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...
"Big brother!"
The sudden voice woke Mika from his contemplative state.
Opening his eyes, he saw that it was indeed Tatsumi.
Behind him stood his childhood friends, Sayo and Ieyasu.
Some time had passed since Airmid had healed Sayo and Ieyasu.
During this period, Mellie had erased certain memories from the six people in the warehouse who hadn't died and whom Airmid had saved, and had put them to sleep.
"How is it? Are you all set?" Mika asked.
"Yes!"
Hearing Mika's question, Sayo and Ieyasu nodded and said, "Thank you, Mika, for saving our lives."
"Especially you, Miss Airmid!"
Having learned the whole story from Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu bowed deeply to Airmid.
"Thank you for saving our lives, Miss Airmid!"
"No need to thank me. As a healer, it's my duty" Airmid said with a gentle smile, looking at Sayo and Ieyasu, who had fully recovered.
Since awakening her healing magic, Airmid had grown to love the feeling of saving people.
"What are your plans from here on?" Mika asked the three seriously.
"We plan to follow you, Mika," Ieyasu and Sayo said earnestly.
"Even if it means opposing the Empire?"
"Yes! Our lives were saved by you; even if we die because of it, we won't have any regrets."
Recalling the time they were imprisoned and tortured, Sayo and Ieyasu no longer felt any attachment to the Empire.
Compared to such torment, they feared nothing, not even death.
"Very good!"
Mika nodded slightly, then gestured to Gabriel.
The next moment, several weapons appeared before the three of them.
"These are weapons I personally forged. Although they're second-tier arms, compared to the weapons you have, each one is a divine weapon."
Seeing the astonishment on their faces, Mika smiled and said, "Each of you, pick one."
Hearing Mika's words, the three looked at each other and stepped forward to choose a weapon.
Tatsumi chose a sword.
Ieyasu chose a spear.
Sayo chose a bow.
Holding their chosen weapons, they experimented with various functions and grew increasingly delighted.
Just as Mika had said, these weapons were divine arms in their eyes.
Mika wasn't surprised by this.
Although the weapons in the world of "DanMachi" didn't have the flashy effects of Teigu, their inherent quality was absolutely top-notch.
Take Sheele's Teigu "Extase" from the Night Raid assassin group, for example. As the sharpest weapon among Teigu, it has the ability to cut through anything in the world.
But in reality, the sharpness of this scissor-shaped Teigu isn't far off from a first-tier weapon in the "DanMachi" world.
In a sense, any first-tier weapon from "DanMachi" would be considered a Teigu-level weapon here.
Therefore, as second-tier weapons, those chosen by Tatsumi and the others are equivalent to slightly weakened versions of "Extase."
Watching them adapt to their new weapons, Mika nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good. Since you've familiarized yourselves with the new weapons, it's time for your first mission!"
"What is the mission, Mika?" Tatsumi asked curiously.
"Naturally, it's revenge!"
Mika smiled and said, "If we hadn't happened upon Aria's family, you three might never have seen each other again."
"Look around you. Those who died under torture, they could have been Sayo and Ieyasu!"
"Seeing this, don't you feel the urge for revenge?"
"Revenge!"
Hearing Mika's words, the anger in their eyes began to burn.
"With Mellie assisting you, find the main culprits and accomplices among these people and execute them."
"As for those who were unaware, don't harm them."
"The guilty must pay; let these corrupt ones go to hell."
"Yes!"
The three shouted loudly.
"Then follow me!"
Hearing Mika's command, Mellie cheerfully led the three out.
"I've long been unable to tolerate these scum," Mellie said.
Apparently, even Mellie couldn't stand what Aria's family had done.
As Mellie and the three left the warehouse, only Mika and Airmid remained inside.
"Forget it; let's change locations."
Surveying the surroundings, Mika shook his head and said, "Staying in such a place for too long is really uncomfortable!"
"Indeed," Airmid agreed.
The two then walked out of the warehouse and leaped onto its roof.
Soon, screams echoed from the courtyard, throwing the entire Aria household into chaos.
