Arriving at Lubbock's bookstore silently, I knocked on the door. I don't care much for courtesy in front of someone like him, but these mannerisms will go a long way in improving my standing with Night Raid. Too much distrust and paranoia, and before I know it, there'll be a green-haired corpse delivered to Night Raid's doorstep because of his rash actions.

Upon entrance, I notice that Lubbock's eyes instantly snap towards mine, before walking towards me.

"Come on. The Boss said that we're to take you to the back. Just let me put the closed sign up."

I nod and walk over to the counter, waiting for Lubbock to let me through the secret passage behind one of the bookcases, leading down into the underground section of the bookstore. Structural Analysis can be a great thing, at times. For the sake of not looking like I know more than I should, I'll just wait for his allowance of passage.

Lubbock opens the passage, but I can't help myself from making at least one remark.

"Isn't the bookshelf passageway a bit cliche?"

"What?" The assassin confusedly asks me. Is it not a familiar vocabulary in this world? Well, every places has its own cultures, so nevermind.

I throw my arms up in an innocent gesture. "I'm just saying that it's a pretty common stereotype for secret areas. Someone might accidentally open it, you know?"

"Thanks for your concern, but I'm sure it's fine." Lubbock replies coldly.

I can only shrug. My attempt at conversation being shut down. He really doesn't like me, does he? The feeling isn't exactly mutual, either. It's hard to like someone when they're constantly antagonizing you.

As we reach the bottom of the staircase leading to Night Raids underground bunker, I feel another presence closing in rapidly. It's one that was definitely more welcome, but at the same time, still concerning for some reason.

Instinctively, I duck. Trusting my instincts has been one of my key to surviving, which manifested in my Revelation skill. I'm not the winner of the Great Holy Grail War by ignoring them, after all. As if on cue, a familiar buxom blonde flies over my head.

"Hello, Leone." I greet her, pretending she didn't just try to tackle me to the ground.

"About time you decided to come visit your beautiful Onee-sama!" The blonde assassin replies energetically.

Said individual wraps her arms around my right one and leads me to the couch in the hideout with a big grin on her face. The green haired assassin just stands at the bottom of the staircase, gobsmacked of his companion's friendly attitude towards me. It's understandable. I did render her unconscious on our first meeting, and after our second meeting, she suddenly becomes affectionate in the snap of a finger, almost as if we're best friends.

To be honest, I still don't understand the full reason for this change of behavior, so Lubbock is probably even more confused than me. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, though. If Leone continues to stay this trusting of me, then that will only help me in the future with Night Raid.

"Hey, Shirou, want anything to drink?" She asks me while smiling. Strangely, it's not the playful smile I often associate with her, but a... pretty cute one. "I keep some pretty nice alcohol here."

"I'll be fine. I'm still abstinate in the memory of my dear wallet lining." I reply teasingly, holding my hand up in refusal.

"That's no fun! Just one?" She continued on edging a glass of the liquor closer to me. This time, her expression turns back to her usual predatory kind.

Still, I gesture a refusal. "Like I said, I'll be good this time. Besides, I'm here on business, not pleasure, Leone."

"Oh?" Leone moves in closer to my spot on the couch and wraps herself around my arm while pressing her breasts against it. She looks at me in the eye, a mischievous glint ever so noticeable in them.

"Then maybe this Onee-sama just needs to teach you how to mix business with pleasure then, Shirou..." A sultry tone whispers itself into my ear.

Even after reminding myself I'm a "saint", her tone is very... tempting. However, I'm a man of priorities, and having experience around women around and above her physical beauty really helps. Not taking anything away from her parents, but comparing Leone to the inhuman, ethereal beauty of those like Semiramis and Joan of Arc is just unfair.

With my free hand, I cup her chin, shifting her line of sight towards mine. I feel her body startle slightly, and a blush starts to form on her face. Lately, I've been thinking, is she an all-offense-no-defense type? She's really easy to fluster, these days...

I breath lightly into her ear as I talk, eliciting a shudder along her back. "Perhaps... later, ma'am? After this business is done... you're next on my list..."

