Capítulo 69: Chapter : 66 Mez
[Few Hours Ago]
[CAPITAL, IMPERIAL PALACE]
Situated at the very heart of the vast Empire's capital, the Imperial Palace lay majestically above the city, its silhouette a symbol of both grandeur and indomitable power. Its design, a marvel of ancient architecture, sprawled across an enormous region, and was surrounded by intricately designed fortified walls that towered above the capital.
These gigantic walls, built during the reign of the first emperor, were crafted from solid stones and reinforced with unknown metals. The thickness and height of the walls were so imposing that the thought of breaching them seemed absurd to any would-be invader.
The exterior of the palace was adorned with vast, sweeping courtyards paved with polished marble, and the walls were adorned with ornate carvings and intricate statues depicting past emperors and their victories.
White, pristine walls gleamed under the sun, with golden accents lining every archway and window, reflecting the light in a dazzling display of opulence.
Beyond the grand entrance, the main hallways stretched endlessly, filled with massive tapestries woven from the finest silks, depicting the Empire's long history of conquest and dominance.
Lavish crystal chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting a soft glow over the halls.
The palace grounds covered several acres, with luxurious architecture extending as far as the eye could see. But despite this wealth and beauty, the palace was fortified by several layers of security.
The Imperial Guard, elite soldiers handpicked from the best battalions, patrolled every corner. Each guard was dressed in a sharp uniform, armed with spears, swords, and rifles. They stood ready at every major entrance, their vigilance unwavering.
Patrol units moved continuously through the palace grounds, with overlapping paths designed to eliminate any potential blind spots.
In addition to the human element, the palace was filled with hidden traps and modern technology-based defenses, as well as relics from forgotten times.
Any attempt to infiltrate the palace would be met with swift and deadly consequences, though in truth, such measures felt redundant in the presence of the Empire's two supreme commanders who resided within it. Their presence alone was akin to a natural calamity.
Inside, the inner palace was a masterpiece of opulence, filled with silk drapes, finely crafted mahogany furniture, and polished marble floors. Even the windows were works of art, the stained glass depicting battles and victories long past.
But the opulence of the Imperial Palace was just a deception as it concealed the horrors lurking within its gilded walls.
One such horror was currently inside one of the Dark Chambers...
The dimly lit chamber echoed with the agonising scream.
Despite their bone-chilling intensity, the screams were met with apathy in the palace.
"Arghhhh!!!!"
Bound in chains, the victim's body hung from the ceiling, his screams echoing as his wrists bled from the strain of the iron cuffs.
But his agonising screams came to a halt as a tattered cloth was stuffed into his mouth, muffling his cries of pain, but his body writhed, his desperate bloody red eyes begging for mercy.
"Take him away and tell the torturers to extract more information and, if they cannot, then lock him up in the prison. When Esdeath comes back from the conquest, give him as a present to her. She will do a better job without killing this bug easily," the torturer's voice echoed and two men came and took the man away.
The torturer was a large, rotund man, his hands covered in blood and grease. He approached a lavish table nearby, set with a feast of roasted meats, fruits, and wine.
With no hesitation, the torturer ripped apart the leg of a roasted boar with his bloodied hands, devouring it in seconds. The juices dripped from his chin as he gnawed on the bone.
As he chewed noisily on the bone, his deep voice filled the chamber. "What are you doing here, Mez?"
The room, which had been filled with the dull light of torches, suddenly seemed to shift. From the shadows, a ripple of darkness formed, and from it emerged a petite figure.
The low light revealed a tanned girl with blonde hair and a mischievous glimmer in her green eyes. She had on long leggings and an open shirt, flaunting a bikini-like outfit underneath. Her forearms were protected by shiny armor that reflected the flickering light in the room.
The girl was Mez, one of the Rakshasa Demons, a group of four Kouken temple assassins who served only Prime Minister Honest.
A sly grin spread across Mez's face as she knelt before the rotund man, bowing her head slightly.
"I've come to report on Bolic's progress within the 'Path of Peace', my lord," she said smoothly, her voice dripping with confidence. The subtle undertones of her amusement laced each word as she continued, "I arrived a few minutes ago but didn't want to disturb you."
