Chapter 18

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Give me the stones.

Enjoy reading.

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- I feel like I'm going to have a lot of fun today. - I grinned, releasing my kakuja.

Dorothea let out a sigh of delight, and I grinned bloodily, looking at my new opponents expectantly. They didn't keep me waiting. The first to attack was a girl with a microphone, starting... yelling into the microphone. And then there was HE! It was a terribly loud rumble that made me fall to my knee. My hypersensitive eardrums burst, and blood rushed out of my ears.

I clenched my teeth and glared at my opponents, but the sight of Dorothea yelling at the girl with the microphone amused me. And after a couple of seconds, my eardrums crunched back to life.

- ...Dorothea, do you care what happens to the guy himself? We'll give you the body, so don't worry. - I heard part of the katana man's phrase.

I released some RC cells, from which I created a 'gate' in the ears themselves. When attacking this wench, I will close the ear canal with the cells, and no sound will pass through.

- This is going to be more interesting than I thought. - I grinned, rushing at full speed towards my opponents. I had a lot of speed. In just a second, I was in front of my opponents, hitting two of them with my rinkaku, and the girl with the microphone with my tail. She tried to yell at me again, but I was ready for it by blocking her ears. And as a result, the tail found its target. But the other two dodged. The man tried to cut my rinkaku with his katana, however... the sword only entered RC meat a little.

Except, I didn't take into account the shockwave of that sound, which instantly threw me backwards. That is to say, into the opposite building. I flew off the roof, and behind me, and that man who didn't have time to draw his sword after regenerating his kagune. Landing softly into the wall of the building opposite, I stuck my rinkaku into the walls around me, holding onto the wall and assessing the situation.

Meanwhile, some sort of sphere hit my belly armour... and in the next instant, it exploded. It didn't do much damage to me, however. The RC armour held up just fine.

So... Dorothea is clearly not with us, judging by the look on her face as she scribbles something in her notebook. The man I tore up in flight with my tail... All that's left is a clown with several spheres flying around him.

- Dorothea, what are you standing there for? - he roared. - attack immediately!!!

- And die. - I grinned, descending to the ground.

The next moment, I tore in an arc towards the clown, following his spheres. He didn't even have time to throw them before I was at his back.

- Say bye-bye. - I grinned, piercing his body with my rinkaku.

The clown's body fell to the ground and I turned my gaze to Dorothea.

- Well, what am I supposed to do with you? - I raised an eyebrow, pointing the rinkaku at the girl.

- Hey, hey, hey!!! - Dorothea raised her hands sharply, moving away.

- I think I have other things to do besides you, though. - But next time, if I don't like it, I'll kill you. - I said, turning away.

- Wait!!! - I heard the girl shout, but I was already running across the rooftops at full speed.

What the hell is wrong with me? I've become too soft since the evolution.

The next day.

- Found it. - I grinned.

- He said Captain Esdes would talk to us tomorrow. So she's in town with him! - I heard Wade's voice.

- Where are they? - Esdes asked impatiently.

- The cafe... There. - I pointed in the direction the voice was coming from. - 300 metres... maybe a little less.

- You can hear that far away? - Akame was surprised.

- Early morning. - I shrugged. - People aren't out on the streets yet, so it's easier to hear them. At night, I can hear from half a kilometre away.

- It's unbelievable. - Akame whispered.

- Mm-hmm. - I smiled and nodded. Let's go while we still know where they are.

I jumped off the balcony on the first floor, then headed towards the Huntsmen. The hooded girls followed me, occasionally glancing at each other in displeasure. All because of what happened upon waking....

Flashback...

I wrapped my arms around Akame's waist, kissing me sleepily, savouring her lips. And then... I was abruptly pulled away from the girl, turning around and also starting to kiss her. But at the same time, I was also pressed against her.

Oh, that was the moment. Esdes was beginning to realise that it wasn't as simple as she had imagined. Akame, meanwhile, also tried to pull me away, but Esdes had more strength... But when Akame started to throw the former general's hands off me, she couldn't take it anymore.

- Get out of the way! - Asdes shouted at Akame.

- Mine. - Shortly, but with Arctic coldness, Akame said, digging into my freed lips.

This is where I got really uncomfortable. Because Esdes was already giving me real coldness, not emotional coldness. Akame also realised the situation, and... instantly jumped up, pulling Murasame out from under the bed with a slight movement of her hand!

I, in order to prevent a fight... swaddled the girls, not expecting such a turn, with my rinkaku, pushing their faces into the pillows.

- Now, slowly, put your weapons away. A fight would be out of place. - I said, as coldly as possible.

Murasame fell to the floor, and a few, tickling kagune ice flakes evaporated.

- Good girls. - I said, removing the kagune. - Now, pack up and let's go find the Huntsmen.

End of flashback...

***

I glanced around the table where the Yeagers were sitting. There was no one in the diner, allowing us to remove our hoods.

- Let's go. - I nodded, heading towards my possible allies.

