Lying on the roof of the palace, Wave was trying to clear his head. However, nothing could make him forget what he had seen, a few days ago, during their assault on Bach's home.
"We were supposed to protect a man whom Night Raid intended to kill and, in the end, it was we who executed him! And why ? Because he was bad! He was a slave trader and the other men were nobles who mistreated their slaves! It was out of the question to have the slightest pity for these guys. "
Then staring at the sky above him, he wondered.
" Night Raid did he kill all these guys, for fun… or because they were bad? "
Suddenly screaming, he straightened up while massaging his head.
" AhHHHHHHHH ! I think so much that it gives me a headache! I don't even know where I am now! Who is the good and bad guys in this story? "
Cooking a steak in a pan, Bols glanced over at him, before affirming.
" Now, Wendy. "
Putting various vegetables that she had just chopped, in a saucepan, Wendy saw these disappear in the middle of a stew that began to let out a delicious aroma.
" Hum! Such a delicate smell. " Said Run, as he sat at a table with a book in his hands.
Salivating, Kurome remained half lying on the table, impatiently waiting for someone to give her something to eat. Finally, when Bols and his new assistant arrived at the table, the girl only needed a millisecond to straighten up suddenly, while a plate was placed right in front of her.
" That looks too good. " She asserted, while a meat dish lay before her.
" And that's it to complete. " Said Wendy, pretending to put vegetables in the dish.
Nevertheless, with a protective gesture, Kurome positioned her arms over her plate, in order to prevent a sacrilege from being committed.
" No vegetables! Only meat. "
" Kurome-san, you have to eat better than that."
Then arriving in the kitchen, Wave displayed a confident smile, to hide the fact that he was always questioning his actions.
" Meat is not everything! It's decided ! Tonight, I will make you eat a seafood dish accompanied by a soup which you will tell me about! "
" If you try to force me to eat this, you will know what it feels like to get pierced by my saber. " Growled Kurome.
Suddenly planting a fork in a carrot, Wendy directed it towards Kurome while affirming.
" Don't do your difficult! Do '' AHHH ''! "
" Do you take me for a baby? "
" I just want to make sure that your body doesn't suffer from any deficiency. " Retorted Wendy, giving her a sweet smile. " It would be a shame, right? You don't want to be sick, do you? "
Seeing her smile, while seeming to be embarrassed, Kurome turned her head somewhat to the side. Then, finally, opening her mouth, she ends up grabbing the piece of carrot, which she chewed.
Immediately, making a face like a child, she showed that she didn't like the taste at all. However, she ends up swallowing it, to Wendy's rejoicing.
" You see that it was not so hard! Come on, nine more and I'll leave you eat your meat. "
" And this time, I'm feeding you. " Cried Wave, already with a fork in his hand.
Taking a punch, the boy ejected against a wall, while Kurome had just knocked him out in one fell swoop. Putting another plate on the table, Bols wanted to know.
" Esdeath-san and Seryu are not hungry? "
" The general is eating with the emperor. " Run told him. " As for Seryu, she warned me that she wanted to extend her workout for today. "
Hearing this, Wendy paid attention to their discussion. However, getting up at that moment, Wave returned to Kurome, with a plate of vegetables in his hand and a fork. Then began an argument between the two, before it escalated into a fight.
Seeing the food being thrown in all directions, Run saw fit to take refuge behind a counter, with his book in his hand and a plate and a fork in the other, while Bols tried to calm the two troublemakers.
Leaving, Wendy left the room, while now carrying a small package in her arms.
Running towards Koro, which was already transformed, Seryu tried to hit his neck with a kick. Protecting this area by placing his hand in it, Koro managed to stop her, before pretending to hit Seryu. Serting backwards, Seryu just grabbed two pistols before firing.
Of course, even in large numbers, the bullets had no effect on her pitch. However, what mattered to Seryu was to hit all the targets she had drawn on his body. Letting himself be strafed like this, Koro remained motionless for a few seconds, before finally launching a counter-attack. Opening his jaws wide, he let himself sink on Seryu, who had no choice but to jump to the side to dodge each of his assaults.
Managing to hit him here and there when he was near her, she managed to make him at least lose his balance, making him fall to the ground. Exhaling with difficulty then, she exclaimed.
" It's good for today, Koro. "
Immediately, her teigu took his chibi form, understanding that the training was over. Seeing this, Seryu dropped back and lay on the floor of the dojo where she trained regularly. Looking at the ceiling of the place, she couldn't help but hear the voice of Captain Ogre, who used to encourage her when they were training here.
" Ogre-sama… don't worry! Soon I could avenge you! I promise you. "
Then walking towards her, Koro was holding a towel in his little arms, which he handed to his owner. Smiling at this, Seryu took the towel before wiping her face. Then, taking hold of her teigu, she pressed him against her, while asserting.
" Thank you, Koro! Thank you for always being there for me! You will see that everything we do now will help the whole empire! Yes, justice will triumph over evil! "
" Can I enter ? "
" Huh? " Asked Seryu, turning to see Wendy behind her. " What are you doing here ? "
" I wanted to see you. " Assured her friend by advancing towards her.
Still seeing her recovering her strength, she sat down behind Seryu, before placing her hands on her back. Immediately, a wonderful light invaded Seryu's body, while Seryu had the impression that each of her muscles stopped making her suffer. Letting her head fall on Wendy's lap, she let the child continue her treatment.
" It is so good. "
" Seryu, we have known each other for two months now! Things have happened in the meantime. "
" It's right." Assured Seryu. " We've stopped a lot of bad guys since we work together! And even if you keep me from killing them, it's great to send them to prison! At least they won't hurt anyone anymore! And then, thanks to what you taught me about the poverty of the city, I help hundreds of people by allowing them to have food! I feel like a heroine!
Smiling then, she fixed Wendy's gaze, while affirming.
" All of that is because I have the best of friends. "
The fact that Seryu qualified her as a good friend made Wendy even happier, while she felt that Seryu's character had softened a lot since their meeting. Using her magic to analyze the young woman's soul, Wendy was even happier to see her soul much whiter than the day they first met.
" Finally ! I finally managed to show him the real path to follow. "
Wanting to continue on this path, the child then ends up grabbing a package, which she handed to Seryu.
" Take it, it is for you. "
" Hum? What is that ? " Wanted to know Seryu, taking the gift.
" I heard that you asked Esdeath to find someone who could continue to perfect your body. " Said Wendy. " And as you know, I don't want to let you do this! Therefore, I want to make you stronger myself. "
At that moment, opening the package, Seryu ends up seeing a pair of soles twice as thick as the average.
" What is that ? "
" Soles in which I have incorporated wind magic! My magic! When you want, they will be able to produce wind and act as propellants, allowing you to be faster or to float in the air. "
" But… I thought you didn't want me to have other weapons."
" You don't need to be operated to incorporate this weapon in your body. " Retorted Wendy. " You just have to stick them to your shoes and the magic will do the rest. "
Then taking her hands, Wendy cried.
" Seryu, I don't know if that could really help you but, I would be ready to make other objects, like that, if in exchange, you promise me to do nothing more dangerous with your body! You promise me ? "
Still examining the magic soles, Seryu suddenly ends up dropping them to the ground. Then, jumping then, she crushed them with all her might under her shoes. Once done, she assured that the soles had hung on her heels and then said.
" You are my partner! So I would trust you more than someone else. "
Then raising two fingers from her hand, she said.
" Okay, I promise, Wendy! From now on, you will be responsible for obtaining new weapons. "
" For real justice? " Wendy asked, tending her hand at Seryu.
" For real justice. " Assured Seryu, clapping her hand.
For her part, Esdeath couldn't help but smile. To tell the truth, drinking iced tea, the most quietly in the world, she enjoyed the strange scene right in front of her: the emperor unhappy with Honest's work.
Indeed, having various papers that he had placed on the table, Makoto was reading these, while wanting to know.
" Why have they never told me about these huge financial crises that affected the whole country? I thought you told me there was no problem with money anywhere in the capital. "
" But, your highness ... What are you going to get there? The Empire has a lot more money than it needs. "
" This is not what the Minister of Finance told me and all these documents that I have in hand! " Makoto retorted, fixing these." It is the first time that I have decided to speak to the other ministers and I have the impression that they describe to me the state of the capital as if everything turned into disaster! It even seems that more than a third of the captain's inhabitants are unhappy with our actions! There are big problems with rents ... the taxes ... the food … "
"But what took this kid to suddenly stick his nose all over the place?" Wanted to know Honest, hiding his frustration badly. " Usually, I just have to tell him that everything is fine for him to stop dealing with the state of the capital."
