Kaguya walked out of the palace and breathed a sigh of relief. As she expected, the emperor had agreed to let her freely leave the palace and even agreed to let her have her own guard. This meant that Kaguya had the power to organize her own forces, indicating that the young emperor was very fond of his sister.
However, even with Kaguya's subtle probing, the young emperor still followed the minister's advice and spoke of the minister with unwavering trust.
While Kaguya was lost in thought, a man approached from afar. He was in his thirties, with golden hair and a square face, his eyes bright and sharp. His sturdy physique was clad in gleaming armor. He was none other than General Bude, whom she had encountered not long ago.
"Your Highness," General Bude said, bowing slightly.
"Hmm," Kaguya nodded lightly, saying nothing more as she walked past him.
General Bude watched her retreating figure, frowning slightly before turning to leave.
For the next month or two, Kaguya remained dormant in the capital, refraining from going out, as if returning to her reclusive days. However, she was not idle during this time. She worked diligently to familiarize herself with the empire's structure and departments, secretly recruiting talent and guards using her identity as the princess.
Unfortunately, most of these recruits were ordinary soldiers with low combat power, mere cannon fodder on the battlefield. Still, they were better than nothing, and they could serve some purpose, especially in handling ordinary matters. After all, Kaguya couldn't manage everything personally and didn't have the time for it.
Additionally, she began to establish the foundation of an intelligence network. Although its utility was not yet apparent, as the network improved, it would play a significant role. Intelligence is always crucial, whether for monitoring the ministers in the capital, the local nobility, or even Night Raid. It would allow Kaguya to act preemptively.
The imperial training camp was located on the south side of the palace, housing about one hundred thousand troops. This was the empire's most formidable force, aside from Esdeath's army. These were elite imperial soldiers, with many highly capable individuals. Akame and Kurome were among the powerful figures who emerged from there.
This time, Kaguya's destination was the imperial training camp.
Since Kaguya deliberately concealed her presence and evaded the imperial patrols, no one noticed the extra person inside.
The training camp was filled with shouting and the clashing of weapons. Indeed, it lived up to its reputation as the empire's most elite force, radiating a powerful aura even from afar.
This made sense, given that the corrupt ministers and officials knew better than anyone that they had aroused public outrage. Uprisings were breaking out all over, with countless people wanting their heads. To protect themselves, they increased their investment in defense, explaining the military's strength.
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from afar, loud as thunder.
"Danger Beast?" Kaguya's pretty face showed curiosity. "Someone is actually using a Danger Beast as a training target." She lightly tapped her toes, moving like a gentle breeze towards the sound.
Soon, the lush forest parted to reveal a large clearing and figures on the field.
On the field was a massive beast resembling a dinosaur but even more formidable. Its sharp, pointed teeth and enormous claws gleamed like blades, exuding an astonishing presence.
Facing it was a petite figure. Her shoulder-length hair fluttered in the wind, her slender eyebrows extending into her temples, her watery eyes calm and serene. Her skin was as white and smooth as snow—a true beauty.
However, her face was now cold and emotionless, her expression so severe it seemed ready to drip water. Her eyes were fixed on the Danger Beast, a flash of coldness flickering within them.
With a roar, the Danger Beast charged at the black-haired girl. Despite its massive size, it was surprisingly agile and moved with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, it was upon the girl, swinging its huge claws at her as if to crush her into pulp.
Just as the beast's claws were about to strike, the girl moved. Like a black lightning bolt, she flashed, her long katana cutting a bone-chilling arc.
The Danger Beast suddenly halted, motionless as a statue, a strange sight.
The black-haired girl sheathed her sword and walked off the field. The breeze gently rustled the leaves, her hair swaying in the wind.
At that moment, the Danger Beast's body exploded, blood mixed with flesh and organs spraying everywhere, turning the field crimson. The stench of blood permeated the air.
"I didn't expect to find such a strong little one here. What a surprise," Kaguya remarked with a light laugh, her eyes fixed on the distant girl. "This attire, that sword—if I'm not mistaken..."
Suddenly, the girl, who had been walking away, turned sharply, her foot slamming down like an arrow from a bow as she charged towards the bushes. Her arm swung, her sword cutting a path of icy light.
A figure leaped out of the bushes, dodging the black-haired girl's attack. The trees in the bush were severed at their trunks; a moment slower, the figure would have shared their fate.
"Not bad, detecting me," Kaguya applauded, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Kaguya had not deliberately concealed her presence, but for the girl to sense her in an instant and pinpoint her location was no small feat.
"Who are you?" the black-haired girl asked, pointing her sword at Kaguya with a stern voice.
"Who am I?" Kaguya toyed with a strand of her hair, smiling faintly, "If you defeat me, I'll tell you."
"Then you can die!"
With those words, a bloodthirsty red light flashed in the girl's eyes. She stomped her foot, her petite body like a black lightning bolt, rushing forward. In an instant, she was in front of Kaguya, her sword raised high, gleaming with a chilling light as she slashed down fiercely.