Chapter 407: Tatsumi's Game Invitation
The members of Night Raid were on high alert.
Especially Lubbock, who exclaimed in shock, "How is that possible?!"
The area around Aria's residence was sealed off by the Imperial Arm [Cross Tail], composed of incredibly durable threads with extremely sensitive tactile perception. Legend has it that they were crafted from the fur of a super-dangerous species hunted in the Eastern Sea of Clouds.
Any slight movement would be detected by the Imperial Arm's user.
And yet—
The owner of the voice had appeared silently among the Night Raid members without triggering the threads of Cross Tail.
The others turned to look at Lubbock in surprise, thinking that he had simply let his guard down rather than suspecting the failure of [Cross Tail].
"If he can completely avoid the thread barrier of Cross Tail, then don't let your guard down," Lubbock said, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"Are you kidding me, Lubbock?" Mine asked with a frown, gripping her Pumpkin gun tightly and aiming it at the newcomer.
Sheele pushed her glasses up; being naturally airheaded, she didn't think much—once a comrade gave an order, she would charge in without hesitation.
Leone remained calm, unconsciously reaching for the coin-marked back of her right hand. She stopped the others from attacking and said, "Hold it. This is the mysterious merchant I mentioned!"
Bulat reacted the fastest, activating his Demon Armor state. The fully armored man stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the group as a protective shield.
"You are the game merchant Leone spoke of, aren't you?"
Bulat looked at the panicked Lubbock with a knowing expression. The barrier of [Cross Tail] was made of countless nearly invisible threads. Though powerful, it would be ineffective against someone with a spatial attribute Imperial Arm, which could explain the mysterious merchant's undetected arrival.
"Mr. Fang Yi…"
Tatsumi's eyes were bloodshot with pain all over his face.
Seeing the wandering merchant who had been the only one kind to him since arriving in the capital, his emotions finally broke through. His voice was hoarse as he cried, "All my comrades are dying!"
He had come to the capital burdened with the hope of lifting his village from poverty, only to encounter such tragic scenes—it would break anyone.
"Don't be so quick to cry. He's not dead yet, is he?"
Leading a white-haired Afu, Fang Yi ignored the wary Night Raid members and walked toward Tatsumi.
The tension among the group remained high, their Imperial Arms ready. Any sudden move, and they'd strike.
This was the nature of battles between Imperial Arm users.
All supernatural power lay within the arms, but the human body was as fragile as paper. One careless move or moment of underestimation could lead to being fatally exploited.
That's why Lubbock had reacted so intensely after realizing Cross Tail had failed.
Because if Fang Yi could pass through the thread barrier undetected and approach Night Raid, it meant he could have easily assassinated at least one of them.
Lubbock didn't want anyone dying because of his oversight.
"But… Akame is already heavily poisoned… she's going to…"
Though tortured by anguish, Tatsumi's mind was still clear.
His unconscious comrade's organs and bones were already being corroded by the poison. That she was even alive at this point was pure willpower.
According to former imperial elite Bulat's judgment, she had two hours left at most before total death.
"Tatsumi, never give up hope, no matter what. Right now, only you can save Akame."
Moonlight spilled over Fang Yi's shoulders like a hazy glow.
His words, though strange and unprovoked, somehow made everyone—including the Night Raid members—want to believe them.
As if a law of nature was being stated.
Like rivers flowing to the sea, or the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, or fire consuming all…
It was a conviction that couldn't be bent.
Fang Yi said Tatsumi had a chance to save Akame, and the entire world accepted it as fact.
"An illusion?!"
Bulat's shocked voice echoed from inside his armor.
They could feel their own perception shift. This inexplicable change in cognition—even Bulat had never seen anything like it.
The terrifying part was—
Even though they realized this ability came from the mysterious merchant, they were powerless to resist.
A faint trace of helplessness flashed in Fang Yi's eyes as he smiled, "It's not an illusion. What I say is simply… real."
It wasn't his doing.
He wasn't interested in playing god with his words.
It was because the [World Consciousness of the Imperial Arms] was too eager—trying to flatter Fang Yi, a [Second-Stage] being, by making things easier for him.
"I heard there's an Imperial Arm called [Observer] with illusion-based abilities," Akame said seriously, referring to information she had read.
But the known wielder of that Arm was the infamous criminal Zank—the next Night Raid target.
Had Fang Yi already killed Zank and stolen his Imperial Arm?
No, that couldn't be…
According to the data, [Observer] couldn't manipulate the perception of multiple people at once. Was this yet another unknown Arm?
"Mr. Fang Yi, I believe in you!"
Tatsumi stood up quickly and picked up the refined steel dagger. "This dagger has a miraculous power… it must be your blessing. I believe you can save Akame!"
The expressions on the faces of the Night Raid members varied.
Especially Bulat and Akame—as fighters and wielders of Imperial Arms, they could feel the power inside the dagger.
It was no different from an Imperial Arm.
And this power came from the mysterious merchant?
Just how many abilities did he have?!
"It's not me. It's you…" Fang Yi said, watching Tatsumi, who had pulled himself together. He shook his head and explained, "Saving your comrade has nothing to do with me. It all depends on your own will. If it's strong enough, not only can you save Akame—even Sayo, who's already dead, might be brought back."
Though revival tokens were rare, with luck, it wasn't impossible to obtain them.
Tatsumi froze, waving his hands in disbelief. "How can that be, Mr. Fang Yi…? I'm just a simple village boy. I'm useless except in a fight."
"Everyone here likely already knows who I am, but allow me to introduce myself again."
Fang Yi bowed slightly with a polite smile. "I'm a merchant from another world. I sell various game items. As long as you have enough will and a bit of luck, any wish can come true in the game."
"Game…?" Tatsumi couldn't grasp the concept—this world still operated on a medieval understanding.
The members of Night Raid had strange expressions.
Especially Leone. She'd heard this line before and assumed it was just a cover for his real identity. She didn't expect him to repeat it so publicly.
"Hey, you lecherous merchant—don't mess with a kid who just lost his friends. That's infuriating."
Leone clearly didn't buy it, baring her sharp canines as she continued, "I've never heard of an Imperial Arm that can bring someone back to life. If that existed…"
Night Raid wouldn't have lost so many comrades.
From time to time, they'd recruit newcomers, but the team always remained small.
They had long grown used to death and separation. If an Arm with resurrection abilities existed, the Revolutionary Army would have assigned Night Raid to steal it already.
"If the members of Night Raid are willing, you too can realize your wishes through willpower."
Fang Yi showed no anger or irritation at being doubted. After speaking, he looked at the eager Tatsumi and handed him a black trial invitation.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1