Previously, Kurome, Wave, and "unknown personnel" were involved in a battle, a fact that was no secret in the Imperial Capital. However, by the time reinforcements arrived, they were greeted only by ruins and the corpses of imperial soldiers eliminated by Wood and his team.
As for the attackers and Kurome's group, they had all vanished. The Empire had no idea that Kurome and Wave had already been successfully turned against them.
"Esteemed sirs, may I ask what important matter brings you to the palace? Without an audience scheduled with His Majesty or the Prime Minister, I'm afraid we cannot permit entry."
The palace guards, naturally recognizing Kurome and Wave, were respectful. The Jaegers had caused quite a stir in the Empire, and the guards knew the two were elite warriors under General Esdeath's command. Hence, they maintained a polite demeanor.
In the entire Empire, only two individuals had the privilege of entering the palace unannounced: General Esdeath and General Budo. This fact alone underscored the extraordinary status of these two figures.
As for the Prime Minister, his authority was even more unassailable. He wasn't someone who sought audiences; he decided who the Emperor would meet.
Initially, Chelsea had considered disguising herself as Esdeath to facilitate smoother access to the palace.
Unfortunately, with Esdeath currently engaged in a heated battle with the Revolutionary Army, her sudden appearance in the capital would immediately raise suspicions.
"Then inform the Prime Minister immediately that we've captured Wood—the strongest member of 'Night Raid.' You know, the one General Esdeath has repeatedly tried to take down but couldn't.
"Since General Esdeath isn't in the capital right now, we've brought him here to await the Prime Minister's judgment."
Hearing "Wave's" words and noticing the chains tightly binding Wood, the guards recognized him as the infamous criminal responsible for the recent chaos in the capital. Realizing this, the guards quickly ran into the palace to report.
It didn't take long before the same guard returned, breathless, with news that the Prime Minister and the Emperor had agreed to see them.
As a former member of the Empire's assassination squad, Kurome was entering the palace for the first time. It was also her first time seeing the legendary Prime Minister and Emperor in person.
Kurome had always been considered an elite asset of the Empire, but in truth, she had been little more than a tool—a blade wielded without autonomy. She followed orders like a puppet, with no say in her own actions.
However, upon seeing the Emperor for the first time, Kurome was stunned. The so-called Emperor wasn't much different from herself.
Though seated on the throne, the young Emperor resembled nothing more than a marionette, with the strings held firmly in the hands of the corpulent Prime Minister, who tore into a piece of greasy meat with abandon.
The Emperor didn't utter a word without first looking up at the Prime Minister for approval, his actions more akin to a well-trained pet than a sovereign ruler.
That the millennia-old Empire had fallen into corruption in just a few years was no surprise. With such a ruler at the helm, it was a miracle the nation hadn't collapsed sooner.
"So, you're the remaining members of Esdeath's Jaegers?
"How did you manage to capture this guy? From what I've heard, his strength is said to rival General Esdeath herself."
The Prime Minister spoke while tearing at the greasy meat in his hand, his suspicious gaze fixed on the kneeling Kurome and the others.
Though the Prime Minister's appearance was unimpressive, he was far from a fool. His cunning and ruthlessness were well known.
He suspected treachery. If only one person had brought Wood to the palace, he would never have allowed them entry.
However, the appearance of Kurome, Run, and Wave together eased his concerns. The likelihood of all three Jaegers being turned against the Empire seemed slim.
Moreover, the Prime Minister knew that Kurome was dependent on the Empire's drugs, making her betrayal highly unlikely.
"Prime Minister, you may not be aware, but this member of 'Night Raid,' Wood, was previously captured by us and had his Teigu confiscated.
"A Teigu wielder without their weapon is significantly weakened. Furthermore, we anticipated his ambush, so the three of us joined forces to subdue him.
"As for our recent disappearance, it was because he attempted to escape, and we pursued him to prevent his getaway."
Chelsea, disguised as "Wave," explained the situation calmly and logically, leaving no room for suspicion. The Prime Minister gradually began to believe her story.
"If you captured a 'Night Raid' member alive, why didn't you interrogate him yourselves? Why bring him to me instead?"
Though Chelsea's explanation was convincing, the Prime Minister's cautious nature prompted him to ask another question.
"With General Esdeath currently away from the capital, we didn't know how to handle him.
"Moreover, we'd heard that the Prime Minister was particularly interested in this individual. So, we decided to bring him here as a gesture of goodwill.
"We hope, Prime Minister, that you might look out for us in the future," Chelsea said, perfectly emulating a sycophantic tone and demeanor.
From his position, Wood couldn't help but silently marvel at Chelsea's acting skills. She had flawlessly portrayed an opportunistic underling seeking favor, a performance so convincing it even impressed him.
The Prime Minister, too, was thoroughly convinced. Over the years, he had encountered countless individuals trying to curry favor with him, and "Wave's" behavior was entirely in line with what he'd come to expect.
"Working under General Esdeath must be difficult. With someone so extraordinary, it's impossible for anyone around her to be more than a mere accessory.
"Still, you've done well this time. I'm sure His Majesty will reward you handsomely."
The Prime Minister was genuinely intrigued by Wood. Among his private collection was a Teigu capable of controlling minds. Initially, he'd intended to use it on the Emperor, but the boy proved so easy to manipulate that the item had never been necessary.
When he heard that a member of "Night Raid" had fought Esdeath to a standstill, the Prime Minister became deeply interested.
Esdeath's power was immense, and though she had no ambitions of usurpation, her unchecked influence made the Prime Minister uneasy.
