Really need to thank you all for all the feedback between the chapters. Has been really amazing.

I had to cut out a part in the middle because things were getting too long. So this chapter is solely focused on the palace.

The next chapter will be released on 11/5

Pragmatic survivors and small battles.

The guards saluted Tatsumi as he passed by them. Walking through the open gate that they were posted by.

"Head administrator!" they called out in unison.

Tatsumi nodded to them as he passed them by. He recognized their faces but did not know their names.

"Head administrator, huh?" he said silently to himself. Still getting used to the title. It was the designation that Esdese had made up for him. The title itself not referring to any of his duties. Simply created to make him a part of the government.

He walked through the doors and entered the inner garden that he was heading for. The gray sky visible above. The inner garden itself was far above ground level. He could feel how the wind was growing stronger. He could tell that harsher weather was coming in over the capital.

He found her pretty quickly.

Esdese was sitting by a large glass table on a very small hill. Slightly overlooking the vegetation around it. She had her usual attire. Her long coat draped over the chair she was sitting in. The only chair there.

She didn't react to him when he walked up to her. Even if he was certain that she had felt his arrival to the garden. Her eyes were focused on the folder she was currently reading through.

The entire table was filled up with similar folders and papers. Some of them stacking rather high up. Her hat was lying on top of one of those stacks. Some pens and stamps were also strewn out over all the papers.

"I can see that you are enjoying your favorite pastime." he tried to joke as he got close to the table. Esdese didn't even favor him with a glance for that.

Tatsumi walked up to her. He could almost feel her cold irritation. Even though she wasn't showing it on her face. "That much, huh?" he said in a bit more compassionate tone. Putting a hand on her shoulder. Slowly stroking it. Her sharp eyes moved up to his when he touched her. She held his gaze for some moments and then moved her eyes down and continued to read.

Tatsumi looked around a bit as he continued to stroke her shoulder. "It is probably going to rain pretty soon."

"Yeah. It is." she answered plainly.

"So why did you decide to do this out here in the garden then?"

"Because I have spent the last two days inside my office. I have even been forced to have the food delivered to me since I haven't had time to go and get anything. I refuse to spend another whole day there. Even if this works still needs to be done."

"Is it really that bad?" Tatsumi said. "It's just some paperwork. Ok, maybe a lot of paperwork. But I mean... you actually manage to find joy in the most horrible things. I can't imagine that mere paperwork could be taxing for you."

Esdese looked up at him again. Then her eyes moved to the sky. "If I wanted, I could jump out of this garden and down into the streets of the capital with a single leap. If I attach some ice to my limbs, I can fly. I can race at speeds too fast for most people to even perceive. I can even bend time itself to my will." she said and put one of her elbows on the table. Resting her chin in its hand. "And how do I get to spend my time with these powers? By sitting in a room and staring at paper all day."

Tatsumi smiled at her. She was and had always been such a thrill seeker. She needed some excitement now and then. A lot of her love for fighting simply came from her desire for that. He moved some of the paper away with his arm and sat down on the table. Since there was only one chair there.

"It won't be much longer now. The more ministers we get in place, the more of your duties can be reassigned away from you."

Esdese looked at him. A bit of anger ni her gaze. "I had hoped that you would find worthy candidates for these positions quicker than you have."

"It would go faster if you didn't reject most of those that I present." Tatsumi said and smiled at her.

"You have your own ideas of what makes a good leader. Just as I have mine. And I am the one with the final decision." Esdese said. Her eyes moving down to her papers again. "On that topic, do you have any new ones for the evening assembly?"

"Yeah. A couple. I actually think that some of them will be to your liking this time around. But we have another issue we need to decide on before the meeting."

Esdese put down the folder she was holding on the table. "I wondered why you had come by to see me."

"Can't I just visit you because I want to see you?" Tatsumi said back. Partly dreading the discussion to come.

"I want you near me as much as possible, Tatsumi. But right now, we both have a lot on our hands. So I figured you would at least have an excuse." she said and crossed her arms over her chest. Looking at him with an empty expression. Waiting for him to begin even if she knew what he was going to say.

Tatsumi sighed and decided to meet the issue head on. "We need to decide about what to do with Gallus at the meeting this evening."

"I thought that we had already discussed this." Esdese said and gave him a disinterested look.

This was how they had been handling these meetings and decisions during the last months. Usually talking and deciding about all the important issues before the meetings took place. So that they could work together during the assemblies towards their common goals. The rest of the people attending the meetings usually unable to oppose them both at the same time. Tatsumi and Esdese deciding about which route to take in private behind closed doors. Before anyone else got any say in it.

However, there were sometimes certain issues that the two of them disagreed on. In most cases they just managed to compromise to some degree. Mostly in Esdese's favor but not exclusively so. They both realized that it was important that they were united so they usually found some way to make it agreeable to the both of them. So that they could crush any opposition together.

However, this was one of the few issues that were problematic for them. Their different ideas of a solution not compatible in the slightest. And both of them knew it.

"We didn't really reach a solution that time. We need to figure something out."

"I decided on what I thought was best." Esdese said and shrugged lightly. "And I am the one who ultimately makes the call. Am I not?"

"Ahh come on. Don't be like that." Tatsumi said in a complaining tone. "We need to stand together. Let's talk some more."

Esdese just looked at him for what felt like a long while. Meeting his determined expression with a much more disinterested one. But then she finally closed her eyes. "I am listening."

Tatsumi nodded to himself. "Gallus should not be a part of the new imperial military. He symbolizes too much of the old empire. He can't be a part of our new one. It will make it seem like nothing has changed."

