"Kill me, please."

"I beg you, kill me."

"AHHHHHHHH! I'm in pain."

Walking quietly, hearing hundreds of people screaming in pain as they were brutally tortured, Pandora's Actor didn't seem really disturbed by what he was seeing. Having been able to steal Tomri's identity, he had no problem entering the palace, before entering the basements of the palace, where the prisoners of the capital were gathered.

Turning his head to the left, Pandora saw a guard grasp the neck of a man, while sticking an ice pick in his eye to rip it out. Turning his head to the right, he saw a woman hanging upside down as her head was a few inches above a fire. Screaming in terror, she felt her long hair catch on fire, as the flames began to reach the top of her head.

Finally, looking ahead, Pandora saw executioners whipping the bodies of various people, while others punched the prisoners with brass knuckles equipped with quills. Laughing devilishly, the executioners took pleasure in torturing those considered to be the enemies of the people. Still remaining stoic, Pandora had a small crystal in his hand, the capacity of which was the same as a camera. Filming everything that happened, Pandora granted Galadriel's wish, with the goal of then declaring war on the Emperor.

"Hey, Tomri! You're late."

Advancing towards him, an executioner smirked cruelly, as blood trickled down his hands. Holding a woman's hair, he forced her to step forward. Not even having the strength to scream anymore, his victim was sobbing, while her nose and ears had just been cut off.

"We started without you! We got a new supply of prisoners! If you want, I think there are still a few left in Block D."

Staring at the man with simple disgust, Pandora immediately hid it, before starting to smile cruelly.

"HAHAHA! Perfect! Really, we have the best job in the world! Who better than you to be allowed to kill people ?"

"HAHAHA! You're right! The Emperor is protecting us and we can do whatever we want."

Then looking at the woman he was holding, Tomri questioned him.

"What did this woman do to end up here? Did she kill someone?"

Laughing, the other executioner questioned him.

"Are you stupid or what? Have you forgotten that today's prisoners were the former group of resistance fighters who carried out a peaceful demonstration in the streets of the capital? The prime minister ordered their arrest and they are now here."

Listening to him silently, Pandora Actor then saw a huge cauldron filled with boiling oil, where prisoners were forced to jump, to suffer an undescribed agony that only death could stop.

Still unmoved, Pandora continued to use his crystal to film what he was seeing. Deciding that this was enough, he now turned around, looking for a secluded corner, where he could use his magic to teleport to Nazarick.

However, seeing him leave, the other executioner questioned him.

"Also, have you heard the latest news? Esdeath-sama will be back soon."

"Hmm?"

"Oh, but what do I see?"

Being smirking mischievously, Demiurge was observing a huge group of soldiers, who were kneeling in front of him. While the demon had crushed the northern kingdom, before attacking a country, named Fredonia, Demiurge had now decided to attack the third country which was at war with the Empire. However, while he was accompanied by Shalltear, Entoma and Solution, he was surprised to see at least five thousand soldiers, on the border of the country, who seemed to be waiting for the quartet. Then, when Jaldabaoth had stepped down, the soldiers raised several white flags, while the soldiers knelt down in submission.

Having been silent for a few seconds, Demiurge asked.

"May I know who is the leader of this army?"

Immediately, one of the soldiers in the front row stood up, before approaching Demiurge. Then, finding it best to kneel down again, the old soldier in silver armor asserted.

"Jaldabaoth-sama, let me introduce myself! I am Admiral Rayo! It is a huge honor for me to meet you."

"Oh? And may I know what you and your men are doing? I declared war on your country three days ago! Have you ever decided to surrender, even before it started battle! Does your king agree with that?"

"It was royalty that ordered us to avoid all combat." The admiral asserted. "Our Queen Pamyr-sama is ready to turn this country into a vassal country and to obey your orders."

"Oh, really? Why such a quick surrender?"

"Our ... We know perfectly well that you have destroyed the military might of the Northern Kingdom, as well as of Fredonia! Our country has less powerful military might! What good would it be to go to war, knowing full well that we will do it slaughter. "

"So you prefer submission?"

"Yes! It's better than the massacre of the people."

Then, rummaging through his armor, he pulled out a parchment, which he handed to Demiurge.

"Here is a document where our queen informs you of our surrender."

Grabbing the parchment, Demiurge took a few seconds to read it before summarizing.

"If I sign this parchment, I would make this country a vassal country ..."

"That's it, Demiurge-sama! We will obey your orders, and we will even help fight the Empire."

Pausing to reflect, Demiurge found no real advantage in controlling the weaker country surrounding the Empire. However, knowing that he had no right to decide on his own, he ended up folding the parchment, before asserting.

"I will speak to my war generals! We will then decide whether or not we decide to destroy your country."

Then, snapping his fingers, he created a magic circle below him.

