"If I recap, our enemies are only eight in number." Thought Najenda, with a sheet of paper in her hand. " The Emperor, the Prime Minister, Izou, Giry, Dorothea, Suzuka, Cosmina, if we can believe what Dorothea told us… and of course Esdeath! As a result, we are left with only two low powered enemies, five high powered enemies and one person with superhuman powers! However, that's not to mention the fact that Budo can recover overnight! However, … "

Turning her face to a part of her group who was celebrating Natsu's good recovery, she couldn't help but think.

"… For one reason or another, my hope keeps growing ! Our number continues to increase, as does our power! In addition, this new army that idolizes Natsu is timely! When the time comes, it will be able to attack enemy forces from within the capital itself. "

Clenching her fist, she ends up grabbing a bottle of alcohol, before bringing it to her mouth. While drinking a portion, she ends up falling into a seat, before asserting.

" Lubbock, your sacrifice will not be useless! We will remember you and all our deceased friends. "

" What ? " Gajeel choked, spitting a few pieces of metal out of his mouth. " Is there a Fairy Tail army? And he considers you a god? "

" Yeah. " Natsu asserted, while eating flames. " I didn't understand everything about the fact that they loved me! But each of them wanted to be under my orders! I refused, but they insisted. "

Immediately, Gajeel got angry.

" Why do you have an army and not me? I, too, can't stop fighting. "

" You had something else. " Lily retorted. " Spear and Chelsea. "

Blushing at that moment, Gajeel fell silent, before resuming his meal.

Eyes closed, Caruma remained still as Wendy had her hands resting on her half-burnt face. Finally, after a few seconds, a strong comfort was felt in her, while the pain of her burns had almost disappeared.

" I'm sorry. " Apologized Wendy, when she was done. " I can make the pain of your wounds go away, but not your burns. "

Just touching the damaged skin on his face, Caruma ended up smiling while retorting.

" It's nothing, Wendy! What am I complaining about when Niks and the rest are dead? I can only rejoice to be still alive! And now I want revenge. "

Seeing the members of Night Raid and Jaegers bustling around her, she wanted to know.

" If I ask, do you think I'll be able to join your group ? "

" Caruma, this is not a game. " Wendy retorted. " Even against the weakest member of Wild Hunt, you won't be able to win against him! You will get killed. "

" I'm not going to stay here without reacting! That's why I joined the Fairy Tail army! I too want to fight! I want to earn my freedom! I want … ! I want … "

Clenching her fists, she cried.

" I want to avenge my friends. "

" We will do it. " Assured Wendy. " However, you just stay here, alive. "

" And why ? I want to fight too. "

" For Seryu. " Cried Wendy.

Looking at the young woman then, Wendy saw her walk slowly towards the members of Night Raid, with a tray of food in her hands, and offered them something to eat. Some like Bulat, help themselves while thanking the girl. Others, on the contrary, ignored Seryu, while use Mine glared at him. Despite the merging of the two groups, Mine's hatred towards Seryu had a hard time disappearing.

" Despite his efforts, Seryu needs you to keep his mind stable. "

" Why does this girl behave like this with her ? " Caruma wanted to know, remembering Mine's reaction when Natsu was dying. " Seryu tried to help Night Raid as best she could and this girl was planning to kill her. "

" I understand how Mine feels. " Wendy retorted, lowering her gaze a little. " Just like her, I was there when Seryu attacked Scheele. "

" What ? "

" Before you met her, Seryu was… horrible! She was violent, cruel, loved to kill those she considered evil! To be honest, the first time I saw his real face, I was horrified, thinking that Seryu was actually a monster. "

" I know all that. " Caruma retorted, remembering her first meeting with Seryu. " The bandit base where I tried to steal food had been attacked by your companions, the Jaegers! Bols, Kurome and Seryu are the ones who killed the most people! Still, for some reason she and I still don't know, Seryu decided to spare me! Maybe because I was a girl! Maybe because I begged him to spare me! But, without knowing it, this simple gesture made it possible to see us again and to know us! And we became friends. "

" You did a lot more than that for Seryu ! "

" What ? "

" For a long time, I believed that my presence could change Seryu's behavior! And when I saw her soften up, I was congratulating myself on staying with her! And yet, I discovered that it was something else that had changed Seryu's behavior! The presence of a thief with a pure heart. "

Looking at Caruma, Wendy asserted.

" Caruma… you are the one who showed Seryu that a person who does not earn an honest living is not always a bad person! You love Seryu and she gave you back your love by wanting revenge! Nevertheless, she became unstable and if Father Mory had not been there to comfort her, I am sure that Seryu would have become a killing machine that would have destroyed the capital, under the action of his anger. "

" Seryu loves me that much ? "

" She loves you much more than you think. " Assured Wendy. " And she's not the only one. "

Suddenly, the child hugged Caruma in his arms, while asserting.