" In the end, Wendy was right (Chapter 24). " Exclaimed Makoto. " It may be time for me to better know the riches and others of the country and put in place my own laws. "
" Wen ... Wendy? " Wondered Honest, immediately looking for who she was.
Chuckling then, Esdeath almost wanted to leave the room to congratulate the girl. It was the first time that Wendy's mania for saying everything she thought had amused her. For the first time in his life, Makoto had met someone who told him that his laws were flawed, and he questioned himself. And that, Honest was certainly not going to let it pass.
Sighing, while rubbing his cheek where Kurome had managed to scratch him, Wave felt more unhappy now that he had quarreled with her.
" Damn it ! Me who just wanted to change my mind! Now, Kurome is bothering me! However, by eating only cakes, she will end up having diabetes. "
" This is unacceptable. " Suddenly roared a voice.
Passing then a room whose door was somewhat ajar, Wave could hear the voice of Honest, while he had brought Esdeath here to speak alone with him.
" Did you see what just happened? Because of this damn brat, I have this stupid emperor kid on my back! If he continues on this path, he will eventually become aware of the true state of the empire. "
" So what ? " Esdeath asked, while continuing to sip her iced tea. " What do you want me to do ? "
" That you get rid of this Wendy. " Roared Honest. " Take her away and take her far from here! No, gut her rather."
Biting into a thick slice of ham, he tore it apart before crying out.
" Yes ! Massacre her, slaughter her, destroy each part of her body and make her disappear! It is out of the question to let this girl manipulate the emperor further. "
Putting down her cup of tea, Esedath said.
" Of all the Jaegers, Wendy is without a doubt the one I have the hardest time supervising! The idea of torturing her to teach her a lesson would please me! However, … "
Taking a more serious look, she added.
" She is under my orders! And it is not my habit to kill a soldier as promising as she ! Above all, that in the end, I like the fact that she stands up to me! It is not every day that I can come across a person as brave as she. "
" Don't make me laugh. " Growled Honest! " If Makoto decides to introduce new laws, he risks creating a new government! And you know very well what it means, right? The wars will stop while Makoto will only be concerned with the situation of the territories already conquered. "
Finding that he had just captured Esdeath's attention, he turned his back on her, while continuing.
" May you think that I am the only one to lose something in this story? You are mistaken ! You only live to fight and kill people! It's almost like a drug, for you! Therefore, I know very well that you can never live in a country where peace reigns. "
Saying nothing, Esdeath took a few seconds to think before admitting.
" Wendy and I are supposed to fight for my title of general! I don't know exactly when, but she promised to offer me a real fight that she hopes to win. "
Drinking again, she said.
" I will see what I do with her after I win. "
" In this case, at least make sure that this half-portion stops snooping around in my things! But now that I think about it,… "
Thinking for a few moments, Honest wanted to know.
" She worked in which sector before joining you? "
" She had joined the imperial army and was a mere recruit just a few weeks old! She was the Seryu's partner and their duo made them famous very quickly. "
" And before being a soldier? If I remember correctly, the little I read about her said nothing about her past. "
" I don't know either. " Esdeath confessed to him. " And that doesn't interest me at all! All I know is that her powers didn't come from a teigu ! It is her body itself that manipulates them! And this is what is most impressive about her. "
" Impressive or not, she is only a parasite! I just want you to get rid of it as soon as possible! I could never control this empire as I please, if she puts Makoto in my way. "
Biting again into a piece of meat, he continued.
" I have come too far for him to blow everything up now! Soon, I will be the one with all the powers and only I will rule this empire! "
Still behind the door, and motionless like a statue, Wave had a face betraying his astonishment at what he had just heard.
" The religion of "the way of peace"? " Repeated Happy.
" Oh ... I feel that it will not be fun as a discussion. " Affirmed Natsu. " To be honest, I never believed in god. "
" There is nothing to explain. " Retorted Gajeel, shrugging his shoulders. " Let me guess its slogan ... "if you are a generous man, you will go to paradise" That's it ? "
" In fact, it proclaims that good deeds contribute to happiness and longevity. " Spear explained to him.
