Chapter 5
" Natsu ! " Wendy suddenly called him, running near him. " It's true that I accepted but … do we really have to kill people ?"
" Don't worry, we're not going to do it. " Natsu said. " If we put these criminals behind bars, it's the same thing."
" Not sure it works. " Lily replied, with his warrior form. " Let's say the guys we're up against are under the Prime Minister's orders ! Even if we show all their crimes, don't you think this man will do anything to prove they're innocent and we're guilty ! They can never be put behind bars ! Killing will inevitably be one of the solutons we will have. "
" It's awful to say that. " Wendy said.
" There are people who can't change, shrimp. " Gajeel said. " They have decided to do evil around them, let them bear the consequences. "
" It's you who say that ? " Arriving suddenly, to see Tatsumi and Bulat, they could see him in position before performing an incantation.
" INCURSIO ! "
At once Bulat's body was covered with solid armor, then from his head to his feet.
" Wow, class ! " Natsu said.
" Why does this impress you ? " Happy asked. " Erza does it all the time. "
" Yeah, but I prefer this armor. " Natsu assured.
" It's clear. " Tatsumi assured, arriving near them. " I want one like this. "
" This is my teigu. " Bulat taught them.
« Teigu ? " Lily wondered. " Like the other girl's dog ? »
" I don't understand, but it's cool. " Tatsumi assured. Suddenly, silhouettes jumped out of the bushes surrounding the small group.
" We have you, Night Raid. " A man assured. " As soon as we get back to town with the coordinates of your stash and your heads, we'll be covered in gold."
" Don't dream. " Bulat answered, facing them with his spear .
Five men jumped at once, with arms in their hands. Blocking them then, without the slightest problem, Bulat then carried out a sequence of blows that ended up hurting his opponents one by one.
« Fast ! » Natsu thought, seeing him move with speed.
" Bastard ! " A man cried, jumping from the top of a branch, with a sword in his hand.
" Died !"
" IRON DRAGON'S CLUB ! "
Extending his arm, Gajeel hit the enemy's torso, ejecting him against the trunk of a tree. And as their comrade fell to the ground, another man and a woman came out of hiding to run to Wendy.
" Let's take this girl in hostage ! We can leave here safely ! "
" VERNIER ! "
Concentrating then, Wendy made wind balls appear at her feet and these made her move at all speed and allowed her to meet behind the mercenary duo.
" What … ? " The two mercenaries was surprised. Barely having time to turn around, they saw the wind roll up Wendy's arms, who then swung her next attack.
" SKY DRAGON'S WING ! "
The duo's wife was sent away with a full-on strike, while the man managed in time to avoid the tornado.
" Too slow ! " He laughed.
Nevertheless, a silhouette then appeared in front of him, and cut him at the level of his torso.
" You must never let your guard down. " Lily answered, putting his sword away while his opponent fell to the ground.
Having appeared during the battle, three other mercenaries began to retreat in fear, seeing the flames surrounding Natsu's body, while the man began to giggle.
" Well, who am I start with ? Unless you three want to fight at the same time. "
" Arrogant son of a bitch ! " One of his opponents shouted. " You will regret your insolence. "
Seeing him them running towards him, followed by his comrades, Natsu laid down his smile, while his flames combined around his fist.
" FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST ! "
Barely having the time to slow down, the trio of mercenaries then cried out with fright while the mage came to them.
" NOOOOOOOO ! "
An explosion was suddenly heard, as Narenda approached one of the windows of the base, in order to be able to see smoke in the distance.
" These new mumbled … They do have some interesting powers !"
" AHHHHH !" Tatsumi shouted, ripping out a man's body.
Falling upside down, the man began to cry out in pain, while begging.
" Ahhhh ! Don't kill me, I beg you ! Let me go, I won't say anything, I promise ! If I die, no one will be able to save my village. "
'' His village ? '' Tatsumi repeated.
Seeing him then hesitating, the man straightened himself then, before rushing on him.
" You are too naive. "
"Son of a bitch ! " Natsu shouted, preparing to attack him.
Akame came out of nowhere and cut his opponent's arm.
" What … ? " The man wondered.
Coming out of his wound, strange black symbols appeared, just before he uttered a cry of pain and collapsed to the him dead, Happy took a step back before asking.
" What was that ? She killed him with a simple wound !"
" A simple wound with my teigu is mortal. " Akame was merely assured, taking up her sword. " It's like a powerful poison. "
" Hey, there was no need to kill him. " Natsu replied, while the bodies of his adversaires were at his feet, moaning in pain. " Just knock him out. "
Looking him without any emotion, the girl replied.
" When it represents a threat, never hesitate to give the opponent the final blow. " Then, watching the mercenaries still alive, as well as Natsu who was certainly not going to let her kill them, the young woman breathed a weary sigh, before warning him.
"If the Boss asks us to kill them, I will do it without hesitation."
And so it was with surprise that the boss of Night Raid saw six mercenaries, seated and tied up, in front of her, while they looked at the mages with fear.
" What are they doing here ? " Najenda wanted to know.
" We captured them." Natsu taught her.
" I thought I told you to kill them. "
"Knock them out was enough. " Natsu replied.
"And what shall I do with them ? "
"You wanted to send Tatsumi to workshops to make him work, if he didn't join you. " Wendy remarked." Just do the same with them. "
" And what shall we do if they decide to escape ? " Najenda questioned.
" In the case, we have only to leave them here and we will watch them. " Gajeel assured, then wrapping his arm around the neck of the man he had knocked out earlier. " They will be wise ! Right, buddy ? "
Trembling then, the man shouted.
" The workshops ! We want to work in the workshops, for pity. "
" Don't leave us with these monsters. "
" I beg you, I don't want to be burned again. "
" We won't run away, I promise. "
Seeing them exclaim in the way, while giving fearly looks to the wizards, Najenda breathed a huge sigh before finally saying.
" Leone ! Contact the forces of the third supply base ! Tell them they are sending us a transport to send these guys there. "
" Hey ! You're not going to let them live. " Mine cried. " They know our hiding place now ! "
"Currently, they are unarmed and the base has enough guards to watch them ! Nevertheless , … "
With a black look at the mercenaries, she said.
" If I hear anything wrong from you, I will send my men to pay you a visit. "
Horrified by this, all began to cry out.
" We will behave, I promise ! "
Seeing them cooperate without hesitation, in order to save their lives, Wendy couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. No matter what she said, she was reassured to know that useless blood would not flow.
" For the arrival of the new members, to your health. " Bulat shouted, a pint of beer in hand.
" Health ! " Leone shouted, Lubbock and Natsu before drinking their own glasses.
Beginning to feast, Night Raid organized a real feast for the integrity of the four new members. And while some were drinking, Happy enjoyed a huge grilled fish, while Akame took care of making a huge leg disappear in her own way.
" Well, there's a mood here. " Gajeel noticed, crunching in an iron plate.
" It really doesn't look like the place of assassins. " Lily confessed, with a glass of kiwi juice in his hand.
" In fact, it reminds me of Fairy Tail. " Wendy said.
" Hey, guys ! " Najenda called them. " Good job for your first fight ! Seeing their faces, these guys took a beating in front of you ! Nevertheless, you really have to integrate something ! Sometimes, killing someone is necessary ! "
Preparing to say the opposite, Wendy suddenly had Gajeel cut while he continued to eat.
" Before, the salamander and I were enemies ! I would even say that I was the enemy of Fairy Tail, while I only thought of destroying this guild ! We fought against each other and I ended up losing ! And instead of killing me, they finally invited me to join the Fairy Tail ranks ! "
Finishing his metal plate, he ends up looking at his arms before admitting.
" If I have become who I am now, it is because of these guys ! And today, I don't regret losing to Natsu ! Any way, all this to tell you that people like me can change and become less bad ! It depends on people's characters and whether they are ready to change ! "
Listening to him without saying anything, Lily ends up asking.
" Who are you ? Gajeel would never say never say something so intelligent. "
" Want you my fist in your face, stupid cat ? "
Seeing them arguing while Wendy couldn't help but let out a little laugh, Najenda watched the wizards set the mood in their own way.
" Ah there ! More crazy people to keep me busy !" She said, but she could not help but let out a giggle.
Nevertheless, she knew very well that Gajeel's words could not be true. There were coutless people in the capital who could never change. And the first of them was non other than an acquaintance to herself and her worst rival.
Eating a new roast, Natsu finally stretched out his plate, along with Leone and Mine, While everyone exclaimed.
" Again, Tatsumi ! "
" Hey, wait a minute, I don't have four arms." The boy heanswered.
" Your cuisine is excellent. " Bulat said, eating his bowl of rice with enthusiasm.
" None of us really know how to cook except to make grills or roast meat. " Sheele confessed.
'' I have become a slave. '' Tatsumi roars.
" You are new, so it's normal for you to take care of many household tasks. " Akame said. " Natsu is responsable for the maintenance of the cooking and heating, Gajeel is responsable for the repairs of the base, and Wendy is now the nurse of the group. "
" Her power is incredible. " Leone said, holding the girl against her. " As soon as the training is over, she is there to heal our pain ! It's so convenient to have her with us . "
" That … It's nothing. " Wendy stuttered, roaring a little, finding her face stuck against Leone's chest.
" In any case, I am very happy that Natsu and Gajeel want to train as much. " Bulat confessed. " It was not Lubbock who would have been my opponent for my training sessions. "
" I don't want to die, me. " The boy said.
" This afternoon, I will go fishing. " Akame informed. " Tatsumi and Natsu, you will come with me. "
" Great ! " Happy immediately rejoices. " Fish ! "
" And what do we do ? " Gajeel wanted to know.
" I will show you the city and all our hiding places." Leone taught him. " In case of trouble, during a mission, it will always be useful ! And then, you have to do some shopping. "
Exhaustes, Tatsumi glanced in front of him to see Akame and Natsu moving ahead, without feeling any fatigue.
'' Are they really human ? ''
Climbing up a cliff, Akame gave Tatsumi time to join them, before showing them the small pond a little lower.
" This is our fishing ground. "
" Finally. " Natsu rejoices, then removing his top. "" I was beginning to get a little hungry. "
" Fish ! Catch a big fish ! " Happy ordonned.
" Are you indefatigable or what ? " Tatsumi wanted to know.
Then the boy began to blush when he saw Akame put on her underwear.
" What … What are you doing ? "
" I would be more confortable in the water. " The girl said.
" That's clear; " Natsu approved, wrapping his scarf around his head, while he was already in his boxers. " What exactly are we fishing ? "
" Tunas of the rivers ! " Akame said Akame, before jumping into the water.
" Tuna live in rivers ? " Natsu wondered.
" If she is talking about this kind of tuna, we'd better jump and help her. " Tatsumi cried. " It's a very ferocious fish and … "
He suddenly stopped, seeing a fish suddenly come out of the water, before landing on the shore. Imitating it, many fishes experienced the same fate while a colossal force hoisted them out of the water.
" I dream ? "
" Wow, a rain of fish ! My dream ! " Happy shouted, with a drizzle of saliva in the corner of his mouth.
Returning to the surface, Akame said.
" Every good assassin must know how to erase his presence and move towards his target without being seen ! Can you do it ? "
"Of course ! " Assured Tatsumi, undressing then. "Let me do it ! "
Suddenly jumping into the water, he took a few moments to orient himself before noticing his first prey. Smilling at the sight of the fish, he began to swim towards the fish.
Yet, feeling something abnormal, he looked up, to see a ball of fire rush towards the pond. Thanks to his developed senses, Natsu had already spotted the fish, without having to dive in the water. Now jumping to it, he had already lit his fist as he shouted.
" FIST IRON DRAGON'S FIRE ! "
" NOOOOO, Natsu ! " Tatsumi wanted to shout, pretenting to run away .
Hearing a huge explosion, when Natsu hit the surface of the water, while a huge cloud of stream rose, Akame said.
" I'm glad that Wendy's here. "
" Not sure this is enough to cure him. " Happy replied, while he could see the pond completely dried up, and Tatsumi, completely bured, in the midst of charred fish bodies.
" Hahaha ! " Mine giggles, pointing the head of Tatsumi. " Tatsumi, you are irresistible, from now on ! Hihihi ! "
Back home for a while, the first thing the half-dead boy had done was to see Wendy for a treatment. Nevertheless, the girl couldn't make all his burns disappear, while the boy's hair formed a black afro haircut above his head.
Grumbling because of his, Tatsumi made the head during the whole meal, while the others ate tuna.
" You are not been vigilant. " Akame said.
" It's his fault ! " Tatsumi replied, pointing at Natsu.
" I ate well. " Natsu assured, rubbing his bouncy belly.
" You might be a little more concerned, you pyromaniac. "
" Don't worry, you'll get used to it after a few days. " Gajeel promised him, by gobbling a new piece of tuna into his mouth while chewing his fork.
" Hey, stop eating the silverware, you ! " Lubbock warns. " It's super expensive. "
" I eat like everyone else. " The man answered. " And if you are not happy, come and tell me to my face. "
Seeing him wanting to fight, Lubbock positioned himself behind Bulat before warning.
" Warning, I have my bodyguard with me ! Take a step and he will put you down. "
" I'm eating, so do it yourself. " Bulat said. " Mmm, I really love Tatsumi cooking. "
" Leone !" Najenda called her. " You received a new mission request, right ? "
" Yes ! " The young woman approved. " We were asked to assassinate Ogre ! A captain of the imperial army liable to be corrupted and accept bribes from malicious people, so that they innocent people in his place ! According to the woman I saw, her husband was executed because of that man. "
" What ? " Natsu roars. " So even the police of this city are corrupt ?"
