IW: Chapter 229 - Bai Ye: Where the long blade points, all four directions submit; he dominates the world, unstoppable! I am ordained by Heaven!
"BOSS, is it really necessary to be so serious?"
Lubbock chuckled. It was the first time he had seen Najenda look at them all so seriously.
In his opinion, it was just one problem. Why make such a big deal out of it?
"Exactly, just say what the problem is. If they're not giving us supplies, then we can just rob the nobles."
Bulat thought for a moment. He felt that perhaps the problem Najenda wanted to discuss was the future lack of supplies.
After Bulat finished speaking, the other members of Night Raid also remained silent, having implicitly agreed that the supply issue Bulat mentioned was what Najenda was about to discuss.
Indeed, this was a serious matter. Both the Revolutionary Army and Night Raid needed supplies to sustain themselves; people had to eat, after all.
"No, it's not about that. Supplies are a minor issue."
Najenda looked around at them, a hint of melancholy on her face.
She had a feeling that once she told them, their mental state would probably explode.
"Leader, what is it then?"
Seeing her like this, Maine was also anxious. Looking at Najenda's expression, she had a bad premonition.
"As assassins, Night Raid, in our fight against the Empire, we have perhaps already prepared for death. But have you ever considered what if one day we actually defeat the Empire?"
Although this was a remote possibility.
Ever since Bai Ye took Esdeath away...
Now, for Najenda, she understood that this matter no longer seemed so difficult.
Initially, she had always advised against attacking the Empire, largely due to Esdeath's presence. If Esdeath hadn't been there, the Revolutionary Army would have invaded the Empire long ago.
The reason Night Raid had been relatively active for a period was because Esdeath had gone north to fight the barbarians.
So, Esdeath was considered the Empire's lifeline. Once Esdeath died or was no longer here, the Empire's threat would be significantly reduced.
Things Najenda dared not imagine before, she truly dared to imagine now.
But thoughts aside, Najenda also understood that what Bai Ye had told her earlier seemed to be what they most needed to confront now.
That is, Night Raid would eventually be abandoned by the Revolutionary Army.
The Revolutionary Army, operating in the light, would, when needed, ask Night Raid to assassinate enemies to gain an advantage. In any war, assassins never come to a good end.
Once the Revolutionary Army defeated the Empire, these people, stained with their past actions, would surely die.
"If we defeat the Empire, then we defeat the Empire, right? Then can't we build an ideal homeland?"
Maine followed Najenda's words and directly spoke her true feelings.
Why did she join Night Raid?
Maine was a mixed-race minority, so she had been discriminated against since childhood.
After the Revolutionary Army allied with the minorities, she fought for herself and for children like her.
Her thoughts were also very simple.
That is, after winning, she imagined a world without discrimination, which should exist, right?
"Yes, if the Empire disappears and those nobles are eliminated, there won't be so many tragedies anymore!"
Everyone else, more or less, had some unpleasant pasts.
So, regarding what would happen after defeating the Empire, they all had their own aspirations.
Everyone had their own fantasies.
They also somewhat anticipated that moment, especially since Esdeath's departure seemed to make this matter even simpler.
"Actually, I think our ending might not be too good."
Akame, having been trained as an assassin in the Empire, naturally understood some things about it.
People who do assassinations, once they lose their usefulness, might not have a good end.
Although Akame felt that bringing this up now was a bit of a mood killer.
But she also understood that she couldn't let them continue fantasizing.
"What do you mean?"
Maine was a bit slow to react, staring blankly at Akame, clearly not expecting Akame to say that.
Their ending wouldn't be too good?
"Leader, you explain."
Akame also seemed to understand what Najenda wanted to tell them.
Since Najenda was going to speak, Akame wasn't going to take over, because revealing the truth was already too cruel, and she didn't want to be the bad guy.
"As an assassin organization, we might die at the hands of the Empire. This was what I had envisioned before, because to kill Esdeath, I once thought that perhaps all of Night Raid would have to be sacrificed to achieve it.
So, regarding Night Raid's fate, I never spoke of it, because we wouldn't live to see that time anyway, so there was no need to speak. Before embarking on this path, I think we all prepared for sacrifice."
That's right.
Before embarking on this path, everyone had already prepared for death.
