Having appeared in her new surrounding in a new world, Akame and Johannes prepare to leave the dugout. The two quickly resolved any confusion on their part, with Johannes subtly agreeing to speak to Akame with what English he knew before and during the war, having spoken to a couple of British POWs he came across in his time in the trenches. But with those he had a near-death experience with were less than eager to parle with. In the dugout, Akame and Johannes make their preparation to leave.
"The exit is...uhh... there," Johannes points to the curtains that lead to the outside. Akame nods and moves in front of Johannes to leave first to leave the dugout, only being reinforced by wooden beams that are slowly rotting away. Seeing Akame move Johannes sticks his hand out to stop Akame from leaving. "Warten, sind Sie verrückt" (Are you crazy?) Johannes tells Akame. "There could be ein British Gruppe aus!" Johannes tells Akame. "Wenn they see you-you could be shot." Johannes warns Akame. Confused by the terminology that Johannes used Akame assumes it's an Imperial Army patrol that could have either Imperial Arms users or strong soldiers.
"Need not worry, Gefreiter. It will be easy to eliminate a patrol of them." Akame grabs the hilt of her Murusame. Johannes glances at her Imperial Arms, he senses an aura from it but won't speak much of it.
"I do not think that your sword will do much," Johannes responded, he then points to himself. "Lass mich... do something first." Johannes tells Akame. Akame lets Johannes does what he needs to do first before she leaves first. Johannes loosens the chinstrap of his helmet and removes his helmet, revealing dark brown hair that is almost black in color, and places it on the muzzle end of his rifle. He then slowly pushes his rifle forward passing through the curtains.
"What are you doing?" Akame asks seeing Johannes taking a precaution.
"It's what we do... to be sure das no enemy sniper will shoot us, wenn wir aufstehen." (When we stand up.) Johannes responds to Akame's question. A few seconds pass by Johannes pulls his helmet back in and replaces it back onto his head. "Gut, keine Scharfschützen," (Good, no snipers.) Johannes sighs with a bit of relief, he turns to Akame. "Na dann, los geht's." (Well then, let's go.) Akame and Johannes leave the dugout. The sight shocks and takes Akame back. All around Akame sees the muddy and swampy wasteland that churned and destroyed the land. Akame ponders what could've happened but seeing Johannes' indifferent reaction she understands that war has evolved. In part, Akame hopes that she is somewhere on the frontlines of the Revolutionary Army facing the Empire, but holds doubt. Johannes steps out of the dugout first followed by Akame. First Akame sees the wall and steps, with the wall barely taller than she is. Akame peers over the trench wall by stepping on the trench step and the scene takes her by surprise. Muddy and wasted landscape shocks the assassin as all around is the scenery of tilled earth, holes with a meter or two long diameters that may even be deep as a man litter throughout with the bodies of the fallen that have not been collected being scattered throughout. Smoke and grey clouds block the sky unable to let even a single ray of sunlight pierce through.
"What happened here?" Akame rarely shows emotion at the face of death upon first seeing how horrible the landscape has become she can't help but feel a sense of pity for what men like Johannes had to go through. Despite having been in many duels against similar opponents in the past her profession as an assassin had not prepared her for that of a soldier nor the situation she sees herself in. Johannes turns over and sees Akame's head popping over the trench line. Instinctively Johannes pulls down Akame from the firing step before she can fully go above the line, throwing her to the cold and muddy ground.
"Reitet Sie der Teufel?" (Are you mad?) Johannes blurted to Akame, but he calms himself down. "Ist alles in Ordnung?" (Is everything in order?) Johannes asks Akame. Akame stands brushing off the mud that has fallen on her, remembering just what Johannes had mentioned earlier about how he'd check to avoid sniper fire.
"I'm fine if that is what you mean, Gefreiter," Akame responded. "But what has happened here? Is this hell?" Akame asks directly.
"Hell… nein. Ypren. That ist where wir are." Johannes responded. "This is of many years of battles," Johannes responded.
"You mean that this land here has encountered several years of non-stop fighting," Akame reiterates. "Is there a war happening, Gefreiter?"
"Genau. It has since 1914." Johannes responded solemnly. Akame deduces from the year he's given to her.
