The rest of the ride to their new designated hideout was spent in silent. Tatsumi is holding his swollen left cheek after Gilberda gave him a right hook, blaming Cassandra's death on him leading the legion to base. Najenda orders Susanoo and Chelsea to stop her from tearing Tatsumi a new one while Akame tries to comfort Mine about the loss of Extase. Bulat and Lubbock were too tired to bother with anything and just chatted with Taeko regarding their pasts. Meela and Loris were continuously chanting Merraid's advice during tough times to themselves to not falter under the depression. Finally descending down from the clouds, Najenda thought that they can finally catch a break only to see a phantom hovering right ahead of the air manta. Before any of them could react however, it threw an envelope with a skeleton seal on it before disappearing without a trace.
Lubbock: The hell was that?
Najenda: A message, seems like their leader is getting bolder by the seconds.
Chelsea: How could they not be, they outmatch us in every possible ways from manpower to tactics and equipment. The only advantage we could possibly have is the element of surprise but that phantom already saw us, we need to search for a new base.
Susanoo: Something is off about that thing earlier.
Tatsumi: What do you mean Su san?
Susanoo: I was built with a function to detect killing intent from all life forms including biological teigus, whatever that was earlier showed nothing.
Akame: It wasn't alive to begin with?
Najenda: Either that or there's something else we're missing. Let's see what's in this letter *tears envelope off* General Najenda, if you are reading this letter right now then please conceal it from your teamates, this information is solely for you. Huh?
Mine: Pfft what a joke! Who is going to stop us from reading anyway?
Najenda: It also said here that failure to follow the instruction may lead to rash decisions and unpredictable consequences and that they know i'm the only one capable of reading it. Akame was also to read this if i'm not present but that's about it.
Akame: I trust in your judgement boss.
Leone: So do i, Lubbock look away! *slaps him straight in the face*
Lubbock: OW! Was that really necessary!
Najenda: *reads the backside of the letter* "Your allies are only captured, we have only faked their deaths and we will do so for the others as well. The time is not right for me to reveal our goals to you. I ask of you to not execute my subordinates if given the chance or you'll regret it. Spare them and i'd consider exchanging prisoners with you lot. Ps: The raid on your base was for Stylish not Night Raid -The ringleader"
Taeko: What did it say?
Najenda: Mine burn this letter.
Mine: Eh?
Najenda: If what it stated is true then we should be able to set up base as planned.
Tatsumi: What do you mean boss?
Najenda: It's a fool's dream and a farfetched one too but i hope that they keep their end of the deal...Enough of that, we're almost there, Susanoo you're in charge of construction, Lubbock set up perimeter proximity alert, the rest of you will clear out nearby danger beasts while hunting as well.
[Yosif's base]
Cassandra woke up to the feeling of numbness around her wrists and ankles. She tried to open her eyes only to see nothing because of a thick blindfold wrapped around her eyes. Furthermore, a wad of cloth was also wedged in her mouth gagging her entirely. Struggling around for what felt like hours, she was unable to break out of whatever was binding her arms and instead felt it constrict even tighter than before. Eventually she became too fatigued to keep going and resigned to her fate. It wasn't until later when she started hearing voices..."Oi who gave a slingshot Fal? Stop hitting me with it!" "Sis Spear did it!" "thank you Air *clack* Spear i swear to the heavens if you don't take it away i'm taking away your allowance!" "Eeek! I'm on it!" "Sheesh, i need to give the kids their own home, too much energy for my taste..." That just left with Cassandra more questions on where she currently is because last time she checked, she got captured by a legion of monsters. *creak* "Oh crap i forgot to undo the bindings" Cassandra falls to the ground as all of her restraints loosen leaving her able to move normally again. Though with all those time spent struggling and the fact she hasn't eaten anything for a while, Cassandra could barely throw a punch let alone thinking of escape.
[Back to Yosif's pov]
Last night i was hoping to grab Mine or maybe Leone but the Oarburgh showed up instead making it more difficult to do so. Considering that they're still alive after the elite Seven battle meaning that the revolutionary must have rehired them though i wonder where Babara, Daniel or Merraid is. I ended up with Cassandra which wasn't bad all things considered. If i would have gotten Gilberda then containing her would be far too complicated because of her aggressive personality. Taking Meela or Loris will just make the other batshit crazy and unpredictable in the future. Chelsea is for later during the fight with the Jaegers and Taeko is well...Taeko, i doubt i can leave her alone for an hour. Since Cassandra has the special condition of having six arms, i couldn't find a way to bind her and ended up just burying all of her arms in hardened earth. I meant to release her in the morning but having to take care of the kids made me forget about her until noon. She must have been absolutely exhausted by now. I then bridal carry her towards the kitchen which is now empty as the kids are studying with Chouri with the others gathering intel. There's not much to work with but i figure some syrniki would be enough and start cracking open some eggs. Cassandra was still in a hunger daze until i finished a plate and gave her some.