"Even if I accept your statement about us looking too much like what we used to be," Esdese said while her eyes remained closed. "you are still basically telling me to punish a good soldier and warrior for nothing but his loyalty."

"The man's loyalties changes to what is convenient." Tatsumi argued. Way more energetic about this issue than Esdese was. "First, he was loyal to Budo. Then immediately changed sides to you. Throwing his old allegiance to the wind. And now he has condemned the prime minister that he earlier worked so closely with. Simply because it was the easiest thing to do. He is not loyal. He is pragmatic."

"He is a survivor." Esdese said and opened her eyes. Looking at Tatsumi. "I can respect people who fight to survive. And sometimes that fight takes different forms. You say that he is pragmatic as if it was an insult. I am not sure if I see it that way."

"How do we not know that he will just betray us as soon as our side isn't favored anymore?"

"We avoid that by always being the stronger side." Esdese said. Sounding like it was obvious. "If he betrays us in order to survive, then doesn't that simply mean that we were too weak?"

"So do you prefer to have subordinates that will just switch sides as soon as you are dead?" Tatsumi said.

Esdese expression grew a bit harder. Getting a bit more serious. "That is what I did for you, Tatsumi." she said. Her tone a lot more intense. "If I would have held loyalties to the dead, then I would have killed you when I found you drenched with the prime minister's blood. You yourself made me realize that it made little sense for my ideals to force me to do that."

Tatsumi almost winced at her argument. Fully realizing how she reasoned. And he had a hard time arguing against her without undermining the reasoning that had led them to where they were. He couldn't go against his own words on this. And Esdese had picked up on that inconsistency in his reasoning.

Esdese eyes drilled into him as he searched for another way to reason around her. When he didn't answer immediately, she spoke up. "Tatsumi, if you simply not want him reinstated because of personal reasons, then you should say so. And then I will explain my reasoning again. In the end, he will be a part of the imperial military. You know that you don't have a good case. I do not mind you arguing against it. But I don't appreciate how you try to bend and manipulate my sense of loyalty to further you own goals."

Tatsumi looked at her for some moments and then sighed heavily. He leaned forward a bit and put his elbows on his knees. Turned a little bit away from Esdese. Looking out at the vegetation. "You are always a hard one to deal with, Esdese."

"Right back at you." Esdese said and reached over the table. Picking up the folder again. "Besides Tatsumi, your argument about our image is flawed as well. Gallus is seen as one of the most, if not the most, heroic part of the older empire. Even our greatest enemies look up to his valiance. He has saved thousands of lives with his actions. Often in the form of such unnecessary acts and decisions that you usually love so much." She said and opened the folder. "I am the most feared leader in the entire empire, if not the world. And even I find it hard to command as much respect as he does."

"Fear and respect are not always the same thing." Tatsumi said and shot her a glance.

"No. But they can often achieve the same results." She said and started to read through the folder. "Now tell me, Tatsumi. Why don't you want this man that you would usually call a hero as a part of our organization?"

Tatsumi looked at her as she read. Waiting for some moments before he said what they both already knew. "Because he rapes children, Esdese."

Esdese looked up at him. A rather warm smile one her face. "There you go. Now you are being true to yourself. I already knew that this was the real reason for your objections. Why didn't you just say this in the first place?"

Tatsumi looked slightly defeated. "Because you don't care." he said slowly.

"Correct. I don't care at all. But don't try to be so manipulative when your true motivation is so obvious."

"Don't try to downplay the force that you are. Being manipulative is sometimes the only way to argue with you." he said and smiled faintly at her.

Esdese's smile was much warmer than his. "Don't think that I am unaware of how manipulative and scheming you are, Tatsumi. I know that that is a part of your strength. But sometimes you fail as well. Sometimes you fall short. And this is one of those cases where you should have realized that being manipulative wouldn't get you anywhere."

"Sometimes you have to try. Even if defeat seems certain." he said. "Since I know that I can't win you over with my true reason."

Esdese's head tilted a little bit to the side. A bit of interest finding it's way into her expression. "Ok. So tell me a bit about what Gallus has been doing. I know the gist of it but I can guess that you have some interesting details."

Tatsumi sighed again and looked up at the skies. "I had hoped that Gallus would stop his... monstrous acts when he returned to the capital. That they were some kind of outlet for some of the horrors of war. But he did not. He is still the same monster. Under all the charades."

"How often?" Esdese questioned. Mostly just sounding curious.

"Twice a month. Or something like that. They are mostly homeless and abandoned children. Taken from the slums of the capital. Mostly boys but sometimes girls. Usually in their early teens. Twelve to fourteen years old, usually. One can imagine that they are quite easy to lure in with the right rewards. Most are delivered to him through the religious organization that he is a leader in."

Esdese nodded. "Makes sense. And then they kill them afterward to avoid witnesses?"

"No. We thought that for a start but some insider information has told us otherwise. His people only dispose of the bodies. They are usually raped to death." Tatsumi said with bitterness. He looked at Esdese. "Can you really not understand how wrong this is?"

"I can understand that the kids and those who cared about them think this is wrong. Doesn't mean that I relate to them." Esdese said. Her eyes once again returning to the papers in her folder. "If they were my allies or somewhat connected to me, then I might have had to act. But they aren't. They hold no value to me. No reason for me to care about their fate."

"Can't you just see that this is appalling on some basic human level? He rapes kids until the point that they die from the injuries." Tatsumi said in a pained voice. Always hoping that he one day would get the answer he hoped for. Even if he deep down knew that he never would.

