Chapter 24 : Rancor.
Absolute silence reigned in the meeting room. Lelouch's entrance had left everyone speechless. Cornelia, who was closer to the door, stood up, staring dazedly at the new arrival. He took a few steps toward her, then asked her:
"Aren't you happy to see your beloved little brother again?"
The woman's face deformed into an expression of hatred mixed with anger.
"NO!"
She shouted angrily and then punched him in the face, which caused him to end up legs in the air. The boy, still in pain, was joined by his mother who began to trample him.
"DAMNED! YOU KILLED YOUR FATHER, BASTARD! "
"Please calm down!" Evergreen begged.
"Who awakened him?" Asked the empress.
"Me, by order of Miss Ever." Jeremiah answered.
At that answer Cornelia drew her sword and pierced Evergreen, tearing her belly. The spectacle cried out in pain and slumped to the ground, bringing its hands to its stomach. A few drops of blood began to stain the floor. Immediately Shiho and Yaeko rushed to her side.
"It took me years to get rid of him ... And now you dare to free him?" Asked the purple-haired, nervous.
"Not ... I had a choice! He is an excellent strategist ... He can help us against the aliens ..."
"Don't be absurd! It's like treating a cold by inoculating Ebola! He will maneuver us with his geass, making us slaves! "
"No ... We have Jeremiah with the geass canceller..." Then he fainted.
"If we don't take her to the infirmary she will bleed to death!" Yaeko exclaimed, noting that a puddle of blood had formed under the woman.
Together with Shiho, she took Evergreen, pulling her to her feet. Then they left the room.
"Was it really necessary to hurt her?" CC asked.
Cornelia did not answer, merely staring at her interlocutor. Lelouch tried to get to his feet but Marianne kicked him in the side, making him fall back to the ground.
"Stay down, pig!"
"I understand you are in trouble." He said.
"We don't need your help!" Cornelia exclaimed, threatening.
"In the past, Lelouch has changed the face of the world with his exploits. An ally like him can be very useful to us. "Esdeath stated.
"We can't trust him ... He is no different from Gerel, he wants to enslave us!" Cornelia replied.
"Humanity is free from the geass, and now that Jeremiah is with you I could not re-condition her, even if I wanted to." Lelouch said.
"Just give me a good reason why I shouldn't cut your head off!"
"I'll give you two, little sister ... The first is that I'm immortal, thanks to the Code. Ergo no one can kill me."
"And the second one?"
"As said here Esdeath are a valuable aid in the fight against invaders."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Trust my skills. Thanks to them, I put the imperial army in Japan into trouble, and I started the United Federation of Nations... That was before you and Schneizel instigated the Black Knights against me. "
"Don't change the topic, Lelouch!"
"Right, let's get to the point ... Will you accept my help against Gerel or not?"
Cornelia thought about it. Even if he did not trust his half-brother at all, he had to admit that his strategic and tactical skills would be useful in the war against Gerel and his army, which favored the latter. Therefore, even if reluctantly, he could do nothing but accept.
"Agreed ... But if you make a misstep I will make you exile in space, with no possibility of return!"
"Are you sure, Cornelia?" Marianne asked, doubtfully.
"Even if the idea makes me sick I will have to enlist it. It may be that thanks to his help the balance needle will start hanging over ours. "
"Very well…"
Lelouch stood up and looked at the people with satisfaction. Nina and CC stared at him frightened, Ajatar and Esdeath impassive, Leila with a look of pure hatred.
Should I work with him? He enslaved mankind, killed my friends, hunted me down! I hate him, I can't trust a monster!
She thought, shocked.
"To begin with, I want you to explain to me in detail the current situation of the war." Lelouch began.
Esdeath cleared her throat and began to explain.