Cassandra:...What...Who are...you?
Me: The guy who knocked you out yesterday.
Cassandra: WHAT!
Me: Eat your breakfast before you starve to death.
Cassandra: Why should i trust you?
Me: Oh would you prefer if i hang you upside down all day with restraints twice as strong in a completely dark room while your only food is disgusting slop? Would that make you trust me more?
Cassandra: N-no!
Me: Then eat already.
I pull out a newspaper and start reading today news. It didn't have much on it except the daily reports of my forces "terrorizing" the populace and oh potatoes' price has dropped, got to stock up on those. Maybe i could even turn my inventory into a mobile vodka distillery later. I look back at Cassandra who is still skeptical about the syrniki but after 3 more growls from her stomach, she gave in and takes a small bite out of one...Before switching to maximum overdrive and ate all of it in less than a minute. Is there any woman out there that doesn't have this kind of abnormal appetite? Realizing her manner or lack the lack of manners, she blushes a bit before wiping off some crumbs with a napkin.
Me: Well now that's done with let's talk. I'll let you ask your questions first.
Cassandra: Are you...the leader of the legion?
Me: Yup.
Cassandra: Really? It's just that...
Me: You thought i would be more strange?
Cassandra: Well...yes?
Me: You're worried about me being disgusted with your conditions aren't you? *Cassandra gulps nervously* Hey, i'm not one to judge anyway *Pulls down hood* I'm not so normal myself.
Cassandra: Y-you're undead?
Me: I'm surprised that you actually used the right terms but yes, i am an undead and no this isn't the work of a teigu.
Cassandra: Why are you so casual about...this?
Me: Because i see no reasons to harm you.
Cassandra: Eh?
Me: I didn't expect for your group to be there yesterday and only grabbed you due to the circumstance. I was actually aiming for Mine and even then it's not in my goal to harm anyone from Night Raid or Oarburgh.
Cassandra: But from the reports i have read...Didn't you launch an attack on the ryuusen to target Tatsumi and Bulat.
Me: I'm guessing from the reports they have also stated that i killed a man named Yosif correct?
Cassandra: Yes?
Me: Well that's the thing Cassandra...i am Yosif.
Cassandra: *processing what i just said* EEEHHHHHH!
Me: That attack was to fake the death of "Yosif" so i can resume my position as the leader of the legion without anyone being suspicious of my identity as Night Raid would've notice if Yosif the imperial guard captain is suddenly missing every time the leader the leader shows up.
Cassandra: I still don't understand this...why are you not killing or interrogating me?
Me: 1, i have much better ways to obtain the info i need. 2, you don't deserve to be hurt. And 3, My enemies are the revolutionary and the empire not Night Raid and Oarburgh or the Jaegers and the Elite Seven.
Cassandra: B-but i'm just a freak, there's n-
Me: I'm going to have to stop you right there Cassandra, you're not a freak, you're special. Being born with six arms can be inconvenient yet you learned to adapt to use them masterfully. If anything you're better than all of those who has made fun of you and Oarburgh accepted you did they not? Why is it wrong for me to accept you as well? The only freaks are those rotten scumbags that take joy in the suffering of others.
Cassandra: I-I...Thank you...Yosif.
Me: Now i think it's time for me to ask you something...Can you babysit children?
Cassandra: Baby-what?
Me: Did i stutter?
Cassandra: No but just why? I didn't take you out of all people to have kids.
Me: They're adopted, their village was in a lot of debt and had to sell them to the capital. As you may have already guessed, a vile piece of shit came in possession of them but luckily they managed to escape before anything bad could happen. Then they just bumped into me on my shopping trip and several of my subordinates were charmed by their cuteness and puppy-eyes me into adopting them. I don't have anything against it but watching them all the time can be tiring not to mention that them being in my custody bring them at risk being targeted by my enemies.
Cassandra: Sure i guess, Meela and Loris were pretty much children and i always had to clean up after them so i think i can handle the girls. Is there anything else i need to know?