"My three subordinates will stay with you! I advise you to prepare for combat! Because if your proposal is ever rejected, I doubt that the five thousand soldiers that you are will be enough to beat them."

Seeing him leave, several soldiers began to swallow their saliva, while finding themselves alone with Shalltear and the two Pleiades. Being drooling, Entoma asserted.

"I am hungry."

"Let's wait a bit." Solution assured. "Hopefully in less than an hour we can have a wonderful feast."

Sneering, Shalltear started to take a few steps towards the soldiers in front of her, before looking at the appearance of their bodies.

"Which ones should I eat?"

Shivering with fear, Admiral Rayo begged the gods for his queen's peaceful proposal to save his life.

Being in her office, Galadriel let one of the mercenaries go. Annoyed, she fingered Zank's old teigu. Even though she had killed the man for over a week, she still hadn't found anyone who could control the weapon. Having tried to hand it over to one of her mercenaries, she had seen them writhing in pain, while the teigu brought forth terrible migraines for everyone who was incompatible with him. As a result, Galadriel was staring at the artificial eye, wondering what she was going to do with it.

"I'm going to have to hand it over to Pandora's Actor, until I find someone compatible with it."

Speaking of her creation, Galadriel heard him knock on the door.

"Mein Ladyyyy! I have returned to inform you that I have just completed the assignment you gave me."

"Come in, Pandora."

Opening the door, Pandora walked over to his creator's office, before presenting the crystal to her.

"I filmed what you asked of me."

"Perfect! In that case, we can move on to the rest of the plan! Go to the sixth level and meet our mercenaries! Explain to them the future assault we are going to lead against the palace."

"Yes! Mein Laaaaady!"

However, having left the office door ajar, another figure knocked on the door.

"Galadriel-sam…" Demiurge called out, still wearing his mask.

"Hmm? Hello ... Jaldabaoth! How much do I get from the pleasure of my enemy's visit?"

Smiling behind his mask, Demiurge was to disappear the latter, before advancing towards Galadriel.

"My Lady! I inform you that I was about to attack the land of Submission! However, before she could launch any assault, the queen of the land ordered her soldiers to deliver a message to me! She wishes that I sign a non- aggression pact with her country."

"Oh? Am I to understand that this queen does not want her country to be slaughtered like the others?"

"Slaughtered is a big word, my lady." Demiurge asserted. "Thanks to your immense kindness, a large part of the people of the two countries attacked by Jaldabaoth, are still alive, and are simply the captives of his demons."

"I know and I thank your cooperation for this, Demiurge! I know how much you would love to have new guinea pigs for your farms."

"No worries, my Lady! Anyway, you allowed me to seize some of the soldiers who had the bad idea to counterattack! Moreover, I must also congratulate you on your brilliant idea of use to have created this new group of human mercenaries. "

Starting to smile cruelly, he asserted.

"Despite the tortures they suffered, the two leaders of this group refuse to kill their enemies and entrust their prisoners to you! But what they do not know is that you then entrust them to me these prisoners ! Perfect guinea pigs for my experiments. "

"I had no desire to keep soldiers who enjoy killing innocent people, just to make money," Galadriel said. "So, as much as they are useful to us! However, the next supply of prisoners will be given to Kyouhukou and Neuronist."

"No worries, my Lady."

Then, setting the parchment down on her desk, he declared.

"Here is the parchment given to me! But, of course, it is up to you to decide if we continue the attack on this country, or if we decide to spare them! In any case, they promised us a military aid in our battle against the Empire. "

Reading the parchment quickly, Galadriel began to think.

"It's not like their help was going to change much! However, if the queen decided to surrender, even before the battles started, it means that she knows how to use her brain!"

Continuing to think, she finally ordered.

"We will accept, and even take advantage of it to increase the popularity of the Witch Queen."

"That is to say ? "

"I want you to accept that Soumison becomes a vassal country of Jaldabaoth! However, you are going to plant demons there, whose role will be to seize all the wealth of the country, as well as organize a start of famine! I want to let a regime of terror befall the land! And when the people put pressure on the queen to order the death of Jaldabaoth, I will step in to save the land. "

"Wonderful, my Lady! Therefore, this land will be yours without your doing anything other than fighting Jaldabaoth."

"Indeed ! "

"What a great plan, mein Laaaady!" Pandora asserted, gesturing theatrically. "Since I see that you have already planned everything, I am going to carry out the order you gave me."

"I am going too, going back to Submison."

Seeing the two men leave, Galadriel collapsed in her seat, and let out a long sigh.

"Sometimes I wonder why I don't just order Demiurge and Albedo to destroy several countries and make the other countries kneel down in front of me! In a week, the domination of this world would already be done. "

However, thinking of the cheers she was receiving, as the leader of Darkness, she ended up asserting.

"I think I like to be cheered rather than hooted."

Someone knocked on her door again.