"Ypren and 1914. Then this isn't the world that I know if I'm almost a millennium into the future. Makes sense for the name Ypren." Akame deduces to herself, she reasons that she could possibly in the future of the same world she's in."Is that the year that we're in?" Akame asks another.
"Nein, es ist Oktober 1917." Johannes responded further with the years in English. He briefly coughs. The three-year gap briefly takes Akame from surprise but reasons the possibility that three years of warfare will cause the land to be destroyed to the state that its in.
"Three years of fighting. I can imagine something like this, but this-this truly is something else." Akame reasons to herself. Akame knew that war is horrible but through the indirection of assassinating those who cause them. Yet to experience war through firsthand from a soldier's perspective is an extreme deviation from assassination. But for a battlefield to end up in this state, how would humans end up with war at this state. "Three years you said. How could this happen, Gerfreiter?"
"Weiss nicht. Wir Germans have since the start. Fightin' the French, British, Belgian Armeen to the west, und Russen nach Ost. Me… I was hier seit June 1915." Johannes tells Akame. Having enlisted in 1915 after his graduation, before being conscripted he'd enlisted with the standard contract of two years active service along with his other classmates who'd taken the same contract as he did. Yet, the few weeks of training that they received didn't help but slightly reinforce their desire for adventure, but the second they reached the front in Passchendaele was when their perception of war and adventure was destroyed. Johannes stands up and begins to walk from the position. Akame spots Johannes leaving, she calls out to him.
"Are you going to leave?" Akame asks. Johannes turns around.
"I do not know where to take you," Johannes tells Akame. "If I take you mit mir… you could face death for they may see you als eine Spionin." Johannes warns Akame.
"A what?" Akame asked, confused by the German word Johannes uses to supplement forgotten words. "A spy you mean?" Akame responded, Johannes nods. Johannes reaches into his waist belt and draws out a C-96 pistol, he holds it by the barrel and presents it to Akame. "What is this?"
"Mein C96. Keep it." Johannes presents the C-96 pistol of which she accepts it and places it on her belt.
"Thank you. I'll keep it by my side." Akame holsters the pistol into her belt.
"Gut," (Good) Johannes tells Akame. The two begin to walk through the trench line, keeping cautious for any patrols. Johannes tells Akame briefly some of his experience of fighting in the war, explaining how the terrain swallowed men whole as they fell. The two drudges ever onward to avoid getting spotted. Imperial Palace, Jaeger's Base
Kurome's room
The night is late and Kurome looks out with longing in her eyes. It has been over a week since Syura made her sister dissa[ear in front of her, sending Akame off into another world or place in the Empire. She does not understand why but she feels a pang of guilt in her that she has not felt in a long time. She is worried for her sister Akame but more so of the fact of her desire to kill Akame for betraying the Empire and making her into a puppet of Yatsafusa. For the past several days Kurome has gotten little in the way of sleep and her appetite for food is now infrequent with the accompanying desire to eat less and less. Now she looks out of them as she couldn't get any rest. Her sister's painful scream still haunts her to this moment. Kurome blames herself that her sister for letting Syura to use his Imperial Arms on Akame. The cry that Akame let out still leaves Kurome raw in a way. Kurome walks up to her coffee table and sees her reflection being lit up by the moon.
"Dammit!" Kurome slams the table with tears developing in her eyes. "Why did I let this happen? What have I done wrong that warrants my sister's disappearance?!" Kurome questions herself, questioning her actions that led up to this moment. She collapses to her knees slumping forward and letting her head touch the floor, she begins to cry at the lack of action she did to have at least kept her sister here. She checked the cells inside the Imperial Palace and the execution grounds but Akame was nowhere to be found, even spy reports came up with nothing from the farthest reaches of the Empire. Kurome begins to sob. "Sister… where are you? I did not want this to happen to you." Kurome continues to sob.
Wave walks through the hallway of Jaeger's residency inside of the Imperial Palace. He is angered by the Syura had treated Kurome in front of him, but more so on the fact that Syura laid his hands on Kurome and making Kurome cry on top of sending Akame to another land. If there is anyone in the Jaegers that could cheer Kurome up, then it would be Wave.