The rotund man, none other than Prime Minister Honest himself, continued gnawing on the bone of the roasted boar. His face remained indifferent as his eyes flicked lazily toward Mez, acknowledging her presence with barely any interest, as if she were just another detail in his endless sea of machinations.
"Then tell me," Honest said, not bothering to pause his feasting.
Mez nodded slightly and began divulging the detailed steps Bolic had taken within the Path of Peace over the past few months, focusing on his growing influence.
She reported how Bolic had introduced drug supplies to the innocent believers under the guise of spiritual offerings, tightening his grip on their minds and bodies.
She added key details about his covert dealings and the subtle manipulations within the ranks, his growing sway over the founder, and his role in amplifying the Empire's control over the order. Several minutes passed as she laid out the complete picture.
"Good. Tell him to proceed with caution." Honest said with a mouth full of food, wiping the grease from his chin with his sleeve. "Bolic's infiltration is crucial to my upcoming plans. Tell him to keep me updated on every move those religious fools make, especially that founder bastard with his peculiar powers. The researcher under me is probing me about that man, asking for some of his samples."
"Should I take that man's sample, then?" Mez asked with a raised eyebrow, her tone casual but her eyes gleaming with interest.
"No, not for now. We don't know enough about his abilities, and I don't trust that researcher yet. Keeping 'Stylish' in our pocket without overextending will be good leverage in the future." Honest said, his voice thick with condescension as he ripped apart another chunk of meat.
Mez nodded again, her green eyes glowing with amusement at how easily Honest manipulated his pawns. "Of course, my lord."
Satisfied with the exchange, Honest turned his attention back to his meal, tossing the bone onto the table with a loud thud.
But before he could fully immerse himself in his gluttonous feast, Mez didn't leave. Instead, she stood her ground, her eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Was this the fourth Revolutionary spy you've found within the palace this week?" Mez asked, a playful grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
Honest's eyes narrowed. He raised his gaze slowly, suspicious now. "How did you know?" His tone was icy, masking his genuine surprise. Mez had been away from the palace for weeks, deep in her mission.
A soft giggle escaped Mez's lips. "You tend to forget who my father was, my lord."
Honest's face darkened briefly before he broke into a grin, his greasy fingers digging back into the roasted boar. "Indeed, you are Gozuki's daughter," he said between bites.
His lips twisted wickedly, his gaze turning predatory. "Now that I think of it, speaking of daughters… your foster sister, that traitor who killed your father, is still alive, isn't she? She even joined that notorious band of assassins… Night Raid. Don't your blood boil just thinking about her?"
There was a brief moment of silence, the tension in the room thickening. Mez's smile didn't falter, but her eyes darkened, if only for a second. Finally, her lips curled upward again. "Nope, not even a bit," she answered smoothly, her tone almost casual.
"From the day my father dedicated his life as an Imperial assassin, he was prepared to die and so am I. Besides, it wasn't as simple as her betraying him. He had been playing her from the start, using her as a weapon, even as she believed him to be a father figure. It was only natural that she would turn against him when she learned the truth."
"Is that so?" Honest said, keeping his face neutral. There was a flicker of interest in his eyes as he observed her. "So… Do you want to support your sister, then?"
Mez shook her head, the smile on her lips now a touch bitter. "No, my loyalty lies with you, my lord. I am nothing but a hound solely loyal to you, just like my father was."
Mez spoke up, saying, "Akame might think she can wash her hands of all this blood. Maybe she can because of her circumstances, but I can't do the same. I willingly got involved, and honestly, I don't want to wash my hands of it."
"Hmm…" Honest didn't respond immediately, studying her carefully. His eyes glinted with something unreadable.
The silence hung in the air, tense, but before he could respond further, the room was interrupted by the sound of a knock at the door.
The silence shattered as the knock echoed through the chamber, cutting through the tension. Honest's lips curled upward into a thin smile, his eyes flicking toward the door, masking whatever thoughts he had about Mez's loyalty.
"Come in," he called, his voice returning to its typical jovial yet menacing tone.
The door creaked open, and the shadow of another figure slowly entered the room, stepping into the dim light. The room was about to get even more interesting.
A/N: For those who don't know, Rakshasa is a Sanskrit word. Rakshasa, in Hindu mythology, is a type of demon. Rakshasas have the power to change their shape at will and appear as animals, as monsters, or in the case of the female demons, as beautiful women.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder