In the mountains ten kilometers north of the Imperial Capital, inside Night Raid's base, Najenda, who had been anxiously awaiting news, breathed a huge sigh of relief upon seeing Leone and the others return with Wood.
Soon after, Tatsumi and Chelsea also arrived safely, and Najenda was finally able to completely relax.
To be honest, even though their plan had been meticulously laid out, it was still extremely perilous.
If Esdeath hadn't been deceived by Tatsumi, or if Chelsea's disguise had failed, or if there had been any mistakes in the intelligence they had gathered, the entire operation could have ended in disaster.
"Before you all start celebrating, could someone help me get these chains off? It's really uncomfortable talking like this," Wood interjected.
Seeing the thick chains coiled tightly around Wood, Najenda couldn't help but chuckle slightly as she said, "Got what you deserved this time, huh? You're always reckless, thinking your strength makes you invincible.
I told you to keep an eye on them and not cause trouble, but instead, you led the charge."
Najenda was, of course, referring to the time Wood encouraged Tatsumi to enter the tournament and act as a mole.
Initially, Najenda had considered leaving Wood bound like this for a few days to teach him a lesson. Though Wood was strong, he was still young, and Najenda often treated him, Mine, and the others like younger siblings.
However, considering the current situation and the hardships Wood had already endured, Najenda turned to Akame and gestured for her to cut the chains.
Akame rarely disobeyed Najenda's orders, so she gripped Murasame tightly in both hands and slashed at the chains, leaving a silver arc in the air.
"Clang—!"
The blade of Murasame struck the chains, producing a sharp metallic sound that echoed through the room.
But to everyone's surprise, the razor-sharp Murasame, known for its lethality, failed to leave even a scratch on the chains binding Wood!
Murasame was one of the sharpest blade-type Imperial Arms, and Akame herself was known for her incredible strength.
Logically, any ordinary chains would have been severed instantly under these conditions. Yet despite Akame's full-force strike, the chains remained completely intact. This was shocking.
"These chains are strange," Akame said. "When Murasame touched them, it felt like most of my strength was absorbed."
Hearing this, Wood suddenly remembered that when he had tried to break free earlier, most of his strength had also been absorbed by the chains.
Now it was clear—this wasn't a coincidence. These chains weren't ordinary but seemed to have some unique properties capable of absorbing force.
"So these chains holding me must be some kind of Imperial Arm or something similar," Wood speculated.
"No," Najenda replied. "The 48 known Imperial Arms have all been identified, and there's no record of chains with such properties.
I suspect these might be 'Shingu,' which aren't tied to an Imperial Arms user but still possess unique effects."
Shingu, unlike Imperial Arms, were considered inferior artifacts. After the creation of the original Imperial Arms centuries ago, subsequent attempts to surpass them had failed. These lesser creations were dubbed Shingu, a term meant to belittle them, and many were sealed away.
Over time, some Shingu resurfaced and were put to use. While not as powerful as Imperial Arms, they were still formidable weapons.
Najenda suspected that the chains binding Wood were a Shingu called "Diamond Shackles," capable of absorbing external force.
Due to its limited use—primarily in restraint rather than combat—it had likely been overlooked as an artifact of lesser importance.
"So what do we do now?" Leone asked. "Wave mentioned that the keys to these chains are always kept on Esdeath herself. Are we really supposed to steal the keys from her?"
Though they had rescued Wood, his predicament hadn't significantly improved.
Wood was supposed to be their strongest fighter, but with his hands bound and his Imperial Arm, Frost Knight, still in the Jaegers' possession, how much of his strength could he actually use?
"What if we send Tatsumi back to Esdeath to steal the keys and retrieve Frost Knight while he's at it?" Leone suggested casually, seemingly amused by the idea.
Hearing this, Tatsumi's face darkened.
Stealing the keys and the Imperial Arm from Esdeath's mansion? Did Leone think it was his own house?
Before his identity was exposed, Tatsumi thought Leone's suggestion might have been barely feasible. But now? If he appeared before Esdeath again, she'd probably chop him into pieces on sight.
"It's fine, Tatsumi," Wood said, his voice dripping with humor. "I believe you can do it. Esdeath's a sadist and a total novice when it comes to romance.
All you have to do is offer her a whip, kneel down, and I'm sure she'll forgive you with a smile.
I mean, she's got the looks, the curves, and the legs. What's there to hesitate about? Honestly, if she'd taken a liking to me instead, our kids would already be old enough to buy soy sauce."
Wood's teasing drew exasperated expressions from Najenda and Mine, who both smacked him on the back of the head.
