[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Under Leone's guidance, Blackbeard and Ogre were swiftly led into a deep, desolate alleyway.
As he followed the cloaked woman, the corners of Blackbeard's mouth curled into a faint, knowing smile.
Though he appeared heavily intoxicated, his drunkenness was nothing more than an elaborate ruse.
This feigned weakness was a flaw he had deliberately shown to Ogre.
For a pirate who consumed copious amounts of alcohol daily, the wine he shared with Ogre was hardly enough to wet his throat.
As for Leone, Blackbeard had discerned her true identity the moment she appeared near the palace.
And Akame, concealed within the shadows of the alley, had not escaped Blackbeard's keen observation either, thanks to his observation haki.
Over time, his strength had recovered to an impressive level, surpassing 60.
Combined with the various evolutionary abilities of Hydreigon, he now had enough power to dominate the entire world of Akame ga Kill.
But domination was not his plan.
Blackbeard had come to see the immense value in this world, far beyond mere conquest.
After learning about the creation of the Teigu, he abandoned thoughts of brute force.
In Blackbeard's view, the fact that the emperors of this world could harness dangerous species to craft powerful weapons a thousand years ago indicated an untapped treasure trove.
If he could fully control this world, it would become a self-sustaining source of power and resources for him, capable of generating endless points!
What could be more tempting than that?
And so, inspired by historical precedence...
To prevent the decline of the world's craftsmanship due to war and chaos, Blackbeard had resolved to seize control peacefully.
"This should be far enough, right?"
As they ventured deeper into the deserted alley, a sudden, chilling gust of wind swept through, instantly sobering Ogre.
He blinked, his gaze darting around warily. Realizing something was amiss, his hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his sword.
"Ah, yes... This will do,"
Leone suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and removed her cloak, revealing a seductive smile.
But in the blink of an eye, that smile vanished—
Replaced by blue eyes blazing with fierce, murderous intent.
"Now!"
Without hesitation, Leone activated her Beast Transformation. Her strength and speed surged as she lunged forward like a feral lion, claws aimed directly at Ogre's throat.
However, Ogre was prepared. He drew his sword in an instant, blocking her sharp claws.
"A little lioness, huh?"
Ogre sneered, his twisted grin making his one-eyed face even more grotesque.
At that moment, from the shadows at the far end of the alley, a blood-red figure emerged.
All at once, an oppressive wave of killing intent swept over Ogre.
A chill ran down his spine as he turned to face the figure, his single eye trembling in panic.
Reacting instinctively, Ogre swung his arm, shoving Leone aside, and raised his blade once more.
Clang!
In the dim light of the alley, sparks flew as metal clashed with metal.
With the sharp sound of the collision, both Ogre and the crimson figure staggered backward.
Once he regained his footing, Ogre's eyes widened in alarm as he recognized his attacker.
"Akame!"
"You're with the Night Raid!"
As a former imperial soldier, Akame's identity was no secret among the empire's elite.
Her wanted posters had been plastered across the empire, making her a familiar face even to someone like Ogre.
His gaze shifted to the long, rune-covered blade she carried, and his anxiety skyrocketed.
Taking a step back, he shouted in a panic:
"Marco, be careful! That's the cursed Teigu! She can kill in a single strike!"
"One cut from that sword, and the curse will end you instantly!"
"Don't worry, Lord Ogre!"
Blackbeard responded with a calm, solemn smile.
Then, with the air of a loyal subordinate, he stepped forward, positioning himself between Ogre and Leone.
"How dare you attempt an assassination, you scum! It seems you've grown tired of living!"
"Leave this girl to me!"
"Lord Ogre, focus solely on dealing with that traitor Akame!"
"Very well... I'll leave her to you."
Ogre, confident in Blackbeard's strength, didn't give the matter much thought.
In his mind, it should be a simple task for Blackbeard to handle an obscure member of the Night Raid.
Little did he know...
Leone and Blackbeard were already acquainted.
And not only that, they each had a certain understanding of the other's abilities.
"I never expected you to be part of the security forces," Leone muttered, her expression tensing the moment she saw Blackbeard.
Even now, she remained uncertain about the full extent of Blackbeard's Teigu abilities.
However...
Faced with Leone's wariness, Blackbeard's wide face broke into a jovial grin.
