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"August!"

Akame uttered the name that filled her with both fear and dread.

The others, meanwhile, had already drawn their Teigus, readying themselves for combat. Only Najenda, their leader, looked at the intruder with a flicker of changing emotions in her eyes.

August stood atop the roof of Night Raid's new base, leaning against the beams. From this vantage, he gazed down at the group with an amused smile.

"We meet again, Night Raid."

August's tone was casual, almost cheerful. His mood was evidently buoyed by his recent success in neutralizing the void energy.

"August, what do you want here? Did Esdeath send you?" Najenda stepped forward, her voice firm as she initiated the exchange.

"Esdeath? She's too busy at the moment. I came here on my own. Though, I must say, I stumbled upon some very amusing information along the way."

"How did you find us?" Najenda's sharp inquiry betrayed her unease.

"Simple," August replied, his voice steady and confident. "The entire Imperial Capital, including the surrounding areas, is within my sensory range. Finding a few Teigus wielders like you? Child's play."

The revelation left them stunned. To extend one's senses to encompass an area so vast was unimaginable, even with the most specialized Teigus. The sheer mental energy required would be beyond comprehension.

"You're here to eliminate us, then?" Najenda pressed.

"No," August said with a dismissive wave. "I came to recruit you."

"Recruit us?" Najenda's voice faltered for a moment, disbelief flickering across her face.

"Yes, you're all skilled individuals, and Esdeath's administration is sorely lacking capable hands. Governing a nation isn't exactly her passion. She's already complained multiple times about wanting to abandon the task."

Najenda blinked in disbelief. Esdeath—a queen who loathed governance so much that she might walk away from the throne? As absurd as it sounded, Najenda knew it was entirely plausible. Esdeath's self-centered personality made such behavior unsurprising.

"We're assassins," Najenda retorted.

"That's nothing more than a label," August said with a shrug. "Najenda, wasn't your goal to change this country? Here's your chance. Return to the Empire, and you'll become the new Prime Minister. You'll have full control over its administration."

"I…" Najenda hesitated. The offer was a powerful one, striking at the core of her deepest aspirations. She had joined the Revolutionary Army to overthrow the Empire and bring about change. But with the army's leadership now corrupted, her dreams seemed further away than ever—until now.

"What's the catch?" Najenda asked warily. The offer seemed too good to be true.

"The condition is simple: Night Raid ceases to exist as of today. All members will be absorbed into the Jaegers, functioning as a special police force tasked with oversight and enforcement. You'll have autonomous arrest authority, while judgment will rest with Esdeath—or with you, as the new Prime Minister."

"That's... a tempting proposition," Najenda admitted, her voice measured.

August smiled, knowing she was on the verge of agreement. He wasn't concerned with the Empire's long-term fate, but maintaining order until his plans came to fruition was necessary. For that, Najenda was an invaluable asset.

"Oh, and Akame," August said, turning to her. "Kurome is with the Jaegers."

"What? Kurome is…?" Akame's stoic expression shattered. Panic and guilt flooded her features.

Despite everything, the bond between Akame and Kurome as sisters was undeniable. They had been each other's pillars of support during their brutal training in the Empire's assassination program. By leaving the Empire, Akame had unwittingly destroyed her sister's emotional foundation.

"How… how is she?" Akame's voice trembled, her gaze dropping to the floor.

"Not well," August said bluntly. "She couldn't handle the training regimen and relied on performance-enhancing drugs. Now, she's completely dependent on them. Without them, she'd be better off dead."

Tears streamed down Akame's face as she struggled with the weight of her guilt.

"Kurome…" she whispered, her body trembling.

Najenda, feeling partly responsible for convincing Akame to defect, clenched her fists. She had thought it was the right decision at the time, but now she wasn't so sure.

"This feels… unreal," Leone muttered. "Are we really not wanted criminals anymore?"

The others shared her sentiment. They had all resigned themselves to dying for their cause, yet now they were being offered a chance to serve openly as part of the Empire.

"Um… does this mean we're no longer assassins?" Sheele asked hesitantly, raising her hand like a schoolgirl.

"Exactly. Once you report back, you'll officially be members of the Jaegers, working directly under Esdeath's command," August confirmed.

"But… I don't know how to do anything else but kill," Sheele admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"That's fine. Just follow orders," August replied with a smirk.

"Oh, okay," Sheele said simply, her demeanor oddly at odds with her lethal skills.

"It's strange," Lubbock mused. "After all this time, we're just… going back to the Empire?"

Lubbock had joined Najenda's cause out of loyalty and love, abandoning everything he once knew. To find himself returning to the very system he had fought against felt like a cruel twist of fate.

"Do you need time to prepare?" August asked, glancing around the room.

"No, we can leave immediately," Najenda said. As assassins, they kept their bases minimal, leaving no traces behind.

"Very well," August said, stepping outside. With a wave of his hand, golden ripples shimmered in the air.

Moments later, a radiant flying vessel materialized before them.

The Night Raid members stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they took in the golden, otherworldly ship.

"Hop aboard," August said, settling into the sole throne-like seat at the front.

The team boarded quickly, marveling at the craft's sleek design and dazzling appearance. As the ship ascended into the sky and sped toward the Imperial Capital, a mix of emotions filled their hearts—doubt, hope, and a sense of foreboding about what awaited them in this new chapter of their lives.

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