Chapter 54

" The Jaegers… betrayed us? "

Having first stood still for a few seconds, the emperor ended up asking this question, when one of his ministers had just given him an account of the battle that had taken place in town.

" Um, yes ! According to reports from Budo-san and Wild Hunt, the Jaegers have teamed up with Night Raid to attack them! Now, apart from Esdeath-san, they are all considered traitors! "

Observing him, Makoto suddenly ends up leaving his throne. A piece of ham in his hand, Honest then saw him go to a window and start looking at the capital in front of him. Silent, Makoto seemed thoughtful. Then, finally, he asked.

" All Jaegers are traitors…? Even Wendy? "

" Yes ! According to our information, it seems that she and Seryu were the people who started this battle, by attacking Wild Hunt! The other Jaegers then joined the battle! As a result, Wendy and Seryu were surely the first people to join Night Raid! "

Not bothering to look at the man, Makoto continued to look outside. However, observing him, Honest saw the emperor's fist clench.

The child could not hide his anger. He couldn't believe the Jaegers could have betrayed him, the emperor. However, what annoyed him the most was Wendy's betrayal.

Clenching his teeth, Makoto thought back to his first meeting with the girl and the many tips she had given him. Then, from time to time, it was Makoto himself who had come to see her when he had had problems with the management of the empire, and had been ashamed to admit it to the other ministers. Wendy had always been understanding and friendly to him. In fact, Makoto had never confessed to him, but being able to speak to a child his age had made him so happy that he wanted to consider Wendy as his friend.

But now he felt betrayed.

"Why Wendy? Why ? Wasn't it you who advised me to do the best for the empire? In this case, why did you join the evil? What was the use of all the advice you gave me? Were you sincere with me or were you just trying to manipulate me? "

" Emperor? What should we do with this problem? "

Finally, turning around, Makoto directed his gaze at one person and asked.

" Prime Minister, what do you advise me to do? "

At that moment, the long smile that appeared showed that Honest was the only person to be delighted with the departure of Wendy.

"No, but who are these guys?"

Trying to eat a piece of bread, Wave could only be embarrassed while seeing the flames of a campfire disappear in Natsu's mouth, and hearing the crackles that Gajeel made while eating a metal plate.

" Say, guys ... have your stomachs changed or what? "

" No why ? " Questioned the two mages.

" Drop ! "

" This is always surprising at the start. " Taught him Lubbock. " However, the most annoying thing about all of this is the cost of their food! Still, for Natsu, we don't have much to spend for him to eat fire! Nevertheless, Gajeel costs us a fortune in forks! Especially since he only eats luxury silverware! "

" What ? I don't eat anything, me! "

" Sale ungrateful! "

" Radin! "

" Hey, shut up while I eat. " Natsu ordered.

" You have a problem ? " Lubbock and Gajeel questioned him.

" What? Do you want to fight or what? "

" Even more way to eat in peace. "Happy remarked, eating back with Lily and Tatsumi.

" It's always like this". The boy simply stated, seeing the trio in front of them start fighting.

Surprised, as for him, Wave remained motionless while the fight took place a few meters from him.

"Damn it, but these guys are completely nuts!"

Suddenly receiving a plate in the face, he fell back. Rising with a bump on the forehead, he roared.

" Hey, watch out! "

" Shut up ! "

" Grrr. " Wave said.

Grabbing his sword immediately, he uttered a battle cry, before jumping straight to the battle site, and began to mingle.

Seeing this, Kurome could only sigh.

" Decidedly, he's just a kid! "

" They are all! " Akame retorted, while eating a huge leg. " But this at least sets the mood within the group! "

" They are just noisy. " Mine growled, while eating a strawberry sorbet.

Suddenly, a piece of metal was ejected towards her and smashed against her dessert. Falling to the ground, the latter only became a pink plaque, which Mine could only observe, paralyzed.

Gritting her teeth, she made flames appear around her, which immobilized the combatants not far from her.

" M… Mine…? " Wondered Lubbock, seeing her looking at them with a dark look.

" I will kill you all! " Roared the girl, pointing Pumpkin towards them.

Screaming in fear, the quartet ran immediately, as she fired. Bombing the place, Mine began targeting anywhere and even those who had done nothing.

Thus, moving away in time, Tatsumi, Happy and Lily could distinguish a ray passing between them, brushing against them.

" No, but it is wrong? "

" You have a problem ? " Mine questioned them, putting him at stake.

" Evil kid. " Said Lily, running towards her, while resuming her warrior form. " I will give you the correction of your life! "

" Let's go for collective entertainment" . Announced Gajeel.

" Yeah! Battle royal ! " Cried Natsu.

Watching the whole scene, Wendy had remained completely still. However, nothing seemed to erase the smile on her face.

" You seem particularly happy. " Noticed a voice.

Letting Seryu sit next to her, the child announced to her.

" I'm ! In fact, I almost feel like I have returned to Fairy Tail!

Then seeing Natsu pretend to strangle Wave and Tatsumi, wrapping his arms around their necks, while Gajeel and Lily faced Mine, Seryu finally noticed.

" If this is the case, Fairy Tail must really put together a bunch of crazy people! "

" It's not false ! But, if you want my opinion, we are not far from it, too! "

Suddenly grabbing her from the back, a pair of hands ends up lifting her off the ground.

" I got you. " Sneered Leone, with a bottle in hand.

" Leone? "

" Cheers. " Cried the woman, while directing her bottle towards the child's mouth.

" Hein? No, no alcohol! "

" Go, let yourself go! "

" Stops. " Wendy begged, struggling.

Finally letting go, Leone ends up noticing.

" So you Jaegers, you're really very stuck! Especially him…! "

Pointing her thumb behind her, she pointed to Run who, sitting against the foot of a tree, was reading a book while drinking a cup of tea.

" A problem ? " Wanted to know the latter, understanding that they were talking about him.

" Good blood, there is everyone moving or fighting around you, so how can you stay like this without doing anything and all alone? "

" I am very good like that! It's my way of life. "Assured the man, while plunging his mind back into his book.

Nevertheless, Seryu and Wedny knew very well that there was a problem with him. It was not his behavior, but rather the expression on his face that was somewhat troubled. The man was mad at him.

For years, he had been tracking Champ. And today he had the opportunity to kill him. However, he failed. And he couldn't forgive himself.

" Why ? What did I miss, damn it? I had it all! Rage ! Motivation ! A reason to kill him without feeling guilty… even the number was in our favor! "

Lamenting thus, he was surprised to feel an object hit his head.

" Hey. " He cried, grabbing a drink.

" Come with us. "Ordered Leone, seated cross-legged, with a bottle in hand. " If you want to be part of Night Raid, prove yourself! "

" How will drinking make me an active member of this crazy group? "

" I only trust those who drink with me. " Said Leone, with a smile.

Just shrugging, Run pretended to resume reading. Yet he stopped again, when Leone said.

" You are frustrated, and it shows on your face! However, if you stay on this failure and you think your time to devalue yourself by asking a thousand and one questions, know that you can never achieve your goals! "

" Hein? " The boy wondered.

" Even without having to know yourself, I know very well that you want to take revenge on someone! Being obstinate in tracking him down can be a quality! However, too much being quickly turns into a defect! "

" What do you mean ? "

" That if someone has fun from time to time, it doesn't hurt. " Assured Leone, holding out his bottle. "Forget your worries a bit and you will see that tomorrow you can move forward again! "

Listening to him, Run couldn't help but sigh. However, eventually closing his book, he left his place, before advancing towards Leone. However, he completely surprised the young woman by grabbing her bottle before bringing it to her mouth. At once, Leone and the two other girls could see him drinking the whole bottle in one gulp. Then, once he had emptied it, he finally clicked his tongue, while affirming.

" It is not with this drink for children that I can get drunk! Don't you have anything else ? "

"My bottle. " Saddened Leone. " It was my favorite drink! "

" Little girl. " Run said, getting ready to leave.

However, placing her hand on his shoulder, Leone said.

" I won't let you go like this! I'm throwing you a drink challenge! "

" Hum? If that amuses you! I have time to kill! "

Listening to her, Wendy finally notices.

" I believe that we are going to discover a personality of Run that nobody has yet been able to see! "

Remaining silent, Seryu couldn't help but look at his companion before doing the same with the other members of his former team. For her, it was certain that the former member of the Jaegers who had to prove himself at all costs was none other than herself. She had to win the trust of others, no matter how.

Sitting on the branch of a weapon, Chelsea remained skeptical of the new members of the group. For her, it was impossible to trust these people.

" They are far too naive. " She remarked, watching her friends party with their former enemies.

" You know, it might not be a bad thing for us! "

Jumping, Chelsea almost fell from its branch. Still keeping her balance, she turned to see Najenda, on the branch above her.

" Boss? "

" Our last fight against Esdeath showed us that we are still far from having a chance to achieve our goal! No matter how we see others, we need allies! "

" Yes, but still. " Insisted Chelsea. " These guys were the subordinates of Esdeath! Do you really think they will let us fight it when the time comes? "

" We will see that day by day. " Assured him Najenda. " First of all, let's try to fight the enemy we have in common, ie Wild Hunt! After that, we will see if the links between us, we will be favorable to continue this momentum! In the meantime, I beg you and Mine not to do anything that could trigger discord! "

" Tsss. " Said Chelsea simply, getting up. " As if I were the kind of girl dumb enough to start a fight and risk dying! "

Then dropping from its branch, it lands on its feet, while adding.

" Nevertheless, I am not stupid enough to make friend-friend with them as if the past had no importance! Seryu and Kurome are the most dangerous, so I would personally watch over their actions! Here is my conclusion of the facts! "

Sighing, Najenda could not hide a certain form of understanding. Sitting on her own branch, she took out a cigarette before starting to light it. Then, looking down, she could see the new group that two old teams had been able to form.

Now there was a brawl, a drink contest, Bols joined the others with ready-made food; alcohol flowed freely ... and three times more members than at the origin of the creation of Night Raid. Experienced fighters of teigus and even mages. It was also because of one of them that the situation was thus, at this very moment.

"I always got mad at Natsu. " noticed Najenda. " Still, I can't help but wonder what our group would be like right now if he and the other two hadn't joined us? Are we at least still alive? In any case, I doubt that we could have welcomed so many members! "

Suddenly, picking up a strange noise, she looked up to see a huge silhouette fly over them. It belonged to a gigantic yellow bird like a raptor, which began to turn all around their camp. At first intrigued, Najenda ends up widening her eyes, while exclaiming.

" I forgot them! Their coming was for today! "

" Hey, what is that? " Wanted to know Gajeel, dropping Lubbock at his feet.

" I have never seen this kind of critters before. " Asserted Mine, while preparing his teigu.

Immediately, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, Run put his bottle on the ground, before letting his wings spread.

" Do I have to take a reconnaissance tour? "

" I can shoot him, if you want. " Seryu suggested, with Koro on his shoulder.

" Especially not. "Retorted Najenda, rushing towards them. "They are with us! "

" They? " Repeated Tatsumi.

Suddenly sniffing the air, Natsu and Gajeel finally made smiles appear on their faces, as they said.

" The hard training will resume! "

" What? "

At that moment, a humanoid figure jumped out of the raptor's back, which immediately went away. Dropping without hesitation, the figure traveled several hundred meters before letting his feet fall suddenly against the ground, raising a large cloud of dust.

Immediately everyone could hear a voice cry out.

" Complete Idiot ! Do you want our death ? "

" Relax, little guy. " Advised him a second voice. "Everything was perfectly calculated! And then, you must know that from now on, you will constantly put your life at stake! That's it, being part of Night Raid! "

Hearing this voice lit up the faces of all the former members of Night Raid, while a silhouette in front of them could be recognized by all.

Finally, knowing the dust with an arm movement, one of the two newcomers smiled again at his old companions.

" Good morning, friends! Bulat is back! "

" BULAT! " Rejoiced his friends, seeing him in good shape before them.

It was like before. Same musculature same strange haircut same uniform ... unlike the leg that Gajeel had cut him off. Instead of the latter, the man now had what looked like a wooden leg, made of an alloy strongly resembling gold.

" Aniki. " Cried Tatsumi Natsu and Happy. " Are you back? "

" Of course. " Assured the fellow, while striking his fists. " I hope the capital is ready! Because, here I am again and I promise that it will move! "

However, he lost his smile somewhat when he saw the former members of the Jaegers. Among them, he recognized a girl who looked exactly like Akame's sister, whom Akame had shown him in drawing.