"Honestly! Can't you be serious for once, Wood?" Najenda scolded. "Tatsumi's not like you. If you joke around, he might actually take you seriously and try something so reckless."
Watching their interaction, Chelsea found it all rather peculiar.
After losing her entire team and wandering alone, Chelsea had joined several assassin groups. But she'd never encountered a team as harmonious as Night Raid.
In most assassin squads, tension and distrust were common, given the nature of their work. Long-term stress made it difficult to build bonds.
Yet Night Raid felt completely different. Despite their recent close brush with death and the ongoing challenges, the team exuded optimism and camaraderie.
They didn't act like mere colleagues but more like a family. They teased each other and joked around, creating an atmosphere of warmth and trust.
Chelsea couldn't help but notice that the person who contributed the most to this dynamic was Wood.
Though he had just been rescued and was still bound, Wood had immediately noticed the unease among his teammates and deliberately lightened the mood with his antics.
"So, he's not what the rumors suggested," Chelsea thought. "In the Revolutionary Army, I heard he was a playboy, constantly goofing off and unreliable.
But now I see that this is just a front. Beneath it, he's a thoughtful and kind young man."
Chelsea's Imperial Arm, Gaia Foundation, required her to be highly observant, and she was adept at reading people. To her, Wood's seemingly lighthearted behavior was a sign of his deep care for his comrades.
"Although it's a Shingu, that doesn't mean we can't deal with it," Chelsea said, finally speaking up. "Even Imperial Arms have weaknesses, and one of your teammates uses Cutter of Creation: Extase, right? That could probably cut through these chains."
Her words immediately drew everyone's attention.
She was referring to Sheele, who had gone to the Revolutionary Army's headquarters to receive a prosthetic arm. With Extase's unique ability to sever anything, it should have no trouble dealing with the chains.
"By the way," Wood said, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "Who are these new faces? This beautiful young lady and this strong-looking big guy—are they our new comrades?"
Before Najenda could respond, Chelsea stepped forward and introduced herself.
"My name is Chelsea. My Imperial Arm is Gaia Foundation, which allows me to transform freely. I'm a member of Night Raid, and I look forward to working with you."
Hearing Chelsea's formal introduction surprised everyone except Tatsumi. Until now, her attitude had been sharp-tongued and arrogant.
When she first met Leone and the others, Chelsea had criticized their lack of discipline and mocked Leone's impulsiveness, which left a poor impression on Mine and Leone.
But her current demeanor toward Wood was vastly different. Leone and Mine couldn't help but notice a hint of admiration in her eyes.
Was this favoritism? Or had Chelsea known Wood previously?
Chelsea quickly provided the answer herself.
Before Wood could introduce himself, Chelsea interrupted, saying, "Mr. Wood, there's no need for introductions. I've already heard about you.
At the Revolutionary Army headquarters, your reputation preceded you.
They say you're a flirt and a carefree rogue, yet deeply loyal to your comrades and immensely powerful. You even stayed behind to hold off someone as monstrous as Esdeath so your allies could escape.
Back then, I only knew you through reports and rumors. But now that I've met you, I realize not all rumors are true.
Your care and loyalty to your comrades have been on full display during this mission.
And as for your playful persona—well, I can see it's just an act. That only makes you more admirable.
Honestly, Mr. Wood, I think you're an incredibly charming man."
Her words left everyone with mixed reactions. Wood himself was utterly baffled.
If Chelsea hadn't said it herself, he wouldn't have believed someone thought so highly of him.
Was she really talking about him?
In Night Raid, his reputation wasn't exactly stellar. Even Tatsumi, who once idolized him, had grown disillusioned after seeing his true nature.
"What nonsense! Calling him a charming man?" Mine exclaimed, her face flushed with indignation. "Aside from his half-decent looks, what other redeeming qualities does he have?
Are you sure you're even talking about this Wood?"
Mine's outburst amused Leone and Lubbock, who began to watch the drama unfold like eager spectators.
Meanwhile, Tatsumi and Akame, both romantically inexperienced, stood confused, hoping someone would explain what was happening.
Chelsea, seeing Mine's reaction, smiled knowingly and said, "Ah, I see. So you're my competition.
But honestly, as a rival, you don't seem very challenging."
As she spoke, Chelsea cast a glance at Mine's chest, her tone dripping with mockery.
Realizing Chelsea's intent, Mine immediately exploded in anger, pulling out her Imperial Arm, Pumpkin, and preparing to blast Chelsea into oblivion.
"Alright, Chelsea, enough teasing Mine and Wood. Wood can take it, but Mine is the type to take things seriously," Najenda intervened, acting as the peacemaker. She figured Chelsea was just joking around, given her personality.
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