Esdes overtook me, however, almost running towards the Jaegers who had just spotted us. Heh, what can't be said, but even someone like Esdes has affections and loves her subordinates.

- Captain Esdes! - I heard Kurome's joyful shout....

Akame walking behind me instantly tensed up, causing me to slow down a bit, whispering in the girl's ear:

- Don't worry. And you shouldn't grab your blade, perhaps soon she and I will be allies.

Akame looked at me questioningly, but still relaxed. Meanwhile, we were about two metres away from the Huntsmen who had surrounded Esdes, so we threw off our hoods.

The noise from the questioning Huntsmen instantly subsided, causing Akame to tense up again.

- What's up, dickheads? - I started the conversation in a civilised manner. - I see everyone's alive.

- Kaneki..." Esdes began perplexed.

- Oh yeah, I didn't tell you... - I slapped my forehead. But I didn't have to pretend, I really forgot to tell her about my meeting with the Huntsmen. - They almost died last night from a couple of Ghoul imitations that Dorothea had spawned. Thankfully, I heard Wade squealing and saved him from the jaws of one of the fake Ghouls just in time.

The guy was silent at my insult, and looked down at me, thereby rising a couple of points in my eyes.

- You!!! - There was an animalistic growl from Seriu, who immediately jumped at me with a blade instead of a hand.

However, halfway through, her body was impaled by my rinkaku. The corpse fell to the wooden floor, and with a sigh, I drove the kagune back in, beginning to wait. Five seconds of silence passed, after which, I decided to finally clarify my aggression.

- All right, rest up. I'm sorry for what I said to you, but it was an adequacy test. Now, I will allow them to enter. - I addressed the last sentence to Esdes, who was not very sad about Seriu's death.

- You..." Wade started to say, but I interrupted him.

- Calm down and don't do anything stupid. You're not a stupid guy, and you should know that what happened was just Serew's own stupidity. If she'd been sane, her teigu would still be alive, and so would she. She was crazy, and I think you realised that in the back of your mind. - I shrugged, slumping back in my chair. - Oh yes, Esdes, if you haven't forgotten, we're wanted, so quickly bring them up to speed... or no, offer them an introduction, and off we go.

A single questioning look turned to Esdes, one that belonged to Wade. I didn't see Balls' face, and Kurome never took her gaze off Akame's face, who answered her in the same way.

- When the Empire falls, and it will, these weaklings can't do anything without me," Esdes grinned. - You, as elite soldiers, will be killed or wanted. Therefore, I suggest that you leave the Empire after me, in a special unit. Not of the Revolution or the Empire, but an outside unit.

- And one more thing. - I raised my hand. - The families of those who are unable to fend for themselves are also under our protection.

The silence lasted for a dozen seconds, after which Kurome said:

- I agree.

- Then I also agree. - Wade nodded immediately.

Hmm... the guy clearly has a thing for Akame's sister. Heh, he and I are almost identical in tastes... in some things.

- My wife and daughter... Will they be safe? - Balls asked me.

- They'll be protected by... if with you, ten professional assassins with Teigu each. And possibly more.

- So... more? - Wade asked shocked.

- Well... I have a lot of friends. - I grinned.

- So, the leader of this 'squad' is you? - Kurome asked, finally taking her eyes off Akame.

- That's right. - I nodded. And so as not to cause problems, I'll tell you right away. Akame is there.

- I... agree too. - Balls nodded.

- That's great. - I clapped my hands. - In that case, pack your bags, take your loved ones in tow, and I'll be waiting for you at this very spot. - I clapped my hands.

***

I was smiling as I walked out of the former Stilish laboratory, which I had found on the trail of the monsters that had been exterminated. These labs turned out to be Stileish's "bases", with a bedroom, food storage, and other stuff. The missing furniture could be taken from Reid's base when he left, and Akame would set up the kitchen somehow.

In fact, I've left my allies to settle in. I left my allies to settle in, airing out and putting things in order (there was blood and rubbish in almost all the rooms).

And I went to the Night Raid's hideout... Except... I was being followed. So, as soon as I came to a small clearing, I turned towards the spy behind the stone, and shouted:

- Come out with your hands up, unless you want a couple of dozen holes in you.

That it was a girl, I could sense by the slight, familiar smell of perfume. And Kagune was already under the target, and at any moment, I could command him to break out from under her, as I had with Nilla.

However, it surprised me when from behind a rock, with raised hands, obediently came out... Dorothea.

- You?" I raised an eyebrow.

- You didn't listen to me last time! - The girl pointed her finger accusingly at me.

- Mmm... and what was it you wanted to say that made you decide to follow me? - I grinned.

- How... did I spill? - Dorothea asked, confused.

- The smell, the sound of footsteps, the rustling of branches... - I began to list.

- A smell? - The girl asked in surprise.

- Perfume. - I explained, making a pass with my hand.

- But I only spritzed a little two days ago. - Dorothea muttered in shock. - Such a powerful sense of smell... unbelievable.....

