"Long time no see, Najenda."
"The last time we met, it seems it was just when you had become a general, right?"
As expected by Cerydra, when the Golden Descendantss went to crusade against the Super Danger Beast, the Empire would send a general to deal with the Northern Country.
As the new Kindness Duke of the Northern Country, Najenda had considered that the visitor might be a friend she knew. After all, the Empire had many generals.
But what Najenda never expected was that the person standing in front of her now was the Empire's Great General—Budo!
Wasn't he the little emperor's imperial guard?
Why would he leave the Imperial Capital and appear here?
Precisely because she used to be a person of the Empire, Najenda was so wary of the man in front of her.
Because Esdeath had not joined the Empire, the strongest person in the entire Empire now was this Great General Budo in front of her.
Fight Budo?
Although she had improved greatly during this period, Najenda still did not have the confidence to defeat the opponent.
However, Budo did not care about Najenda's nervous expression, but raised his head to look at her on the city tower, his expression very serious.
"Najenda, tell me, why did you betray the Empire?"
Compared to fighting the opponent, Budo actually cared more about another matter, and that was the reason for Najenda's betrayal.
The reason this young girl was able to become an Imperial General at such a young age, in addition to her own talent, was also due to the joint promotion of Minister Honest and Great General Budo.
For this female junior, Budo actually had quite a good impression of her. After all, in the cesspool that was the Empire, Najenda was one of the very few who could be called a good person.
Even Budo had once thought about letting her become a Great General. But these thoughts vanished with Najenda's betrayal...
"..."
Everyone's gaze was focused on Najenda at this moment. Whether it was the soldiers behind Budo or the colleagues beside Najenda, they all looked at her at this time.
So much pressure!
Everyone was waiting for her answer. Najenda also knew that she could not be silent at this time, otherwise, it would inevitably cause serious consequences for her future.
But lying on such an occasion would obviously be recognized by the people around her. At that time, not only would she become a thorn in the Empire's side, but she would also break with the colleagues around her.
So Najenda chose another method...
Sincerity!
"At the beginning, I was forced to join because I was defeated... The Dux Frigium under Her Majesty the Empress is indeed powerful. Relying on herself alone, she could wipe out my 300,000-strong army. I didn't even have a chance to commit suicide."
"Later, I met Her Majesty the Empress. She didn't give me any chance at all and forcibly bestowed upon me special power, making me unable to resist... Heh, when this happened, I even cursed the Empress as a shorty in my heart!"
Najenda's expression was somewhat self-deprecating, and when she said such things, the "Super Beast Warriors" Dukes beside her cast cold gazes one after another.
A mere surrendered general actually dared to speak ill of Her Majesty on such an occasion? Who gave you the guts?
And compared to the Northern Country side, many people on the Imperial Army side had their eyes light up. Since Najenda could say such things, it meant that it was not impossible for her to return to the Empire.
"But later, I changed my mind."
Following this sentence, the crowd that was about to erupt instantly fell silent. This was not because they wanted to listen, but because they were all stunned, not expecting Najenda to say such a thing.
"I have walked on the streets of the Empire many times, and after surrendering, I have also walked on the streets of the Northern Country many times. It is precisely because of such a comparison that I can tell you responsibly, Budo..."
"The people of the Northern Country are a hundred times happier than the people of the Empire!"
"In the Empire, what I see is trafficking, smuggling, corruption, theft, deception... People are dying every day, and smiles are rarely seen on people's faces, and even if they are, they are fake smiles."
"And here, I see smiles from people's hearts."
"Her Majesty Cerydra never goes soft when killing people. I have seen her kill corrupt nobles several times, but her coldness has never been directed at the people of the Northern Country. She has even spent a lot of effort to make people's lives better!"
"I finally understand why Her Majesty the Empress conferred the title of 'Kindness Duke' upon me. I was really seen through at a glance..."
"So for the first time, I had such a thought: I want to fight for the Northern Country! Perhaps the current Northern Country is not perfect, but I believe it can become the hope of the people!"
When Najenda said this, the gazes of her colleagues beside her almost all changed. They didn't expect this 'Kindness Duke' to think this way?
On the Empire's side, it was the exact opposite. Budo's face had already darkened to an extremely terrifying state, as if he would erupt at any moment.
"Is this your reason for betraying?"
Budo's voice was full of anger, and fine lightning had already appeared beside him, but he still suppressed his temper, staring viciously at Najenda, just like the calm before a storm.
"Perhaps our Empire is not perfect, so isn't it the responsibility of us ministers to build it better? And you, who betrayed it, what qualifications do you have?"
After hearing these words, Najenda smiled.
And as long as anyone with a discerning eye could see, the smile on Najenda's face contained unprecedented mockery and disdain.
"Great General of the Empire, Budo."
"You have also sat in the position of Great General for some years. Has that 'our Empire' you speak of been built better by you? It seems not, right?"
"I have seen through everything. You always say to follow tradition, that a warrior shouldn't involve himself in politics, so you haven't done anything all this time. That is what allowed Honest, that parasite, to seize the core of the Empire."
"It sounds like it's Honest's fault, but what about you? Watching as Honest hollows out the entire Empire—isn't that the greatest support you could give him?"
Najenda lifted her head at this moment, looking down at Budo with a condescending attitude.
"Listen well, Budo!"
"The Empire that has been maintained on this continent for a thousand years has been destroyed by the hands of Honest and you, Budo!"
Najenda's words were like a lightning bolt, striking Budo directly, and causing this powder keg, which had long been unable to hold back its anger, to explode completely.
"Najenda—!"
"I will kill you today!!!"
Massive thunder and killing intent surged from Budo's body at this moment, and even the clear blue sky was completely covered by dark clouds and lightning.
"Heh, did I hit a sore spot?"
"But I must remind you, even if you kill me, you cannot save the Empire, and furthermore... you might not even make it back alive!"
Najenda picked up her long-unused pumpkin cannon, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding soldiers and colleagues whose attitudes had completely changed, her expression solemn.
"Everyone, the moment has come for us to show our 'loyalty'!"
"For the people of the Northern Country..."
"For Her Majesty the Empress..."
"Fight!"
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