"From what Kurome told me, Akame was sent to somewhere unknown by Syura's Imperial Arms. No spy reports came in about Akame's presence." Wave ponders as he recounts what brief details Kurome had told him, he continues to walk through the halls of the Imperial Palace. Then the thought of Syura's appears in his mind, Wave clutches his hand as he is still pissed that he has hurt Kurome physically and emotionally. Wave stops before Kurome's room, in front of Kurome's room stands Kurome's remaining puppets, Natala and Doya. The two puppets were summoned by Kurome to stand guard and keep anyone from entering Kurome's room. "What are those two doing out here? Don't tell she used her Imperial Arms again to keep people out. Why are you doing to yourself Kurome?" Wave approaches the two puppets. "I need you two to move out of the way I wish to speak with Kurome!" Wave asks the two puppets with no reaction from coming either of them.
"The puppets of Yatsafusa only listen to the orders of their Imperial Arms' wielder, no one else. You can make all the demands and requests you want for them to move but in the end, they will not move unless Kurome says otherwise." Run appears walking carrying a tray with a tea kettle, three tea cups, and an assortment of cookies. Run stops before Wave takes a closer look at Wave and his demeanor. He has been briefed before by Wave about the events from several nights prior but wants to learn more directly from Kurome herself.
"Either way, I'm going inside and I won't let her puppets stop me!" Wave tells Run, he turns to the two puppets. "Now, move out of the way!" Wave tries to power through in entering Kurome's room but is pushed back by Natala. "Let me through! I do not care if you're her puppet, Kurome is a good comrade of mine and her well-being is important! So let me through and step out of the way!" Wave demands as he struggles in trying to enter but is being blocked by the two puppets. Run takes a step from the commotion.
Run sighs as he sees Wave trying to go through but almost in vain. "Wave appears angrier than before. Perhaps this is what may have happened since the two came back. Not to mention, Kurome had been silent for several days." Run thinks to himself as he observes Wave struggling. "The Prime Minister's son had always been known as the brash type, but to actually strike oversteps it. Reasoning with him is near impossible." Run thinks about the personality of the Prime Minister's son. "Not to forget he also has that new security force he's been leading, running amok all throughout the capital." Run sighs. "Just how lower can the Empire go?"
On the other side of the wall, Kurome hears the commotion being caused by her puppets and comrades. To prevent a brawl from occurring by both parties, Kurome stands up from the ground and wipes out the tears from her eyes, she grabs her Imperial Arms. Kurome walks to the door and opens it to see Natala using his spear to push Wave back with Doya behind and holding Wave back, Wave himself tries to force through. "Enough," Kurome commanded. Natala, Doya, and Wave cease the ruckus. "Wave, Run. If you two want to enter then please, come in," Kurome tells Run and Wave, she then directs her attention to her two puppets. "As for the two of you, I appreciate your hard work. You should rest now." Kurome sheathes Yatsafusa, sending Natala and Doya back inside Yatsafusa. Kurome stands out of the way. "Come in," Kurome spoke with a slight gloom tone. The three situate themselves in Kurome's room, they begin to discuss the incident involving the Imperial Arms: Shambhala, Akame, and Syura. Kurome recounts the events fully and Run understands fully the situation. Run is aware of Syura's actions and of the new security force Wild Hunt. He only received a piece of information about Wild Hunt but is conducting an investigation himself about their actions of terrorizing civilians under the guise of inspection.
"I see, after using his Imperial Arms against Akame, and sending her to an unknown place, he then proceeds to strike you and said you will be a replacement for Akame to play with." Run recaps what Kurome told him. Run takes a sip of his tea. "Typical behavior of the Prime Minister's son."
"That's right. After seeing Akame disappear in front of my eyes, I couldn't move or say anything. It was unnerving to see. That is until Wave showed up." Kurome explains further.
"This is the type of behavior that I won't tolerate," Wave speaks next. "What happened to protecting the people of the Empire? We're supposed to protect and serve, and now the Prime Minister's son acts how he likes simply because of his relation. That I cannot stand for!" Wake continues, protesting the actions of Syura.
