In the imperial palace, after Najenda returned to the Revolutionary Army headquarters, the strongest general of the Empire, Esdeath, had also returned to the capital and entered the palace to meet with the young Emperor.
Unlike the unwavering loyalty of General Budo, Esdeath didn't really care who ruled the Empire. Even though she could see that the Minister was the one truly in control and that the young Emperor was just a puppet, she was completely indifferent.
Esdeath's belief was that only the strong could survive. Clearly, the young Emperor wasn't strong, and thus he was merely a toy in the hands of the Minister. Esdeath pledged her loyalty to the Empire, not to any particular ruler. Therefore, she paid no attention to the puppet-like Emperor.
As long as the Minister didn't do anything foolish to provoke her, Esdeath had no interest in bothering with a lump of fat. What she loved was battle and slaughter, not political scheming.
Because of this, the Minister had always been tactful around her—never opposing her, and always fulfilling her requests. The Emperor began, as instructed by the Minister, "General Esdeath, your efforts to suppress the rebellion have been noted. Besides assembling the Teigu wielders from various imperial divisions, is there anything else you desire as a reward? Whatever it may be, I shall try to fulfill it."
Esdeath thought for a moment and then smiled. "Since Your Majesty is so generous, I do have a request—I wish to marry."
The young Emperor's face went blank for a moment, his expression more stunned than usual. What Esdeath was asking for had not been part of the script that the Minister had prepared for him. He didn't know how to respond and looked to the Minister for help.
Even the ever-calculating Minister was caught off guard by Esdeath's request. The idea that the cold-blooded and ruthless Esdeath, a killer without mercy, would desire something like marriage—it was shocking. He even dropped the piece of meat he was holding in surprise. But, being experienced in political maneuvering, the Minister quickly composed himself.
He wiped his greasy lips with his sleeve and then spoke, "Your Majesty, General Esdeath has rendered great service to the Empire. I believe this humble request should be granted. Perhaps we could gather all suitable young men in the capital for General Esdeath to choose from."
To his surprise, Esdeath scowled. "Minister, I think you misunderstand. I am looking for a genuine romance, leading to marriage, not just some random assortment of potential husbands."
Seeing Esdeath's displeased gaze, the Minister gestured hurriedly for the young Emperor to step in. "General Esdeath, please, do not be upset. The Minister was simply concerned for you. May I ask, what kind of man are you looking for?"
Esdeath looked thoughtful, then said, her voice filled with longing, "I have five requirements for my future spouse:
He must value potential above all. He should aspire to become a commander one day.
He must have courage. Someone who can accompany me on hunts, even if unarmed.
He should be someone who grew up in a border region, like me.
He must be younger than me, so he's easier for me to control.
Most importantly, he must have a pure and genuine smile."
The young Emperor and the Minister exchanged a confused glance. Esdeath's standards were entirely different from what they had expected—no demands for wealth, status, or appearance. Instead, her criteria were based on courage, ambition, age, and even a peculiar requirement of having a "pure smile."
The Minister had even planned to suggest his own son, but Esdeath's standards had now excluded almost all the nobility in the capital.
"General Esdeath," the Emperor began hesitantly, "the first four criteria are understandable, and I believe we can find some men who meet those. But this 'pure smile' criterion—what exactly do you mean by that?"
Esdeath frowned slightly. "No. Having a pure smile is non-negotiable. If Your Majesty is unable to fulfill my request, then perhaps I should be given permission to search and select a spouse myself in the capital."
The Minister, seeing Esdeath's determination, quickly nodded to the young Emperor. Thus, the Emperor readily granted Esdeath the permission she desired, issuing a decree that anyone chosen by Esdeath would have no right to refuse.
With that matter settled, Esdeath turned to the next order of business. "Now that the rebellion in the borderlands is settled, can we speak about the matters within the capital? I understand the reason behind my urgent recall—it's about the assassin group, 'Night Raid,' correct?"
The Minister's face darkened at the mention. Night Raid had become increasingly audacious, and the deaths of numerous noblemen on the dragon boat were beginning to shake his grip on power. All he wanted now was to rid himself of these troublesome assassins.