"Not really. We all have needs and urges that we act on. I do as well. And I have procured the solution to my needs." she said while her eyes remained on the paper. Her hand came up and lightly patted his butt a couple of times. To make it clear what she meant. "I can't really fault him for pursuing his needs. And since they don't hurt me and mine, I have no reason to stop him. Or judge him for his behavior."

"So what if a fate like that would befall Gallus. Would you care then?"

"If it had come to a point where I held some loyalty to him then sure. Then I would stop it. Otherwise, no. He would simply have been too weak to not fall prey to someone stronger than him. Unable to handle the challenges his life gave him. Just as these children did."

"What about me then?" Tatsumi said. In desperation, he tried trying to take the argument to its most extreme point."What if you found out that I had been raped to death?"

Esdese looked up from the paper and gave him a ridiculing smile. "And who would be able to do that? You are one of the strongest warriors in the world. I don't even think I could rape you if you were able to fight back with your full abilities. I could certainly defeat you but probably not without having to kill you before getting to the... nice parts. You are too strong to allow such treatment. Even for me."

"Yeah, yeah. But we are talking theoretically here."

Esdese fingers came up and grabbed her chin as she looked up at the gray sky. "I don't know how I would act. You are a very special case for me, Tatsumi. You belong to me in a way no other subordinate ever will. I almost see you as a part of myself. So an attack on you is an attack on me. So I don't really know. I think a lot of things would be destroyed if that happened. I would probably set most of the empire aflame in pure vengeance." she said and shrugged. "But I simply don't know."

"Can't you relate to other people having such feelings over what Gallus is doing?" Tatsumi tried.

"No." she said. Her answer clear and quick. "I can understand that they have them. But I don't feel any need to sympathize or help them. If they are too weak to solve it themselves then that is simply how it is. I have no reason to care."

Tatsumi sighed defeatedly. Looking down on his hands. He had already known that this was probably how it would go. They both stayed silent for a long while before Esdese spoke again.

"Gallus will be a part of the imperial military."

"Fine." Tatsumi said in an exhausted voice and stroked his face with his hand. "But if I find the slightest reason to, I will finish him myself."

"Not without my permission." Esdese said in a harder tone. Refusing to give him any ground when it came to these things.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Tatsumi said. Not having the energy to argue with her over such trivial things.

Esdese nodded. She put the folder down again and stretched her arms over her head. Yawning slightly as she did. She was done with that folder but there were a lot more left. She put her arms across each other under her chest after that. She smiled at Tatsumi. She looked kind of drowsy but still kind of satisfied.

"What?" Tatsumi said and looked back at her. "Are you that happy that you won the argument?"

"No. I already knew how it would end before it started. It's just nice to have you here."

"Even when we disagree?"

"Always." she said and moved her smiling face a bit closer to him. Leaning forward a little. "I should force you to just sit beside me when I work. So that I can have you near me."

Tatsumi couldn't help but smile a little. "I wouldn't be able to get much done then, would I?"

Esdese had her arms crossed over each other just under her chest. It emphasized her already large breasts quite a bit. Tatsumi didn't know if that was her intention but he couldn't stop himself from giving her bosom a quick glance. Which Esdese noticed easily. Her drowsy smile widening.

"I think you wouldn't mind." she said and bent forward even more. Given him an even better view of her cleavage as she moved her face a bit closer to him. Looking up at him since he was sitting on the table and she in the chair.

Tatsumi couldn't stop himself from reacting to her seductive display. It didn't matter how many times he had seen her naked. How many times he had felt up her breasts or how many times they had joined together. She still made him react like this so easily. And somehow, she could always tell when she had him.

Esdese looked up at him. A certain triumph in her tired expression. "Wanna fight?"

Tatsumi smiled down at her. "Fight and fornicate. Are those the only two things that you enjoy doing with me?"

"Isn't that what boys enjoy doing?" Esdese joked. Her exhausted smile staying.

"My gender does not make me a sadist, Esdese. Sorry to disappoint." Tatsumi said and smiled back at her.

She continued to smile as she slowly rose up. She stood up in front of Tatsumi. Reversing their height difference. "You seem to like the other part well enough." she said and moved her hands down to his head

"Well.. Can't really deny that." Tatsumi said and returned her gaze as her hands came down and cupped his face. They caressed his face a bit back and forth. Stroking it and sometimes squeezing it slightly as she smiled down at him.

"I kinda want to hurt you right now, though." she said casually. Her words at odds with her soft voice and her hands smooth and tender treatment of him.

Tatsumi raised an eyebrow at her. "What set of that spark? I thought we were having a perfectly normal discussion right now."

"I don't know. I just want to hear some of your cute little yells." Esdese said nonchalantly as she continued to stroke him. Her hands' delicate touch had suddenly become very foreboding. "Maybe it is because I won our argument. Maybe my instincts feel that a victory should be accompanied by making the loser suffer."

"Hard to hold any civil argument with you if that is the case." Tatsumi said and smiled grimly.

"I was only talking about what I felt like doing. Nothing more."

"So you aren't going to hurt me right now?" Tatsumi asked. Keeping the same nonchalant tone as she did.

"Well, I didn't say that either." she said. One of her hands moved up and played a little with his hair. Wrapping his brown locks around her fingers.

Tatsumi sighed slightly, even if his smile stayed. One of his hands came up and started to slowly stroke the side of her chest. On her side. From her stomach to her arm. "Not right now, ok? I still have a lot of things to get done today."

Esdese tilted her head to the side a little bit. "Hmm? Anything that can't be postponed by a word from the head of state?"

"Duty over leisure." Tatsumi said. "That has always been your way, has it not? It's just that those two doesn't align for you right now."