Dying at the hands of the enemy was not terrifying; their sacrifice was worthwhile, at least it changed this Empire.
Najenda observed their expressions and, seeing that they agreed with her words, continued to speak.
"But now the situation is completely different. Esdeath has left, so all previous assumptions are wrong. Everyone will not die, but if we truly overthrow the Empire, Night Raid will not be recognized by the Revolutionary Army!"
After saying this, Najenda felt a trace of bewilderment in her heart.
She knew very well that she had exposed the awkward issue between the Revolutionary Army and Night Raid, an issue no one wanted to bring up.
Then perhaps Night Raid might no longer be the Night Raid of the past.
But she also knew that this was something she had to do. Before, she could deceive herself, thinking that perhaps everyone would die at Esdeath's hands, and that telling the truth would make everyone despair.
Then it was better for everyone not to know, to simply consider it a sacrifice in the journey of this dream. Perhaps this would benefit everyone; before death, they would all imagine how much better the country after the Revolutionary Army would be than the Empire.
However, now she could no longer deceive herself.
Not telling the truth to the members of Night Raid, Najenda absolutely could not get past her own conscience. If she knew the truth but didn't speak, was she trying to lead them to their deaths?
"Night Raid won't be recognized by the Revolutionary Army? What's going on, BOSS!?!"
Upon hearing Najenda's words, Maine's unease surged to its peak.
Why wouldn't Night Raid be recognized by the Revolutionary Army?
Did that mean Night Raid didn't belong to the Revolutionary Army?
"Because in the eyes of the common people, the Revolutionary Army are their saviors, they are good people. Therefore, they will not be associated with Night Raid. After changing the Empire, if the Revolutionary Army acknowledges an organization that existed through assassination as belonging to them, it will become a blemish on their record. A blemish is absolutely unacceptable for a newly established nation, and that is why I said it."
Najenda directly and frankly told them their predicament.
The Revolutionary Army would not acknowledge them.
Upon hearing this, Maine continued to ask, "Then what should we do?"
Although she felt a bit upset, upon closer thought, it seemed somewhat normal.
If that's the case, then not being recognized is fine. At least she could still change this country, couldn't she?
After the Revolutionary Army came to power, they could change everything about the current Empire, and that would be enough. She was willing to become the stepping stone to change everything.
"We will be endlessly hunted."
Although Najenda herself didn't belong to Night Raid, she was the leader of the Revolutionary Army and was only there to lead Night Raid. In truth, she wouldn't be hunted.
The ones who would truly be hunted were the members of Night Raid.
Upon hearing Najenda's words, Maine stood frozen in place, for she had never imagined that she would be hunted by the very place she served.
And while the others were slightly better than Maine, they too felt somewhat bitter deep down.
They had clearly assassinated Imperial people for the Revolutionary Army, yet in the end, they would bear a lifetime of infamy, living like rats in a gutter, from then on changing their names and being hunted for the rest of their lives.
Discarding the millstone after the donkey has done its work?
Although they were prepared to die in battle against the Empire, they certainly did not want to one day die under the butcher's knife of their own people.
"I think, BOSS, you must have something else to say, right?"
Compared to the others, Akame had already thought of this problem and had also confirmed her inner thoughts.
In Akame's view, since Najenda had brought this up.
Then she must be laying the groundwork for something more important.
"Just as I said before, I want to see how you choose. Do you choose to stay in Night Raid and continue this mission, or do you choose to leave Night Raid? Whatever your choice, I approve!"
Najenda had no qualifications, nor the right, to control other people's lives.
This choice should be made by the members of Night Raid.
"Stay or leave?"
Is Night Raid disbanding?
Perhaps after Najenda said this, it really seemed possible that they might disband.
Everyone is human.
Although they all fought to change this sick world in their hearts.
But when they one day learned that their future would not be good, and that they would be hunted by their own people, they fell silent.
"Oh, and there's one more thing I need to tell you. The King of the Hairan Empire told me before that they would attack the Empire. At the time, I didn't take it seriously, but after he defeated Esdeath and took her away, I knew that the Empire would eventually be swallowed by Bai Ye. So, actually, my choice, to put it another way, is to continue to stay with the Revolutionary Army or leave the Revolutionary Army and join the Hairan Empire!"
Najenda had just left some things unclear and then added another sentence.
