As the sun rose over the mountain headquarters of Night Raid, Najenda read through her morning reports she received from the revolutionary army. In it contained news of the Empire's war against the western nation of Frankia, which had begun due to the latter's support of the revolutionary army. Reports of various escapades on the battlefield had emerged, however, the war had reached a stalemate, with the empire failing to push deeper into its rival's territory. Nonetheless, this didn't worry Najenda much, as she was more interested in another report from inside the palace. Najenda had called the rest of Night Raid to the main hall to discuss this matter.
"Good morning, Boss" Leone yawned as she slinked into the room, stretching out her stiff body after overworking herself the previous night.
"Ah Leone" Najenda replied, razing her eyes up from her reports "Good morning, great work on lasts nights job by the way."
"Aw Thanks" Leone replied in a cheerfully but tired manner "That old, perverted bastard had it coming for a while, it felt rather nice to rip him a new one."
"Wasn't it Akame who killed him?" Najenda replied.
"Hey, just let me have this one alright" Leone joked back at her. Just after that, the other members of Night Raid entered the main hall. Mine and Tatsumi entered first, with Mine clearly annoyed at being awoken from her beauty sleep as she bickered with Tatsumi. After this, Lubbock entered, followed by Chelsea and then Akame, who was her usual self after her long night. The only one not present was Susanoo, who was nowhere to be found.
"Ugh boss" Mine spoke up begrudgingly, "Why'd you have to wake me up at this ungodly hour!"
"I woke you all because I have found a way to get into the imperial palace, close to minister Honest!" Najenda declared, and at that moment, the tiredness in everyone's bodies was replaced by shock.
"You mean, is it time?" Leone asked while gripping her fists. She had wanted to kill Honest for a long time. He was a demon, a monster who ruled over the empire with an iron fist, exploiting its citizens in every possible way.
"Not just yet" replied Najenda, who leaned forward in her chair as she spoke; "But an informant from the revolutionary army who has connections to the Imperial palace has found a way in. One of you will have to pose as an assistant to a new royal advisor."
"A new advisor?" Mine spoke up in a confused voice. "why would an advisor be so important?"
"I understand your confusion" Stated Najenda "But I've heard that this advisor has become a particular bother for Honest, as he was appointed by the Emperor himself." Najenda reached for her reports and placed a file on the table.
"His name is Malcolm Tucker" Najenda spoke with a serious tone "He was brought in only last week, buts he's already made Honest fire half of the Imperial Court, and since he's been appointed by the Emperor himself, Honest can't get rid of him.
"Is he the informant?" Tatsumi asked.
"No" Najenda replied "but he has the potential to get us close to Honest, which would provide us with valuable information on his routine. I just need one of you to become his assistant."
"Ah, I guess I'll do it" Lubbock spoke up in a laid back but clearly enthusiastic tone, knowing it will get him into Najenda's good books.
"Very well" Najenda replied, "Lubbock, seems enthusiastic, he gets the job, you will go through preparation later, but I'll leave that to Leone."
"Yes Mam!" Lubbock stated, giving a mock salute towards the boss.
"Gee, someone's fired up" Leone joked, "he better save Honest for me though."
"I don't think he could promise that" Tatsumi chuckled; "if Najenda told him to kill Honest, Lubbock would do it in a heartbeat."
"He'll probably get distracted by some girl along the way" Mine sneered, folding her arms.
"Aw, cut me some slack," Lubbock laughed while scratching the back of his head.
"I trust that he will behave himself while in the capital" Najenda commented, "and I'm sure that Susanoo will keep an eye on him, as I sent him to the capital already to prepare for this." Lubbock frowned, he wasn't a fan of Najenda's personal bodyguard, and certainly didn't want to be babysat by him.
"You're all dismissed" Najenda declared "except Tatsumi, I need to speak with you". The others all moved out of the room, while Tatsumi remained in place.
"What is it, Boss?" Tatsumi asked, "Is this about the mission last night."
"No Tatsumi, I need you to go on a separate mission before meeting up with Lubbock and Susanoo. Partially because I need to make sure that Lubbock is safe while he works in the palace. However-." Najenda paused while resting her head on her metallic right arm. "While Lubbock investigates Malcolm from the inside, I need you to go to his former post, a northern city called Amarak. There you will investigate his background and, if possible, find a way to assassinate him." Tatsumi was not surprised by this statement, he was part of Night Raid after all. But something felt wrong, really wrong about this order.
