20 Planting ideas

"AAGH!" Screams of terror were resounding within a smaller fortress that has been infiltrated by Esdeath's new group of Teigu users.

Esdeath obviously didn't go personally and just observed from afar, making Valdis accompany her. Since it was late at night she wanted to spend more time with only Valdis and talk to him alone after she got some advice from Bols who unexpectedly has a wife.

'Don't be too aggressive but don't relent on the offense' Esdeath put her hand close to Valdis's and moved only two fingers even closer to make a contact with his hand.

"Since we are alone, I think it's the right time for some personal questions I wanted to ask before. Have you ever been in love, Valdis?" Esdeath blushed while observing the battle from afar.

Her question actually made Valdis seriously think about it, making him look quite serious.

"...I don't think I have ever been in love before. To be honest, I don't really understand what love is. Is it some stronger form of attraction?" Valdis took Esdeath's hand into his and asked while looking at their intertwined hands.

Hearing his words and seeing his response to her advances, Esdeath's blush even deepened as she widely smiled at him.

"I am afraid I can't answer that question either...It's a strange feeling...indescribable. Perhaps only once both people exchange their love for each other will they understand what it truly means." Esdeath said something Bols advised her, trying to subtly suggest something to Valdis.

'Damn, this woman is something else...Someone definitely must have told her to take it slow but she only ceased being too aggressive. We have only known each other for a few days but she is practically suggesting that we get together, however, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Esdeath I know would not let herself be dominated but if I can edge her on enough, she might subconsciously submit to me.' Valdis knew that there cannot exist two main villains in one story...unless those two villains were an equal pair in love...a crazy duo, if you may.

Valdis naturally didn't wish to make an enemy out of Esdeath if possible and he himself would not mind being on equal standing with her, however, he knew real Esdeath. He couldn't care less about being her subordinate in Jaegers since it was his way of staying connected to the main plotline, however, his private and love life was a completely different matter. He had no idea how much she likes him but if it is the same as in the original with Tatsumi, he would have no chance to refuse her feelings without drastic consequences.

'Despite being a sadistic hot bitch, you love seeing innocent smiles on younger boys, huh? I just have to act like Tatsumi did in the original, subtly keeping her feelings at bay, making her desire me even more. The others will also help me by advising her not to use any force if she wants me to fall for her, haha'

"Valdis?" Esdeath's voice woke him up from his thoughts and when he looked back at Esdeath, he saw her looking at his face with a worried expression.

Seeing her worried face close to his, Valdis's eyes widened, and looked away from her face,

"Ha-haha, is it just me, or is it especially hot tonight?" Valdis retracted his hand from Esdeath's grasp and started scratching the back of his head as a blush was starting to slowly appear on his face.

"..." Esdeath's lips parted ways as she stared at his unexpected reaction.

'He even has such a side to him?' Esdeath was awestruck but also slightly disappointed with how he retracted his hand.

Seeing this vulnerable side of his, she felt like immediately jumping on him but she restrained herself. Her willpower was nothing to scoff at since she managed to tame the strongest Teigu.

"It definitely is hot tonight...Say, what do you think about them?" Esdeath blushed too and directed her gaze at the group finishing off the rest of the people in the smaller fortress.

Valdis turned serious and turned his head towards the small fortress at the distance.

"Strong...but they would lose if they were to fight Night Raid as they are right now. Bols, Kurome, Seryu, and Stylish are the only ones who don't have a problem killing people, be it because of their morals or their loyalty to follow orders. However, it is visible that Wave will one day defect, and Run strikes me as someone with an ulterior motive which is not necessarily wrong. He knows most likely how corrupt the Empire is yet he accepts it to get something he wants; I can definitely respect that."

"Ho? Why do you think Wave will defect?" Esdeath was quite surprised at how critical he was of her unit, not to mention his openness in discussing the Empire's corruption. What surprised her, even more, was the change in his personality, when it doesn't involve any close physical contact, Valdis strikes her as quite a cynical person.

"He is an honest man, he showed so even in this battle. An honest man cannot serve so much corrupted Empire. One day he will discover how deep its corruption is and he might even change sides."

"...If that's the case then we ought to hide it from him as much as possible while making use of his strength. I am more interested in how you know so much about the Empire's corruption if you arrived at the Capital just recently" Esdeath said with a smile and then asked with a carefree expression.

"I am very- very attentive. I have lost my relatives due to the Empire's unreasonable tax demands. Because of these demands, some of the smaller villages are forced to trade with the neighboring countries and then they get slaughtered for collaborating with the enemy."

Esdeath frowned when she heard such important information about Valdis. If anyone else heard him, he would immediately get reported to the Empire.

"Why are you telling me this? I am a general of this Empire you evidently hate...so why?" Still, she couldn't deny her curiosity.

Valdis took hold of her hand again which caused her to focus her gaze on his eyes. He brought his face a bit closer to hers before he began speaking.

"Because I can see that "general" Esdeath doesn't give a single shit about the Empire. Why do you keep fighting for the Empire with your strength?" It was as Esdeath feared when she heard his question...he wanted her to defect and most likely join the Rebels.

Esdeath's expression turned cold and Valdis had to admit he quite liked it when she looked all serious and grim.

"Are you truly asking a general to join the Rebels?"

Hearing her question, Valdis' lips curled up which surprised her.

"I am not"

"...Then what-?" Esdeath herself was a good strategist and smart person overall, however this time around she was completely confused. She couldn't guess Valdis's intentions at all.

"Fuck the Empire, fuck the Rebels...Ever since I have laid my eyes on your figure and felt your aura, I got a feeling that you don't care about anything but fighting strong opponents and fighting in general. Actually, I think we are kind of similar in this aspect...if we both love fighting why not just fight both the Empire and Rebels" Valdis said as his eyes changed to Mangekyo Sharingan.

Hearing his suggestion, Esdeath stared at him with her mouth wide open. She never expected anyone to be so crazy that they would want to become enemies of both sides. And she naturally knew what 3rd side joining the conflict would mean...the chaos caused by such a civil war would simply be unimaginable.

"Ma'am, justice has been delivered!" Seryu shouted from the distance while waving her hand at them as the group were approaching the two of them.

"...We will continue this conversation later in my room tonight" Esdeath said in a quiet voice and serious expression before turning her focus on the group who was returning from their mission.