Learning of Wood's existence, the Prime Minister had immediately considered using his mind-controlling Teigu to turn Wood into a counterbalance against Esdeath.
However, when he asked Esdeath to hand Wood over, she flatly refused, leaving him both enraged and even more determined to carry out his plan.
Before he could act, news arrived that the Jaegers had lost their prisoner, causing him to curse their incompetence while lamenting the missed opportunity.
But to his surprise, after all the twists and turns, the prized target he had long sought had now been delivered right to his doorstep.
"Your Majesty, I believe the remaining members of the Jaegers have performed admirably. Even in General Esdeath's absence, they continued to fight valiantly and struck a heavy blow against the notorious Night Raid. I recommend they be rewarded for their efforts."
Hearing the Prime Minister's suggestion, the young Emperor nodded blankly, then turned to him and asked slowly, "What reward would you suggest, Prime Minister?"
The Prime Minister not only decided that rewards were necessary but also determined what they would be. Though Kurome and Run had heard about the Prime Minister's overwhelming control of the Empire, witnessing it firsthand was shocking.
They hadn't realized the Empire had deteriorated to such an extent. This Emperor was no different from a puppet dangling at the end of the Prime Minister's strings.
"Since they are General Esdeath's subordinates and have shown such bravery, why not appoint them as Imperial Generals?"
"Ah, I see. That makes perfect sense, Prime Minister. Then I shall—"
Just as the Emperor, under the guise of considering the Prime Minister's "advice," was about to bestow titles upon Kurome and her team, "Wave" lowered his head and interrupted.
"My apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty, but I must humbly decline the honor.
"Instead of becoming an Imperial General, I would much prefer to serve as a humble attendant to the Prime Minister, ensuring his safety at all times."
The young Emperor froze, then looked back at the Prime Minister for guidance. The latter stared at "Wave" with a curious, almost amused expression.
The Prime Minister rarely concerned himself with minor figures like the members of the Jaegers.
However, this "Wave" struck him as a particularly shrewd and greedy individual.
First, he bypassed Esdeath to deliver Wood directly to the Prime Minister, clearly seeking personal glory. Now, he was rejecting the prestigious title of General in favor of becoming the Prime Minister's lackey.
Any intelligent person would realize that the position of "Imperial General" was little more than a hollow title, granted or revoked at the Prime Minister's whim. In truth, it was far less advantageous than being a trusted dog at the Prime Minister's side.
This young man, "Wave," was clearly intelligent—and sufficiently ambitious.
The Prime Minister didn't dislike greedy people. He was one himself, and they were easier to control.
"In that case, Your Majesty, perhaps you could grant him to me. I've been in need of a bodyguard lately."
The young Emperor, naturally, saw no reason to refuse. He even generously allowed "Wave" to retain the rank of Imperial General while assigning him the additional duty of protecting the Prime Minister.
As a bodyguard, "Wave" was expected to remain by the Prime Minister's side. After thanking them for the opportunity, "Wave" dutifully moved behind the Prime Minister.
To General Budo, who was present in the audience chamber, "Wave's" behavior was utterly disgraceful.
He had heard that Wave came from the Imperial Navy and was an exceptional soldier, but seeing him debase himself like this to curry favor with the Prime Minister was revolting.
To Budo, it was a betrayal of the honor and dignity expected of an Imperial soldier.
As the audience continued without suspicion, "Wave"—Chelsea in disguise—quietly moved behind the Prime Minister. Reaching into her cloak, she drew a dagger that gleamed with a chilling light.
CLANG!
A sharp metallic sound echoed through the chamber. Chelsea's dagger had struck the Prime Minister's jeweled ring, which unexpectedly deflected the blade.
Chelsea froze, her face full of shock.
"So, this is how you protect me? How touching."
Though her initial attempt had failed, Chelsea wasn't about to give up. All the effort they'd put into their elaborate ruse was for this moment—to eliminate the Prime Minister with minimal risk.
Retracting her dagger, Chelsea launched another swift strike, aiming for the Prime Minister's throat.
While Chelsea's combat abilities weren't particularly strong compared to the likes of "Night Raid" or Jaegers, she was still more than capable of handling ordinary targets.
Her expertise in assassination made her especially dangerous. She knew exactly where to strike, targeting vital areas with precision.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, the corpulent Prime Minister, whom they had pegged as nothing more than a gluttonous figurehead, was far more formidable than anticipated.
The Prime Minister possessed significant combat skills, rivaling even Leone in raw strength.
Unsurprisingly, Chelsea's second strike was also thwarted. Before her blade could reach his throat, the Prime Minister delivered a heavy blow to her abdomen, sending her flying like a kite with its string cut.
Fortunately, Wood managed to catch her midair, preventing further injury.
The sudden attack threw the entire chamber into chaos. Four figures—two men and two women, each with distinct physiques—emerged from the shadows around the Prime Minister.
"They're the Four Rakshasa Demons—elite fighters of the Temple of Fists!"
Run, having gathered intelligence on the Imperial Capital's strongest factions, immediately recognized them. The Temple of Fists was a martial arts sanctuary in the capital, home to many skilled warriors.
The Four Rakshasa Demons were the crème de la crème, unparalleled martial artists chosen from among thousands.
Though they weren't Teigu users, they possessed abilities that allowed them to manipulate their bodies at will. Their physical prowess was so extraordinary that they could defeat Teigu users in hand-to-hand combat. These were individuals who had truly surpassed the limits of human strength.
The Four Rakshasa Demons served as the Prime Minister's personal enforcers. With Esdeath away from the capital, the Prime Minister had assigned them to guard him in secret—a precaution that now proved invaluable.