" I heard about it. " Cried Tatsumi. " It was in my village! Besides, the lucky statue that our dean gave me comes from this religion. "
" Basically, this consists in following in the footsteps of god, even if nobody has the proof that it really exists. " Understood Lily. " A bit like home! But how does that concern us, exactly? "
" During the last ten years, the voice of peace has increased its number of faithful. " Taught them Najenda. " And this religion has become rather influential in the east of the empire! However, instead of wanting to follow the emperor's laws, they want to start a religious insurrection! Take up arms, if you prefer and fight against our enemy! We will use this for our own purposes. "
" Stop, stop, stop . " Said Tatsumi. " " A moment ! If I understand, the people who are part of this religion are only citizens of all that is most normal, right? They are not soldiers! What do they think they can do against Esdeath and her men? They will be massacred. "
" What is happening is the start of a revolt. " Asserted Lubbock. " " A revolt that will break out all over the Empire. "
" With our work, many corrupt captains and politicians are dead. " Continued Chelsea. " For all these people who live in misery, it is the moment or never to get out of the shadows and fight. "
" Receding is now impossible for both camps. " Cried Najenda. " The emperor ... Honest ... Esdeath and her soldiers… against us and our supporters! Here are the two camps! And, at the end of the battle, there will only be one standing. "
" But… But how many deaths will it cause? "
" Leave it down, Tatsumi. " Said Gajeel. " If these people decide to go and fight on their own, then they already know what to expect! If no mutiny has been unleashed until now, it's because everyone feared the power of the Empire! Today, this power is still present but people nevertheless decide to face it! And even if I regret having to say it, we also need their strength to go all the way! "
" The religious army will surely try to attack the first. " Affirmed Najenda. " And, immediately, Esdeath will counter them! And it is after this battle that we, the revolutionary army, will attack, in our turn, the Empire! Clearly, this will be played in a flash battle and will end in less than a day, according to our forecasts. "
" Will this end when we take the emperor's castle? " Asked Happy.
" No ! When Esdeath is killed! If we manage to strike it down and the teigus are still suitable for use, nothing will prevent us from being victorious. "
" And killing the Prime Minister will only be a pleasure. " Sneered Leone, cracking her knuckles.
" Let's admit, how soon will this plan be implemented? " Wanted to know Natsu, with the utmost seriousness. " Within a week ? A month ? A year ? I'm just repeating myself but you have to act quickly. "
Clenching his fists, he groaned.
" That pisses me off knowing that people are being killed without my being able to do anything to help them."
" The reason why we have not yet taken action is due to our next mission. " Explained Susanoo.
" Our next mission? "
" Yes ! The attack by the religious army will be a key factor in our victory! However, right now there seems to be some commotion out there caused by a certain Borick. "
" Borick? " Repeated Lily. " Who is he yet? "
" I heard about it. " Spear said. " He is a man high up on this religious path! In fact, it is even the right arm of the creator of this religion. "
" Yes and also a spy infiltrated by the minister. " Completed Najenda. " His objective is to kill the superior of the church and take control of the way of peace! Thus, it will prevent the religious army from attacking the capital. "
" So suddenly, we go and we massacre him. " Understood Gajeel.
" And this time, without the help of the Jaegers, if possible. " Growled Najenda, glaring at him.
" Yes, of course. "
" But, in fact, what do we do with the Jaegers? " Wanted to know Mine. " Do we know what their next trips will be? "
" As soon as Honest becomes aware of our actions, I'm sure he will send them to protect Borick! " Assured Najenda! " It will be almost impossible for us to face them if Esdeath is with them! Therefore, it is now time to attract them to us to massacre a maximum before this mission! "
" Hey, what about Wendy? " Wanted to know Natsu.
" I have already sent her our plan. " Assured him Lubbock. " She got the letter and now knows what we plan to do. "
Clasping a letter in her hands, Wendy couldn't help but tremble.
" No that's not true ! "
And yet it was. In her hands, she was indeed holding a letter from Najenda announcing that Night Raid was going to fight the Jaegers, so as to kill a few.
"No, I can't let that happen!" I can't let them kill them! I ... there must be a solution! There must be one! "
Then placing her hands on her head, she mumbled.
" No, I don't want… Run, Kurome, Wave, Bols, Seryu … I don't want them to die. "