Being around Semiramis taught me how to tease and to be fair, my Charisma may have played a slight part in how well that went, but Leone's expression reminded me of a shy, happy kitten being stroked by her master, both satisfied and greedy for more at the same time. Definitely a far cry from her Teigu's image of a fierce lion.

"Hey! Can the two of you stop flirting! Or whispering! Or... whatever! I'm still here, you know!?" Lubbock half-shouts at us. I think he's just a sexually frustrated man, judging from his reactions, but it's a sensitive topic, so I won't pry. He's definitely interested in one of his colleagues, my hunch is telling me.

"I still don't understand how you can be so friendly with this guy, considering what he did to you and some of our comrades. Yeah, we may have started it, but still, you act like you're always in heat around him! It's like he's your best friend when we barely even know him. Show at least some caution, will you?!"

The green haired assassin then points at me.

"And don't get any ideas, you! Leone may like you and think you're alright for whatever damn reason, but until you prove to the rest of Night Raid how trustworthy you are, then we'll be keeping tabs on you."

I nod in response, not wanting to provoke him. His words hold little meaning to me anyways.

"I don't see why I shouldn't be more comfortable around him, Lubbock." Leone replies sternly. "For one, I'm older than you, so don't use that tone on me!" She lunges at him and paw-grabs his head, squeezing it tight despite his protests. "Besides, a man that treats me drinks is a good man!"

Releasing her grip on him, she walks back to her former position, though not as close to me this time. She leans her head towards me and said in a small voice, though purposely loud enough so Lubbock can hear it clearly, "I think he's just backed up, this jerk-off virgin..."

I smile at that piece of information, offhandedly ignoring the boy's blubbering and stuttering denial. "Well, he's still young. Maybe it's his personality?"

Both of us share a laugh. It's a good exercise, and I find I can't quite remember when I last laughed like this. But, this isn't a time for sentimental memories. Now, back to business.

"Regardless of Lubbock," I softly say to Leone, "thank you. For your trust, really. It means a lot."

Her eyes widen, but then she replies with a sweet smile. "Mm. You're welcome."

With a cough, Lubbock takes a seat on the opposite side of me after regaining his composure, and Leone sits back into the couch. Both of them wait patiently for the news I brought with me.

"First off, I would like to say that I was successful in rescuing former Prime Minister Chouri and his daughter Spear. Both of them are also fully committed in opposing the Empire."

Lubbock nods a couple of times. "That's good. Chouri, supposedly, has a way with the common people and was well liked before he was forced to give up his position. Having him and his resources on our side will definitely be helpful for the future success of the Revolutionary Army. Good work." It sounds earnest enough, though the last part is a little forced.

The dumb boy thinks that Chouri is loyal to the Revolutionary Army. How cute. I told Chouri he may help them if he so wishes to do so, but also to prioritize our partnership, which he agreed wholeheartedly. First off, just judging the physical aspect of the equation, he already witnessed my prowess against the Three Beasts. Of course, he's not the kind of man to judge someone from their muscles, but he's the kind that pays his debt in full. Furthermore, even though I despise myself for saying this, her daughter is already in my grasp. He has no actual room to manoeuvre inside our partnership, but it's nice to give him a freedom to choose, even if it's just a gesture. He would never leave his daughter.

"Indeed. They were in a very dire situation when I saved them. Esdeath's special task force, the Three Beasts, was there after all." I said.

"You were able to protect the former Prime Minister and his daughter from the Three Beasts? I must say, that's pretty impressive, Shirou! Even if I'm aware of what you're capable of!" Leone says while rubbing her stomach slightly, in memory of our first encounter.

Lubbock looks more surprised about the fact I handled three of Esdeath's elites.

"So, what happened to the Three Beasts, and where is Chouri right now? I can tell you're alright. There doesn't seem to be a scratch on you, despite your successful rescue mission." The green haired assassin inquires.

A small smile makes its way to my face as the memory of the humilia- no, the humbling I gave to Esdeath's men.

"Not to be pedantic, but I believe a correction is necessary. It's 'Two Beasts' now, not three." I emphasize the words by gesturing quotation marks with my fingers.

