This was the third time Tatsumi had lost comrades with whom he had shared life and death since joining Night Raid. Though his heart was heavy with grief, now was not the time to dwell on memories. They had to eradicate the source of tragedy from its roots and overthrow the corrupt and dark empire.
Night Raid's current mission was to eliminate Borick, a wicked official within the religious order.
Meanwhile, Esdeath was dispatched with a beastman contingent to ensure Borick's safety. However, Esdeath and her group were not the only bodyguards. The Rakshasa Four, embodiments of brutality, were also present.
The four were named Ji Ling, Luo Tian, Zhu Tian, and Ma Tou. Some questioned their strength, especially since all of Night Raid was equipped with Imperial Arms. Yet, the Rakshasa Four remained unperturbed. No matter how powerful the Imperial Arms were, their users were still ordinary humans, and thus, victory was always possible.
The Rakshasa Four were the Minister's personal executioners, but at this moment, they were tasked with guarding Borick. This led Esdeath to muse on how highly the Minister must have valued this religious sect. Beside her, Kurome was panting, still technically alive after Chelsea's fatal assassination attempt but at her absolute limit, extremely weak.
Wille clearly understood that Kurome was forcing herself to stand. But Kurome had her own concerns. Once an assassin's corps member was deemed incapable of fighting, they were immediately dealt with by the organization. She knew she was doomed. Better to die on the battlefield than be purged by the organization.
At this time, Lub, outside the church, was gathering intelligence. The streets were a chaotic mix of people, allowing Lub to move undetected. However, Zhu Tian and Ma Tou of the Rakshasa Four had already spotted him.
As night fell, Zhu Tian launched his attack on Lub. With a single blow, Zhu Tian sent Lub crashing to the ground, his pulse seemingly gone. In reality, Lub had used his Imperial Arms to stop his own pulse. Zhu Tian, finding this anticlimactic, thought Lub was a trivial character.
Just then, Ma Tou apprehended a spy preparing to meet Lub. Lub had no intention of rising to fight. Facing two opponents simultaneously, he had no clear path to victory. To his surprise, the spy he was meant to meet was a woman. Lub immediately hurled a blade at Zhu Tian, admitting his weakness for women. As a reconnaissance specialist, Lub always tried to avoid direct combat but would fight if absolutely necessary.
Lub unleashed his steel wires to attack. Zhu Tian attempted a sneak attack from behind, but Lub blocked him with the wires. Lub then wove the wires into a great axe and swung it, full of openings, at Zhu Tian. Lub's true objective wasn't to defeat the two before him but to buy the spy time to escape.
Gradually, the spy made her escape. Lub then turned to flee, but how could he outrun Zhu Tian?
Zhu Tian charged at Lub at high speed. However, Lub remained calm. His Imperial Arms, "Dankaisen" (Boundary Severing Wire), were derived from the body hair of a super-dangerous species from the East Sea. This hair was both tough and sharp.
By the time Zhu Tian noticed the steel wire, it was too late. His neck was deeply cut by the Dankaisen.
What's more, Lub twisted his hand, and a steel spear pierced Zhu Tian.
Despite this, due to his prolonged training, Zhu Tian's physical resilience had reached a certain level, and these attacks could not finish him. But Lub had a contingency: the needle on the steel spear would, upon piercing flesh, lock onto Zhu Tian's heart, ensuring a fatal blow.
Seeing this, Ma Tou decided he could no longer stand by and had to avenge Zhu Tian.
Ma Tou moved at high speed through the alleys, seizing the opportune moment to throw a punch, sending Lub to the ground, unable to move.
With all his might, Lub hurled two daggers at Ma Tou, but they were easily dodged. Ma Tou raised his hand, preparing to finish Lub, but at that moment, Ma Tou was grievously wounded by a blade. It turned out Lub had attached a thread to the daggers he threw earlier. When he reeled in the thread, the blades followed. It seemed Lub had outmaneuvered him.
Meanwhile, Akame was investigating a secret underground passage leading to the church. The next moment, she was confronted by Ji, one of the Rakshasa Four.
Akame had expected to fight the Rakshasa Four during the assassination of the Minister. It seemed it was happening sooner.
Akame immediately drew Murasame and slashed at Ji, but Ji's body was far more agile than Akame had anticipated.
The Rakshasa Four, having undergone rigorous training, could now control their bodies at will. They launched a fierce barrage of attacks at Akame. Akame tried to counter, but Ji, using "Jikū," disarmed her of Murasame. However, the lingering resentment within Murasame was clearly something Ji could not bear. Akame seized this opportunity for a decisive lock.
This enraged Ji completely, and he attacked Akame furiously. But Akame responded with two swift slashes, dismembering him.
However, the danger was not over. Ran suddenly appeared. Fortunately, Ran's mission was reconnaissance, and he had no intention of fighting Akame.
Concurrently, Tatsumi and Mine were waiting to rendezvous in the wilderness. These two rivals were bound to quarrel whenever they had a moment alone.
Mine declared that men who couldn't tolerate women shopping were stingy. Tatsumi retorted that women who mocked men for being stingy were the stingy ones.
As they argued, the leader of the church happened to pass by. Though perhaps meddling, the leader immediately recognized that these two were already bound by the red thread of fate.
Naturally, Tatsumi and Mine vehemently denied it.