"Wave, I suggest that you should calm yourself. Blind anger will not get you anywhere." Run advises Wave. He then begins to think up of a plan. "Say, since we're at the moment on standby, we can make an attempt to confront him together as the Jaegers. Putting an end to Wild Hunt's investigations." Run suggests to Wave and Kurome catching their attention. "But to do so would be tricky as it would bring the ire of the Prime Minister on us. Perhaps resulting in the Jaegers dissolution, worst yet our executions." Run turns to Kurome who is looking down. "But Kurome, you wish to find your sister first don't you?" Run asks Kurome.
"I do." Kurome respnded, looking back up at Run.
"Despite her blood lust to kill her sister, Kurome might be will to put that blood feud aside in the sake of finding Akame. No doubt about it." Run concludes his observations, pending if Kurome had a change of heart or personality after the incident.
"You mean that we're supposed to find Akame ourselves?" Wave asks.
"In a way yes. As the Jaegers, investigation is part of our duties." Run responds to Wave's question. "If we can find a way to take the Prime Minister's son's Imperial Arms and find a user compatible enough to teleport to find where Akame is. Even bringing her back to face her crimes against the Empire. After all of that we're to put an end to Wild Hunt." Run explains his plan to Wave and Kurome. Kurome nods. "Then we are in an agreement. As the Jaegers we will investigate Akame's whereabouts and bring her to justice." Run stands up.
"If that is the plan to follow, then I don't have any objections," Wave tells Run and Kurome, agreeing with what Run had said. He turns to Kurome. "And you Kurome?" Wave asks Kurome.
"I don't mind finding my sister. But if I can, I would like to bring her back here and duel against her myself." Kurome answers Wave.
"Now then, let's get moving and acquire the Syura's Imperial Arms. That way, we can find and bring Akame back to face her crimes." Run tells the group. They begin to get up and leave Kurome's room. All three begin to walk through the halls of the Imperial Palace, coming up with a plan to find Akame and end Wild Hunt.
The two trudge ever forward through the wasteland that is no man's land, keeping low in many open areas and in the trench line. Keeping out of areas with high enemy presence in order to return to Johannes' lines. They march through mud and blood, avoiding British patrols that are on constant guard after having made a major push against the German lines in Ypres. Trees stand but robbed of their leaves, fortifications are laid wasted and in rumbles. After over an hour of movement and confusion, the two come across an abandoned pillbox that has part of its top missing they decide to settle to rest in the rundown bunker, at least its better than being in a muddy and broken trench where rats are all over with muddy water being at ankle length. The evening day that the two had quickly become twilight, slowly becoming night. Since their first encounter, Akame dressed similarly to Johannes. Akame wears an M1915 overcoat on top of her black coat to have better coverage from the elements, and on her head is a painted M1917 Stahlhelm with dark brown, olive, and dark yellow color camouflage pattern, both overcoat and Stahlhelm taken from a fallen comrade of Johannes' company. On her side she still has Johannes' pistol and has a gas canister slinged on her side. Akame lays on the wall sitting and questioning whether the situation she is in could be some horrible dream, trying to wrap her mind around her new surroundings in the new world. She wonders if this is future of her same world after the revolution.
"What could have truly happened here?" Akame asks herself. "I know that I'm used to the sight of the slain, but this is beyond normal. Every minute is one dead body and another. Wearing the uniform of either side." Akame contemplates further. "How much further can I handle?" Akame questions. She tries to reason with the world and war she sees herself in. She looks around and senses a feeling not having felt in a while, confusion. Confused as her mind still attempts to understand what she sees and dreads how such events could happen. Around her, gunfire billows out from the distance as either side tries to kill the other. Johannes walks up to Akame carrying another Gewehr 98. Akame quickly glances at Johannes, wearing the same long field grey coat as she is, field grey trousers, and a field grey tunic that that has brass buttons and red piping in parts of the tunic. The black of his uniform are that of his boots, gloves, and the Y-strap of his webbing kit carrying his standard issue kit.
"He, Fräulein. Hier, nimm das." (Hey, Fräulein. Here, take this.) Johannes gives Akame the second Gewehr 98, slightly cleaner than his rifle. Akame accepts the rifle. She inspects the rifle.