A small smirk forms on my face. "Well, it also comes with a nice extra."

Leone figures out what I was insinuating immediately.

"You also retrieved the dead man's Teigu, didn't you?" Leone exclaims gleefully. "That's quite the blow you struck on Esdeath and the Empire. You killed one of her elites, caused the Empire to lose a Teigu, and best of all, hurt Esdeath's pide. Oh, you really know how to mess some shit up, Shirou!"

She looks up at me in a seductive manner.

"I like it when a man knows how to be rough," the buxom assassin says, this time with a certain... thickness to her words. I can't help but feel there have been too many sexual innuendos for what's supposed to be, at least, a semi-serious conversation. May the Lord not find me a sexual deviant.

"Yes, I did indeed mess shit up. However, be cautious of one of Esdeath's men, named Liver. I'm sure you all know him." Both of them nod at my words.

"I'm telling you this, because even with my brief encounter with him, I can tell he is extremely loyal to the Empire's Strongest. Ridiculously so. Whatever Esdeath did to get a man such as him on her side must have been amazing. Even though I may have defeated and humiliated him, he will take that defeat and use it as fuel for the future. I fear he may act and be even more dangerous due to our encounter. He feels cornered by his failure. A man like him does not accept failure and will act more unpredictably in future encounters to prove his worth." I explain.

"So what is it you're suggesting?" Lubbock asked.

I show him an understanding smile, like a teacher happy for his students' questions. "That unpredictability, in itself, is also predictable."

When none of them show a sliver of ideas, I continue. "One of his teammates is dead. Another is heavily injured, and even with the Empire's disposal, I'm sure he's out for at least 5 days. In a sense, since that time is approaching, both of them will make their move soon, within the next couple of days. They'll come fast and hard, eager for redemption with their mistress."

Leone puts her arms behind her head, unconsciously emphasizing her large breasts. "Well, in the end, it seems our plans coincide. Boss wanted us to Eliminate the Three Beasts- sorry, 'Two Beasts', for trying to give Night Raid a bad rep."

"I don't disagree with that idea. Night Raid is a symbol for all of the oppressed, and if rumors keep on going around that Night Raid is supposedly killing those that aren't corrupt, support for the Revolutionary Army will fall." I reply, knowing the reason behind said action, but…

I raise my brow at Lubbock. "How do you plan to go about eliminating the remaining members of the Three Beasts?"

"Well, Boss wanted two different teams to go to two likely targets. Bulat and Tatsumi are heading to a cruise ship. I know Leone is going to be heading out on a recon mission to watch over Esdeath." Lubbock says, clearly unsure if he should have told me so much. Leone, on the other hand, looks ecstatic and proud.

This situation is definitely interesting. I could either try to offer my services to Bulat and Tatsumi to make sure the Three Beasts go down or I can try to get a feel for the Empire's Strongest myself. Both options have their benefits.

"Leone, how are Bulat's and Tatsumi's chances if they do encounter the remaining members of the Three Beasts?" I ask the lioness.

The blonde in question leans back in the couch and put both arms behind her head. It seems like it's a habit of hers. "Well, Tatsumi has definitely gotten stronger, but he doesn't have a Teigu yet, which is a little worrying. I don't know how he would fair against another Teigu user."

I forgot that there's this stereotype that a Teigu user can't lose to someone without a Teigu, which is a completely absurd notion. A Teigu is a tool, no more, but the wieder is what makes the tool so deadly. Just compare that woman... Sheele, was it? Compare her with Akame, and their differences are clear.

"But."

I focus my attention back on Leone.

"Bulat, truthfully, is a monster on his own. He has the title 'Hundred Man Slayer Bulat' for a reason." The blonde finishes with a grin on her face.

I see Lubbock nod slightly in confirmation of what Leone said. I guess that settles it then.

I clap my hands together, gaining the attention of the other two occupants of the room.

"Alright, then, I have a suggestion to make, if you two would hear me out."

Leone urges me to continue.

"I propose that I join Leone in scouting out Esdeath." Leone smiles wide in response, while Lubbock looks more conflicted about it.

"Shirooouuu, are you worried about your beautiful Onee-sama?" Leone asks, purposefully dragging my name out, while giving me a suggestive look.

