Chapter 25 When is Hei the Scariest?
"I will help."
Three words. Simply three words. It does not matter if one understands them from the broader scheme or the narrower scheme – those direct words do not seem to trick anyone, right? If such simple words can be utilized by Hei to maneuvering others, then there isn't really any point for anyone to trust him at all.
In fact, is there really a way for the Night Raid members to trust him in the first place?
Dumbfounded by Hei's sudden outrageous reaction, Najenda finds herself in a position to lose all her words, again.
Sure, it is a great thing for the revolutionary army to gain a powerful ally such as Hei, but…
This entire thing just does not make any sense!
"I'm sorry, did you say you will help?"
"You heard me."
That's not good. No, that's not good at all. Having experienced so many compromises with her enemies, Najenda has always been ready for a sacrifice to be made. There is… how should she put it… absolutely no benefits for Hei in this negotiation. He has denounced everything the revolutionary army established. He even questioned the fundamental morals of her career!
And just like that.
This man just accepted her proposal – without hearing her proposal at all.
"Why?" Najenda couldn't help herself but ask, "You don't even believe in our cause? What benefit is there to you?"
"I have my own reasons."
Of course, we know that.
"No, this is unacceptable!" Finally losing her temper, Najenda switches on a frustrated expression. Her decision will determine the lives of all those young assassins around her. No mistakes can be made, especially when coming down to the Black Reaper.
How ironic. Minutes ago, the leader of the fearsome Night Raid assassins was still trying her very best to gather such a powerful ally. When he accepted the offer, however, she felt that she didn't want him anymore…
"I need a reason, an explanation, conditions for cooperation, something!"
If Hei was scary to the Night Raid members not long ago, then the wrath of their Boss can doubtlessly bring forth the definition of hell.
The room is so quiet that the heartbeats of the nervous assassins are easily audible.
"…"
"Such foolishness. I offered my help, but you would rather deny it without a clear explanation." Fixing his mask into a correct position, Hei's monotone does not even flinch the slightest bit, "I assume I will just need to specify a few conditions for my partnership then."
Hearing such terms, any normal negotiator would frown upon the potential conditions set by their collaborators, but apparently not Najenda.
"Yes, please list them." Strangely feeling a sense of accomplishment, Najenda resumes to her previous calmness, while completely ignoring another insult from the masked man.
"The mask stays on."
"No problem." No one currently knows the true looks of the Black Reaper. The only revolutionary soldier who saw Hei during the battle of Elder Basin was executed by Esdeath. The mask is Hei's personal freedom, and Najenda would absolutely respect Hei's choice, if that's what it takes to have Hei as a potential ally.
"I do not follow incompetent orders."
"Yes, I understand. This is also explained by the high officials in the revolutionary army." According to the will of her own boss, Najenda was supposed to offer higher positions inside the army if Hei is able to join her side. She had overheard that the higher officials do not want to keep Hei confined within Night Raid, because Hei's intellect can only be used to its fullest benefit when he possesses the control over an actual army. Heck, if Elder Basin cannot reflect Hei's supernatural tactician abilities, then what can?
However, Najenda also understands that trusting Hei with a higher position would bring a lot of risk into the revolution itself. As a cold-blooded killer, this masked man only cares for himself. This is confirmed, because he just claimed that he simply does not care for the empire or the revolution.
"I request the area two hundred meters east of the headquarters as my personal laboratory."
"This can be arranged." Honestly, Najenda was expecting something much worse, such as the power to command an army inside the revolutionary forces. Learning that Hei is not a man thirsty for power, the experienced leader internally dropped one of her greatest concerns, but the geography… just seems weird, "May I ask your reason for choosing that part of the forest? The location is not very hidden, and its proximity to the cliff is dangerous for natural landslides."
"Stars."
"Hmm? What?"
"You heard me." Looking to the east, a small sense of desire is gradually taking over the emotionless face under that deadly mask, "Stars are most viewable in this position."
"…"
"…"
…
Okay… That was certainly unexpected.
Unintentionally, Hei had just brought the young assassins of Night Raid through a strange wave of emotional rollercoaster.
The stoic, unforgiving, analytical Black Reaper likes to look at stars?!
I guess Hei is just full of surprises.
…
"Um… that's understandable, I guess…" Mentally wiping her cold sweat from her forehead, Najenda decides to change her views on this young man privately.
"What? Stars are delightful."
"…"
When is Hei the scariest? Not when he obliterates the enemy forces with only one-tenth of the opposing powers. Not when he analytically eliminates his enemies with his absolute intellect. Not when he releases all of his contractor powers, but…
When he does THAT.
THAT is scary.