He suddenly laughed, his booming voice echoing in the alley.
"Girl, what a surprise meeting you again!"
"So... have you given my last proposal any thought?"
"What!?" Leone froze, momentarily stunned.
But it only took her a moment to recall Blackbeard's previous invitation for her to join his ranks.
Realizing this, her expression darkened, and she spat in disdain.
"Tch! You're nothing more than parasites sucking the blood of the people!"
"You can forget about me ever joining you!"
"Oh, parasites, are we?"
Blackbeard raised his eyebrows slightly, his deep, rumbling voice full of amusement.
"Zehahahahaha!"
"That's actually a pretty accurate description."
Despite working within the police force, Blackbeard had his own network of informants.
He had already uncovered details about the origins of the Night Raid, including their possession of powerful Imperial Arms.
So, Leone's defiance wasn't entirely unexpected.
If anything, it only deepened Blackbeard's determination to recruit her.
To conquer an entire world, he knew he couldn't do it alone.
Finding capable individuals he could trust to help manage the world was crucial.
And who better than those dissatisfied with the empire's oppression—people willing to risk their lives for a revolutionary cause?
To Blackbeard, the Night Raid's ideals didn't pose a conflict.
On the contrary, he saw a potential alliance between them.
With that thought in mind, Blackbeard's grin widened.
"Hey, girl," he said with a sly smile, "how about making a deal with me?"
"A deal?"
Leone blinked, caught off guard again.
But before she could respond, the sound of clashing metal echoed from nearby.
It was Akame and Ogre.
While Blackbeard and Leone "reminisced," the two combatants had already engaged in a fierce battle.
Akame, armed with her Murasame capable of killing in one strike, was a formidable opponent.
But Ogre, as the captain of the security forces, was no ordinary foe.
A seasoned warrior forged in the fires of countless battles, Ogre fought with the precision and caution of a veteran.
Fully aware of Akame's identity, he didn't dare underestimate her.
For a moment, the two appeared evenly matched.
As the clanging of blades echoed through the alley, Blackbeard spoke again, his voice calm but laden with intention:
"Think it over, girl!"
"Here's my offer: I'll help you kill Ogre. In return, you join the police force and work under me."
"Don't worry—I have no interest in meddling with your Night Raid."
"In fact, when I climb to the top, you'll be in the perfect position to infiltrate the empire from within."
"Imagine it... you could pave the way for your revolutionary army, all while holding power at the empire's highest levels."
Blackbeard grinned wider as he spoke, his ambitions radiating through every word.
In Blackbeard's eyes, this was an offer the other party could not refuse.
Of course, it would be unrealistic for Leone to agree immediately.
After all, the two sides were still bitter enemies locked in an endless conflict.
However, Blackbeard believed that as long as he demonstrated a bit of sincerity, Leone would eventually report his proposal to her superiors.
At that point, the success of the deal would hinge entirely on the boldness of their leader.
Picturing this, Blackbeard suddenly grinned, revealing a row of uneven, gap-filled teeth, and said:
"To prove my sincerity, let me lay my cards on the table first!"
Snap!
With a casual wave of his hand, Blackbeard set the scene for something extraordinary.
A bizarre transformation occurred—his thick arms softened, melting like chocolate under intense heat.
Upon closer inspection, a mud-like substance began to seep out, surging from his arm like a living thing.
The unexpected display of Blackbeard's ability made Leone instantly alert.
But just a moment later, her vigilance turned into astonishment.
Instead of attacking her, Blackbeard flung the muddy substance toward Ogre, who was locked in battle nearby.
In an instant, the mud moved with eerie precision, adhering directly to Ogre's body and freezing him in place.
"What is this!?" Ogre shouted in shock.
His question went unanswered as he noticed Blackbeard—whom he expected to assist him against the enemy—suddenly appear behind him.
"Marco! What's happening!?" Ogre yelled, frantically shaking the mud clinging to his body.
However...
No matter how hard he struggled, the mud remained firmly attached.
Worse yet, with every movement, the substance spread further.
Wherever the mud touched, it solidified like an iron grip, rendering him immobile.
This was a technique Blackbeard had developed using the powers of the Swamp Swamp Fruit.
It's often said that there are no "useless" Devil Fruits, only users who fail to maximize their potential.