"Yes."

"Ufufu, wel- W-What?!" The blonde suddenly stumbles on her words. Strange.

I cock my head slightly to the side. "Is it strange? Of course I'm worried about you." I'm not lying, I do count her as a friend of sorts. Not on the same level she likes me, but she can be very useful later.

"A-Ah." Again, her expression changes from her usual carefree one to a meek, adorable kitten. Really, are all women like this? I'm not sure I'm into bipolar girls...

"Mm." I nod in confirmation. Noticing Lubbock's odd look, I turn my gaze to him. "Is there something wrong?"

"I'm not really sure about that plan." Lubbock says.

"Why would that be? Do you not trust me enough to watch Leone's back?" I ask him soft-heartedly. Honestly, I feel slightly offended. My earlier words to her weren't lies; as a precious link to Night Raid, and even more importantly, as a woman, I want her to be safe. I'm not sure when exactly Leone moves from the 'Disposable' box towards the 'Cherished' box, but I intend to keep it that way.

Leone eagerly waits for Lubbock's answer and I sit back, waiting to hear what the green haired assassin will say.

"Fine! Yes, I don't trust you enough to watch over my comrade. There are other minor reasons as well, such as Najenda-san not giving her approval for this. And the more people involved in a stealth mission, the more likely it is to fail. But, most of all, I feel like you are not trustworthy." Lubbock replies in earnest.

I like the honesty, really.

"It's fine if you don't trust me. Actually, it's good for both of us." I can tell I confused him. I mean, who doesn't like being trusted?

"It shows you're a cautious and caring man. I can't fault you for that, especially since I don't know the rest of Night Raid as much as I do Leone, and perhaps Tatsumi. It's a good quality for a comrade to have. You'll lower your value in front of my eyes if you trust me too easily."

It seems he's a little surprised that I agreed with him. He keeps fidgeting here and there, and is giving signs of being unsure what to do or say. Perfect.

"Ehhhhh? So you're saying I'm cheap?!" Leone's face fills my vision, pouting and puffing her cheeks with her hands on her hips. The immature display means she's not serious, but it's fun to play with her once in a while.

I glance at her with a deadpan expression on my face. "You're the farthest thing from cheap. My wallet can attest to that."

Grinning, the older woman turns towards her comrade. "I know what you're saying, Lubbock, but I trust him enough. I'll take responsibility if Boss doesn't approve, alright? I'm sure Shirou won't let anything happen to his beautiful Onee-sama unless if he wants to owe me more drinks!" Leone sends a wink my way. I swear, her liver is probably the strongest I know of. I am curious as to what would happen should Leone find out I'm actually much older than her, if we're being technical.

Lubbock throws his hands up in defeat.

"Fine, fine! However, this is all on you, nee-san. If Boss gets pissed off, I want no part in your inevitable punishment."

"Please, I won't get in that much trouble. I think... he-he." Leone replies awkwardly.

I take this as my opportunity to move along with the conversation and wrap things up.

"Well, now that we have that issue settled... When are we heading out?"

"If we're finished here, then how about now?" Leone says with a smile.

"Huh?"

The next moment, I find myself being pulled by the arm towards the exit of the bookstore. Truthfully, I am disappointed in myself for not expecting this to happen.

XxXxXx

So far, Leone and I have been trailing The Empire's Strongest to see if we can find any sort of information or patterns in her behavior. As of now, it just seems like she on holiday. Some visits to other members of the Empire, and now a visit to a local snack shop, probably for some sort of item or refreshment. I wanted to see if I could see any sort of emotional response due to the loss of one of her Three Beasts and the beating I gave the remaining members. However, she hasn't shown any cracks in her facade yet. Whether that is due to a steely heart or a psychotic mind, I'm not sure.

The great General Esdeath. At first glance, a stunningly beautiful lady that had the benefit to reach her current standing. Flowing blue hair, bombshell figure, and smooth skin. All in all, an elegant beauty, but I know not to judge a book by its cover.