"Why are you asking me to do this?" said Tatsumi, suspicious of Najenda's intentions "Can't you just get Lubbock to do it."
"Malcolm is from a far corner of the empire, Tatsumi" Najenda stated, clasping her hands together; "He probably has little to no knowledge of us, if Lubbock where to be captured, we would need Malcolm to not view us as a threat to his life."
"But wouldn't he view us a threat anyway" Tatsumi protested "If we are trying to overthrow Honest, wouldn't this advisor also be in the firing line?"
"Not necessarily, from what the revolutionary army has already gathered about Malcolm, he despises minister Honest as much as we do. If Honest where to die now, Malcolm would just have him replaced."
"Wait a minute" Tatsumi spoke up "If Malcolm is against Honest, doesn't that make him an ally of ours. If we could get him on our side…"
"Tatsumi" Najenda sternly interrupted "there are many individuals in the empire that hate minister Honest, that doesn't mean that they want to see the demise of the empire. Malcolm has only recently been appointed, but he could soon become more powerful than Minister Honest."
"But that means…"
"Yes Tatsumi, if Malcolm's agenda goes against ours, then we will have no choice but to slay him."
"Then I guess it will be done" Tatsumi replied, still somewhat unsure if doing this was the right thing. "I'll investigate Malcolm from the shadows, and if I have to, I'll end him".
"Very well Tatsumi, you're dismissed, your mission starts at 1400 hours." Najenda informed him, before going back to her reports. Tatsumi left the room and thought about what happened.
"Who was this, Malcolm Tucker?" he thought to himself, how would he kill this man if the worst came to worst, and could he really do so?
"Well, whatever the situation is." Tatsumi spoke aloud to himself as he walked "I sure feel as if everything around it seems to be- "
"-Fucking Bollocks!" Malcom yelled as he paced around in front of his desk. "It's all fucking bollocks!" As he shouted again, one of his servants, Bella, nervously poked her head around the officer door.
"Everything alright Mr Tucker?" Bella asked nervously.
"Whos fucking idea was this?" Malcolm screamed as he turned toward the short green haired girl. "Which genius thought that taking the fucking grain supply away from the people and giving it to the army during a depression was a good fucking idea?!"
"I-I think it was the Prime Minister?" Bella stuttered as she entered the room. "He said it would be g-good for the war effort."
"Of course, it was him, fucking wasn't it!" Malcolm shouted, gesturing as he spoke in a sarcastic tone "He always comes up with these brilliant fucking ideas without fucking consulting me first!" Malcolm then walked over to Bella, before he leaned over her.
"W-what do you want me to do, M-Mr Tucker" Bella gulped; her body shivered with fear.
"I need you to relay a message to the Prime Minister for me, can you fucking do that!"
"W-what is the message-"
"Tell him, and relay this exact message" Malcolm spoke in a now calm but still aggressive voice "that his ideas are a load of horse fuck, and I would like a little fucking word with him in my office as soon as fucking possible!"
"I-I will pass that onto him, Mr Tucker" said Bella as she bowed her head nervously, clearly overwhelmed by Malcolm's aggressive attitude.
"Now fucking scram!" Malcolm bellowed as he went and sat down on his desk "I've got at least five other fuckers to bollock over today before these fucking peace talks begin, and that's not even counting the fucking pig of a prime minister!" Bella quickly left the room as Malcolm sighed and led back into his chair as he looked over the rest of his daily reports. He had only been in this position for a week, but he was now far busier than he had been up north, and he also had plenty more officials to scream at. Having left most of his staff up north, he had been making it his role to make the palace servants and officials fear him more than they feared Honest. It had been a difficult job, but he was beginning to make the palace a building worthy of being called an Imperial residence. Still, Malcolm did not have complete control of the political scene just yet, as Honest was still making his own decisions separate from him. However, Malcolm soon planned to bring even him down a peg or two.
"The message!" Bella shouted with a sudden sense of urgency as she burst back into the room, startling Malcolm from his focus. "I have a message for you, Mr Tucker, General Buldo has arrived at the palace!"
