Palace, Main Hall—
"Minister, how is the rebellion situation?"
The young emperor, holding a scepter, asked the minister below. His brows were deeply furrowed and his expression somber. Even though the minister had trained him to be carefree and innocent, he knew the situation was not looking good.
"Not very optimistic. General Sora and General Esdeath are leading those demon female guards into the palace. Our soldiers are completely overwhelmed by the momentum of the rebel forces."
The minister, no longer eating meat, stroked his graying beard with a heavy expression.
"Is that so? Even General Sora and General Esdeath have betrayed us…"
He muttered to himself, not showing much surprise or anger. Over the years, countless officials and ministers had betrayed him, and the young emperor had long learned to take betrayal in stride.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, in my heart you will always be the most wise and mighty emperor. No matter what happens, I will always stand by your side!"
A faint smile curled the minister's lips. He was well practiced in showing loyalty and currying favor at critical moments.
This young emperor was his last trump card and winning weapon. As long as he controlled him, even if the sky fell, the minister would have no fear!
"Minister…"
Indeed, looking at this minister who had "cared" for him and "never abandoned" him since childhood, the young emperor's eyes welled with tears, deeply moved.
"Your Majesty, your wisdom and might will never be wrong. The fault lies with those ignorant peasants! They do not understand your good intentions and have turned the land you gave them into a battlefield of smoke and chaos."
"For such ungrateful fools, Your Majesty, please abandon mercy. Give them a lesson in blood and a punishment they will never forget!"
A fierce light flashed in the minister's old eyes as he spoke passionately to the young emperor.
"Minister… I… I…"
Knowing what punishment the minister meant, the young emperor lowered his head, hesitation flickering in his expression.
"Very well, I understand, Minister!"
Out of absolute trust in the minister, and burning with anger at the rebellious peasants, the young emperor raised his head with firm resolve and made his decision.
"Hehe… As expected of Your Majesty, your wisdom will be remembered forever."
The minister smiled wickedly, completely at ease. As long as this foolish emperor took his advice and played his last card, the minister could rest easy.
What rebels and rioters? What empire's strongest demon generals? All were trash before the supreme Teigu passed down through generations!
Time was urgent. Though General Budo was blocking the rebels outside, they dared not linger. The young emperor took out a key, opened a secret door, and entered with the minister…
…
"General Esdeath, I never thought I'd have the chance to fight you again. I must say, you and the former general Najenda are the most outstanding extraordinary women I have ever seen."
Standing before Esdeath, General Budo spoke with undisguised admiration in his bright eyes.
When she and Sora first came to the capital, they fought fiercely. At that time, he could barely suppress this extraordinary girl. But now, she had grown even stronger, having obtained the supreme Teigu—the Demon's Extract—greatly increasing her power. Even Budo himself was not confident facing her again.
"Heh… Though praise from anyone but my dear means nothing to me, being recognized by a stubborn old man like you feels pretty good."
Esdeath's icy blue eyes sparkled with a strange light. She gave a wicked smile, snapped her fingers coolly, and said to the Three Witches behind her:
"Seryu, Kurome, Aria, this interesting prey is yours."
"Let's see if you've really grown. I've come up with some new training methods these past few days. If you don't satisfy me, I'll use them to 'discipline' you properly!"
While saying, Esdeath stepped aside, looking like someone who didn't want to intervene and was just there to watch the show. These three beloved witches, gifted to Esdeath herself, had been painstakingly trained with great effort. Now it was time to let her witness the results of her hard work!
"Yes, Lady Esdeath!"
The three girls naturally had no doubts about Esdeath's orders. However, just thinking about the consequences if they failed made them extremely nervous inside.
There was no choice—they had been specially cared for by Esdeath, this ultra-S queen, and they were genuinely afraid of her!
On the side, Budo, upon hearing that Esdeath would not fight him personally, instinctively felt a surge of anger. As a warrior, this was the greatest insult!
However, when Budo cast his gaze toward the three girls he hadn't paid much attention to before—Seryu, Kurome, and Aria—his expression immediately stiffened, and he sighed aloud:
"What an extraordinary group of young ladies! Could it be that I am already old…?"
Feeling the powerful aura emanating from the three girls, even Budo was stunned. To have achieved such accomplishments at such a young age was rare talent that appeared only once in a hundred or even a thousand years!
He felt bitter inside. These talents did not belong to him, nor to this empire he had protected all his life—they belonged to the enemy! Could it be that the fate of this country he guarded was truly coming to an end…?
"General Budo, Seryu, at your service!"
"Hehehe, Uncle Thunderhead, don't expect mercy later!"
"You old geezer, you're about to be buried but still wandering around. Be sensible and get lost, or I'll chop you up so badly even your grandmother won't recognize you!"
Seryu, once a noble daughter, still had some manners and respect for General Budo, but carefree Kurome's tone was much rougher.
As for the malicious and twisted Aria—well, among the three witches, she was currently the weakest in strength but the most arrogant in tone. Just one vicious remark had already angered General Budo greatly.
"Old geezer? Buried? Chop you up so badly even your grandmother won't recognize you?" Budo was amused. In his decades of career, this was the first time anyone dared speak to him like that, and it was a girl of only seventeen or eighteen!
Seeing Budo so furious, Aria felt no remorse; instead, she felt quite pleased!
Tsk tsk, General Budo, if hearing that name used to make her tremble, now? She wasn't afraid anymore!
Hmph, later she would let this arrogant empire's strongest general Budo taste her demon blade, Poison Fang. While Seryu and Kurome distracted the old man, she would sneak up from behind and stab him twice!
Hehehe, once he was poisoned by her treasured Poison Fang, she would make this old man beg for life but be unable to die, kneeling before Lady Aria!
Uh, just kneeling is enough—no licking or anything like that. Her noble Aria was not someone a stinky old man could lick! If anyone, it would be her wicked master!
Well, if old Budo knew Aria's thoughts, no need to fight—he'd probably spit blood from anger immediately. Sigh…