But no matter how noisy it became, the sounds couldn't reach the outside world.
After all, the mansion was already enveloped by Mellie's barrier. Not only could no sound escape, but no one could leave.
Thus, the expected chaos unfolded.
Half an hour later, Mellie and the four returned.
Seeing them, apart from Mellie's relaxed demeanor, Tatsumi and his friends appeared somewhat pale.
After all, it was their first time killing.
"Big brother, we're back," Tatsumi said, forcing a smile as he looked up at Mika, who was sitting atop the warehouse.
"Good work, Tatsumi!"
"But since you've embarked on this path, you need to get used to this feeling quickly."
"Because from now on, you'll be engaged in continuous battles until we have no more enemies."
"I understand!"
Tatsumi nodded firmly.
Noting Tatsumi's expression, Mika suddenly said, "Tatsumi, I mentioned before that the three of us come from a place even farther than the countryside."
"In fact, it's another world."
"The power Airmid used earlier to heal Sayo and Ieyasu comes from that world."
Under the surprised gazes of the three, Mika explained the world of Orario and the Yahweh Familia, helping them understand the concept of Falna and Familias.
"So, are you three willing to accept Falna and join our Yahweh Familia?"
"We are willing!" Tatsumi said excitedly.
"So are we!" Sayo and Ieyasu echoed.
"Very good!"
Mika nodded in satisfaction.
"Then let Gabriel bestow Falna upon you. In the coming days, we'll train you well to make you true warriors."
"Then, we'll begin our real operation!"
Raising his head and looking toward the distant palace, Mika said with a gentle smile.
---
*Morning.*
As dawn broke, the tightly closed palace gates slowly opened.
This signified the start of a new day.
As the gates opened, the guards who had rested overnight quickly emerged from the palace to take up their posts.
Under their protection, no assassin could enter the palace.
But that only applied to ordinary people.
With light steps, Mika and his two companions led the way.
The three chatted and laughed, carefree.
Behind them, Tatsumi and his two friends were fully alert, anxiously observing their surroundings, afraid that the soldiers might notice them and arrest them.
But that was impossible.
Under Mellie's illusion magic, no one could see them.
Thus, without any obstacles, the six of them passed through the palace gates and entered the Imperial City.
"Not bad! The person who built this palace had great taste!"
Admiring the architecture within the palace, Mika and his companions commented leisurely.
Their relaxed demeanor deeply impressed Tatsumi and his friends.
It seemed as if they were tourists rather than infiltrators on a mission.
They couldn't achieve such a mindset yet.
"Don't be nervous, Tatsumi, Sayo, Ieyasu!"
"Our operation this time can only succeed, not fail."
"So don't scare yourselves."
Sensing the anxiety of the three behind him, Mika said with a gentle smile.
"Ah, well, I understand," Tatsumi nodded slightly, trying to relax a bit, but only managing a little.
Seeing this, Mika couldn't help but shake his head.
"Forget it. After all, before this, Tatsumi and the others were just country youths who had just entered the city. They probably never even imagined such a scenario."
"Expecting them to be completely at ease now would be unrealistic."
Thinking this, Mika didn't push them further.
Having gathered ample information through Mellie's dream magic, the six of them reached the emperor's bedchamber without any obstacles.
At this time, the young emperor had just woken up and was being dressed by palace maids.
From a distance, the young emperor appeared to be about ten years old.
It was precisely because of his youth that he fully trusted the Prime Minister's words, obeying him completely.
In reality, contrary to popular belief, the young emperor was not a puppet controlled by the Prime Minister.
If he chose not to believe the Prime Minister's deceit and decided to remove him, it would be an extremely simple matter.
Because in the Empire, the most influential was not the Prime Minister but General Budo, the pinnacle of the military.
As one of the Empire's strongest warriors, Budo commanded the vast majority of the Empire's forces. With just one order from the emperor, the Prime Minister could be executed.
But unfortunately, the current General Budo was an extremely stubborn individual.
Due to adhering to the ancestral rule that military officials should not interfere in politics, even though the Prime Minister was causing unrest in the Empire, he never acted against him.