Compared to what she said before, there was now an additional destination: the Hairan Empire.
In fact, Najenda also understood that the Hairan Empire was about to unify the entire world.
"Join the Hairan Empire? Then wouldn't we...?"
Bulat shook his head. No matter what, their joining the Revolutionary Army was considered an internal conflict. If they were to join the Hairan Empire now, what would that even be?
"Actually, it's not a bad thing, I think it's not a bad thing, because they will unify the entire continent. I've met their King, and their King is a brilliant strategist; it's as if Heaven itself is protecting them."
Najenda's eyes glazed over. She had a premonition when she first met Bai Ye.
Perhaps Bai Ye would truly succeed. After quickly quelling the internal chaos in his own country, he swiftly dealt with Esdeath of the Empire, and now Esdeath had joined their side.
It could be said that she genuinely couldn't imagine how the other side could lose.
The advantage was with him.
"Is there any difference between the Hairan Empire and our place?"
Maine asked curiously. She actually had the intention of leaving Night Raid deep down.
For Maine, the most unacceptable thing was betrayal. If she was ultimately going to be betrayed by her own people, she would rather choose to leave at this moment.
"I've visited the Hairan Empire. It used to be pretty much on par with the Empire, maybe a bit better, but ever since the new Emperor ascended the throne, he's purged a group of people, and the country has become much clearer. If our Emperor were like that, perhaps there wouldn't have been civil unrest!"
Najenda had walked on foot from the Empire to the capital of the Hairan Empire.
Although there were still poor people, at least she saw hope in their faces; it wasn't a place where people devoured each other.
In fact, when Bai Ye first invited her, Najenda had considered it, but at that time, she hoped more to transform this world herself, rather than placing her hopes on someone else.
Because no one could know if he would eventually change his mind, or if he would become a tyrant. Who could tell?
But after returning, she also thought about what Bai Ye had said before. Based on her own investigation, she also found that the Revolutionary Army was not as clean as she had imagined.
So at this moment, Najenda was also bewildered.
It seemed she couldn't guarantee whether the leaders and high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Army would change their minds after defeating the Empire and establishing a new one.
Don't forget that for the Revolutionary Army to persuade the foreign tribes to help them, they promised to hand over a portion of territory to the northern foreign tribes afterward, and also made many beneficial concessions.
"So, according to what you, Leader, are saying, our current battle is also meaningless, right?"
Akame asked.
From Najenda's words, a conclusion was also drawn: if they were ultimately defeated by the Hairan Empire, then everything they were doing now seemed to be in vain, right?
"That's right, we will lose in the end. The Revolutionary Army is not as perfect as I imagined; in fact, they are already corrupt. Perhaps in the future, there will be termite worms similar to the Minister. In short, what will you all do?"
Najenda wanted to leave, but before she left, she wanted to take her good friends with her.
Because staying with the Revolutionary Army would only lead to being buried with them, so before leaving, she might as well take everyone she could.
"I don't want to be killed by my own people."
Maine's voice was a bit low. After she said this, she knew that perhaps everyone else also understood that she wanted to withdraw, but this was her thought.
She didn't want to die at the hands of her own people. Even if she didn't die, would she have to be hunted for the rest of her life?
"Well, the Revolutionary Army is truly heartless."
Although Bulat didn't express his opinion, he actually felt a bit uncomfortable deep down.
"Leader, what are you planning to do? If you're leaving, we'll follow you!"
Compared to Najenda, Leone hadn't had much contact with the other party anyway.
If Najenda chose to leave, she could follow along.
"Me too!"
Lubbock had originally chosen to join Night Raid because of Najenda. He was the only one in Night Raid whose fate wasn't tragic; his father was a big merchant, and he had lived a very comfortable life since childhood.
If Najenda chose to leave, he would follow without hesitation.
"It seems that everyone actually doesn't want to be betrayed. What that guy said was indeed correct."
Najenda suddenly felt a sense of relief.
Everything had been predicted by Bai Ye.
"He?"
Who is he?
Akame asked curiously.
"The Emperor of the Hairan Empire. He told me everything and asked me to see if you all were willing to sacrifice for the Revolutionary Army. The result is obvious, it seems he was right!"
Najenda could already imagine how awkward she would be the moment she saw Bai Ye.
She never expected that Bai Ye would guess everything.
