As Shoi exited, the scene quieted down. After a while, Syura walked in, covered in blood.
The young emperor looked at Honest and asked, "Minister, is there something you need from me?"
"Of course, Your Majesty, this concerns the affairs of the country."
"Minister, has something serious happened?"
"Your Majesty, indeed something serious has happened. General Esdeath has committed treason and joined the North."
Everyone present, including the young emperor, widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.
"How could General Esdeath betray the country? How is this possible?"
Honest smirked. "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. Esdeath has already betrayed the Empire."
The young emperor was a bit flustered at this moment.
"Minister, what should we do?"
Honest said unhurriedly, "Your Majesty need not worry, it's merely the Northern Lands. We are an Empire with a thousand years of foundation, we can crush the Northern Lands with a flick of a finger."
"Moreover, I already have a plan. We only need to dispatch elite troops, along with my subordinates and my son's subordinates, and with my personal intervention, we will surely annihilate the North."
The young emperor felt a little relieved after hearing this. "Then let it be as the Minister says."
At this moment, Syura suddenly spoke, "Father..."
"Hmm?"
"Minister, I am willing to lead the men there."
If it were an attack within the city, his son would be more or less suitable. However, he couldn't lead this external war.
How troublesome. Who should he send?
Honest turned to the young emperor and said, "I believe that General Budo should lead the army to attack the Northern Lands and assert the might of our Empire."
If Budo won, he would continue to be a General. If he lost, he could then deal with the remaining loyal ministers one by one. It was killing two birds with one stone.
The young emperor's eyes lit up when he heard Honest's words, but they quickly dimmed.
Once General Budo was sent out, who would guard the Imperial Palace? This was a problem.
He asked, "Minister, if General Budo is dispatched, who will protect the safety of the Imperial Capital?"
"That's simple."
Honest said, "Syura will protect the Imperial Capital with his Wild Hunt, and my subordinates will also protect Your Majesty."
Syura, who had been somewhat angry because his father hadn't let him go, instantly changed his expression.
He said with firm eyes, "I will definitely protect the emperor's safety!"
The young emperor immediately issued the order, "Order: General Budo to lead the troops, depart for the Northern Lands within three days, and conquer it."
"At the same time, appoint Syura as the Imperial Capital's Guard Minister, to lead troops and protect all safety within the Imperial Palace."
As the order was issued, a soldier carried the emperor's decree towards the army's location.
Syura, who had just been an ordinary soldier, suddenly became the Imperial Capital's guard, his smile never fading. He then left, walking towards his base, while the other ministers went to fulfill their duties.
At this moment, only the young emperor and Honest remained in the palace.
The young emperor looked at Honest. "Minister, with you here, I am at ease."
Honest smiled. "This is what your old subject should do, I must resolve Your Majesty's worries and difficulties."
Soon, the young emperor's decree arrived at the army.
A blonde man in armor with a cape draped over his shoulders was training soldiers.
"General! The emperor's decree has arrived!" The messenger shouted.
Budo stepped forward, kneeling on one knee to receive the decree.
As the messenger finished delivering the decree, something seemed to flash in Budo's eyes, but it ultimately turned into one sentence.
"The emperor's subject receives the decree!"
"General Budo, prepare well these next few days."
"Yes!"
As the messenger left, Budo stood up. He looked at the decree in his hand, then looked in the direction of the Northern Lands.
He hadn't expected Esdeath to have pledged allegiance to the new King of the Northern Lands.
Then he looked at the soldiers who were training, it was time for real combat.
"Attention, everyone, assemble!" Budo stood on a high platform and shouted loudly.
After a while, the soldiers stood in neat formation, respectfully facing Budo and awaiting his command.
Budo scanned the soldiers before him, his gaze firm and solemn. "Gentlemen, are you ready to sacrifice for the Empire?!"
"Always ready!"
The soldiers shouted in unison.
Budo nodded with satisfaction.
"Unfortunately, war is about to begin! The barbarians from the North have killed the soldiers on the border, and they also want to plunder our land and grain by heading south! We cannot sit idly by!"
He did not mention Esdeath at all. If he were to say that Esdeath had betrayed the Empire by siding with the King of the North, what would these soldiers think?
If even someone as strong as Esdeath had failed and surrendered, what would they think?
Budo raised his voice. "As warriors of the Empire, we must let those Northern barbarians know that the Empire's majesty is inviolable!"
"For the Empire!"
"Offer our lives for the Empire!"
The soldiers shouted, their morale high.
"Soldiers, go home and see your families. Three days from now, we march north!!"
"Yes!"
...
The sky slowly darkened and the moon hung high in the sky.
A pink-haired girl sat on a rooftop, with a purple-haired girl standing beside her.
"Leone, Akame, and Boss have gone north, so Sheele, today's mission will be completed by just the two of us."
"No problem, Mine, we can definitely complete the mission."
"Of course, we are Night Raid after all."
These two were Night Raid members Mine and Sheele.
As Mine spoke, she set up her large sniper rifle—the Teigu, Pumpkin and aimed at the street below.
Beside her, Sheele entered a focused state, holding a giant pair of scissors in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. The person drawn on the paper was their target for today.
Their target today was the Imperial Guard Captain—Ogre.