" You have no idea." Bulat assured. " And wait to see the special troops af the Empire ! They love to kill and rape. "
" A captain of the imperial army. " Gajeel repeated, smiling. " I'm going to fight him ! I really need a good fight. "
" Natsu ! Gajeel ! Wendy ! " Najenda suddenly called them. " For you, I have another mission. "
" Hmm ? What mission ? "
"Before you and Tatsumi arrived, the members of Night Raid were far too small to do everything I wanted to do. " Najenda confessed, with a serious look. " Nevertheless, now that you are here, I would like one of you to play an important role. "
" What should he do ? " Wendy wanted to know.
" Join the imperial army. " Najenda exclaimed. "
There was then a heavy silence, before almost all the members of Night Raid started shouting.
" WHAT ? Join the imperial Army ? "
" Yes ! And for one purpose ! Gather information about the enemy and other ! I want to entrust this mission to you for three reasons ! The first, compared to Tatsumi, is that you have nothing to learn from me in combat, and your strength will quickly interest the army ! The second, any of you are wanted, so there is no chance that you will be suspected of being one of us ! And to finish, … "
Deciding to confess everything, Najenda gave up.
" If ever you are caught, what awaits you will be execution and torture to make you talk ! Compared to us, you only know the location of this place and almost nothing of the rest of the revolutionary army ! I'm sorry to say this but if someone is to be captured, it's better for us that is be someone who can only say the minimum to his torturers. "
" Spy ?" Natsu repeated. " It's like being a ninja, isn't it ? "
" Aye, sir ! " Happy assured, starting to take a ninja pose. " And for what, we are professionals. "
" Let me laugh. " Gajeel laughed while Lily was standing in front of him. " If a duo can accomplish this mission with success, it's me and my cat ! Leave the place, losers."
" Eh ? With your face, nobody will want to hire you. "
" What about you ? Who would be interested by your oyster QI ? Besides, being a spy means quietly investigating, you don't have the talent for it."
"I'd do it better than you, asshole."
"Really ?"
"Are you stupids or what ? " Mine suddenly got mad. " We are talking about a dangerous mission where the slightest mistake can lead to your death ! How can you react like that without being afraid to die ? "
" Tssss ! We saw worse that that. " Gajeel assured. " Even if we get caught, none of us will have big problem to get away with ! Even Wendy ! Isn't it, shrimp ?"
" Huh … yes ! " The child said, suddenly lowering the gaze.
" Is there a problem ? "
"Not nothing. " She lied, while forcing herself to smile.
Cleaning her mechanical arm while smoking cigarette, Najenda was sitting quietly on the bed of her room, when someone knocked on her door.
" Yes ? "
" It's Wendy. " The girl taught her. " Can I home in ? "
" Of course ! " Her new leader assured. " What do you want ? "
Entering in the room, the girl put her hands behind her back, showing some sing of anxiety.
" Uh … actually, to tell you the truth … ! I don't think I'm going to be able to continue this work."
"What do you mean ? "
" I could never kill anyone. " The girl confessed. " It's impossible for me ! Even if it's someone eating away at me or threatening my life ! I know this is ridiculous from your point of view but I am a person who believes that everyone can change. "
" Really ? And Gajeel and Natsu think like you ? "
" Gajeel is more likely to be anti-emotional with people ! If someone pushes him to the limit, he will have no hesitation to fight him with violence ! And for Natsu, I don't really know ! In any case, neither of them will hesitate for a second to support you, compared to me, who risks becoming a burden. "
" So you want to give up ? "
" No, actually I ... I ... " Suddenly taking her courage, she said.
" I want to be the one to send as a spy in the imperial army. "
Listening to her before suddenly exhaling a column of smoke, Najenda replied.
" Here or there, you must know that you will probably have to face a situation where you will have to kill someone ! The imperial army may be the police of the capital, but some of their generals are so cruel that it affects their soldiers ! They get corrupted by evil and it is impossible to bring them out of nothingness. "
Staring at Wendy, she asked her.
"Do you really think you can stand up and survive in such an environment ? To tell you the truth, I would have preferred to send Gajeel ! Of the three of you, he seems to have the best chance of succeeding."
"Yes, I think I can. " Said Wendy. " By staying here, I don't think I can help you much ! May as a spy, I am convinced that I could help you ! So, please, let me do this job."
Hearing this, Najenda suddenly hugs Wendy before teaching her.
" A little girl as brave and cute as you … it would break my heart to know that you were caught by these monsters ! You're far too young to die. "
"Bo … Boss ? " Finally abandoning the girl, Najenda turned around, before saying.
"A day ! I leave you a day to try to join the imperial army ! Given your size, it's only naturel to think that soldiers will laugh in your face when you want to sign up ! They will only take you if you rise to the occasion ! So you have all day tomorrow to register ! But if you don't, I'll let Gajeel take this job ! Is that okay ?"
" Heard ! " Assured Wendy.