"Can he do it?"
Sheele asked.
"If he can't do it, then we'll just continue doing our Night Raid business in the future!"
Najenda thought very clearly: if they stayed with the Revolutionary Army, everyone in Night Raid would die, but if they chose to leave and join the Hairan Empire, Bai Ye would have no reason to kill them.
Since even Esdeath was accepted by him, they naturally would be too.
"Alright, then let's go to him. I don't want to be stabbed in the back by my own people one day!"
Leone immediately made a decision upon hearing this!
"Before I go, let me take some people with me."
War was already inevitable, and besides, she couldn't stop it; the Revolutionary Army simply wouldn't listen to her.
Her original plan was to prevent the Revolutionary Army and Bai Ye from fighting to the death, as most of the Revolutionary Army's people didn't need to sacrifice their lives for these matters.
However, she suddenly realized that she couldn't give orders at all, as if she had been guarded against from the very beginning.
Was it because of her previous relationship with the Empire, or because of Night Raid, which she led?
Fearing that she had Night Raid under her control, plus soldiers she could command, that would cause an impact on them. But no matter what, Najenda knew very well in her heart that all of this was the other party's distrust of her.
Before, she didn't want to bother with so much, attributing it all to dealing with the Empire's army, but now she couldn't stop herself from overthinking.
"Before that, I will have a clear discussion with the Emperor of the Hairan Empire. Until it is completely confirmed, let's not discuss this matter yet!"
"What about our Night Raid mission? Wasn't it said before that we were to assassinate Aria's family? But their family was actually wiped out, and I didn't see the bodies of the three youths I saw before. I don't know if it was those three who did it!"
Leone remembered that they still had a mission before. She had already gathered all the intelligence on that family, but before she could act, the family was wiped out.
"If they were wiped out, then so be it."
"But there was also something very strange about that family. They died by lightning. As far as I know, the one in the Empire who can use lightning seems to be Admiral Budo, right?"
Leone had previously snuck in to investigate. This ability was lightning, but did Budo need to kill Aria's family?
She was full of doubts about this, and her return today was actually to report this matter.
"Budo?" Najenda shook her head, then continued, "Don't worry about it. The Empire's internal situation is probably more chaotic than ours right now."
Without Esdeath, they probably didn't know what to do, right?
For some reason, Najenda suddenly felt a sense of schadenfreude.
Don't worry about it?
Listening to Najenda's words, Leone was stunned for a moment, then said no more.
It shouldn't be that guy, right?
She had originally wanted to analyze the three people she saw that day.
After all, those three looked not much different from fools. In a man-eat-man place like the Imperial Capital, they actually so easily believed others and left with them, or rather, followed Aria.
Perhaps they weren't found in the warehouse or Aria's home because those three ran faster that day, which is why they weren't found.
Revolutionary Army.
The high-ranking officials were discussing Esdeath leaving the Empire and joining Hairan.
"We can't just sit back and do nothing. I believe you all know that guy's ambition, right?"
The leader was a middle-aged man, originally a ruined noble. Because his family was persecuted by a larger noble, he chose to resist, gathering a group of lower or middle-class people to rebel against the Empire.
At that time, they were about to be annihilated, but because the old Emperor of the Hairan Empire saw their ability to cause chaos within the Empire and deplete its national strength, they received help from the Hairan Empire.
And after that, they took over Najenda, obtained some intelligence from the Empire, and then allied with the foreign tribes in the north of the Empire, giving up profits to better deal with the Empire.
For years, they had been collecting Imperial Arms to arm Night Raid, sending Night Raid to assassinate nobles, while they themselves continuously harassed the Empire on a small scale.
Originally, they were waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to defeat Esdeath, but what they didn't expect was that Esdeath just left like that.
But the place she went to was the Hairan Empire, and this was not what they wanted to see.
"What can we do even if we know? The Hairan Empire has already resolved its internal problems, and with Esdeath there, they will cut off our supplies, then watch the Empire and us engage in civil war, and then they will make their move. Isn't this a good opportunity?"
No matter how they thought about it, this was the most likely thing the other party would do, right?
"Then what should we do?"
"I don't know. Why don't we let Night Raid act quickly? The Empire no longer has Esdeath. Let's appear and defeat the Empire first, and then rally the people within the Empire to resist the people from Hairan. How about that?"
