#153 Resolving the situation

"Akashi...This is serious. There are a lot of people here, maybe hundreds, and some of them could have been even from the Imperial Police." Seryu said with a serious expression before turning at Akashi.

"I know...I had no idea they were doing something like that...Still, it's unfortunate that Aria died and we can't even hear her out before judging her family but...There is still her mother who can tell us everything." Akashi nodded with a serious expression.

"Seryu, there are more than 3 dead guards with markings on their body from the infamous Teigu, Murasame. The Night Raid was really here..." Seryu's colleague ran up to us and reported while tensing up a bit when he realized that Night Raid was really here. He even gave a particular look at Akashi as if he was wondering how he managed to survive. It was widely known that Night Raid usually worked in teams.

'Murasame...Akame!' Seryu thought while holding her chin and glaring at the ground caught up in her thoughts.

"How many of them have you seen, Akashi?" Seryu asked with a curious expression.

"I met a purple-haired woman when she tried to kill Aria's mother but I was able to rescue her in time, however, after our first exchange, she retreated. I didn't give a chase and prioritized the safety of Aria's family but I was already too late. She was also wielding a scissors-like weapon." Akashi described what happened with a straight face and Seryu's expression only hardened.

'That's Sheele, one of the most wanted criminals and also a member of Night Raid. Tch! The situation is becoming only more complicated, why did they target this family specifically?' Seryu thought and she slowly became biting her nails but Akashi stopped her by grabbing her hand.

"Huh?" Seryu finally came back to reality as she looked at Akashi with a surprised expression.

"First of all, question these 2 who managed to survive so we can treat their other injuries as soon as possible. After that, you can question Aria's mother." Akashi said with a small nod and Seryu nodded back to him with a grateful expression.

Seryu went and had a small talk with Sayo and Ieyasu. They just described what happened to them, however, they didn't dare to say anything about what happened after their rescue. When Seryu was done with them, Aria's mother already regained consciousness and kept glancing around in sitting position with a confused expression, when she noticed her daughter lying in the pool of blood, she began sobbing.

'Despite being monsters, they still care for their own. Even if they can be considered worse than Danger Beasts, it's not on the level where they don't care about their own kind, interesting.' Akashi thought, being slightly amused by seeing her fragile side.

"Madam, I would like to ask you a few questions." Seryu crouched down and said with a polite smile. She didn't release any reassuring smile since she was suspicious about that slaughterhouse matter.

"Y-You are from Imperial Police...alright" She nodded while throwing a glance at Akashi who acted as if he didn't notice.

Thus began their conversation.

Seryu was slightly confused about why Akashi knocked her out but he quickly explained that she isn't fighter so protecting someone who doesn't even move is easier than someone who might panic.

"Alright...Now, can you explain to me what's going on with that warehouse?" Seryu finally asked the question everyone was curious about.

"A-Ah, that...I have no idea what's inside...I have never been there myself and usually, only our servants go there." Her expression quickly changed to worse but she also quickly recovered and said.

"Then do you know these 2 people?" Seryu asked and beckoned her colleague to bring Sayo and Ieyasu.

"? I don't know them..." Aria's mother tilted her head to the side and asked with a genuine confused expression.

'Wow, she adapted to the situation very quickly...I guess she also doesn't expect me to help her' Akashi thought with a slightly surprised expression after seeing her perfect act.

"Bullshit! You were the one who was stuffing all those drugs into my body while your bitch daughter tortured my friend!" Ieyasu instantly burst out when he saw her playing innocent.

"Calm yourself!" One of the guys from the Imperial Police shouted at Ieyasu but he refrained from touching him since his body wasn't in the best state.

Seryu whispered a few things to one of her colleagues before he nodded his head and run off to the mansion. After more than 5 minutes of tension between Ieyasu and Aria's mother, the same guy Seryu sent to the mansion came back.

"I have found it, Seryu!" The guy shouted while running to us before he handed something to Seryu which made Aria's mother's face twist in horror.

"That's my-!" She couldn't help but exclaim,h however, she quickly covered her mouth.

