In front of Boros's house, a group of people gathered, all of whom were people with extraordinary strength.
At this time, Tatsumi, Wave, and Nahash had also returned after finishing off the other two people. However, their expressions were a bit unpleasant; anyone who saw a cute Little Loli turn into an old woman with a face full of wrinkles would feel a bit uncomfortable.
Seeing them return, Kaede nodded and said: "You take Boros's family back, I'm going out for a while."
"Mm, alright." Nahash nodded. Syura's death made him feel as if a storm was coming.
"Um, big sister, be careful." Kurome hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said it.
"Mm, don't worry, big sister will be fine." Hearing Kurome's voice, a smile couldn't help but appear on Kaede's face, and then she dashed out at high speed. There were still quite a few things she had to do.
First, Kaede ran to Budo and asked him about Esdeath's mission location, then asked Budo to go to her place to protect her members. After all, Kaede wasn't sure if the Minister would go crazy, and since she had other things to do, Budo was the only other person who could protect them.
After finishing this, Kaede took a steed and headed in the direction of Esdeath.
Meanwhile, back with the group that was left behind.
At this moment, Run suddenly said, "You guys go back first, I have something to take care of."
"Eh? The General has something to do, and you do too?" Wave rubbed his head and said.
"Well, it's a bit urgent." Run maintained his usual smile.
"Alright, then we'll go first. Come back quickly." Wave nodded and said.
After speaking, the group continued forward, but after only a few steps, Kurome suddenly said, "Um, I have something to do too, I'm leaving first." Having said that, Kurome left without caring about their reaction.
"What is... what is going on with everyone?" Wave and Tatsumi were a bit confused, while a thoughtful look flashed in Nahash's eyes. However, he still believed that Run and Kurome could handle those matters, so he didn't say anything more.
"Let's keep going." Nahash shrugged and said.
"Yeah."
Meanwhile, Kurome, who had gone to the side, ran directly in the direction Run had left, and eventually, she caught up with him.
"Eh? Kurome, why did you follow me?" Run looked at Kurome's figure, a bit surprised.
"You're definitely going to kill someone, right? We're comrades, so I followed you." Kurome smiled and said.
"..." Run was silent for a while, then finally nodded with a smile. However, this time, his smile revealed a bit of authenticity, unlike the unchanging, somewhat fake smile he usually wore.
"Alright then." Run nodded and continued moving forward. As he walked, he told Kurome about his past. Originally, Run thought his story would rot in his stomach forever; he never expected that one day he would share it with a comrade.
Comrade... it really is a beautiful word~
...
Back with Kaede, she quickly galloped to Esdeath's mission location. After dismounting, it didn't take her long to find Esdeath.
"Esdeath." Kaede called out from the side.
"Eh? Kaede? Why are you here?" Esdeath was also stunned to see Kaede at this moment, then she noticed Kaede's eyes and couldn't help but pause, frowning, "Your eyes?"
"My eyes are fine." Kaede shook her head and said to Esdeath, "I need to talk to you about something." As she spoke, Kaede looked at the people around Esdeath and frowned.
After thinking about it, Kaede, without a word, grabbed Esdeath's ice-jade-like hand and walked away, leaving the group looking at each other, none of them daring to stop them.
At this moment, Esdeath looked at her own hand, then at Kaede who was holding it. A strange glint appeared in her beautiful eyes; this Kaede before her was a bit different~
However, it was quite likable; this assertiveness was something the previous Kaede didn't possess.
Soon, Kaede brought Esdeath to an empty place and let go of her hand.
"We're here already?" Esdeath said, sounding a bit regretful.
"Yes."
"So, what did you come to find me for?" Esdeath had known from the start that Kaede had recovered, or perhaps some change had occurred that she didn't know about.
"I killed the Minister's son." Kaede said directly.
"Huh?" Esdeath looked at Kaede, confirming she wasn't joking, and couldn't help but say, "Aren't you afraid that the Minister will go crazy and come to cause you trouble?" Although she said that, Esdeath knew it was impossible; the Minister wouldn't offend Kaede for the sake of Syura, but Kaede didn't know that, and she still dared to kill the Minister's son...
"If he comes, I'll kill him along with his son." Kaede said calmly, as if killing the Minister would be as easy as killing a chicken.