After living for a while, you develop this... sense of people, even if you don't have enhanced perceptions like me and Leone. Esdeath has the sort of strength that's palpable even to bystanders, not to mention us. This far out, I can still visualize the aura of beasts; it's not a single form, but an amalgamation of multiple beings, all of which are monstrously dangerous. I can only imagine the sort of pressure she'll emanates when she's out to kill.

"Those eyes..."

Leone looks at me inquisitively.

"They have seen probably as much death, if not more, than my own."

Leone is shocked at my declaration. She doesn't quite know much about me, but she probably has a gauge of what I have seen and done, based on my abilities. I have orchestrated and executed the deaths of many during my lives, yet this woman... the Empire's Strongest, reeks of blood, a lot more than myself.

Putting the comparison between us as an analogy, my sins will look like a dragon, with blood dripping profusely from the cracks between its teeth and claws. Esdeath's... looks like a maelstrom, a flash flood of blood... Very impressive.

"if she's as dangerous as you're making her out to be, why don't we just take her out now?" Leone asks nervously, already tensing up her muscles to make a move on the general.

I place a hand on her shoulder to stop her from moving.

"Relax." I said

I receive no reaction from the lioness.

"If you don't calm down, you will die." I tell the assassin, squeezing her shoulder gently.

That causes Leone to try and calm herself, before looking at me, obviously wanting an explanation.

"You're blown," I stated matter-of-factly. "If you attack now, she will be ready for you."

Observing her shocked face, I continue calmly, "You've been giving off faint signs of aggression, and that moment where your body tensed is all that was needed for her to know that she was being watched." Giving another glance on the General's sitting place, I say in a low voice, "She hasn't figured out our location, though. If you strike, you will be counterattacked, of which I have no doubt will be fatal. She has probably known she's been watched for a while.

"However," I touch the tip of her lips with my finger, "she only knows that you're here. I haven't given off such subtle clues, so she does not know I am watching her." I explain.

Actually, that statement is a bit of a gamble. I'm confident in my stealth, gained from my experiences and martial ability, but this woman is clearly not your average Jane.

Instantly, an obnoxiously large amount of killing intent focuses itself on my and Leone's position. Most of it is directed at Leone, supporting my previous theory. From my palm, I feel my friend's body trembling and slightly sweating. Slowly, I infuse a small amount of Prana into her, carefully circulating it to soothe her mental state. She inhales a large breath, then nods and smiles at me in gratitude.

"Leone."

Her golden eyes locks into my own steel grey ones.

"Tell me the location of Night Raid's base, I'll meet with you there." I mix some urgency in my tone, in order to gain the truth from her. It's not entirely necessary, as I'm confident I'll be able to protect her even if the three of us come to blows, but the guilt isn't really there. "I'm going to continue this reconnaissance on my own. Retreat, before the poor General can't contain her patience any longer and decides to attack. I'll meet you there after I give her the slip."

She opens her mouth to protest, but my thumb seals her lips before she can make a sound. "Please, just do as I say," I use my 'begging' expression. It's seemingly effective, since her eyes immediately soften.

Leone takes a second to contemplate the idea, before responding, "Fine, but promise me, you won't do anything too stupid. I'll kick your ass if you do! You owe me for this."

"As long as I don't have to pay in alcohol, I'll do my best," I half-joked.

Walking away, she answers my demand without looking back. "The base is ten kilometers from the Capital in the mountains. Lubbock will know when you arrive, so I'll make sure I greet you to avoid attacking you on accident."

She shoots a strange, look at me over her shoulders, before hastily retreating.

I notice the killing intent reducing dramatically to almost nothing with Leone's retreat. Focusing my attention on the goal before me.

"How are we going to do this now?" I ask myself.

XxXxXx

'It seems that my prey wasn't stupid enough to continue tailing me. Shame, shame, I was getting really bored...' Esdeath thought as she felt the presence of her stalker got farther and farther away.

"There's nothing to regret, now. Maybe I should play over to the interrogation room? Ah, now I'm wondering how Liver and Nyau are doing on their mission," Esdeath muttered to no one in particular. She stood up, deciding to head back to the Palace.

- Schluck.