In Blackbeard's hands, the Swamp Swamp Fruit was anything but useless. Unlike Caribou's lackluster use of it in the original world, Blackbeard had fully realized its potential.
Exploiting the swamp's properties, he had devised a technique capable of restricting an enemy's movements.
Even if the opponent possessed Armament Haki, which normally countered Logia-type abilities, they would still be affected. The swamp's ability sapped their mobility, leaving them sluggish and vulnerable.
For someone like Ogre, who lacked such advanced powers, resistance was futile.
Within moments, the spreading swamp had enveloped Ogre completely.
Blackbeard waved his hand, and a thick swamp emerged from the ground, further anchoring Ogre's legs in place.
Under the dim moonlight, the man wearing the Imperial Police uniform discarded all pretenses, revealing a deranged smile.
Turning to Akame, Blackbeard addressed her in a polite but unnerving tone:
"Here you go, young lady."
"The captain of the guard, Ogre, whom you seek... is now entirely at my mercy."
"You... What are you doing!? Marco!!?"
Ogre's voice quivered as he sank deeper into the swamp.
Panic took hold of him.
He never imagined that the very adjutant he had personally promoted would betray him so thoroughly.
Struggling against the unrelenting imprisonment at his feet, a sudden realization struck him.
He lifted his head and exclaimed:
"Wait a moment!"
"Could it be... you're an undercover agent sent by the Revolutionary Army to infiltrate the empire!?"
"Undercover?"
Blackbeard's grin widened, his expression brimming with malice.
With his mask removed, all traces of the noble demeanor he once displayed in service of the empire had vanished.
Instead...
There was an air of arrogance and conceit in his demeanor, a superiority that seemed to look down on the entire world.
With a sly smile, Blackbeard turned to Ogre and said: "What are you saying, my lord?"
"I'm just an imperial recruit, personally selected by you from the training camp. Why would a mere revolutionary army catch my interest?"
"But you see..."
"I've come to realize something..."
"As long as you're alive, my lord, I'll be stuck serving under your command for the rest of my life."
"And frankly, that kind of life sounds unbearably dull."
"So today, I've decided to do you a favor."
With those words, Blackbeard leaned in close to Ogre's ear, his tone dripping with malice: "Rest assured, my lord. I'll take good care of all your properties once you're gone."
"In your name, I'll continue serving Prime Minister Honest!"
"I'm confident that, for the sake of your family's legacy, Prime Minister Honest will agree to let me inherit your position and become the next captain of the guard!"
"So, my lord, you can rest easy and go in peace! Zehahahaha!"
"WHAT?! MARCO, YOU TRAITOROUS BEAST!"
Hearing Blackbeard's whispered betrayal, Ogre's remaining eye burned scarlet with rage.
Fury overwhelmed his mind completely.
But Blackbeard was unfazed, chuckling darkly as he added:
"My apologies, Captain Ogre. My name isn't Marco—it's Marshall..."
"Marshall D. Teach!"
Like a villain from a theatrical play, Blackbeard proudly revealed his true name to Ogre, reveling in his deceit.
It was simply his nature...
Blackbeard's only flaw was his boundless arrogance.
Thankfully for him, the power level of this world was low. No matter how audacious his actions, few could challenge his control over the situation.
Under the moonlight, soft and silver like flowing silk, a sharp slash cut through the still air.
Blood sprayed high into the sky.
With a look of rage frozen on his face, Ogre's head separated from his body in an instant.
Even in death, peace eluded him.
If he had foreseen this fate, perhaps he would never have set foot in that training camp.
...
...
The next day.
A major event shook the entire imperial capital to its core.
The infamous Night Raid had assassinated the captain of the Imperial Police, Ogre.
It was reported that Guard Adjutant Marco Teach had engaged in battle with two of the assassins, ultimately driving them out of the imperial capital on his own.
Since the fight occurred in a bustling pedestrian street, news of the event spread quickly, defying all attempts to suppress it.
By nightfall, the city was in chaos.
And amid the uproar, one name stood out, rising to prominence:
Marco Teach—a police lieutenant capable of fending off two Night Raid assassins.
Under normal circumstances, such news might not garner much attention.
But the assassins had successfully taken out the captain of the Imperial Police.
Did that mean...
This lieutenant was strong enough to take the captain's place?