Imperial Capital, outskirts.
Large expanses of ice crystals covered the forest, dyeing the place into a blue kingdom.
Esdeath patted the dust off her body, a faint smile hanging at the corner of her lips.
"Bulat, huh? What an excellent guy~"
Traces of blood slid down the slender blade of the rapier.
Esdeath lightly flicked her wrist and sheathed the rapier.
On the battlefield not far away, the towering rock wall had been blasted with a massive crater.
Seryu knelt halfway on the ground, tightly hugging Koro, who had practically shrunk into a wrinkled lump.
"Koro, are you okay?"
Koro weakly trembled his body.
"Kyuu, kyuu..."
Esdeath walked over to Seryu's side and lightly stroked the military cap on her head.
"Among the combat personnel of the Jaegers, Seryu is the weakest."
"Relying too heavily on your Teigu is not a good sign."
Precisely because Seryu was the weakest, Esdeath had brought her along when assigning groups.
Wave and Bols were one group. As for Stylish.
Last time, he had nearly gotten his head split open by Bulat.
Combined with the fact that he was not combat personnel to begin with, he had not participated in this operation.
Esdeath stood in place, recalling the battle that had just happened.
Just as she was lost in thought, Wave and Bols hurried over.
The two first checked on Seryu's condition.
Then Wave walked before Esdeath with a face full of joy.
"Captain, there's news from Mr. Uesugi's side!"
Esdeath snapped back to her senses.
Seeing Wave like this, she could already guess it was definitely good news.
At this point, it had been around four days since Uesugi Ryu and the others left the Imperial Capital.
A trace of curiosity flashed through Esdeath's ice-blue pupils.
She slightly raised her chin, signaling for Wave to continue.
Wave paused and carefully considered his words before speaking.
"Mr. Uesugi sent word saying they captured multiple Night Raid members alive."
"Night Raid's leader Najenda, Sheele, as well as two unfamiliar Teigu users and one ordinary member."
Esdeath frowned upon hearing this. These results were so abundant that they felt somewhat strange.
Esdeath had once worked alongside Najenda. She understood how troublesome the woman was.
Uesugi Ryu's existence was not a secret either. If the enemy had no countermeasures prepared, that would absolutely be nonsense.
Wave sensed that Esdeath's expression was not quite right, and he continued with difficulty.
"However, by the time Mr. Uesugi and the others arrived at Jellalck from the Imperial Capital, Bolic had already been killed."
Hearing that, Esdeath suppressed her slight doubts deep inside.
"Dead, huh? But it doesn't really matter."
"This game of cat and mouse is nearly at its end."
Esdeath felt somewhat regretful inside.
Najenda had once been her companion, then later became a troublesome enemy.
Honestly speaking, Esdeath actually wanted more to personally bring that relationship to an end herself.
Wave nodded.
"When Mr. Uesugi sent this letter, they were already on the road. Escorting the prisoners wasted some time."
"They should arrive at the Imperial Capital around the day after tomorrow."
Esdeath looked thoughtful after hearing this and teased.
"My adjutant surpassed me. That's somewhat irritating~"
"Alright, prepare to welcome our great hero!"
....
The long procession resembled a venomous snake, slowly slithering forward through a canyon filled with yellow stone.
Uesugi Ryu rode at the front of the procession, with Ran and Kurome positioned to either side.
Behind them was a massive carriage.
Quite a few believers dressed in teacher uniforms surrounded it on both sides.
Mez sat at the back of the carriage.
Her arms were crossed before her chest as she looked behind with some boredom.
Suzuka wore the expression of a lovestruck fool.
"Once we return to the Imperial Capital, maybe we'll get to see Lady Esdeath."
"We captured so many prisoners this time. If I could watch Lady Esdeath's interrogation process, hah... hah..."
The scorching heat made people somewhat drowsy.
The boring process of traveling always made one's thoughts wander uncontrollably.
Uesugi Ryu silently thought to himself.
"Five Teigu acquired. Only one more Teigu remains before reaching ten."
"Esdeath isn't stupid. I still need to guard against her probing."
"I'll need to be more careful with future actions."
Esdeath's time stop was one of the most troublesome abilities.
At present, Uesugi Ryu still had no good way to counter it.
"There's no rush regarding Teigu fusion yet. Things haven't reached a desperate situation."
"As long as I have Shambhala in hand, there will always be a way out no matter what."
Kurome wore an oversized hat.
Even so, fine beads of sweat still covered her forehead, and her small face had turned red from the heat.
High temperatures could damage the skin, so she did not even dare wear short sleeves.
Kurome extended her small hand and lightly fanned beside her cheek.
At the same time, she playfully stuck out her pink tongue and acted spoiled toward Uesugi Ryu.
"Mr. Uesugi~ Let's go rest over there for a bit. It's really too hot!"
Ran appeared somewhat preoccupied.
Hearing Kurome's words, he looked at her with some surprise.
Uesugi Ryu nodded.
His physical constitution was powerful, so he naturally did not fear this kind of extreme environment.
But there was no need to rush the journey, and he did not possess any strange hobby of tormenting people, so he readily agreed.
Seeing this, Kurome immediately revealed a sweet smile.
"Mr. Uesugi is the best!"
After several months of getting along together, Kurome's personality had also become much livelier.
If this had been back during her days in the assassination unit.
She absolutely would not have dared say such intimate and dependent words.
That would only have earned her cold reprimands, or even cruel punishment.
Uesugi Ryu turned his head toward Ran on the left.
"Ran, inform everyone that we'll rest ahead for a while."
"Understood."
Ran tightened the reins and turned toward the back of the procession.
After hearing this news, everyone's spirits lifted.
The procession's pace increased considerably.
A short while later, the procession gradually came to a halt, enjoying one of the few comfortable moments available.
At the center of the procession, inside a gigantic cage covered by black cloth.
The captured Night Raid members were all being held there.
Najenda, Chelsea, and Tatsumi leaned against the edge of the cage.
Tatsumi looked at Najenda and Chelsea, who sat there calmly like old monks in meditation.
He wanted to say something, but seeing the state they were in, he wisely shut his mouth.
Sheele and Leone were more seriously injured, and their stamina had long since run out, so they had already fallen asleep.
The sudden acceleration of the procession caused the two of them to sway, nearly crashing against the edge of the cage.
Tatsumi and Chelsea immediately steadied them.
Sheele rubbed her eyes, looking completely drowsy and absentminded.
Every time Sheele got captured, her glasses lenses would inevitably shatter everywhere.
She opened her eyes, only to be met with a blurry field of vision.
"Sheele, are you okay?"
Sheele narrowed her eyes until they were practically slits before finally recognizing Tatsumi.
"Eh~ Tatsumi, you...."
Chelsea looked pale as she softly said.
"No need to ask, Sheele. We've all been captured."
Najenda turned her head slightly. At this moment, there was nothing she could say.
"Uesugi Ryu needs information regarding Super Danger Beasts. Why would he want that kind of information at a time like this?"
"Esdeath is very interested in hunting, so is it..."