Seryu only looked at her with a suspicious look before opening the diary. After a few minutes of reading, her expression became full of disgust.

"Immediately take her back with us and lock her up until I report everything to the higher-ups." Seryu shouted at one of the guys standing behind Aria's mother and he just nodded his head before forcing her onto her legs while holding her hands behind her back.

"5 of you remain here and investigate surroundings and for more evidence, the rest is to escort this...madam to her cell" Seryu gave out instructions while glaring at Aria's mother.

"Yes!" Everyone from the Imperial Police shouted and dispersed to do their job. Although Seryu wasn't exactly their superior, she was well respected and she also had her own Teigu so they had no problem with her taking leader position.

"Thank you for your help, Akashi. Although it is a bit shame that you couldn't capture or kill anyone from the Night Raid." Seryu thanked with a small smile but it was apparent that she was still a little bit affected by what she just read.

"*sigh* I wonder what will happen now...A woman that was supposed to become my wife just died." Akashi muttered while looking at the ground with an absent-minded expression.

"...You don't sound too sad about it" Seryu looked around before she mentioned with a confused expression.

"I won't lie to you, we have been only on a few dates so this marriage was more on the political side." Akashi said with a helpless smile.

"...I see" Seryu didn't pry into the matter anymore since even she hated this kind of marriage.

"What will happen to them? Should I take them back with me and treat their injuries?" Seryu asked while looking at Sayo and Ieyasu who were sitting on the side with a few rags over their body.

"Well, I think it would be better if I treat them since albeit difficult to believe, we actually know each other a little bit. I have met them on their way to the Capital and we talked for a bit, maybe they will feel more at ease with me around." Akashi said and Seryu nodded in understanding but she still approached them and asked them for their opinion.

Sayo and Ieyasu immediately nodded when they were questioned if they want to go with Akashi.

"Alright, I guess there is nothing else we can do here, will it be troublesome if I trouble you tomorrow about some formality things? We will most likely know Aria's mother's fate tomorrow morning." Seryu asked Akashi with a small smile while getting ready to leave.

"Not at all, although I have no ties with this family, I was supposed to have so I am really interested in what had happened here. Please keep me informed." Akashi politely nodded his head with a polite smile before saying goodbye to Seryu, parting ways with her.

.

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Sayo and Ieyasu started asking questions regarding what happened and matters regarding Tatsumi.

"I will feed you and treat your injuries and the next morning, you will meet up with your friend." This was Akashi's first answer to the numerous of their questions.

"A-Akashi, who are they anyway? Why did they take Tatsumi with them?" Sayo asked with a slightly uncomfortable expression but that was to be expected since she was wearing just rags while they were returning to Akashi's mansion.

"You mean Night Raid? They are an assassination and spying unit of the Revolutionary Army. You should be aware of the Revolutionary Army's ideals, so their assassination unit isn't that different from them. As for why they took your friend...Maybe they saw potential in him after clashing swords with me." Akashi explained but he rather avoided saying that it was also due to his character for trying to protect "innocent" girl with his life since they might connect the dots and discover that he had been observing them for a long time.

----Night Raid's side----

"Hah?! Are you trying to tell me that you were stopped by one guy?! And who is this wimp anyway?" Mine burst out when Leone explained the situation to her before redirecting her anger at Tatsumi who just regained his consciousness.

"Who do you call a wimp, you shortie!" Tatsumi immediately shouted back at her despite having no idea who where he is.

"I dare you to say that again!" A vein popped up on Mine's forehead as she heard Tatsumi and shouted back at him while aiming her Pumpkin at his head.

"Shortie~, Shortie~, Shortie~" Tatsumi instantly said while sticking out his tongue at her.

*BANG* Mine didn't hesitate at all and fired at Tatsumi's head but he was still being carried by Leone who quickly moved her hand out of the shot's way.

"Mine! Do you want to obliterate also my hand?!" Leone shouted at her with cold sweat pouring down her back.

'*sigh* Thankfully we are already in the forest so no one from the Capital should have heard that shot.' Lubbock thought while massaging the bridge of his nose.