"What firearm is this?" Akame asks.
"Das Gewehr 98 (Achtundneunzig), or Gewehr 98 auf Englisch. It…fires five rounds mit dem Mauser." Johannes explains to Akame. Johannes opens one of his ammo pouches and grabs a five-round clip. "Hier," Johannes tosses the clip to Akame. "Wissen Sie zu laden?" (Do you know how to load it?) Johannes asks. Akame catches the clip, Johannes sits across from Akame.
"I've handled with firearms before. I don't think I've tried this model of firearms yet?" Akame responded. Assuming the rifle's construction, Akame makes an attempt to load the rifle. Johannes sees the action and demonstrates it to Akame with his rifle, he lifts the bolt up, pulls it back, and pushes it forward, and downwards. Johannes looks down and observes Akame's build. Her shoes are a complete mess after having to trek through the mud and dirt of no man's land that she had lost a shoe. Her socks are all but riddled with holes that Johannes feels all but pit for her. "Na, ich soll gewusst haben, dass Ihren Füßen nass und schlammig würde sein." (I should have known that your feet would be wet and muddy.) Johannes tells Akame. Akame looks at him with confusion in her mind. Johannes stands up but keeps himself low, "Eine Moment bitte." (One moment please.) Johannes tells Akame as he leaves the central room of the pillbox and steps into the closed-off room adjacent to it. In the room he spots a pair of ankle boots with a pair of puttees in them, adjacent is a box pocket camera of English design. He grabs the boots and box pocket camera and returns to the previous room Akame is in, who is huddling herself close to keep warm from the elements, the sky itself is slowly but surely becoming dark. Akame looks up and sees Johannes with boots and an item she doesn't recognize.
"What did you find, Gefreiter?" Akame asks. Johannes places the ankle boots in front of Akame.
"Hier… Steifel für Sie." (Here. Boots for you) Johannes tells Akame as he sits back down across from Akame. Johannes reaches into his bread bag and pulls out his last pair of clean socks. "Bitte, take das." Johannes points to Akame's black socks. "Out mit your old…um… Socke." Johannes throws the pair of socks to Akame who does as directed. "Wet feet, es ist nicht gut. Nuen Socken… um… are besten. I kann hilf, mit der Wickelgamasche." Johannes tells Akame, she grabs a roll of the puttees out of the boot and shows it to Johannes.
"You mean these straps?" Akame asks.
"Ja, I think that is what they are called." Johannes tells Akame. "Ist best für you zum change in to those shoes. To not have… um," Johannes stops his thought for a moment, trying to recollect the word referred by the British as trench foot. "Wir call it als Fußbrand."
"Fußbrand?" Akame asks herself. "Fußbrand." She repeats it to herself once more. Akame begins the process of replacing her socks. She cleans off her foot to the best of her abilities without a towel, putting on the pair of socks and ankle boots that are a few centimeters larger than her foot size. Akame recognizes the puttees and immediately wraps them around her legs, starting from her ankle and up to the shin wrapping it tight around her legs. She looks over and sees Johannes fiddling with a device.
"What is that you got there?" Akame asks Johannes, pointing to the camera he has in his hand.
"Wie? Ehhh. Eine Kamera," Johannes answers Akame. "It seems that it was… uhm… left here. I think ein Soldat may forgot it." Johannes further adds on.
"What does it do?" Akame asks about the camera and its function.
"They take a snapshot of what es happen now, und… um.. saves the moment. I have seen some Kameraden of mine having them." Johannes responded, gesturing the motions of how the camera would work.
"So those things takes an image of the scene and saves them for others to see?" Akame asks another question, becoming intrigued by the camera. Johannes nods. "Shall we give it a try then?" Akame proposes. Johannes thinks about it, with sunlight quickly fading he think they're in a safe position, without much of the enemy being seen it's a risk he decides to take. Johannes stands up and activates the camera after having fiddled with it, remembering how to use it after having used it a couple of times with his comrades before and after arriving at the trenches.
