章 29: Chapter 29

"Your Majesty, I have noticed that the nobles within the Empire are becoming restless due to the recent tax laws and political reforms you have implemented. I am receiving numerous letters in my office, with many voicing their discontent and claiming unfair treatment. One particular issue they are vehemently protesting is the substantial inheritance taxes imposed on their wealth," Acting Prime Minister Shoi informed, a subtle amusement hidden in his voice. There was a certain satisfaction Shoi derived from hearing the nobles complain about perceived injustices.

Makoto, unperturbed, casually replied while taking a bite of his toasted bread, "Let them complain and talk as much as they desire. I care not about what they think".

Shoi nodded in agreement, savoring his coffee as he added, "Indeed, I haven't even bothered to respond to any of their letters."

Currently, Makoto and Acting Prime Minister Shoi were having breakfast in the former's office. Their camaraderie had grown over the significant time they had spent together strategizing and making policies to benefit the Empire as a whole. Makoto appreciated Shoi's willingness to speak his mind, unlike many other ministers who tended to be "Yes men." Among them, Shoi stood out, and Makoto was grateful for the genuine friendship they have started to build.

"But the one thing we must discuss is the recent killings happening in the Capital," Makoto stated with a sense of urgency. Run had just given him his report and it made him angry at all the deaths.

Due to his memories from his past life, Makoto knew who was responsible for the killings, but he found the entire situation quite bewildering. According to his notes, Zanku was supposed to arrive in the Capital after Tatsumi. However, it was clear that his actions were already affecting the entire timeline.

"Yes, I have consistently been updated on this matter, and it's bad," Shoi stated, taking out some papers he had been carrying before entering Makoto's office. "We've lost a few dozen civilians, and a fifth of the Capital Guards either have been killed or resigned due to fear of facing such a deadly opponent during their patrols. I strongly believe these numbers will only increase in the coming days. Only a few members of the Capital Guards are truly dedicated to their duty, let alone willing to die for the people. The majority are just motivated by the salary the Empire provides," Shoi explained with mild annoyance as he handed the documents to Makoto.

"I have already tasked Jaeger with patrolling at night and attempting to capture Zanku, but it seems that Zanku's Imperial Arms pose a significant challenge. I suspect he has been using it to evade their detection," Makoto informed, scanning through the documents.

When the group consisting of Run, Wave, and Seryu was formed, Makoto pondered various names to label the team, like Springan, Cipher Pol, or Anbu. Ultimately, he decided to stick with their show name, Jaeger. However, with only three members at present and Bols and Kurome still en route to the Capital, Makoto was not satisfied with their numbers. His ambition was to bolster Jaeger further and create a truly formidable and feared force throughout the Empire, but he understood that it would take time to achieve such a goal something in which he was already planning towards.

"For the time being, we should assess whether the Imperial soldiers should be utilized to heighten the security of the Capital," Shoi commented.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Makoto agreed, "The Capital is too vast for the Capital guards to patrol every inch of it every night. Additionally, we could make use of the high-ranking officers that General Hemi freed from imprisonment. They are eager to show their gratitude to the Empire."

"That would be beneficial. It would also bolster the morale of the Capital," Shoi commented, recognizing the positive impact it could have.

As Shoi prepared to leave Makoto's office, Makoto request for him to stay which caught him off guard, he had assumed that there was nothing left to discuss.

It was customary for individuals to rise from their seats when the monarch stood as a sign of respect. Shoi instinctively began to stand when he saw Makoto rise, Shoi intended to follow protocol, but Makoto quickly gestured for him to remain seated. Despite his initial reluctance, Shoi complied, as Makoto approached his desk and retrieved a certain document, after which he gave to him.

As Shoi's eyes scanned the document, his expression shifted to one of complete astonishment. He read the contents not once, but twice, ensuring he comprehended its implications. Breaking the silence, he couldn't help but inquire, "Does General Budo have knowledge of this?"

"No," Makoto responded firmly, "As of this moment, only the members of Jaeger and you are privy to the contents of this document."

MEANWHILE IN THE NIGHT RAID CAMP:

"So, any thoughts on what we should do about this?" Leone asked the group.

Currently, all the members of Night Raid found themselves gathered inside their base for a meeting, discussing the threat of Zank the beheader – the very topic that Emperor Makoto and acting Prime Minister Shoi had been discussing in the palace.

"I say we do nothing for the time being and wait for Najenda to return from the headquarters. It wouldn't be wise for all of us to enter the Capital at this moment," Lubbock stated, voicing his cautious opinion.

"And should we let this monster kill more people!?" Bulat interjected, his voice tinged with anger. Despite being a wanted man, Bulat still saw it as a priority to protect the people of the Empire. It was one of the reasons why he joined the revolutionary army in the first place and doing nothing while people die didn't sit well with him.

"Look, we can argue about this all day, but at the end of the day, only one person can decide on our behalf," Mine chimed in, crossing her arms and directing her gaze towards the person temporarily in charge in Najenda's absence.

All eyes turned to Akame. As the temporary leader of the group, she held absolute authority to decide Night Raid's course of action. Bulat and the others would follow her decision, even if she chose to remain in the base and do nothing. However, much to their relief, Akame shared the same sentiment of most of the people in the room – she wanted to protect the people of the Capital.

As she held her blade horizontally, Akame spoke with venom-laced determination, "It's time we go hunting."