"I have been working diligently for months. Don't you think I deserve some kind of reward every now and then?" she said. The hand that had been playing with his hair slowly started to grab a hard hold on it.

Tatsumi moved his hand up and stroked her chin for a second. "Soon. Not just now, okay?" he said. He was careful to make it sound like a suggestion.

Her hand's grip didn't loosen. But she was not getting rougher. Keeping her hold on his hair as she kept stroking his face. They remained like that for a rather long while. Tatsumi was unsure if the pain was coming or not. But then the first raindrops started to fall down on them. Both of them felt how it started to trickle down. Slowly intensifying.

Esdese's expression didn't change. She just kept looking at his face. Then she finally spoke. "Tonight then." It was not a question.

"No tools. I have a lot of work tomorrow as well." Tatsumi said calmly as her hand's grip on his hair loosened.

Esdese let go off him and shrugged. "As you wish. It's actually more enjoyable to use my hands when it is you."

And when I can easily get physical contact with you, it is much easier to distract you from your original intentions. , Tatsumi thought and smiled at her.

Esdese picked up her cap and the folder she had been reading through. "Bring all the papers to our apartments before the rain ruins them, will you?" she said and started to walk away. Despite her tone, it was clearly an order. "I have other things that require my attention."

"Right..." Tatsumi said with light bitterness and looked at her back as she left. He looked at the table as the rain continued to intensify. All the paper on the large table probably weighing as much as him.

"I will have you back in my military, Gallus." Esdese's voice called out loudly in an official tone. "The legions you used to control will be back under your command. As you will be under mine. I will make you into a general once again."

Her voice echoed out through the large hall.

Esdese was sitting at the top of the large podium in the emperor's main throne room and audience chamber. Esdese herself was sitting on the throne itself.

A lot of nobles disliked that. It had been suggested that they should build a smaller seat on its side which she could occupy during these meetings. But Esdese didn't want to hear it. She was in control and her rule was pragmatic. There would be no such waste of resources. She didn't really care about which seat she held. But neither did she care about those that disliked that she sat on the throne of the royal family.

As far as she was concerned, the royal family should be grateful that her beautiful butt was occupying their rather uncomfortable seat until their line returned to power.

Tatsumi was standing slightly behind the large throne. Looking down at the general with concealed detest. Members of the new imperial guard standing a bit behind him and Esdese.

Gallus was kneeling at the base of the stairs that led up to where they were sitting. Wearing his black and white garbs. His bald head shining as he looked at the floor.

The room had two large galleries on each side of the red carpet Gallus was kneeling on. The carpet that led out of the room. The galleries slightly turned towards the throne. Meant for the imperial court. Now they were almost empty, though. With the exception of a few people.

One of the two galleries only had one watcher. Kotaro was sitting in the front row in it. There to watch and learn in preparation for the day when he would hopefully be taking Esdese's place on the throne. He was looking at Gallus with wide eyes. Tatsumi sometimes had to remind himself that the boy had been living in a small farming village until just recently. People like Esdese and Gallus were legends where he came from. Tatsumi had not yet found a good time to tell the boy about Gallus' true nature.

The other gallery had eight occupants. Five of them were what remained out of the old imperial court. The remnants of the prime minister's rule and the survivors of the black bath. They were sitting on the highest aisle of the gallery. Looking down at what was happening but rarely saying anything at all. They had no real power at the moment either way. Esdese was in complete control. The other three were sitting in one of the corners in the lowest aisle of seats. In their dedicated places.

Those three that were sitting at the bottom of the gallery were the few people that Esdese and Tatsumi had both been able to agree to put in minister positions. Tatsumi was very proud to have all three of them as a part of the new court.

Two of them were a bit younger. In their thirties and forties. Politicians that had opposed the old imperial court and prime minister to the largest extent possible without being regarded as traitors. They had been keeping a low profile during the old rule but Tatsumi was confident that their hearts were in the right place. Even if it had been harder to convince Esdese that they were the right people.

The third one was an older man. Already in his seventies. He had a long white beard, no hair on his head and hard gray eyes. The old man was the one that Esdese had approved of the most. He had always been very open with his detest of the prime ministers over the years. He had spearheaded many political attempts to reduce the prime minister's power. And even if he had no fighting skills whatsoever, he had survived several assassination attempts through his years. Tatsumi had a creeping suspicion that Esdese might have sent one or two of them herself on the prime minister's behalf.

When Tatsumi had suggested his name to her, she had taken the old man in for an interview herself. Tatsumi had been extremely tense during that entire conversation. Esdese had grilled the man hard but he had not backed down. He had been so blunt about how much he despised the imperial military and how very responsible he thought Esdese was for the ruin of the nation. There were several occasions were Tatsumi was convinced that Esdese was going to kill him for his words. But she didn't.

When she had talked with the old man for almost a whole hour she had simply risen up and offered him a hand with a smile. Complimenting him on his bravery. Telling him that she wanted his spine and resolve in the new empire.

But he and the other two were the only new ministers that Esdese had accepted. There were almost thirty more vacant positions. And that was not even including the five old members that Tatsumi intended to remove from the court.

Gallus slowly rose from his kneeling once Esdese had finished. He looked up at her. "I will do everything in my power to make this empire into the great nation that it once was. I will not disappoint you, great general Esdese."

Esdese 's expression was empty. "I will expect you to be ready to take your first new orders tomorrow morning. Get your troops and chain of command in order until then."

The large man saluted her. "It shall be done."

Esdese nodded towards the doors. "Dismissed."

Gallus turned around and started to leave the room.

"General." Tatsumi called out as he started to walk. "The people are well aware of how much you care for them. They will teach their children how kind you are. No need to do everything yourself." he called out calmly. An underlying coldness to his tone.