- So, what did you want to talk about? - I raised an eyebrow.

- Yes! Accept me into your squad! - Dorothea exclaimed, which left me a little shocked. Not only was it a very peculiar request, but... how did she know about it?

- I have a modified body and my senses are a little better developed than a human's. Of course, even to my little ones, I'm far away, but still... and I heard some man and his family talking about it, that you accepted them into your squad. Take me in!

- Ahem... You realise I can't trust you? - I raised an eyebrow.

- All I like in this life is to learn the mysteries of life. And the Minister, though he has a huge sponsorship, but... there are no objects to study.

- Hm... I thought about it. - And then I suddenly remembered about still available to me, ways of recognising lies, though rather primitive.

***

- Are you sure this is the right decision? - Wade asked, frowning.

- Not a hundred percent, but... more or less. - I shrugged, glancing at Dorothea, who was settling into Stileish's lab.

I'd forgotten all about psychology. I remember back when I was at uni, there was a time when I was frantically memorising ways of recognising lies. Yes, many of them are absolutely useless, but there are some really useful ones. And Ghoul's senses are a huge plus.

Anyway, I'm getting lost in my memories. It's time to go after Raid. Or rather, talk to Chelsea, then give the word to leave.

- Okay, I'm out of here. But just in case..." I whispered in Wade's ear, keeping an eye on Dorothea.

He nodded, then picked up the rag he'd set aside when Dorothea and I had arrived and started scrubbing the blood off the floor.

I grinned, then headed back to Reid's hideout. Hopefully, at least now I wouldn't be interrupted.

***

- I waved cheerfully as I entered the main hall, where everyone was gathered for some reason.

- Kaneki! - Leone said cheerfully.

- Where are Akame and... Esdes? - Najenda asked deafly.

- 'Speaking of which...' I smiled even brighter, leaning in close to Leone's ear. - It's time to get out of here. Quietly tell the others.

The girl's smile disappeared momentarily, and then she nodded and stepped back.

- They stayed in the Capital, for a reason. Chelsea, could we please step outside? We need to talk.

- What reason? - Najenda frowned.

- I'll explain everything after Chelsea and I talk. It's important. - I said with pressure.

- Boss, wait a minute, what do you want? - Chelsea smiled.

- Okay. Just make it quick, I'm still waiting for an explanation. - Najenda frowned again.

Chelsea and I headed for the exit, meanwhile, I noticed Leone leaning towards Mein.

- What's the conversation about? - Chelsea asked cheerfully as we walked out.

- In half an hour, the Night Raid would fall apart. - I answered immediately. - All of its members, except for you, Susano, and naturally Najenda, have already agreed to my proposal, and now I want to explain it to you as well. When the revolutionary army wins, and it will, since Esdes, the main Imperial force, is no longer with them, think what the new command will do to the professional assassins, that they can take them down too, if they get the idea? We'll be finished off as soon as we're no longer needed, so I've suggested that everyone from the Night Raid, and a couple of men from the Huntsmen, leave their sides and join my squad. A unit that will have no part in ending the war, and that no one will know anything about. We might even be declared dead, and that's the most convenient arrangement. So, what I'm getting at is this.

I moved sharply behind Chelsea's back, piercing her with my rinkaku.

- Stupid, Chelsea. But still, before you die, I'll let you in on a secret. The needles you stealthily pulled out wouldn't have done me any harm, as they simply wouldn't have been able to pierce my skin. You should have at least listened to the end of my sentence. - I grinned a little sadly, hearing the gurgling sounds. - I really don't like killing girls, and beautiful girls at that. However, a creature with no brains should be destroyed, and you turned out to be just such a creature. - I finished, piercing the girl's heart with the second blade.

The body fell to the ground with a thud, and I sighed, looking at my blood-splattered hands. I put the kagune away, then headed back into the hall.

- My offer was rejected. - I said glumly as I entered the hall.

- Kaneki? - Najenda jumped up when she saw my bloody hands.

The others, however, understood me correctly, simultaneously starting their movement towards me.

- Najenda. I and everyone else, with the exception of Chelsea, have soberly reasoned that we do not wish to die after the war is over. Therefore, I hereby declare that as of this moment, the Night Raid is disbanded. Good luck with the war. - I waved my hand, looking at Najenda, who opened her mouth in surprise.

Meanwhile, the guys had already left the room, and I turned around and followed them.

- What is the meaning of this! ???? - I heard Najenda shout behind me, and then I released the rinkaku and with a powerful blow, collapsed the passage above the doors. It'll take them about 3 minutes to get round the blockage, and if they do, there's nothing they can do even to me alone.

***

- So what now? - A cheerful Leone asked.

We had been on the road for an hour. It wasn't long before we reached the new base, but it was the first thing that sounded off on our journey.

- Now? Now we're going to have a blast. - I grinned, activating my kakugan for added effect.

- Hee hee...," Maine giggled.