"Such 'loyalty'!"
After some contemplation, Mika signaled to Mellie beside him.
Seeing this, Mellie waved her hand, and everyone present fell into an illusion.
Mika then leisurely sat on the emperor's bed.
"What should we do with this young emperor?" Airmid asked curiously, looking at the young emperor sitting on the ground, entranced in the illusion.
"Let's lock him up for now. I still have other uses for him!"
Mika remembered clearly that the ultimate Teigu hidden in the palace required royal blood to activate, so it was better to keep the young emperor around for now.
Moreover, he wasn't in the habit of harming children.
"Your Majesty, it's time for court!"
Outside the hall, an attendant's voice came in.
"I understand!"
Mika said with a gentle smile.
At this moment, in everyone's eyes, Mika's appearance had transformed into that of the young emperor.
Seeing the emperor before them, the surrounding palace maids lowered their heads and respectfully retreated.
"Let's go. Time for court."
---
Sitting on the highest throne, Mika quietly watched the ministers below as they argued over various state affairs.
However, it was only the civil officials on the right side who were quarreling.
Most of the military officials on the left remained silent, speaking only when matters related to their duties arose.
Mika wasn't surprised by this.
After all, they were subordinates of General Budo.
Their superior strictly adhered to the ancestral rule that military officials should not interfere in politics. How could his subordinates dare to discuss state affairs?
Moreover, those qualified to argue were all subordinates of the Prime Minister.
Others were eager to avoid involvement.
After all, the court was currently dominated by the Prime Minister.
Even many important decisions were ultimately made by him.
What surprised Mika the most was that, unlike General Budo who stood at the forefront of the military officials, the Prime Minister did not stand among the civil officials but sat behind and to the right of Mika.
As if he were the emperor himself.
"How displeasing!"
Mika thought privately.
As time passed, the discussions on state affairs gradually concluded.
Just as the court session was about to end, Mika, sitting on the throne, suddenly spoke, attracting everyone's attention.
"Have you all finished discussing what you wanted to discuss?"
"If so, I have some matters to address."
"Oh ho ho! Your Majesty, if you have something to say, you can make them quiet down anytime! No need to wait for them to finish," Honest said with a mouth full of meat, his words muffled.
This powerful Minister's favorite hobby seemed to be eating meat.
Even during court sessions, he was constantly chewing.
"It's nothing major. What I want to say isn't urgent."
Assuming the young emperor's appearance, Mika said with a gentle smile, "Actually, some time ago, someone from outside entered the palace. She claimed to be a Teigu user with invisibility abilities."
"She said she wanted to see me and told me many, many things!"
Hearing Mika's words, the entire court erupted.
Someone had managed to breach the palace's defenses and meet the emperor in secret, this was a massive dereliction of duty!
Thinking of this, everyone turned to look at General Budo.
After all, General Budo was in charge of the palace guards.
But General Budo moved faster than anyone. He quickly appeared before Mika, knelt on one knee, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"
"Of course, I'm fine!"
Mika gently patted General Budo's shoulder and smiled, "But that person did say many bad things about Honest."
Hearing this, Honest's face immediately darkened.
Among the officials below, those who opposed Honest secretly rejoiced.
Some even stepped forward and openly accused the Prime Minister, listing numerous charges against him.
But Mika ignored these people and continued speaking on his own.
"But I didn't believe her."
Seeing this, Honest's expression relaxed once more.
"Yes, Your Majesty! These brats are slandering me!" Honest stepped forward, speaking with exaggerated emotion.
Watching this clownish performance, Mika couldn't help but smile, while those below who had been secretly rejoicing felt their hopes dashed.
But after smiling, Mika suddenly said, "However, that person later took me out of the palace under the cover of night and let me experience everything firsthand."
"So I now understand that the Prime Minister is indeed a bad person."
"I've grown to dislike him."
"General Budo, could you help me arrest him?"
Hearing Mika's words, General Budo, who had been indignant earlier, immediately said excitedly, "As you command, Your Majesty!"
...
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