Me: Well you obviously can't go back to your team for the time being or go into a public without concealments or you know, people will start recognizing you. We're faking your death so try to be discreet other than that ask the knights to accompany you if you want to visit a theater or something.
Cassandra: I got it, so where are they right now?
Me: Upstairs learning literature with Chouri.
Cassandra: wait as in former prime minister Chouri?
Me: Yea, i have faked the deaths of a lot of people for their safety even the former Night Raid member Sheele.
Cassandra: You're one strange man Yosif.
Me: *shrug* I'm not a man, i'm an undead.
[With the Jaegers]
*wuh-PSSSH!* *wuh-PSSSH!* The sounds of whip cracks echo through the meeting room along the cries of pain from a certain fisherman. Wave was only wearing his boxers with stacks of stones pushing his knees onto a jagged board. Esdeath was whipping him nonstop as the rest of the Jaegers sitting on the side giving their pity to Wave.
Esdeath: So not only have you lost Tatsumi but you also lost to a giant hunk of metal?
Wave: I'm deeply sorry? *gets whipped 3 more times* AAAGH!
Esdeath: Next time i won't be as merciful.
Wave: This is merciful? *gets whipped* OW I'M SORRY!
The door to the room opens as a group of 9 walks into the room clearly disturbed at what they're seeing. Those were of course the reinforcements sent to the Jaegers being the members of the Elite Seven including Najasho, Guy, Cornelia, Green, Gin, Natala, Poney, Tsukushi and Remus. They were all holding their usual weapons save for Remus who was given a sniper since direct assault isn't her strong suit.
Najasho: General Esdeath sir...are we interrupting something?
Esdeath: No i was already finished, have a seat.
Remus: Oooh is that a new kind of game?
Poney: Uh let's just go with that.
Tsukushi: So how was your time with the Jaegers Kurome?
Kurome: Oh they're great fighters, that's Bols, Seryu, Run and the guy being punished is Wave. *they all wave back save for Wave who is trying to remove the stones*.
Esdeath: Jaegers, they are the Elite Seven and will be working with us in the upcoming future in the fight against both the revolutionary and the legion.
Najasho: The legion, we weren't briefed about them, who are they?
Seryu: Oh right we have just recently discovered what they are called. Turns out all the monsters that have been coming out at night is under someone's control and they're using it against the empire.
Remus: M-monsters?
Natala: Oh right you don't read the news that often. Recently there's been reported case of these undead popping out of nowhere massacring guards. Though they haven't killed any civilians so we suspect them of working with the revolutionary.
Esdeath: Negative, they are just a 3rd party. There have also been reports of revolutionary members being killed off by the legion.
Gin: Do we know their goals?
Kurome: Nothing as of it, though they have attacked us during our first mission, they didn't aim to eliminate us, not yet at least. They also have a force of elites wielding their own teigu save for one who excels at daggers. What bothers me is that those teigus used to belong to the three beasts meaning they have had insider information regarding their locations so we might need to check for spies and scouts in the vicinity.
Poney: By the way, what did Wave do to get punished like that?
Esdeath: He lost my lover.
And so came the confusing and awkward discussion to explain about Esdeath's new interest.
[A cabin elsewhere near the mines]
A panicking woman was backed away in the corner of the room as her husband rushes inside slamming the door shut. Soon after, came the sounds of clawing at the door followed with several crashes as the man hurriedly loads his shotgun. The door finally gave way shattering under the assault revealing several humanoid abominations looking at them with hunger in their multiple eyes. He fired the shotgun at the beasts but the shells bounced right off its flesh doing nothing as he clutches his wife close in the final moments of his life. *SHING* the beast's head fell off as its kin reel back in surprise at the new arrival of the endless paladin. They didn't even notice as they too got cut in half. The couple was beyond terrified at the monster before them but none of them dared to fight back. It walks to their bed and grabs their blanket, wrapping them together in it before leading them to the door. Outside, was more paladins waiting and a phantom standing on top of a tree surrounded by the corpses of the humanoid danger beasts. The couple were surprised to also see some of their neighbors resting by a campfire with a cloaked figure making soup. The figures waves them over to sit with the others.
Man: W-who are you?
Sheele: You're safe now...the legion is here.
Total inventory:
Grenade launcher
Venus Magnum
Ascended Wraith set
Primordial's wrath: Damascus
Almighty Five Sights: Spectator
Diadem of supreme arcane might
15 copper 53 silver 38872 gold
Current familiars:
- Sergei the Armor Demon
- Victor the Soul Of Cinder