Gallus looked at Tatsumi over his shoulder. His expression as humble and kind as always. "Of course, head administrator." he said. Putting some weight behind the title as he said it. "I have heard that you have taken quite a lot of tasks upon yourself lately. Don't overexert yourself." he continued. The words said in such a friendly tone that Tatsumi almost started to doubt the very obvious jab at what he was doing behind the scenes.

He was about to retort but Esdese gave general Gallus a single wave of one of her hands. Telling him to leave with the gesture. Before Tatsumi managed to answer. The big man turned his head forward and walked out of the room.

"Don't shout out things that we haven't talked about during my hearings, Tatsumi." Esdese said casually and rested he head down against the knuckles of one of her hands. It's elbow resting on the giant seat's armrest. She didn't sound angry or irritated. It was just a nonchalant order.

"Roger." Tatsumi said in the same casual tone. "The next one up is Dousen." he said as he read from a clipboard in his hand.

Esdese looked at him. "I don't remember his appointment."

"That's because he didn't have one. I don't really know how he got on today's list. He wasn't on it yesterday."

"Let me guess. He has replaced someone." Esdese said and looked down at the hall again.

"Yeah probably. Though I can't really remember who is gone from the list. Probably someone he just bribed to give him their spot."

Esdese shrugged. "Fine. Let's see what he wants. Maybe it will be a bit entertaining." she said and straightened up slightly. A little bit more interested suddenly. "Call him in."

At Tatsumi's announcement, the guards opened up the doors and let the next attendee in.

Dousen was not a man that seemed to operate like most others did, Tatsumi reminded himself as the man walked into the room. Seeming completely relaxed.

He was not exactly a well-trained man. Keeping his hands folded over his big belly. Concealed by the very long arm sleeves of his attire. He was wearing clothes that were a bit more classical for the old business men of the country. Long robes of fine garments. His black hair tied up in something akin to a samurai's knot.

He looked up at Tatsumi and Esdese as he approached the end of the stairs. No sign of any fear or nervousness in his eyes. Tatsumi had quickly learned that this was a cold and calculated man. Only driven by his greed for the materialistic. To an almost unnatural degree. His mind did not really seem to function in the same way as most others. Tatsumi had a feeling that to this man, everything and everyone besides himself were just numbers and statistics. Profits and losses.

Esdese leaned forward a slight bit as she looked down at him. "You grow fatter every time I see you, Dousen." she called down to him. Not really meaning it as anything more than an observation but not caring if he took it as an insult.

"Yes, I have put on some more kilos. While I can see that you are keeping your form without any trouble." the older man said. Not a hint of emotion in his voice.

"If you spend your days training and fighting, you will keep your form strong. Whether you like it or not." she called out and leaned back in the giant seat. "But I will admit that my current duties have prevented me from honing myself to the degree that I want."

Tatsumi gave her an mocking look behind her back. She had complained about this to him the other day. While Tatsumi had massaged her feet in their bedroom. Annoyed that her duties had made her weaker. However after a few words, Tatsumi had quickly realized that what she meant by that was not the same as most did. Esdese definition of weaker was when her growth in power slowed down its speed slightly. She was still getting stronger every day. Just not to the extent she was used to.

"What is your business with us, Dousen?" she asked in an official tone.

The man looked up at them for some moments before he spoke. It hadn't escaped either Tatsumi or Esdese that he was the first one today to not kneel down in front of them by the end of the stairs. Tatsumi didn't really care and neither did Esdese. Mainly because she could feel that this man did not have the slightest rebellious or challenging vein in him.

"I have come here because some of my costs in regards to the missions you have assigned to me have been larger than we you first thought." he said in the same empty voice.

Esdese sighed and leaned her head back against the seat. Waving with her hand towards Tatsumi. She couldn't be bothered with these kinds of minor internal issues.

Tatsumi stepped forth so that he was standing by her side instead of behind her. "What costs are we talking about exactly, Dousen?"

Tatsumi held no love for this man. In fact, he had the full intention of taking everything he had away from him before this was over. He was, however, not in a good position to do so at the moment. For whatever else you might say about the man, Dousen was splendid at economics. Almost having a natural instinct about these things. And as such he had been extremely useful after the prime minister's death. Taking care of many of the economic issues and tasks on their behalf.

Esdese had actually asked Tatsumi if they shouldn't just appoint him as the minister of finance but Tatsumi had refused so she had dropped it. Leaving the job of bringing forth candidates to him. She herself not terribly interested in it. Even if she did reserve the decision of who was acceptable or not in the end.

Tatsumi and Dousen talked for almost ten minutes before the matter was settled. Resulting in Tatsumi once again agreeing to give Dousen the increased resources he wanted. Having to give up to Dousen's vaster knowledge about these things. Not being educated enough on these issues to be able to deny him what he asked for. Even if he had a suspicion that a big part of it would end up in Dousen's own pocket. One way or another.

The businessman bowed and turned around. Walking out of the room in the same calm pace that he had entered it with. Tatsumi looked at him. When he had left the room he spoke in a low voice to Esdese. "I will take everything from that man. Sooner or later."

Esdese looked up at him. Brought out from her bored state of listening to them prattle on about economic details. Her face shining up with an interested smile. "Ohh, do you know some juicy things about this man that I don't? Does he also have some kind of weird or exotic hobby?" she asked. Sounding more intrigued than bothered.

"Not that I know of, no." Tatsumi said. A bit annoyed that she would only allude to Gallus' child raping as weird or exotic. "But he is the very essence of economic corruption. He has taken so much from so many people. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that he is one of the main contributors to the poverty in this nation."