"Oh?" Esdeath's eyes flickered upon hearing Kaede's words, and a look of interest appeared on her lips.
"Besides, he won't have time to come after me." As she spoke, Kaede smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"The Revolutionary Army, the Northern tribes, and the Church will launch their final attack tomorrow, no, perhaps even tonight."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because they only have this one chance." Kaede said confidently.
"There were a lot of people around when I killed Syura, and I heard that as the Minister's son, he was always causing trouble on the streets, as if he was afraid people wouldn't know he was the Minister's son."
"And what does that prove?" Esdeath frowned.
"It proves that there is a problem between the Minister and me. Besides, you aren't in the Imperial Capital right now, and I didn't deliberately hide when I came out, leaving only Budo. If all three of us were there, they would know that no matter what they did, they couldn't breach the Imperial Capital. But now, there's a problem between me and the Minister, and you aren't in the Imperial Capital. Do you think they would let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by?" Kaede smiled as she said this.
"That's true." Esdeath understood as well; whether it was her, Kaede, or Budo, all of them were existences capable of fighting against ten thousand. If all three of them were in the Imperial Capital, no one could possibly breach it.
"I came this time to determine which side you are on: are you on the Minister's side, or on my and Budo's side?" Kaede looked at Esdeath and told her the purpose of her visit.
"Hmph~ Are you forcing me?" As she said this, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop to zero at that moment.
"I'm just waiting for your choice. And don't panic, I haven't finished yet." Kaede looked at Esdeath without a hint of fear on her face. If it came to a fight, it came to a fight; Kaede wouldn't be afraid.
"Speak."
"The last time you and I were transported to that island, the mastermind was the Minister, because Shambhala is Syura's Teigu." Kaede said.
To Kaede's surprise, Esdeath nodded, "I know that. Anything else?"
Although a bit surprised, Kaede wasn't disappointed. She looked at Esdeath, "Then do you know about what happened to Boros?" Kaede knew Esdeath's character; although she was very cruel to her enemies, she was quite good to her subordinates.
"Hmm?" Finally, Esdeath frowned. "Tell me."
Kaede shrugged and told Esdeath about Boros's fate.
"That bastard dared to do such a thing!" Hearing Kaede's words, Esdeath's rage erupted, and suddenly, the ground was covered in frost.
"And even if you stand on our side, you won't be lacking things to do in the future." Kaede said.
"Hmm?" Esdeath frowned. "What do you intend to do?"
"Change the Empire."
"That's impossible. The Empire is rotten to the core and beyond saving." Esdeath retorted directly.
"Then have you heard of destroying to rebuild? Budo and I intend to use the power of the Revolutionary Army to destroy the corrupt foundations of the Imperial Capital and build a new one upon it. However, regardless of how you look at it, the power of 'destroying to rebuild' is seen as weak in the eyes of others, so there will definitely be no shortage of wars breaking out afterward. Therefore, you won't lose your hobby." Kaede looked at Esdeath; Kaede knew that the person before her was the biggest variable in their plan.
As long as Esdeath stood on their side, no matter how much destruction occurred, they had the confidence to build a new Empire; in fact, they only needed two of them to do it.
Actually, it didn't need to be this troublesome, but unfortunately, that old stubborn Budo only recognized the Imperial family. Even for a plan like this, he only barely agreed to it. Even though he knew how corrupt and critical the Empire's current situation was, he still stuck to the rules; he truly was a complete old stubborn!
"Hmph It's not that I can't agree" Looking at Kaede's face, Esdeath suddenly said. In fact, she had no affection for the Minister at all; it was just mutual utilization. Since she could achieve her own requirements here, why not agree?
"What about the conditions?" Hearing Esdeath's words, Kaede knew there must be conditions.
Esdeath gazed at Kaede with burning eyes.
"Spar with me. If you win, I'll agree, but if I win, you must grant me one request."
"Why don't you just make the request directly?" Kaede was a bit speechless.
"That wouldn't be any fun~" Esdeath said, looking at Kaede with a smile.
"Fine." Kaede felt a bit helpless. She knew a fight was unavoidable this time. Looking at Esdeath, a fighting spirit appeared in Kaede's eyes; in fact, she had long wanted to spar with Esdeath.
"Then, as you wish!"
Instantly, the aura from both of them erupted at the same time, changing the color of the world!
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