"Yes," Esdeath said, her voice calm but tinged with a hint of nostalgia, "The organization that killed my 'Three Beasts' is led by none other than Najenda. Najenda, with her passionate heart yet cool battle strategies—a remarkable talent. And then, there's that young man beside her… It's no surprise they managed to defeat my subordinates. Have you gathered the Teigu wielders I requested, Minister?"
The mention of Najenda brought back memories of the young swordsman with the long blade. Esdeath glanced down at a scar on her collarbone, and her expression changed to one of anticipation and excitement.
"We will meet again soon, won't we, Wood?"
After leaving the young Emperor, Esdeath was taken by guards to a room where several individuals were already waiting. Within the room stood a variety of individuals—a burly giant, a petite girl who was constantly snacking, a gentlemanly handsome man, an innocent-looking boy, and a scientist who seemed slightly deranged.
These people were the Teigu wielders whom the Minister had summoned from different divisions of the Empire. Among them were:
Kurome: Akame's sister. She shared a striking resemblance to her older sibling and was from the Imperial Assassination Division. Unlike her sister, Kurome was more bloodthirsty but acted rather detached and dazed when off duty. She wielded the Teigu, March of the Dead: Yatsufusa.
Wave: A young black-haired man from the Imperial Navy who shared some similarities with Tatsumi, being light-hearted and prone to outbursts. He also came from the countryside. He wielded the Teigu, Grand Chariot, an armor-type weapon similar to Tatsumi's own Incursio.
Seryu Ubiquitous: A former member of the Imperial Police, with a twisted sense of justice. She believed anyone guilty of any crime deserved to die, even for minor infractions. Despite her sweet demeanor, she was quite insane. She wielded the biological Teigu, Hecatoncheir, a dog-like weapon.
Run: A golden-haired man with a composed demeanor. He wielded Thousand-Mile Flight: Mastema, a winged Teigu.
Dr. Stylish: A middle-aged mad scientist, narcissistic and arrogant but sharp. He wielded Spectator, which enhanced his dexterity for precision crafting, or medical tasks.
Bols: A hulking figure with a strange mask, originally from the Flame Troops. Despite his intimidating appearance, Bols was gentle and considerate. He wielded Purgatory Invitation: Rubicante, a flamethrower Teigu.
These six individuals, handpicked by the Minister, had now been gathered for Esdeath to command. They were from different parts of the Empire, and due to their diverse backgrounds and personalities, there had been no communication between them.
Wave, being the upbeat type and eager to break the silence, had tried to initiate conversation with the girls in the group, but neither Seryu nor Kurome paid him any attention. It wasn't until Esdeath arrived, her powerful aura instantly commanding the room, that the group of Teigu users were finally united as her new force, The Jaegers.
Meanwhile, Wood, Tatsumi, Leone, and Mine had arrived at the Imperial Capital and began their mission of intelligence gathering. Leone, being familiar with the capital's underbelly, quickly took Tatsumi to gather information through her contacts.
"Come on, Mine," Wood said, "Let's go for a walk. You've been wanting to shop in the capital, haven't you? Today's the day."
Mine paused, clearly taken aback by the suggestion. Although she did want to come to the capital to relax, she hadn't forgotten their primary mission was intelligence gathering. But Wood's offer was too tempting—her biggest hobby was shopping, and she had always longed to explore the capital's fine clothes and food.
"Hmph, I'm just accompanying you because you insisted," she said, trying to hide her eagerness. "Don't forget our real task is to gather intel."
Despite her stern words, her face betrayed her excitement—a typical reaction from a tsundere girl.
Inside a luxurious confectionary shop in one of the wealthiest streets of the capital, Mine tasted a spoonful of a delicately crafted dessert, and her face lit up with delight. It tasted as heavenly as it looked.
Just minutes ago, Mine had assumed that Wood would take her to the commoners' market areas for their "shopping spree." She was stunned when Wood led her into this high-class district, filled with the Empire's most opulent shops. This was where only the wealthiest nobles could afford to shop.
The small cake in front of her, given its cost, was probably enough to feed a commoner for a month.