit... what if it worked?
I am already a flickering candle in the wind; there's no need for you to chase me down, right?
"Heh!"
Watching the three of them look so frail, Cerydra gave a cold laugh.
Every single one of them is acting weak in front of me, aren't they?
Numa Seika is like this, and you, Merraid, are like this too... can't you come up with some new tricks? Do you really think I don't understand the plot of Akame ga Kill!?
But it doesn't matter!
Who told the Lord Imperator to be merciful?
Even though I am a tyrant, I believe I am very merciful. Surely no one would be so tactless as to stand up and object?
Be careful, or I'll make you divide your forces into five routes to crusade against the Empire!
"The ones who appear non-threatening are often the most lethal..."
Xiao Guoding gives a thumbs up; Ye Xiaozi gives a thumbs up. And there is Cerydra... she also has experience pretending to be a frail princess to deceive the nobles' eyes.
Thus, at the cost of being a head shorter, Cerydra hopped down from her seat—which was padded with books—and walked step by step toward Merraid's group, looking up at them.
Despite her lacking height, the pressure she brought to Merraid's trio was unprecedentedly strong!
If not for the fact that she hadn't drunk water this morning, Merraid felt she would certainly have been scared into wetting herself...
"Your teacher Barbara successfully completed my commission. Therefore, as a partner of the assassination organization, I will provide the corresponding reward."
"Take Cerydra's reward and news and return to the Revolutionary Army together. I sincerely hope we can reach a second cooperation in the future!"
Merraid, who had been tense to the limit, widened her eyes when she heard these words. She simply could not believe that the choice Cerydra ultimately made was... to let them go?
It wasn't until the three of them from the Oarburgh clan appeared outside the castle with a cart full of gold that Merraid realized Cerydra was actually serious!
The Imperator actually released us and even gave us a cart of gold?
"Perhaps... she isn't as bad as I imagined?"