"Yes ? "

This time it was a blonde haired woman who entered the office.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, my Lady." Tuare exclaimed. "Today it is my turn to serve you."

"Very well! In that case, do your job, Tuare."

"Aye!"

Equipped with a rag, the human began to dust the furniture in the room, despite the fact that there was not the slightest speck of dust. The room was kept clean around the clock.

First watching Tuare do her job, Galadriel then looked down at Zank's former teigu. Thinking for a few moments, Galadriel finally noticed that there was one human left that she hadn't given teigu to yet.

"Tuare ... can you come here?"

"Um? Of course, my lady."

Approaching the office of the Supreme Being, the blonde could not hide her surprise, seeing her hand her the weapon.

"My lady?"

"Just put this on your head and tell me how you feel."

"On my head ? "

Finishing by complying, Tuare took hold of the artificial eye, before placing it on her head. Seeing her do it, Galadriel expected to see her wince in pain.

"Tuare is my last option."

"Option of what?" The blonde asked her.

Surprised, Galadriel saw Tuare staring at her, while teigu's eye opened.

"Did I speak out loud?"

"No! I feel like I heard your memories."

Looking at the teigu, Galadriel narrowed her eyes, before she began to think.

"Tuare, take two steps back and raise your left arm."

Immediately, as if Galadriel had ordered her out loud, Tuare stepped back before raising his arm.

"Does this teigu allow you to read thoughts?" Galadriel wondered.

"Is it this object that allows me to read your thoughts?" Tuare wondered. "I thought you were the one using telepathy."

"No! Actually, I'm as surprised as you are! I didn't even know the power of this… CAN YOU READ MY THOUGHTS ?"

Seeing Galadriel get up, Tuare stepped back.

"Take it off, right now." Galadriel ordered, afraid that Tuare might discover memories of her former life.

"Um ... yes. "

However, changing color, the artificial eye stopped Tuare, who began to stare at Galadriel. Then, starting to blush, the blonde turned around immediately, before putting her hands over her eyes.

"I ... I didn't see anything."

"What ... what did you see?"

"I didn't see anything! I… I just see your underwear. "

"What ? "

Standing still, Nazarick's mercenaries watched a fierce battle between Lupusregina and a werewolf. Fighting angrily, the Pleiad clawed at the creature in the chest, before kicking it back. Feeling blood flow from its wound, the werewolf looked up and was surprised to see that Regina was gone.

Surprised, it finally raised its head, to see the pleiad above its, her feet lifted in the air. Pushing it down with all her might, she smacked the monster's skull, pulverizing it in an instant. Then, the rest of the creature's body crashed into the ground, raising a large cloud of dust.

Seeing this, one of the mercenaries couldn't help but say.

"Im ... Impressive ! "

"I, who now thought I was invincible, would be scared to fight this woman."

"It's completely normal." Maricana assured. "I'm level 34! And that werewolf was level 50! Against him, you wouldn't stand a chance."

"50?"

Exhaling for a long time, Regina could have heard the conversation. Then, turning to the mercenaries, she declared.

"Come here! I need to train more."

"Eh ? "

"Don't worry, I'll go easy with you," she said, smiling sadistically. " Are you afraid to fight me at 30 against 1 ? "

Seeing her mocking smile, Ieyasu was the first to rush towards her, followed by his guys. Staying behind, Sayo and the rest of the archers started aiming for the Pleiad, while waiting for the best time to shoot.

Remaining still, Buut and Maricana could very quickly hear the noises of brawl as well as the cries of the mercenaries while being hit by Lupusregina.

"Huh… shouldn't we call Pestonya-san?" The goblin asked.

"No, don't worry! They'll handle it."

However, seeing Ieyasu crashing at their feet, the vampire finally said.

"You're right! Regina-san doesn't seem to be holding back her punches."

"What is happening here ? "

Entering the arena, Pandora, having assumed the guise of Gazef, was surprised to see Lupusregina fighting against the mercenaries. The fight had only lasted a few minutes and a large part of Ieyasu's group was on the ground, while the Pleiad had no trouble knocking them out, while avoiding the arrows of the archers.

"Pandora?" Regina wondered.

"Stop torturing these poor people! And start healing them! I need them."

Using an authoritative voice, Gazef caught the attention of any mercenaries still aware, as he asserted.

"I am Gazef and, in Cocytus-san's absence, I have been assigned by Galadriel to entrust you with your next assignments."

"Our next missions?" Sayo repeated, approaching him, along with the rest of the mercenaries.

"Bouh! We were just starting to have fun," Regina asserted, before shining her hands, and using a healing spell.

Seeing a few people coming up to him, Gazef affirmed.

"Yes, I have come here to give you your next assignment."

"Awesome!" Someone rejoices. "Which village are we going to save this time?"