"Oh." Esdese said. Sounding disappointed. "Well, that's a bit boring."

"Well, he is very convenient to have around. But the moment we don't need him anymore, I will ruin him." he said and looked down at her. "You don't mind do you?"

"Not really. I kinda like watching you destroy things. But he is a citizen and is protected by law. But if you bring forth some hard evidence of this corruption..." she said and shrugged. "Then sure, he can hang."

Tatsumi nodded to her and took a step backward again. Taking his original place.

"But I must say," Esdese continued. "You are growing into your role pretty quickly, Tatsumi. Already plotting against political oppositions."

Already becoming the man I killed, Tatsumi thought. He didn't like that thought. Not one bit. He diverted his attention away from it by looking down at the clipboard in his hand again.

"I am surprised that the next one didn't flee the capital after the death of the prime minister." he said. Still talking silently. So only Esdese could hear it. "It is unexpected that she would just return to her work in the laboratories after what happened."

"She is a survivor. I guess that she just tried to slink away until the storm ebbed out. Hoping that we would ask her to work for us, I wager. Call her in." Esdese said. Sounding like she had been looking forward to this slightly.

Tatsumi nodded and called out for the next case. The large doors opened up and a small figure passed in through them.

Dorothea walked into the large hall. Her steps determined. Holding her head as high as she could. Her rigid movements attesting to how tense she was. Tatsumi looked at her with interest as she approached the base of the long stairs.

The last time he had seen her had been when he fought her in order to get to the prime minister. He had left her with a rather big gash in her chest at that time. Yet now he could not see any trace of the wound. Neither in her posture or her movements.

Dorothea kneeled down in front of the long stairs. It was easy to see that she was quite nervous. Tatsumi cleared his throat.

"Dorothea, former member of Wild hunt, researcher of danger beast mutation and the current wielder of the teigu known as Absordex. You have been called to this hearing because the imperial court has reached a decision concerning your future."

Dorothea looked up at him then her eyes traveled over to Esdese who was looking down at her with slightly uninterested eyes. "And?"

"The founding of all your research will seize immediately." Tatsumi called out. "You are to turn all your resources and results over to the new imperial guard."

Dorothea looked like someone had punched her in the stomach. "All of it?"

"All of it." Esdese confirmed in a flat voice.

"But.. b-but what will happen to all my work?" she asked. Her voice trembling. "The things that I have in the laboratories are projects that I have been working on since long before I came to the empire."

"Your work and resources will be reviewed and examined thoroughly." Tatsumi answered calmly. Sounding as official as he could. "If there is anything there that can serve the new empire, then it will be handed over to new scientists and researchers. The rest will be discarded."

"Discarded?" Dorothea echoed. Her voice hinting of panic and despair. "Head administrator, sir, you don't understand. What is down there is not only small projects that have been ordered to conduct. It is the work of my lifetime. It is my soul. I even have one of my old comrades down there. I was ordered to save her and make her stronger. But I never got a chance to finish it since the conflict in the empire started to wind down."

"We are well aware of the fate of Cosmina." Tatsumi said in an empty voice. "We have a full inventory of all the things you have been doing with the empire's resources down there."

"She is strong. I promise you that. And she can become even stronger!" Dorothea said in the quick voice. Looking at Esdese for hope. "She can be a great asset to the imperial military, great general. I assure you."

"We will she to what extent she can take orders. If she cannot follow the command of a superior, then she will be useless." Esdese said calmly.

What little hope there was in Dorothea's face drained away. She was well aware that Cosmina was hard to control in her current state. She didn't even know is she would attack her fellow soldiers if let loose.

"Why?" she asked a little louder than she had intended. "All my work could benefit the imperial power. That is what I have always promised. I have stayed true to those that ruled this nation ever since I came here."

Tatsumi looked down at her. He couldn't really say that what he felt for the trembling little woman was something close to pity. But he didn't hate her. However, he was very determined to not let people like her have any real power. Esdese had been quick to agree with him when they decided about her fate the day before. Even if it was not for the same reason. She just disliked Dorothea because she was a former Wild hunt member. Not really caring about her lack of morality.

"You worked way too close to the prime minister. You aided in his traitorous ways. You and most of you accomplishments must be made completely powerless." Tatsumi said in a clear voice.

"What?" Dorothea said. Not following Tatsumi's explanation. Her eyes moving over to Esdese. Her mouth half open as she spoke. "But.. but you.. great general. You did also.."

"I did what?" Esdese asked in a curious voice. A smile spreading on her face. With a clear sadistic tint to it.

Dorothea realized that she couldn't finish that sentence. She suddenly understood the cruelty of the situation. Esdese was exempt from any guilt because of her power and position. That was the only reason why everyone ignored what was so glaringly obvious. Dorothea was about to lose everything because she lacked that kind of power. In that way, nothing about Esdese's ways had changed, Dorothea realized. She just had the misfortune to be at the receiving end this time.

The power balance in the empire had changed. And while Esdese had remained on top, because of her monstrous abilities, Dorothea suddenly found herself at the bottom of the ladder. Simply because of happenstance. And Esdese found that completely reasonable.

"And you will also be forced to hand over your teigu, Dorothea." Tatsumi stated matter-of-factly.

If Dorothea's face had been bereft of hope before, she now started to show earnest panic. "No! It is a part of my body. You can't do that." she shouted out.

"Do you have any reasoning to that or are you honestly challenging our ability to take it from you?" Esdese asked in an amused voice.