On the other side of the Palace, a disgruntled Honest prepared to meet with General Buldo, who was arriving from the war front on a very short notice.
"Where the hell is he!" Honest muttered with distain, quickly tapping his left foot. He was not used to having to do this amount of work, however Malcolm's arrival in the previous week had forced him to engage with his duties as Prime Minister. Honest was frustrated by this, as the fear from the presence of a mere advisor made him feel inadequate, like he was a dog being held on an ever-shrinking leash.
"Everything alright, Prime Minister?" Tobias, One of Honest's aides asked him.
"I shouldn't be doing this!" Honest grumbled, "I shouldn't even be awake at this time, it's sickening." Tobias shrugged at his bosses childish moaning ,scratching his long grey hair. Honest didn't listen to his advice, as he wouldn't trust an aide appointed by Malcolm. At that moment, the doors to the palace opened and a cohort of military officials entered, led by General Buldo, his imperial arms on full display as he strode.
"Ah General, you certainly took your time" Honest greeted with a noticeably passive aggressive tone.
"I apologise, Prime Minister" General Buldo confidently replied, "As a soldier, I do not abide myself by the bureaucratic timetables of you politicians."
"I see" Honest scoffed, beginning to walk side by side with Buldo through the palace as they conversed, spitting apathetic remarks towards one another. Tobias fell in line with Buldo's cohort, remaining silent as the leading pair bickered.
"I'm surprised to see you acting like a prime minister, for once?" Buldo spoke. "I thought normally you got your lackeys to do all the work for you."
"I'm surprised you were dragged away from the war?" Honest shot back, clearly annoyed by the General's insults. "Since you where such a big advocate for it."
"I'm sure you remember, If your memory serves you well Prime Minister, but it was General Esdeath who advocated for the war in the first place!" Buldo countered snarkily, Honest merely growled under his breath in response. He despised Buldo, and he knew Buldo disapproved of him as the Emperors regent. However, they put up with each other for the sake of the empire, as neither could risk adding more conflict into the mix during a time of crisis.
"But yes!" Buldo spoke up again, "In normal circumstances, I would have remained on the battlefield. However, one cannot ignore a summons from His Majesty. Let's see-" Buldo scratched his chin as he and Honest continued to walk through the grand hallways towards their usual meeting room. "I'm supposed to meet with the emperor's new advisor today before meeting with ambassadors from Frankia. Tell me, Prime Minister, what is the nature of this new advisor?"
"Well…" Honest chucked with a laugh that hid heavy resentment "He's very headstrong, but he makes it everybody's problem." At that moment, Bella, Malcolm's green haired servant girl came running breathlessly through the hallway.
"Minister Honest!" She blurted out as she stopped in front of him and Buldo, "Malcolm t-told me to deliver this m-message to you!"
"What is his message?" Honest spoke up with fear in his voice, and Bella looked at him, appearing to be on the verge of tears
"H-he mentioned something about horses fucking and that he wanted to have a to have a word with you about his ideas a-as soon as possible."
"Heaven's almighty!" Honest's voice cracked with fear, as he gripped his hat with his right hand "He knows about the grain!"
"I like this man already." Buldo spoke under his breath, if a mear advisor could make Honest this terrified, then he could prove to be a powerful ally in the palace.
"I think I'll head off to meet this advisor now, Officers you are all dismissed!" Buldo declared, "Prime minister, I hope your conversation with him later is fulfilling." The General smiled as he marched off down the corridor, leaving Honest, Bella, and Tobias standing out in the open.
"I need to put the public at ease!" Honest spoke with a sense of urgency in his voice, "Tobias, I need you to write a speech for me by midday, and write it so the public will just eat it up.".
"Yes, Prime Minister." Tobias begrudgingly replied, annoyed at the fact that he would have to clean up Honest's mistakes.
"Servant girl!" Honest spoke again, "What is your name!"
"I-its Bella, Prime Minister."
"Bella!" Honest replied, grabbing the poor girl by the shoulders, "I need you to find the Emperor by midday, can you do that for me."
"Y-yes Prime Minister!" Bella replied nervously, clearly overwhelmed by the demands she received from both Malcolm and now Honest. She ran away down the hallways, tripping over her robes before getting up and running again.
"I just hope Malcolm doesn't find out about this!" Honest uttered with terror.