#163 Agreement

"Are you saying that you were near Hakuba's town at that time?" Once Akame calmed down a bit, she asked with a curious expression, she even unconsciously approached Akashi.

"Yes, I rescued those 2 and other kids that I was able to rescue without being discovered by the Empire." Akashi nodded his head.

"Where are they? Can I see them?" Akame asked while taking Akashi's hand and firmly gripping it.

"Currently, Kana is busy studying business and Tetsu has a balance between studying business and training to become stronger. However, I guess you can visit them." Akashi said which calmed Akame's racing thoughts and feelings.

'So their dream is slowly becoming true?' Akame thought with a big smile and closed eyes while keeping both of her hands to her heart. If she regretted some things during the time she worked for the Empire, one of them was disappointing those 2.

"Anyway, back to the topic...What is your answer?" Akashi asked Najenda with a patient smile.

"...There are still many things to discuss if I am to even suggest this to the others. They won't be satisfied with only...threats. At least tell me who do you want to be the next Emperor and Prime Minister." Najenda shook her head with a complicated expression.

"Well, I have absolutely no idea who should become the Emperor...To be honest, I have someone in mind but you won't like it, however, I can't think of anyone wiser. As for the Prime Minister...I think it's someone even you Rebells will be very happy with." Akashi said and waited to build the tension.

"...So?" Najenda asked for Akashi to continue with a nervous expression but she was slightly surprised to hear that their side will be happy with the next Prime Minister.

"The next Emperor can become my father, he is still very young but not too young, the ideal age for someone to take over a very responsible position. As for the next Prime Minister...mister Chouri will be ready to take over that position!" Akashi said and when he mentioned his father, others frowned, however when he mentioned Chouri, almost everyone's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

"You were able to contact previous Prime Minister Chouri? If that is so, I believe the Revolutionary Army won't have any problems with him taking over that position but I can hardly see them agreeing to your father taking over the position of the emperor. What makes you think that he is qualified to be the Emperor?" Najenda asked with a raised eyebrow.

"First of all, them agreeing or not doesn't matter that much. You and they need to recognize that they are being at a disadvantage and not in advantage. And do not even question if my father has a qualification. He had been planning to take over the Empire ever since the last Emperor was killed and Chouri being overthrown by Honest. He anticipated that the dark age is about to descend under Honest influence. There isn't anyone who is more suitable, not even in your puny Revolutionary Army." Akashi said in a harsh tone and slightly colder expression.

"He sacrificed a lot just to keep playing into Honest's cards just to please him, just to disappear from under his radar. Right now, Honest trusts that we won't betray him as long as he will keep giving us benefits. He hasn't done those bad things because he wanted, he did them because it was necessary. It's the same with Akame and Green, both of them killed numerous nobles that joined your side yet they are your buddies right now. Don't be hypocrites." Akashi continued in his harsh tone and Najenda's expression crumbled a bit in front of his words.

"...*sigh* I will try to talk to them and come up with some kind of deal. I will be honest, I doubt they will agree to your terms but maybe we can find some kind of compromise." Najenda said

"Please, remind them that they have no advantage, I already know about them being in contact with the Path of Peace and with the country in the west. They won't help them and if you want me to prove it I have no problem going there all alone, slaughtering their entire army. After all, my Teigu is the most suitable for fighting the masses, the same as Esdeath's Teigu with the only exception that my flames have a much longer effect and can also spread into surroundings so the destruction is much higher than that of Esdeath's" Akashi said with a smile.

"You know, it doesn't sound too believing that you want to stop this cruelty under Honest's reign when you are being so aggressive about it..." Bulat said.

"Not all peacemakers have to polite and patient. My goal here isn't the harmony and prosperity of all people. I just want this Empire to become a country of the opportunities...if you are hardworking or talented, you can make it high. If you are just a leech, you can die for all I care. Of course, I also want fairness to be the same for all people. Only this way, will this Empire continue to expand." Akashi replied and stood up and so Najenda did.

"In case we will reach some sort of agreement, I can also direct you to some real big fishes that need to disappear. At least you won't say that you had no chance to do anything to change this country. However, if you will want to disperse this group, I won't mind, I have my own group of assassins who can take care of those assignments." Akashi said while getting ready to leave.

"Alright, I will try to talk to the others and come up with the solution that will be acceptable for both sides. Until then...goodbye." Najenda said while gesturing for others to leave. Some of them waved at Akashi before leaving and he just nodded his head at them.