"This is not about a village run! This time you are going to invade the Imperial Palace."

"WHAT ? "

Knocking on the door of Galadriel's office, Cixous then entered the room.

"Did you call me, Galadriel-sama?"

Being in Tuare's company, the Supreme Being was seated behind her desk and apologized.

"Sorry to bother you, Cixous! I know how busy the Homunculus are keeping Nazarick clean."

"Don't apologize, my Lady." Cixous cried, kneeling down in front of her. "Nothing can make me happier than to serve you."

"These girls are really masochists of the job."

"Cixous, I would like to entrust you with an important mission with Tuare."

"An important mission?"

"Yes! I would like you to become two spies."

Tilting her head to the side, Cixous showed she was having trouble understanding.

"Albedo is busy monitoring the activities of various people, including a girl named Aria," Galadriel explained to her. "The problem is, she can't watch her all the time! Out, I'd like to make sure Aria isn't doing anything that could potentially upset me."

Looking at Cixous, then Tuare, Galadriel continued.

"You are now able to read people's minds! And you, Cixous, are able to use magic enough to contact me, at any time! This is why I would like to send you on a mission and you watch me. Aria! It will be very easy to enter her field, she accepts all women who want to work for her! In addition, when she orders you to do activities that will require going to town, Tuare will be able to read people's minds. that she will meet! Do you understand? "

"Yes, my lady!" Assured Tuare, who was already aware of this mission.

However, staring at Cixous, Galadriel was surprised to see her about to sob.

"Galadriel-sama ... will I do something stupid?"

"Eh ? "

"We, Homunculus, are happy that we can be around you! To be out of Nazarick, to work for someone else ... it is the worst punishment for us."

Hearing it, Galadriel almost pinched the bridge of ers nose. Still managing to avoid heaving a tired sigh, she smiled confidently.

"It's the opposite, Cixous! If I entrust you with this mission, it's because I trust you."

" In me ? "

"Yes! I know perfectly well that you will be able to meet my expectations and I have therefore entrusted you with this mission without being afraid that you will fail! Cixous, I hope you can understand the importance of this mission."

Seeing Cixous' gaze start to rise, Galadriel searched for a trick to totally convince her.

"And then, I intend to reward you! When your mission is finished, you will be the maid in charge of dressing me for a whole week."

Immediately, the homunculus' eyes lit up as she asserted.

"I accept this assignment with pleasure, my lady."

"For her, work is a reward? "

While Regina had just taken care of the mercenaries she had injured, Gazef then used her crystal. Acting like a movie projector, the crystal had made a screen appear in the middle of the arena. Then the video Pandora had filmed began.

Within moments, several people clenched their fists and teeth, seeing people being tortured. Others, having the impression of reliving the memories of their former life, began to tremble with fear. But the worst for them was not to hear the cries of the victims. No, it was to see the smile of the executioners. For them, the prisoners were not even humans. They were nothing more than toys.

Staying behind the mercenaries, Buut and Maricana also watched the film without saying anything. Finally, the goblin asserted.

"What cruelty!"

"I feel like they are trying to compete with Neuronist."

Eventually the movie ended when the executioner who had spoken to Pandora was laughing, while declaring.

"Are you stupid or what? Have you forgotten that today's prisoners were the former group of resistance fighters who carried out a peaceful demonstration in the streets of the capital? The prime minister ordered their arrest and they are now here. "

No sooner did the film stop when the mercenaries heard a sound of shock. Having created a sphere of wind using his teigu, Ieyasu had hit a training target and completely pulverized it.

Having trouble calming his rage, he asserted.

"These people… they are not murderers or rapists! They are people who are against the government of the empire! And just for that… they are being tortured?"

Turning to Gazef, the boy asked.

"I refuse to sit there and do nothing! Please let me go and help them."

"Calm down." The soldier ordered him.

Then, staring at the mercenaries in front of him, he declared.

"Until now, your missions have been confined to saving villages from the terror of the soldiers of the Empire! Nevertheless, you may regard these missions as mere tests."

"Tests ? "

"Yes! Today will take place your first real mission! A mission where you will all risk dying! Galadriel-sama has given you the mission of infiltrating the basements of the palace and rescuing the prisoners there. "

Hearing this, Sayo swallowed hard, understanding it.

"So does that mean that we are likely to fight against army generals like Budo?"

"That's it."

Understanding the danger this could represent, several people began to understand why Gazef claimed that their previous missions could be considered as tests.

Level power :

Esdeath : 51

Dijon : 48

Bulat : 39 ( 1 )

Mine ( with teigu ) : 37 ( 45 max )

Akame : 35

Leone : 35

Sheele : 34

Seryu : 32 ( Koro, 44 max )

Ieyatsu : 32 ( 7 )

Sayo : 32 ( 8 )

Lubbock : 30

Tatsumi : 28 ( 2 )