The young Emperor froze, then looked toward Minister Honest as if asking for help.
Honest gazed at the composed Budo and immediately understood what he was trying to do.
A trace of wariness rose in his heart, but after a moment's thought, he relaxed.
If Budo had truly intended to eliminate him, he would never have done it this way.
He could easily have found an opportunity to kill him outright. After all, Esdeath could not remain by his side every single day.
It seemed Budo was all thunder and no rain.
A look of understanding crossed Honest's face. For the sake of his personal safety, he decided to take a step back.
Wearing a warm smile, Honest proposed,
"Your Majesty, the Kborla brothers, two civil officials under my command, were recently murdered by the villains of Night Raid."
"Since Mr. Chouri is so eager to serve Your Majesty, then as compensation for this misunderstanding, let him take over their positions."
The young Emperor nodded in relief, a smile appearing on his face.
"That sounds good. This settles it, right?"
Chouri lightly knocked his forehead against the floor.
What he needed was simply an entry ticket back into politics.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Budo frowned, but said nothing further.
Given the Emperor's trust in Honest, pursuing the matter any further would likely be pointless.
Just like that, the Minister's attempted assassination of an official was brushed aside.
This was already the limit of what General Budo could achieve.
He had barely managed to skirt the line.
On the surface, he had not expressed any political stance, merely held the Minister accountable for targeting an official.
General Budo still refused to violate the ancestral rule that military officers should not interfere in politics.
Budo and Honest said in unison,
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The young Emperor raised his chin, clearly pleased.
Honest shot Budo a glance and sneered inwardly.
He had a much clearer understanding of Budo's limits now.
"It seems I'll need to be a bit more restrained in the future..."
Esdeath fell into thought.
General Budo was always stationed within the palace. There had been no opportunity for him to act.
The one who killed the Three Beasts was most likely Night Raid.
But how exactly had they learned of the mission?
Something about this was suspicious.
As for Chouri's claim that his daughter had been killed by Night Raid, Esdeath did not believe a word of it.
They were enemies, yes, but she understood Night Raid's methods.
They were not the sort to do something like that.
A glint flashed in Esdeath's eyes.
"Night Raid. How exciting..."
The candlelight cast everyone's shadows across the dragon-carved pillars, twisting them into a pack of ravenous beasts.
It was getting late, and the group soon withdrew.
Honest remained behind in the palace, as he often dined with the young Emperor.
When the last attendant closed the vermilion doors, the bright firelight within vanished from view.
Chouri raised a hand and wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.
His expression turned solemn as he looked up at the dark night sky.
"The Emperor depends far too much on Honest. That will have to be the starting point."
Armor clanked sharply as General Budo's cape swayed in the cold wind.
He turned and looked at Esdeath.
"General Esdeath, the bodies of the Three Beasts are still outside the capital. Shall I order some soldiers to retrieve them for you?"
Esdeath remained expressionless as she lowered the brim of her cap.
"No need. Incompetent subordinates should be brought home by their commander."
"I see."
Budo's boots struck the stone floor like muffled thunder, his towering shadow falling across Uesugi Ryu's face.
He stared at him with obvious displeasure.
Earlier, Uesugi Ryu had been leaning casually against one of the dragon pillars.
That irreverent posture showed absolutely no respect for the Emperor, even more brazen than Esdeath herself.
Facing Budo's gaze, Uesugi Ryu did not retreat in the slightest.
He lifted his eyes and met Budo's directly.
Two flames seemed to ignite within his golden pupils, dense battle intent swirling in their depths.
Caught off guard by those monstrous eyes, Budo's pupils contracted, and every muscle in his body instinctively tightened.
Realizing what had just happened, anger flashed across his face.
His thick golden brows furrowed tightly.
"Esdeath, discipline your subordinate."
"If this happens again, I will not mind doing it for you."
Esdeath swept an arm out, blocking Uesugi Ryu.
She let out a cold laugh.
"My subordinate is none of your concern, Budo."
Uesugi Ryu's left hand had already settled on the hilt of Violet Lightning Frenzied Bone.
He would not mind testing himself against Budo.
Sensing its master's emotions, violet lightning automatically burst from the hilt, hissing like a venomous serpent.
Noticing the Teigu at Uesugi Ryu's waist, surprise flashed through Budo's eyes.
As a wielder of a lightning-based Teigu himself, he had heard of Violet Lightning Frenzied Bone's notoriously violent nature.
Budo clenched one fist, then glanced around at their surroundings before snorting coldly.
"Hmph. Be grateful this is His Majesty's palace..."
Brilliant yellow lightning crackled around him as he glared furiously at Uesugi Ryu.
Esdeath had no intention of standing by.
She stepped forward.
The heel of her boot shattered the stone beneath her, spiderweb cracks spreading across the floor as bitter frost raced outward through the fissures.
Esdeath raised her head, staring directly at Budo, her beautiful face filled with unmistakable displeasure.
It was clear that the slightest spark would ignite a full battle.
Budo's knuckles cracked like bursting beans as his mountain-like frame refused to yield an inch.
The freezing cold sent the temperature plummeting, while blinding arcs of lightning illuminated every face present.
Leaning on his cane, Chouri quickly retreated several steps, terror flashing across his face.
The guards gripped their swords so tightly that veins bulged on their hands, yet their blades remained sheathed, trembling against their thighs.
The servants were even worse off.
Their legs gave out, and they collapsed to their knees, shivering violently in the icy air.
If these three actually fought here, the palace would need to be rebuilt tomorrow.
An invisible storm spread outward with the three of them at its center.
Uesugi Ryu stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Esdeath.
Esdeath rested her right hand on her sword, every muscle in her body coiled and ready to strike.
The yellow lightning dissipated first.
In the end, Budo was the one who backed down.
After all, protecting the palace was his duty.
Damaging the Emperor's palace would be an unforgivable crime.
"Mad dogs."
Cursing inwardly, Budo turned and led Chouri toward one of the side halls.
Watching Budo's retreating back, Esdeath curled her lips and openly muttered,
"Stubborn old fossil."
She turned on her heel, crunching across the frost-covered floor.
The sharp crackling of ice beneath her boots made the kneeling servants curl up even tighter.
"Tch..."
Uesugi Ryu smiled faintly, his fingers brushing across the scales of Violet Lightning Frenzied Bone and soothing the restless Teigu.
Then he followed Esdeath out of the palace.
Fine snow drifted down from the night sky, the pure white flakes becoming visible beneath the candlelight.
A new struggle had begun.