She found herself landing 10 meters into an alley before her consciousness caught up. Instantly, her hand went up to feel her throat.

'Th-There's no hole...! Illusion?' In a rare occasion for her, her mind raced in panic. 'No, it's too real to be that! This feeling... killing intent?!'

She leapt up onto a nearby roof, eyes scanning the estimated place of the killing intent's source. Most people would be scanning the area like mad, however, an abnormal expression formed on the Ice Queen's face.

A mad grin. This could be exactly what she's waited for, a true challenge! A true test of her abilities. The invasion of the North didn't even arouse this sort of feeling from her, and she would be damned if she let it go!

And who knows, if this mystery person pleases her enough, she might keep whoever it is around as a pet. The thought just makes Esdeath even more excited.

However, the source disappeared as fast as it appeared. 'No matter,' she licked her lips, 'I got the general area.'

In a display of superhuman abilities, her feet lightly hopped across the roofs of the Capital's numerous mansions. It's too loud to describe it as stealthy, but public order was the last thing on her mind right now. As she ran, multiple ice lances formed and shot towards the area she presumed her target was in, faster than her soldiers' bullets.

However, the corner of her eyes caught a silhouette heading towards the woods, already a considerable distance from her expected position. Her grin turned into a frown, disliking the idea of a running coward.

She guessed the perpetrator intended to avoid collateral damage to the people, which meant two things. One, they're not on the Empire's side, since she knew well enough the pigs that ran the Empire and their own underlings wouldn't care shit about that aspect. Two, they're damn confident in their abilities to provoke her in such a small number. She couldn't get a bead on their numbers, but it shouldn't be more than 5.

Despite the potential of it being an easy, boring slaughter, the woman called the Empire's Strongest still gave her all in the chase. Lately, she's backed up, after her cute servants came back licking their injuries moaning. Well, not exactly 'moaning', since she'd behead them faster than they could think, but the thought of losing one of her trusted subordinates and the injuries Liver and Nyau sustained just kept whipping her appetite for blood.

After a couple of minutes of chase, she arrived at a small clearing in the woods. It's not wide enough to have an all-out battle, even if it became strictly melee or a swordfight, so she opted to keep perched above a thick branch while observing her opponent.

To put it simply, he fit the description of Chouri's saviour to a T.

Spiky white hair with tanned skin. Lean, but toned build. Prim black garb with red shroud covering it, with crosses strewn on both its ends.

'He's strong.' To even her own surprise, such thoughts crossed her mind. Definitely, if it's this person... perhaps she could afford to go all-out. She'll see how things progress.

"Such a tenacious woman," the man, no, the late teenager, said. "well, I don't dislike it."

Her grin was gone, replaced by a cool, calculated smile. The General's well-honed instincts told her she couldn't afford to go wild like usual. For the first in a very long time she got serious. She can tell the boy in front of her was calculating for the oncoming clash already.

"Thank you," she curtly replied. "I apologize for sounding like a crazy maniac, but can we get started? I'd like to finish while still feeling vengeful." Her feral grin didn't return, instead, she let all her sealed bloodlust to pour out uncontrolled. Her vision became brighter and wider, her sense of smell and hearing became sharper, her skin turned prickly and sensitive.

'How long since I last experienced this feeling?' She thought to herself in glee. 'How long... how long... how long... ehehe... AHAHAHAHAH!'

To a bystander, all he or she would see was a monster curling up like a spring, ready to utterly obliterate her prey underneath her feet. They wouldn't be wrong, as an inhuman roar blasted across the forest.

The branch exploded from her lunge.

In front of her was prey. Strong. Alone. Mighty. Vulnerable. Challenging. Delicious. Everything else doesn't matter. Her mind shut off all unnecessary sensory input. All her focus was onto her meal's movement, breathing, openings, defense, offense...

The boy in front of her didn't waver in the slightest, simply smiling like a parent watching his child running into his bosom. Granted, this girl was seriously eyeing to tear his heart of his body sideways, but...

'She's just a crazy psychopath, after all...' Shirou thought, slightly disappointed.

Amidst the sounds of destruction, one could still, strangely, hear a clear, calm voice.

"The starting penalty is five."