"You should stand up und take out, Ihre Schwert. As if you are in a one-person fight." Johannes tells Akame, pointing at her Imperial Arms. Akame draws Murusame and positions it to the side, posing to see how the camera would work in his. The sun poses behind her, giving a dark silhouette but visible enough to see the details. "Genau, jetzt auf drei ja. Eins, zwei, drei!" (Good, now on three yes. One, two, three) Johannes activates the camera and takes a photo of Akame, engraving the image into the film. "Ich glaube es hat funktioniert." (I think it worked.) Johannes tells himself.
"Can I see the result?" Akame asks, sheathing Murusame.
"I have to…eh-um… take it zu have die Bild machen. To have it made." Johannes tells Akame. "But I hope it came out well, because I would like to- *gasp* IN DECKUNG!" Johannes drops the camera and leaps forward and tackles Akame to the ground as a bullet strikes past his helmet missing him and hitting the wall behind him. Johannes gets himself off of Akame and lays on the wall side by side with Akame. He grabs his Gewehr 98 that was on the floor, he peers over the wall trying to spot the sniper but brings his head back down after spotting the sniper's glint. Another shot was fired at him but barely misses him, Johannes' heart races as the adrenaline of to fight or flight slowly begin to kick in.
"What was that?" Akame asks.
"British shooter. Gott sei dank, I see the shooter's glint before me or you have lost our heads." Johannes tells Akame with a bit of panic in his breath. Johannes bolt cycles his rifle to check how much he has left in his rifle before having to reload. "Ja, fünf Kugln. Hoffe ich sie haben keine Artillerie." (Okay. Five bullets. I hope they don't have artillery) Johannes tells himself. "Von what I saw. I say he is ein hundret meters out." Johannes tells Akame, approximating the distance between them and the British sniper, Akame then unsheathes Murusame. "What is that you-you doing?"
"I may have a plan to take him out. Even before he fires another round." Akame tells Johannes but he feels an uneasiness about what she might do that might result in her death. He's learned to not worry much for recruits who don't make it past two weeks but now he's unsure about Akame.
Over sixty yards away in an abandoned trench line occupied by a small platoon of British soldiers, the sniper sees the two. "Come on you Jerrys. Don't be such a Gannet and come out already. It won't hurt a bit." The sniper whispers to himself.
"Oi, what you got there?" A British lieutenant asks.
"Two Jerries in that house over 60 yards out, sir. I believe they may have some vital information if they're this lost. I suggest you get the platoon ready to capture them." The sniper tells the lieutenant.
"Right, I'll scrounge up the group to get them." The British lieutenant responds. He then turns over back to his squamates. "Alright listen up I need a couple of you blokes with me on the double!" The lieutenant tells the rest of the men in the platoon. The sniper then shrugs and looks back at his lens.
"What in the devil is that Jerry doing?" The British sniper looks closely and sees Akame running ten meters out with Murasame drawn out. "Huh, easy pickings then." The sniper fires a shot at Akame but blocks it with her Imperial Arms. "No bloody way," The sniper reacts. He bolts his rifle once more and looks into the scope. "How in the devil did this Jerry block? Is that a girl?" The sniper asks himself, seeing Akame's figure. Then, the sound of a Gewehr 98 being fired cracks the air with the bullet traveling and finding its mark in the sniper. He collapsed into the trench, catching the attention of his officer and seeing him lying dead on the ground with his scoped Lee-Enfield rifle.
"Dear God." The British lieutenant then draws his pistol. "Right, all twelve of ya, we're going over the top. Two Jerries in the bombed-out bunker! Let's go move it!" The lieutenant orders his platoon, they climb over the top and begin to charge at the bunker. Back at the bunker, Akame enters sheeting Murusame.
"Did you get the sniper?" Akame asks.
"Ich glaube," (I think so) Johannes responeded. "If not, dann wir are in bad position." Johannes continued. "Hinter Sie!" (Behind you!) Johannes shouts as he spots thirteen British soldiers charging at their position. "Wir müss go!" Johannes tells Akame, seeing from his perspective that the odds are stacked against them.