" I am happy ! Glad you're alive. "

Then, feeling tears stinging in her eyes, Wendy remembered Syura's words to her. If Wild Hunt had attacked the town's poor and the children of the church, it was only because Wendy had sympathized with Makoto. And even now, Wendy was having a hard time forgiving herself.

" Caruma…! I am very sorry. "

" Wendy ? "

" Caruma. " Suddenly sobbed Seryu, jumping on his back. " Mine told me again she hated me! Give me a hug to comfort me. "

Seeing the two girls hugging her then, Caruma didn't know what to say. Finally, seeing Koro staring at them, Caruma pleaded with him.

" Do something. "

Turning his gaze to see a piece of meat dragged onto an abandoned plate, the dog found it more interesting to eat, than to lend Caruma a hand.

" Dirty traitor ! "

Far from looking happy, Kurome wasn't even aware of what had happened. Isolated, she had almost locked herself in a cupboard, while she held her head in her hands. She was still suffering from a severe headache, as her tremors grew more and more uncontrollable.

" I … ! I … ! My cookies! I need ... my cookies. "

The poor girl was in pain. She felt like her brain was dissolving inside her head, as she was desperate to have a tiny bit of the drug. The only reason she was currently fighting was because of her behavior against Logue. If Ieyasu hadn't intervened in time, she would undoubtedly have killed him.

" Why ? Why did I want to kill her? What have I become? "

Grinning in pain, she gritted her teeth, before finally moving her hand towards the closet door to open it. She couldn't take it anymore. He needed his drugs.

However, before touching the door, she was surprised to see it open wide. Then she saw Akame stand in front of her, as she informed him.

" We need to talk. "

" Sis ... Sister? How did you find me ? "

" You already had this habit before. " Akame reminded him. " You always locked yourself in my bedroom closet, because you wanted to be sure that I was the one to find you first when you were scared. "

Seeing Kurome shaking even more than before he left, she ended up crouching down in front of her, before teaching him.

" I learned what happened! Kurome… how are you feeling? "

" I am in pain. " His sister taught him. " I beg you, sister, help me! Help me ! "

" Unfortunately, even if I wanted to, I can't do anything, Kurome! You are the only one who can save yourself! And for that, you have to fight against your irrepressible craving for drugs. "

" She ... She is too strong for me! Retorted the young girl! I… I can't win! Sister, I swear I can't fight this. "

Just nodding, Akame then ends up throwing something at his sister's feet: a small bag of cookies.

" What … ? "

" This is what you want ! Your precious cookies. "

Immediately, Kurome threw himself on the bag and ripped it open, before grabbing a cookie.

" Finally. " She rejoices, bringing it to her mouth.

" Finally ! I will finally make all my suffering disappear! "

However, before he could eat it, Akame grabbed his wrist, asserting himself.

" I leave you a choice. "

" What ? " His sister wondered.

" This little bag of cookies is all that was left of your big bag when you got here! Apart from that handful of cakes, there's nothing else left! At most, you will only last two days. "

" Two ... Two days ? "

" Yes ! You will spend two more days destroying your body! Clearly, you will just make a possible cure even more difficult! Kurome, Wendy managed to get all the drugs out of your body! In short, she saved you and saved you from certain death in the years to come! However, if you decide to take more, all this would have been for nothing! Kurome, if you eat these cookies, you doom yourself. "

" But ... But I need it! I really need it Sister. "

" In this case, don't hesitate. " Akame advised him. " Eat your cookies! But I warn you, do not come to me afterwards when your pains reappear. "

" But I'm already in pain. " Kurome retorted.

" The pain will be much stronger if you take drugs again! Kurome… it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to destroy your body! But know one thing… I don't want to lose my sister a second time. "

Listening to her, Kurome froze, and only stared at the cookie she had in her hand. She was in terrible pain and she knew that this delicious cake would make her feel better, like every time she ate one. However, compared to usual, her sister was right in front of her, and was more than anything to prevent her from eating again.

Seeing her stand still, Akame let out a simple sigh, before finally leaving the room.

'' Do whatever you want, Kurome! I just hope you don't regret your choice. "

However, to her surprise, she felt a pair of arms grab her from behind, as a weeping face pressed against her back. Starting to sob, as she dropped the cookie to the ground, Kurome still struggled with the pain.

" Sister ... Sister ... SISTER! "

Barely able to stand, she dropped to her knees, while continuing to hold Akame's body against her. Finally, the latter could see her squatting, as she begged her.

" Help me ! "

Those two simple words immobilized Akame, while she only looked at her sister in tears.

" I don't want to die ! I want to stay with you ! Yes, I want to stay with my beloved sister! I want to live with you. "

Pushing her away then, Akame turned around and walked over to the small bag of cookies on the floor. Once in front of him, she stared at Kurome, while lifting her foot. Understanding what she was planning to do, Kurome pretended to reach for the bag. However, finding herself frozen, she ended up lowering her gaze, and showed that she did not want to struggle any more.

