[Main Quest: Make the Empire Great Again!]
[Quest Description: The thousand-year Empire is weathering storms from all sides. Its control over the provinces has grown increasingly weak. Local governors rule independently, while rebels and bandits rise everywhere.]
[Main Quest: Phase One]
[Eliminate the criminals within the Imperial Capital, as well as the bandits and Danger Beasts appearing in the surrounding areas.]
[Base Reward: Ordinary Attribute Point x1]
[Additional rewards will be calculated based on the final Public Security Rating. Completing the quest with a Public Security Rating below 70 (Good) will grant only the base reward.]
[Current Public Security Rating: 43 (Extremely Poor)]
"So no matter where I go, I end up being an investigator."
Looking at the quest on the system panel, Uesugi Ryu could not help but complain inwardly.
He had done the same kind of work in the Ghoul world.
Apparently, this world was no different.
"Though, doesn't this thing account for contribution?"
Uesugi Ryu remembered that after the Jaegers appeared, the Imperial Capital's public security improved significantly.
If that was the case, perhaps he could just lie back and coast to victory.
Still, the system had probably added the extra reward specifically to prevent him from slacking off.
The base reward was a pitiful single attribute point.
The real prize was almost certainly in the bonus rewards.
[Updating System Storage...]
[System Storage adjusted to 50 cubic meters. Please remove any excess items within one day.]
Seeing that line, Uesugi Ryu felt a little regretful.
But after thinking about it, it made sense.
Previously, the system storage had seemed limitless, and Uesugi Ryu had stuffed all kinds of junk into it.
He had even planned to store dozens, even hundreds, of tons of water or other liquids inside, then transform into the Lord of the Seas at a moment's notice.
It seemed that dream was now dead.
In one corner of the system storage, a pair of black lace panties lay quietly.
Their owner had long since forgotten about them.
Not dwelling on such a minor matter, Uesugi Ryu spent the journey thinking about how to raise the Public Security Rating.
After their audience with the young Emperor, the entire Jaegers squad returned to headquarters for a party.
Esdeath gently swirled her wine glass, secretly observing Uesugi Ryu from the corner of her eye.
There was a unique scent lingering on him.
It was already faint, but it had never been there before.
Having hunted Danger Beasts since childhood, Esdeath possessed an exceptionally sharp sense of smell.
She easily identified the source.
A woman's scent.
Taking a sip of red wine, Esdeath looked toward Uesugi Ryu, who stood by the window admiring the scenery.
"Was your leave to visit your wife?"
"Three days. She must live fairly close to the Capital."
Uesugi Ryu glanced at several officials leaving the palace below and answered calmly,
"I gave her the Teigu."
"It suited her just as well as I expected."
Heavy shadows fell across Esdeath's face.
Even indoors, she still wore her military cap.
She was not angry.
The Teigu had been a reward for Uesugi Ryu.
What he did with it was his own business.
Still, using a Teigu she had given him to please his wife...
For some reason, Esdeath felt as though she had been taken advantage of.
It irritated her.
Seryu sat beside Esdeath at the moment.
Her hair suddenly stood on end, and she shivered.
Her eyes darted back and forth between Esdeath and Uesugi Ryu.
They were just making casual conversation, so why did the atmosphere feel so strange?
Resting one hand on the table, Seryu tilted her head at Uesugi Ryu in surprise.
"Mr. Uesugi is married? I had no idea."
"But if you're married, why aren't you living together?"
Uesugi Ryu turned around and sighed softly.
"The Capital's public security isn't very good right now."
"Night Raid only recently tried to assassinate me. It's safer for her to stay in the countryside."
Seryu stroked her chin and nodded.
"That makes sense!"
As if suddenly remembering something, anger appeared on her face.
"Keeping Mr. Uesugi from being with his family. That inherently evil Night Raid. I'll personally..."
As she spoke, her expression gradually twisted into something terrifying.
Seeing Seryu slip into one of her dramatic moods, Uesugi Ryu's lips curved faintly.
He could not help but think to himself,
"Seryu really is such a simple kid."
Dr. Stylish rested his chin in his hands and sighed admiringly.
"Giving such a powerful Teigu to your wife. Vice-Captain, you really are such a gentle gentleman~"
Uesugi Ryu pressed his lips together.
He was very close to losing it.
Wave and Bols were preparing dinner.
Run was helping set the table and lending a hand.
That left only the truly abnormal people sitting here.
The obsessive, theatrical Seryu.
The perverted okama scientist, Dr. Stylish.
And the sadistic battle maniac, Esdeath.
"I should've gone to help cook..."
Uesugi Ryu genuinely regretted staying.
Being grilled by Esdeath was exhausting.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Esdeath suddenly came up with an idea.
With obvious interest, she said,
"If she can tame that Teigu, her strength must be considerable."
"If you're worried about her safety, why not have her join the Jaegers as well?"
Uesugi Ryu fell silent, staring at the floor.
That suggestion practically radiated ill intent.
He would be an idiot to trust it.
Waving his hand, he replied,
"Thanks, but no. I'll... go help with dinner."
Before he had even finished speaking, he quickly left the room.
Esdeath stared at the closed door.
Crossing her legs, she leaned back against the bench.
After draining her glass of wine, determination flashed in her eyes.
After escaping the room, Uesugi Ryu spent some time in the kitchen.
He chatted with Wave and Bols for a while.
Once dinner was over, everyone gathered around the long table.
The Jaegers had been created for one purpose: to eliminate Night Raid.
Naturally, everyone needed to be briefed.
Esdeath folded her hands on the table and looked at Uesugi Ryu.
"You're the only one who's fought Night Raid so far. Tell us what you think."
Sitting across from her, Uesugi Ryu nodded.
"There were two attackers during the attempt on my life."
"One of them is already identified. Her name is Sheele."
"The other was a sniper wielding the Teigu Roman Artillery: Pumpkin. Seryu has already had someone create a sketch based on her appearance."
Seryu distributed a stack of wanted posters to everyone.
The drawings were crude, but recognizable enough.
At the mention of Pumpkin, a nostalgic look flashed across Esdeath's eyes.
Najenda had once wielded that Teigu.
The two of them had once been fairly close.
Looking at the wanted poster in her hand, Esdeath introduced her to the others.
"Najenda. Former Imperial General."
"We served together for a time. She's a cunning one."
"After I cut off one of her arms and took one of her eyes, it seems she passed that Teigu on to a subordinate."
Dr. Stylish naturally knew this story already.
Wearing a smile, he immediately seized the chance to flatter her.
"Escaping from Lady Esdeath's grasp. She truly is a troublesome opponent."