"No," Akame responded, she draws Murusame out of its sheath. "I understand that you're taking precautions. But if you may, allow me to eliminate them." Akame responded. Akame takes the chance to measure the enemy of Johannes' nation, seeing how they're comparable to the Empire she knew. Akame lunges forward at the charging British squadron. This sight of a German charging at their position suicidally is uncommon for them to see, but they well know that this is not something out of the realm of reality for a German soldier to do, if said soldier had a death wish.
"Warte!" (Wait!) Johannes shouts out seeing Akame charging forward. Believing that Akame would end up dead Johannes decides to help Akame and shoot at some of the charging British soldiers. He fires off a shot at a British soldier, hitting him square in the chest. He quickly cycles in another bolt before opening fire at the same British soldier, ending him. Johannes aims at another British soldier who is trailing from the back and fires at him, hitting him directly in the shoulder that causes him to collapse forward.
"Keep moving boys!" The British lieutenant orders the remaining ten. One of his soldiers points out to Akame charging at them.
"Sir, we got one charging at us!" A British lance corporal points out. They stop running as they point their rifles and revolver at Akame.
"Open fire!" The British lieutenant ordered. They begin to open fire at Akame and at Johannes' position. Johannes narrowly dodges a couple of bullets and responds by firing off two more shots before having to reload. To Akame, time slows down for her when in concentration mode to kill her targets. As she continues to charge forward the bullets of the British SMLE MKIII fly past Akame narrowly missing her. Due to her new boots, helmet, and mud, along with the subtle onset of rain, Akame's speed is reduced but she still pushes forward. Akame raises Murusame and slices down the British lieutenant first.
"Eliminate," Akame says as she kills the British lieutenant. Seeing their lieutenant cut down the British soldiers stand frozenly, making themselves easy targets for Akame but they continue to open fire. One of the British soldiers is shot by Johannes as he loads his second five-round clip into his SMLE rifle. Akame rushes in and cuts down another three British soldiers.
"Bloody hell, the hell is this Jerry brat think he is!" One of the British soldiers says in response to seeing his comrades being killed.
"Turn back, turn back now! AHH!" Another British soldier responds but is cut down by Akame. Those that remained were all but cut down by Akame. Johannes continues to give covering fire at the now terrified British soldiers. Those that were left standing by Akame were overtaken by Murusame's curse. Those that remained collapsed dead. Akame flicks Murusae, removing an excess of blood that has gotten onto the blade. The rain soon begins to pick up as night takes over. Despite having survived the skirmish, the battle still rages on in some areas but for the most part, almost all activity has ceased. Akame walks over to the bunker to a stunned Johannes. Having witnessed Akame cut down the remaining British soldiers stuns Johannes, he knew then that the sword wasn't being waved as an officer would nor was she an amateur but only as a professional assassin would. Yet one thing scares him the most, that the British soldiers she killed had only been given a simple small cut on the body and yet they collapsed, he ponders what type of blade she might have used.
"That was... impressive," Johannes tells Akame. Akame nods.
"Perhaps now, he doesn't see me as a threat." Akame thinks to herself.
"Wie have to go. I believe more will come." Johannes tells Akame. Johannes runs back in and collects the broken camera and rendevous with Akame. "Jetzt, los geht's" (Now, let's leave). Soon the two promptly leave the destroyed bunker as Johannes now speculate they may have accidentally wandered further into British territory. Soon, the two leave to return back to the German lines. But the difficulties of wandering through the night in enemy land will be a challenge for the two.
Imperial Capital
Lubbock's Bookstore
(Night Raid's Imperial Secret Base)
After Akame's disappearance, Night Raid has been hard at work over the past three weeks in finding Akame's whereabouts. Spies came back with no evidence of her whereabouts in the capital, even their reports of finding Akame concluded that she is nowhere in or near the capital nor in the Empire or the other countries. Leaving the only possibility that she was teleported to an inexplicable and unreachable place in the world. Her disappearance brings a minor blow to the morale of the Revolutionary Empire but great joy in the Empire as many of the corrupt leaders can rest easy, knowing one of the best assassins of the Revolutionary Army is gone. Yet, Night Raid still searches hard for Akame. In the basement of Lubbock's book store Mine, Lubbock, and Tatsumi look over the recent spy reports in Akame's whereabouts but they all came with the same result as before, nothing.