Seeing this, Akame crushed the bag of cookies under his foot and destroyed all of them. From now on, nothing was going to prevent him from taking care of his sister. Yes, now she will stay with her and make sure she can live a happy life.

But for that, she had to get rid of the darkness of the empire.

Sitting cross-legged, Izou seemed to be meditating while he seemed a little tense.

" I am perhaps the only one who thinks this way, but wouldn't we do better to leave as soon as possible? "

Being in Dorothea's laboratory, he was in the company of Dorothea as well as Suzuka. Taking care of two vats, the alchemist looked at the state of the bodies of Cosmina, who was almost ready to go out, as well as that of Giry. Frustrated with his last defeat against Bulat, the genocidaire had asked for a new improvement of his body.

" Why leave ? " Dorothea asked him.

" Syura might be a pain in the ass, the fact remains that her presence was the only thing that allowed us to commit crimes with impunity! Now that he's dead, we will surely be punished by the Prime Minister. "

" Hahaha! " Giggles Suzuka. " So how do you get to feel feelings like fear? I am surprised. "

Settling more comfortably in her seat, she asserted.

" Me, in any case, I have nothing to fear! I'm Honest's bodyguard! You just have to apply for this position! That's good, there are three places still vacant. "

" Stop saying bullshit. " Dorothea ordered, while remaining perfectly calm. " As long as I'm alive, we have nothing to fear! I am much more precious in Honest's eyes than her son was. "

" Oh ? " A voice asked at the entrance of the room. " Do you value your skills at this point ? "

Turning around at the same time, the trio saw the Prime Minister enter the room, while eating a slice of ham. Stepping forward, he only looked at the contents of the two vats containing the other two warriors of Wild Hunt. Then, finally, a smile spread across his face.

" Fascinating! I had heard of your genius… But this is beyond comprehension! Even without the presence of my son you will still be able to be very useful to me! Don't worry, Wild Hunt is too important to me for me to decide to disband the team! I need you all to fight Night Raid! But tell me, now who should I turn to to give my direct orders? Who is the new leader of your team? "

Immediately, as if he had been able to hear the question through the liquid which surrounded him, Giry opened his eyes and stared at the Prime Minister, while trying in vain to move his hand to point his finger.

" Waouh, what persistence. " Suzuka laughed.

" I'm the new leader of Wild Hunt. " Dorothea nevertheless assured. " If you need anything, please let me know. "

" Perfect. " Honest assured, before finally leaving. " Don't disappoint me like my son! I have high hopes for you. "

Seeing him leave, Izou's gaze hardened as a drop of sweat beaded his forehead. Through Honest's compliments and "sympathy" he had managed to read between the lines.

" This guy…! He plans to use us to kill Night Raid and get rid of us right after. "

" We are all likely to take power, once Night Raid is out. " Dorothea affirmed. " Since he knows that Esdeath is not interested in becoming Empress, he expects to keep her with him! After all that has happened, he surely plans to seal off all the other remaining teigus and ensure that no one like Night Raid can ever hinder his plans again. "

Hearing this made the smile disappear from Suzuka's face, as she wondered if she was part of the lot too.

" I imagine you already have a plan. " Izou remarked.

Smiling, Dorothea stared at the vat that contained Giry's body, while Giry looked furious that Dorothea had taken advantage of her condition to proclaim herself the new team leader.

" Oh, would you be frustrated, Giry? Don't worry ! If that can console you, before long you will become the king of this empire. "

Immediately, surprise was read in the eyes of the murderer, as in those of Izou and Suzuka.

Sneering then, the young girl affirmed.

" Yes ! When we're done with Night Raid, we'll kill Honest, before he can do the same, and then we'll do the same with Makoto! Once done, Giry will take power. "

" W… Why him? " Izou questioned him.

" Think a bit ! What kind of regime do you think he will put in place? A real regime of terror where murder will be tolerated! He can kill as he pleases and we can do the same! I could do whatever I want with the people and turn them into perfect guinea pigs! With them, I could discover the secret of immortality! And I could live like a queen for the rest of my life. "

Hearing this, Giry looked skeptical, however, using what little strength he had, he eventually produced a huge, monstrous smile, showing that he loved the plan. Killing people was what he loved the most.

" There is just one problem. " Suzuka noticed. " What about Esdeath ? "

" Esdeath? " Dorothea asked her, as if she didn't even know who she was anymore. " Ah yes ! Don't worry. "

Looking at her cupboard filled with vials of poisons and the like, she asserted.

" Esdeath is by no means an overpowered deity! A small drop of one of my preparations in his food and it will not cause us the slightest problem, I can guarantee it. "