"No.. I-I didn't mean it like that. You don't understand." Dorothea continued in her loud voice. "I need Absordex. You must not... please.. I can't lose it. It is linked to my physique. If you take it from me I won't be able to even... my age will.. I need it."

"We are well aware that Absordex has affected you physique in some way." Tatsumi said in a cold tone. "It might have granted you capabilities that you have enjoyed quite a lot. But we can not let someone who's loyalty to us is so uncertain keep such a powerful tool. I am sure you can follow that line of reasoning."

Dorothea opened her mouth as if to say something but nothing came out. She closed it after a little while. Her eyes wide. Realizing that she could not escape this. She slowly fell down on her knees. Silent tears starting to pour down her face as she just stared at Esdese and Tatsumi.

Tatsumi looked down at her. Looking at her like this was a very thankful reminder that he did not enjoy these kinds of cruelties. Even when they were directed at some of the people he despised the most. He didn't feel some deeper gratification at the sight of the despairing Dorothea. Even if he found it the right thing to do, there was no joy in it for him. And he was very glad that there wasn't.

He looked out over the galleries.

Kotaro was looking at Dorothea with wide sympathetic eyes. He didn't know anything about her. To him, it just looked like she was a very young girl that now had had everything taken away from her because of things she couldn't control. Tatsumi made a mental note to explain more about the different members of the empire to the boy at some point.

The five ministers that remained from the old imperial court looked very uncomfortable. Tatsumi could guess that they were afraid that something like this would happen to them sooner or later. Tatsumi did have some plans in mind for them but nothing as harsh as this. Finally, his eyes moved to his own ministers. Those sitting at the bottom.

None of them looked happy or joyous. But when Tatsumi looked at them, the older man turned his stern face in his direction and nodded. Giving Tatsumi his approval. They knew who Dorothea was and what she had done. Tatsumi nodded back.

He looked down at Dorothea. He was about to gesture for the guards to come and escort her away when Esdese stirred in her seat. She rose up slowly and walked up to the edge of the stairs. Tatsumi's worried eyes following her. This was probably not something good.

Esdese looked down at Dorothea. The other girl looked up towards her. Her tearful eyes questioning. Esdese smiled a somewhat ominous smile down at her. Then she started to slowly walk down the stairs.

"Great general?" Tatsumi said and walked up to the edge of the stairs himself. Looking at her as she walked down.

Esdese calmly walked down to the carpet that Dorothea was kneeling on. Her hands on her hips. Her smile hard to read. She stopped when she was standing just in front of Dorothea. Barely a decimeter from her.

Dorothea just stared down at Esdese's boots. Not sure of what was going on. She didn't dare to look up at her right now. Then she felt how Esdese's fingers gently touched the side of her face. Stroking it as they moved down and grabbed her jaw. Then the hand slowly turned her face up towards her.

Esdese was forced to lean forward a bit in order to reach Dorothea's head. Since she was so much larger than her. She was looking down at the other girl with a warm smile. Holding some of her own hair away with her other hand.

"There is something about those that have been in this world for a long time." Esdese said. "They have a certain dignity to them. Something that is almost noble by nature. Even if it is often subtle and hidden."

Dorothea met Esdese's confident eyes with an uncertain expression. Not knowing how Esdese had learned of her true age.

"Something respectable." Esdese continued on. Her thumb stroking Dorothea's chin in an almost affectionate way. "I have always wanted to try and properly desecrate that."

Dorothea's face started to show fear again at those words. Causing Esdese's smile to widen. She let go of the smaller girl's face and straightened up. Dorothea was forced to almost turn her face completely upwards in order to keep meeting Esdese's gaze. When she stood up she barely reached Esdese's chest. Now her head was at the same height as her thighs.

"The boring thing is that older people usually die as soon as you start getting serious. Spoiling all the fun way too early." Esdese explained calmly. Putting her hands on her hips again. "But you," she said as her smile started to show some teeth. "you will probably last for days."

Dorothea's eyes widened as she realized what Esdese had in mind for her. "But -I-I t-this isn't fair. I have been serving loyally." she started to stutter in panic. "I have done everything the empire has ordered me to do! Please don't do this to me! I have tried my best to be a useful ally. If I have made some mistakes I will apologize. Just please, please don't-"

Dorothea abruptly stopped her frantic pleading as she noticed that Esdese's expression had changed character slightly. Her eyes were smiling down at her. Dorothea realized that Esdese was enjoying her begging. She felt how something inside of her fell out as she realized how hopeless her situation was. There was no reason for her horrible fate other than Esdese's dark enjoyment. This had nothing to do with what she had done. Having her powers taken from her was the punishment she would receive for her actions. The past had nothing to do with what she now was going to suffer at Esdese's hands.

She was simply being preyed upon. By a predator too powerful for her to oppose. Having no choice but wait to be devoured. Her head fell down. Staring at the floor.

"No.." she said in a small voice as one of Esdese's hands let go of her own hip and started to move down to her head again. "This can't be happening.."

She yelled out slightly as Esdese's hand grabbed a hard hold on her hair. Esdese turned around towards the throne again. Looking up at Tatsumi. Dragging Dorothea's body with her as she did. Her iron hold on her hair staying.

"Head administrator, I will be taking Dorothea for myself. Fix all the bureaucracy, will you? I will hand you Absordex when I am done with her."

Tatsumi couldn't have looked more bothered. Just as he had expected, the situation had turned really sour. They had not spoken about anything like this when they talked about this meeting the day prior. This was just Esdese acting on her impulses again. And at a rather inopportune time for Tatsumi.

He had felt her elegant hands caressing his face down in the garden. In just the same way as they had touched Dorothea. Yet he had said no. And for once, Esdese had respected that. So now that urge had found another outlet.