"any new leads on Akame?: Tatsumi asks as he places down a report on the table. He sighs in disbelief as he hopes to find Akame soon but nothing new has changed.
"Nope. Her whereabouts are still unknown. She could be anywhere in or out of the capital," Lubbock lays back on the couch sighing in defeat. "At this point she is MIA."
"The only lead we have on her is from the report Tatsumi gave us when she first got teleported," Mine exclaims. "Perhaps she may have been sent away to a deserted tropical island. Maybe even the same one Tatsumi spent with Esdeath on their honeymoon." Mine jabs at Tatsumi. Tatsumi becomes flustered at the jab as he doesn't want to remember the time spent with Esdeath on the island.
"We didn't have a honeymoon Mine. I was caught off guard and we just so happen to have teleported there. But it may be a possibility that she could be there." Tatsumi responded.
"So you aren't denying it." Mine takes a sharp glance at Tatsumi.
"Can we just drop the subject and get back into finding Akame!" Tatsumi responded in haste.
"Tch, now I'm jealous by the love dynamics of you two. So unfair." Lubbock mutters under his breath. As things were almost becoming hopeless, Leone announces herself into the secret base.
"Hey you guys!" She announces. "So any leads on Akame or are we still in the dark?" Leone asks as she lays down on the sofa next to Lubbock.
"No. Little progress has been made, we're essentially starting back at square one," Tatsumi responded to Leone's question. " What about you Big-sis?" Tatsumi asks.
"Total zilch," Leone responded. "Not one of my connections came up with anything about Akame's whereabouts," Leone lays back just as what Lubbock is doing. "And you?" Leone asks. Lubbock simply shook his head.
"Nothing." Mine responded, also sounding defeated. Then an idea pops into Tatsumi's head.
"If we want to find Akame... then perhaps we should get the Imperial Arms that sent her to wherever in the first place." Tatsumi proposes, catching the attention of everyone in the room.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go find that perv, give him a good beating, and find Akame!" Leone excitedly stands up.
"Easier said than done, that man spends all day inside the Imperial Palace. If we were to infiltrate it then we would be putting ourselves in danger." Lubbock comments.
"Then we should use a lure, shouldn't we? Something to get him out? If we're lucky we can rag the rest of that Wild Hunt group," Mine proposes her idea. " When he's distracted, then anyone of us can move in and snatch his Imperial Arms and get Akame back." Mine continues. Lubbock and Leone turned their heads to Mone, with a collective agreement in their eyes that scream malintent. "Don't look at me! I won't be bait!" Mine yells at the two. Lubbock and Leone then turned away from Mine's direction. Reasoning with Mine's proposal, Tatsumi thinks up a risky but plausible plan.
"Thinking about it now," Tatsumi states, all turning their gazes at Tatsumi. "If we're to lure Wild Hunt and the Prime Minister's son out, then perhaps we should team up... with the Jaegers." Tatsumi proposes. Everyone simply chuckles at the foolhardy plan.
"Why would we even team up with the enemy? You really did lose your mind, you idiot!" Mine berates Tatsumi.
"Now-now, hear me out. The Jaeger may have a similar plan in mind but couldn't execute it," Tatsumi defends his proposal. "Akame's little sister witnessed firsthand Akame's disappearance, and with that, we can put our hostilities to the side and find Akame," Tatsumi adds on. "Furthermore, Esdeath is off to the west fighting the Western Tribes. With the Prime Minister's son being our target, then it may be possible to join up, end Wild Hunt, and bring Akame back. We may even get the Jaegers to join the revolution, or at least desert from the Empire if we're lucky." Tatsumi further defends and reasons his proposal. The other three listened and being to think about the plan. In spite of it being ambitious and almost utter lunacy, it's the best chance they have to get Akame back.
"It's an audacious plan, but it may just work," Lubbock responds in agreement with Tatsumi's plan.
"I second that!" Leone chimes in.
"If we're to carry this out, then how should get the Jaegers attention?" Mine asks. Tatsumi then thinks for a second.
"I think I have an idea how." Tatsumi responded.