Reincarnation Paradise Park

Chapter 213: Chapter 23: The Vain Boy

”General Esdeath, the suppression in the north was very impressive. As a reward, I’ve prepared ten thousand gold for you.”

The Little Emperor spoke, and although these words were meant to be imposing, they lost their weight due to the Little Emperor’s childlike tone, sounding more like a schoolboy reciting a text than a commanding ruler.

”Thank you, Your Majesty. I will reward those brave soldiers who fought. Now that I am back, I will ensure the ’Night Raid’ that disturbs your peace is completely eradicated.”

Esdeath spoke to the Little Emperor, referring to herself as ”I” instead of a subordinate.

Su Xiao glanced at the Chancellor beside the Little Emperor and then at Esdeath. It seemed that the Empire was truly under the control of these two.

”Then I’ll have to bother the General with this, but other than that...”

As the Little Emperor spoke, Su Xiao’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

”There is an enemy.”

Su Xiao looked at Esdeath.

”Confirmed?”

”Confirmed.”

”Eliminate them!”

Su Xiao rose and dashed towards the side chamber of the main hall.

”What is this?”

The Little Emperor was taken aback, and the Chancellor beside him was equally puzzled.

”This is one of my subordinates. He has sensed enemies within the Royal Palace, possibly the thieves of the ’Night Raid.’”

Esdeath stood up, no longer crouching.

Two minutes later.

Boom.

A blood-soaked corpse was thrown out from the side chamber, rolling a few times before stopping at Esdeath’s feet.

Su Xiao emerged from the side chamber, with traces of blood on him, holding the blood-dripping Dragon Slash in his right hand and a broken firearm in his left.

The corpse was a Contractor. Su Xiao had long sensed their presence, not paying much attention, as it was normal for the Imperial Capital to have its own Contractors.

But this guy had pointed the gun at his head for over ten seconds, clearly locking onto Su Xiao.

With the growing sense of danger, Su Xiao could deduce that the opponent was using some skill to charge up for a potential fatal blow.

This Su Xiao could not tolerate, so he decisively struck, rushing forward to the opponent and slashing him twice.

With Su Xiao’s Perception Force, aiming at him from close range was a death wish.

”Was that gun the assassin’s?”

Esdeath knew Su Xiao didn’t use guns, or at least she hadn’t seen him use one.

”Yes, I initially thought he was a guard of the Royal Palace. But the way he kept the gun pointed in one position for too long, and then aimed at the Emperor, was not behavior befitting a guard.”

Esdeath pondered for a moment.

”Your Highness, is he a guard of the Royal Palace?”

”This...”

The Little Emperor looked helplessly at the Chancellor, showing his reliance on him.

”Come here.”

The Chancellor shouted powerfully, and a few guards immediately rushed into the main hall.

”Is this person a guard?”

The Chancellor’s question was quickly answered.

He was a guard, but not of the main hall; he was a low-ranking guard of the Royal Palace gates.

A guard like this bringing a gun into the main hall spoke volumes.

”Indeed, a strong general has no weak soldiers, men, reward him with gold.”

At the Chancellor’s command, a guard presented a tray of gold.

Esdeath’s face was aloof, as it was clear the Chancellor intended to poach people.

”Chancellor, my subordinate will be rewarded by me personally.”

Hearing Esdeath’s slightly displeased tone, the Chancellor smiled apologetically.

”I must be confused, startled by the assassin. Please, General Esdeath, do not take offense.”

The Chancellor was truly cunning, understanding that opposing Esdeath would only result in mutual destruction.

”In that case, we will take our leave. I will handle the matter of the ’Night Raid.’”

Esdeath made a gesture to leave.

”Wait a moment. Since you’re handling the ’Night Raid,’ I have a suggestion.”

The Chancellor took a piece of half-cooked meat and placed it in his mouth, a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of his lips as he chewed.

”I’m all ears.”

Esdeath didn’t want to fall out with the Chancellor either, so the Chancellor began to outline his plan.

The Chancellor’s plan was simple: have Esdeath’s subordinates assassinate some ’rebellious’ officials near the Imperial Capital. After these assassinations, blame it on ’Night Raid,’ the Night Raid Team, to not tolerate such an occurrence, thus forcing them into the open.

The plan seemed somewhat foolish, but it was not as simple as it appeared.

The Chancellor’s true target wasn’t the Night Raid Team but the ’rebellious’ officials. He merely wanted to use Esdeath to eliminate his political opponents.

”Of course, General Esdeath won’t do this for free. The military budget for this season will be increased by thirty percent.”

The Chancellor was indeed cunning, knowing that Esdeath wasn’t interested in money, so he offered to enhance her military resources.

”Is that so... Very well.”

Esdeath agreed, the Chancellor beamed with pleasure, while the Little Emperor sat there somewhat bored.

The major decisions were often made this way; it wasn’t that the Little Emperor lacked power, as he could command the Supreme Teigu, but he simply had no interest in governance.

The Chancellor and the Little Emperor walked towards the rear of the main hall, while Esdeath looked at the Three Beast Soldiers and Su Xiao.

”I leave this matter to you, but I have other plans as well.”

The group walked out of the hall, and once outside, the Three Beast Soldiers set off to assassinate the ’rebellious’ officials. Su Xiao did not accompany them, which was a deliberate arrangement by Esdeath.

...

The next day, on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, Night Raid Team Headquarters.

”Now let’s discuss why I’ve gathered you all here.”

The leader of the Night Raid Team, Najenda, sat at the forefront of a group of over a dozen. Najenda was a one-eyed, one-armed, white-haired mature woman; her missing arm was replaced with a dark green metallic arm, and she wore a black eye patch over her blind eye.

In front of Najenda were a few Night Raid Team main members, along with some unfamiliar faces who were Contractors, strong Contractors.

Najenda held up a piece of paper bearing the Night Raid Team’s emblem for everyone to see.

”Last night in the Imperial Capital, several murders occurred. The victims were officials inclined to support our Revolutionary Army, though they were still uncertain, and this was left at the scene.”

The Night Raid Team members remained silent for a moment.

”This is obviously a frame-up. Only the Chancellor could do such a thing; no one else would dare.”

The Night Raid Team’s trump card, Brand, spoke up. He was undoubtedly ranked among the top three in the Night Raid Team in terms of strength, wielding the Teigu ’Ghost Entwining·Armor Operation,’ an Armor Type Teigu, that usually took the form of a sword but could transform into armor during battle.

”Indeed, at first, the public did not believe it was us, but now they do.”

Najenda’s tone was somewhat grave.

”Why?”

The new member of the Night Raid Team, Tazmi, spoke. He was a rural boy from the Empire’s border, with a heart full of justice, who initially wished to join the Imperial Army but, after witnessing the darkness of the Imperial Capital, coincidentally joined the Night Raid Team.

Based on the original work’s information, Tazmi may not be the protagonist; the protagonist of the World of Crimson might be someone else.