He realized that he should have let her hurt him earlier that day.

He was thinking about what to do about the situation but before he said anything, the old man that he and Esdese had made into a minister together spoke up.

"And what will you be doing to this woman?" his stern voice called out loudly.

Esdese turned her head towards him with a smile. "A lot of things, minister. A lot of things. I will spare you the details but if she survives my treatment long enough, I might make her into a pet."

The face of the minister darkened. The old man had wanted Dorothea in prison but this was too much for him. Tatsumi watched him closely. This was why he had wanted him in a minister position. This man would not sit idly by and watch these kinds of cruelties happen without doing something about it. But now was not the right time. And the situation might be turning into something dangerous at any second now.

"Great general." he called out in his official voice. "We have the emperor-to-be here in the room. Let's take this ugly discussion at another time." he tried.

Esdese looked up at him again. A very small hint of surprise in her expression. "There is no discussion to be had, administrator. This one is mine." she said and lifted Dorothea a bit higher with her grip on her head. Raising an eyebrow at him. "Or are you challenging my authority?" she said and smiled at him again. Openly welcoming the conflict.

Tatsumi couldn't think of any behavior Esdese could have had that would be more problematic than this. If she had just said that she would handle the punishment of Dorothea, then he might have been able to play it off as normal procedure. But now she had very clearly stated that she might turn Dorothea into her pet. She had openly shown that she mainly was doing this for her own enjoyment. And that was harder to play down or hide under some facade of political reasoning.

He looked over at Kotaro. The young man seemed stuck somewhere between shocked and transfixed by the situation. Staring at Esdese with a slightly open mouth. Tatsumi couldn't tell if he was scared or just in shock. He "tsked" with irritation.

There was nothing he could do about this now. Esdese was right in regards to the hierarchy. She had the authority here. She was the one in command of the whole empire at the moment. He could not give any meaningful objections when faced with that kind power. And even if he could, he didn't know that he should. She had welcomed the conflict. She seemed very keen on the thought of subjugating him a bit right now. And he didn't know what form that subjugation would take. The only smart thing he could do now was damage control.

He looked down at Dorothea. "Dorothea, you were a part of Wild hunt. An organization responsible for some of the most heinous crimes towards civilians loyal to the empire known to date. " Tatsumi said. Careful to say civilians loyal to the empire. If you took away that distinction, his lover was clearly the one responsible for the most horrific things in the nation. "Do you deny that?"

Dorothea tear stained face looked up at him the best she could while Esdese's hard grip remained. "No. But everything I did was under the orders of-"

"And you yourself were already infamous for the horrors you had done back in your own country before you joined Wild hunt." Tatsumi cut her off loudly.

Dorothea didn't have an answer to that. Simply staring at him. Tatsumi looked up at Esdese. "Make her understand the feelings of her victims." he said and nodded to her. Tatsumi felt like it had never been a more clear scenario of the pot calling the kettle black.

Esdese just smiled at him. A mix of smugness and satisfaction on her face. She had challenged him and he had backed off. He had submitted. She turned around and started to walk out of the hall. Dorothea being dragged behind her. "This meeting is adjourned." she called out loudly. "We have finished most of the cases. Those that remain will be postponed to tomorrow."

As if her words had been her final sentencing, Dorothea started to sob loudly. She didn't even struggle as she was drawn across the floor of the hall. Because she knew that it was futile. She could not get away from this. Her opponent was way beyond her own capabilities. And even if she had been able to escape Esdese, she was in the middle of all Esdese's power. She couldn't hope to escape the palace. But she couldn't stop herself from crying. She knew so well what went on down in the torture chambers. She knew so well how horrible this would get. She wished that she was dead.

The old minister sitting in the gallery looked up at Tatsumi. His expression furious. Tatsumi nodded to him and tried to make a calming gesture towards him with his hands. He would have to talk to him after the meeting. As long as he didn't do anything rash right now, Tatsumi could probably handle it.

Some of the members of the new imperial guard in the room cheered at Esdese as she left the room. They had been her soldiers long before the were made into this new police force. They knew when their leader was enjoying herself and they would cheer at every victory she made. And this was clearly one. Esdese smiled at the sound of it. Overlooking the fact that they were acting a bit too unruly for a court hearing at the moment.

She left the hall in long strides. The sound of Dorothea's sobbing slowly fading away. The hall remained silent after that. Then people started to slowly leave. Tatsumi just stood at the top podium and looked out over those gathered as they started to leave.

Kotaro gave Tatsumi a long look that he couldn't really interpret. He looked betrayed in some strange way. Then the boy turned around and started to leave as well. Tatsumi looked over at his own ministers. A mix of anger and disdain clear on their faces. He sighed.

Was he really making a difference here?

Author's note:

This one grew way larger than I thought it would. Like so many times before. I had originally intended to pay a visit to Night raid in the middle of this chapter but had to move that to the next one. Since this was growing so big and I was behind the schedule. As usual.

I must say that I am a bit annoyed at my reduced speed. A long time ago, I was releasing one of these chapters every ten days. But now I don't have the time for that anymore. Mainly because of IRL convictions but nonetheless, it is a bit annoying. Since I am still racing with the manga here. I will keep trying to increase my pace again.

Though as annoyed as I might be with that, the amount of feedback I have gotten since the last chapter has been outstanding. Truly. I have read every word from you. I have taken your suggestions and ideas in mind. We will see how they affect the future of this story.

So yeah, once again thanks for reading. And thanks for all your PMs/comments/reviews. They have been great at keeping me motivated to write more. As well as making this rewarding for me.

Until next time, take care of each other.