Then, finally, having heard the latest news since his departure, he finally understood who these people were.

" Someone tell me what the Jaegers are doing here? Have you made a pact with Esdeath? "

" A lot has happened since your absence. " Najenda assured him, advancing towards him. But don't worry, both of you will know about everyone!

" Both ? " Lubbock wondered.

Then it was at this moment that a silhouette, hidden behind Bulat, presented itself to the group. And among the latter, Tatsumi was most surprised when he recognized this person who was none other than the latest recruit from Night Raid.

" You? "

" You're not the only one who deserves the spotlight, Tatsumi. " Assured him the boy, in front of him, while displaying a mean smile.

Then putting himself in a position of attention, he cried out.

" New recruit to report! I introduce myself! My name is Ieyatsu! "

Grimacing in pain, Syura eventually threw a doctor aside, while the latter changed the bandage he had on his nose.

" Incapable. " Roared the Minister's son, while leaving the palace infirmary.

The man was in rage. During the day today, he had lost everything. He had lost his teigu he had lost his fights Enshin was dead, despite the fact that it was the least of his worries Cosmina, after an analysis was still alive, however, even Dorothea could not assure her that she could heal her completely. In short, Syura had been humiliated by both the Jaegers Night Raid and Budo.

" Damn it ! " He roared, grabbing a vase, before throwing it with all his might against a window, which exploded into pieces. " Damn! Damn! Damn! "

" Content to see that you understood how disappointed you must be with your performance today. " Said a voice.

Freezing, Syura turned to see his father, just behind him, with a piece of meat in his mouth.

" Dad ? "

" Esdeath came back a few hours ago! She learned of the departure of her little proteges and saches that she was rather unhappy with it! However, during his report, Budo affirmed the fact that the Jaegers had, for some time, established contact with Night Raid, in order to decide to ambush you today! For the emperor, you are in no way at fault for today's battle! "

Continuing to sneer, he ends up adding.

" The good joke! So, if I have to guess things for myself, you took on members of Jaegers the others came back Night Raid took advantage of the situation to ally with them and stuck a beating on you! Am I wrong ? "

Faced with his question, Syura could only lower his head shamefully.

" What a disappointment on your part, Syura! What about Budo? How did you manage to make it credible? "

" He committed treason, father. " Cried Syura, hoping more than anything to make her father forget her failure. " He let Night Raid run away instead of helping us kill them! That is why he lied in our cause! "

" Oh ? " Wondered Honest. " Very surprising on his part! However, there was a chance it could happen! It must be said that he begins to hate you more than Night Raid! "

" Father… I… I am aware of my failure! However, I beg you! Give me a second chance! I swear to get rid of Night Raid! "

Staring at him without showing the slightest emotion in his eyes, Honest ended up showing a broad cruel smile, while he said.

" It is not my habit to give a second chance to those who have disappointed me greatly! "

Swallowing, Syura expected the worst. However, eventually rummaging through his pockets, Honest ends up taking out a pretzel which he bites while declaring.

_" owever, despite your failure, something positive came out during this affair! Now that he knows that Wendy betrayed the empire to associate with Night Raid, the emperor is very unhappy with himself! He is angry to have listened to the advice of this sassy little girl and has now given me a real carte blanche in my actions to get my hands on Night Raid! "

Finishing his pretzel, he licked his fingers while declaring.

" That means that nobody can stop me from brainwashing this stupid brat! Good work, son! Nevertheless, I sincerely hope that your next mission will end with less collateral damage on our side! "

" Yes, father! It is obvious that I will massacre them without any problem! "

" Whatever. " Declared his father. " Either way, he'll be here soon! "

Opening his eyes wide, Syura couldn't help but swallow, as he asked.

" So the legend was true? He ... He is still alive? "

" Yes, my very dear son. " Assured his father, while looking at the sky from the broken window. " The dear creator will be here soon! And as soon as he puts a little on the soil of the Empire, I can assure you ...! "

Breaking the rest of the glass completely with a punch, he took pleasure in letting a trickle of blood run from his hand before licking it.

" What Night Raid , Esdeath, and Budo will only be a distant memory! "