"I think that's possible. I heard that the Empire seems to possess the Supreme Imperial Arm. If we can get this item, let alone Esdeath, even the Emperor of the Hairan Empire who defeated Esdeath could be defeated, right?"
They spoke back and forth, and then made a decision.
"Najenda seems to have arrived, right?"
"Let Najenda come over!"
Since they had already made their decision, they would tell Najenda.
After calling Najenda over, the high-ranking officials told Najenda what they had discussed earlier.
"If we are to launch a full-scale attack on the Empire now, I want to take Chelsea and Susanoo."
Najenda was originally thinking about how to bring up this matter with them.
Now it's good.
Since they needed her to deal with the Empire, asking for two people shouldn't be a problem, right?
"You can!"
The high-ranking officials were a bit surprised, but they agreed.
These were originally kept as reserves for Night Raid, and Susanoo was even assigned to Najenda by headquarters, so naturally, he could be given to her.
"Then, prepare yourselves after you return!"
"En."
No more nonsense. Both sides needed time now.
Watching Najenda's retreating figure, everyone began to discuss.
"What about Night Raid's arrangement after that?"
"We can't just give up, can we? If we just give up, how will we deal with the Hairan Empire!"
If the Hairan Empire hadn't intervened, then after the Revolutionary Army successfully defeated the Empire, Night Raid would definitely have been abandoned.
But doesn't the current situation already illustrate the importance of the Revolutionary Army?
They wouldn't really abandon them, would they?
"No! We'll keep Night Raid for now. Let Night Raid deal with the Hairan Empire. Besides, isn't Night Raid's existence itself for the purpose of dealing with Esdeath? They'll continue to deal with Esdeath, and we'll get the Supreme Imperial Arm and then deal with Bai Ye!"
"You can!"
"Then, as for Night Raid, we'll continue as planned before. After everything is resolved, we'll completely abandon them. After all, we are a force of light and cannot be tainted by darkness!"
In a few words, they decided the fate of Night Raid.
Assassins would not have a good ending.
"If we eliminate the Hairan Empire, then we will instantly become the strongest existence, unifying the entire continent will be a piece of cake!"
The leader was painting a grand vision for everyone present, and at this moment, he was also envisioning his beautiful future.
He had never imagined that one day, he too would be able to become an Emperor!
And even have the chance to become the strongest Emperor.
That old Emperor of the Hairan Empire was truly foolish, to actually cultivate him!
Instantly, laughter and joy filled the air. Possessing power, for them, was like a poison that they could no longer give up, and at the same time, their inner desires were constantly expanding, hoping to gain even greater power.
"Your Majesty, this is a secret letter from the Night Raid Leader!"
Enkidu handed a secret letter to Bai Ye, which had been secretly escorted back by them.
Upon hearing "Night Raid," Bai Ye hadn't reacted yet, but Esdeath, who was beside him, also became interested.
She directly raised her hand, wanting to take the letter, but her hand was grabbed by another hand just as it was about to touch the letter.
"What? Were you so undisciplined even when you were in the Empire?"
Bai Ye's grip tightened, which made Esdeath feel the pressure multiply.
When she was in the Empire, she seemed to have always acted on her own, but she never expected to be restrained here.
When she first arrived here, she was truly unaccustomed to it.
In the Empire, she did as she pleased, but now Bai Ye had set many rules for her, which made Esdeath very unaccustomed to and also somewhat helpless.
Bai Ye had made it very clear to her: as long as she defeated him, then she would be allowed to do everything. But before defeating Bai Ye, all her actions would be subject to Bai Ye's control.
"I understand, you can let go."
Esdeath pouted, and Enkidu, who was beside them, was also somewhat shocked.
He never expected that the always strong and arrogant Esdeath would have no temper at all in front of Bai Ye.
He wouldn't have dared to imagine this before.
This was their King!
"En, that's a good girl!"
Bai Ye nodded with satisfaction, then released Esdeath's hand, took the envelope, and glanced at its contents. After carefully reading it, a hint of excitement flashed in Bai Ye's eyes. He stood up from his seat with a whoosh: "Where the long blade points, the four directions submit; dominating the world, none can stand in the way! Mandated by Heaven, may you live long and prosper! The time has come!"
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