"How do you plan to deal with Esdeath?" Najenda asked the last question before leaving.

"Whatever it takes. I like her and consider her a friend but I won't let her stand in my way. Is that a satisfying answer?" Akashi replied.

"If you happen to fight...please do it very far away from the civilization" Najenda nodded her head before she requested.

"I know" Akashi replied with his back facing Najenda while raising his hand as a goodbye before he left.

'I know that what I told to Honest was mostly just lies but it's the fact that Esdeath is dominating type and if I want her to have her under my control, I need to agree to her terms or turn her into submissive type at least in my case.' Akashi thought while walking back towards the Capital, looking at the night sky.

'That time at her room before she left...It is apparent that she doesn't think about the love that much but just considering what she was willing to do with me makes me think that deep inside she feels something for me. If she were to awaken that desire and truly understand it, she would definitely want me to marry her but I already have Taeko...I don't really mind having 2 women, after all, this era is like made for this, however, I doubt Esdeath would be happy about it. Not to mention that the first person I want to marry is Taeko undisputedly.' Akashi was already preparing the last stages of his plans to take over the Empire within the blink of the eye. His plan wasn't to have any grand and long fight with the Empire but he wanted to capture it before anyone would be able to do anything.

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Akashi went to his father's study and explained what happened and that he was starting to realize his plans to take over the Capital.

"Already? Aren't you a bit impatient, son?" Jun asked with a serious expression.

"I am prepared but don't worry, there are still a lot of things that need to be done. I am not saying that tomorrow I will attack the Palace although neither am I saying that I can't." Akashi reassured him with a smile.

"If you think that you are prepared then here is something you should see." Jun said as he gave his son stack of papers.

"What's this?" Akashi asked before looking since his father had a proud look in his face.

"Did you think that you were the only one working?" Jun asked with a smirk which made Akashi finally look into the papers.

"?! This..." As he read further, his eyes widened in surprise along, however, that quickly disappeared and instead a wide smile remained.

"The first time I have heard about the Emperor's death I was already very skeptical about it so I began working on gathering all kinds of clues about his death. These are all evidence that he was murdered and not just anyone could murder the Emperor while making it look like an accident or death from the illness. As if it wasn't enough, soon after his death, his wife committed "suicide", very convincing indeed, just this fact made me at that time work even more diligently on the case. What woman would commit suicide when she has a small child to care about? I would have understood it if she was left alone but this didn't make any sense to me." Jun explained with a proud smile while crossing his legs.

"Who would have thought-" Akashi began to say but he was interrupted.

"-that I would be able to gather all of this? Remember...we want to take over the Capital with as small bloodshed as possible. Great General Budo is extremely loyal to the emperor but he is completely clueless about the death of the previous emperor which doesn't make him a bad person, he only listens to orders. Although I am quite positive that he suspects it. Anyway, you have there also information about other important people who needs to disappear before starting your plan." Jun said with a playful smile before his expression turned to a serious one.

"Nice, this will make everything easier. I can just send this information to Oarburgh and they can start with what they are best at." Akashi said with a smirk.

"Oarburgh...Now that you mention it, I have yet to see that girl, what was her name...Taeko, right?" Jun said with a teasing smile.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her for a long time...I just want to get this done and finally marry her." Akashi replied with a tired expression.

"Not so fast, she will need to gain my and your mother's permission first!" Jun said with a big smile which showed that he was just joking.

"Isn't that usually the other way around?" Akashi muttered with a blank expression.

After their talk was over, Akashi excused himself and went outside of the Capital once again.

Under the moonlight, suddenly a Griffin-like Danger Beast came out of Akashi's shadow.

"Kiyomi, I have a task for you. Do you still remember the location where we stopped right after I helped you?" Akashi asked.

*Chirp* *Chirp* Kiyomi hurriedly nodded her head numerous times while releasing a chirping sounds.

" I need you to take these papers there and give them to that black-haired woman who was usually training with me." Akashi said while fastening those papers to Kiyomi with the help of a leather belt.

*Chirp?* *Chirp?* Kiyomi tilted her head to the side.

"...Yes, that woman whose scent was on me all those days of staying there." Akashi replied with a slightly awkward expression since he had no idea Kiyomi was paying attention to these things.

Kiyomi nodded her head a few more times before taking off, flying towards the Oarburgh hideout.