Exploration

'Rendered to renting two rooms and asking for the information...not like I mind since I can try to do my own homework.' Zero thought as he got up and went to the counter.

"How may I help you?" Innkeeper asked with a polite smile and Zero first rented 2 rooms for a few nights before he started asking questions since there weren't that many people around. By the end, he also mentioned his old village.

"Uh, that village? It was destroyed more than 9 years ago by a group of dangerous bandits. Why would you want to know about it?"

"...Just answer the question." Zero secretly put one more coin on the counter while glancing back at Gozuki who was watching him.

"The group of bandits you are asking for no longer operates in this region." The innkeeper swiped the coin under the counter before replying in low voice.

"?! where-can-I-find-them?" Zero's eyes widened in unpleasant surprise before he put 3 more coins on the counter and asked in a menacing tone with narrowed eyes.

"*Gulp* I-I don't know, according to the rumors, their group has been dispersed for years now! From what I have heard, their leader was recruited by someone and the rest of the group has been massacred. I don't know anything else so stop asking such dangerous questions" The innkeeper began sweating as he was explaining. After that, he went to pretend to take care of some customers, leaving Zero standing by the counter with a slightly lost expression.

'They...were massacred?' Zero repeated the innkeeper's words with a confused expression before he gnashed his teeth.

'You have got to be fucking kidding me! No...I need to calm down. Their leader should be still alive, if he was recruited by someone, it must have been someone really strong, heh.' Zero quickly calmed down and instead a sadistic smile crept across his face since he was hoping the person who recruited him would also protect him till the day he can find him.

Zero put his hand into inside-pocket where he hid the vial with the black liquid. 'I should try to find out more about this too, however, I can't just show it to the others so it will be really hard. I can just hope it will make me much stronger if only for a few minutes...No matter who your new "owner" is, I will kill you even if you have the strongest person behind you.'

Zero returned to the group and gave all the information he could gather to Gozuki. After that, Gozuki left the group, saying he needs to leave for a few days, placing Cornelia in charge since Najasho wasn't here.

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The girls finally satisfied their nearly insatiable hunger and Zero decided he wanted to take a look around town and also be as far as possible from the granny he saw earlier.

"Where are you going?" Cornelia immediately asked with a surprised expression.

"To take a walk around the town"

"Then take someone with you, it's not safe enough for you to wander around alone." She kindly suggested but Zero had no idea whether Gozuki instructed her to not leave him alone or whether she was being really considerate.

Zero had an urge to say he was planning to do the same thing as Guy which was most likely fooling in the brothels but before he could...

"I will tag along, I need to burn some calories after such a fulfilling meal." Akame got up from her seat and stretched her arms which prompted Zero to joke in his mind how Green would be glad for such a view.

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In the end, Zero spent the entire afternoon walking around the town with Akame. At first, they were both very silent but after she asked how is life in the Capital compared to here, they somehow started talking about some random things, though, it was mostly Zero answering her curious questions.

"Zero, there is something I wanted to ask you." As the day was nearing its end, Akame stopped on their way back and said with an uncomfortable expression while avoiding Zero's eyes.

'If it's not a confession, why so serious?' "Sure, ask right away" Zero suppressed an urge to roll his eyes and replied with a friendly smile.

"During your time in the Capital, as Imperial Police, have you ever seen a girl who looks similar to me, only a bit younger?"

"Huh? Ehm, no...I don't think so. I apologize for not being able to help you." Zero said politely and lowered his head. Since he was already stuck together with them, he might as well try to befriend them and earn their trust.

"Eh?! Y-You don't need to be so polite! It's alright, I wasn't expecting much anyway. It would have to be a big coincidence for you to meet someone like that and even remember their face. Come on, let's return!" Akame quickly shook her hand in front of her before her mood shifted down, however, it only stayed that way for a few seconds.

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When Zero returned to his room, he found out that Guy hasn't returned yet so he came to the conclusion that he would spend the entire night in the brothels or pubs.

While he was lying in the bed... 'I think I made a good impression on Akame. She was the only one who was occasionally trying to drag me into their conversations during dinner. Who knows, maybe I can gain others' trust through her. I should focus on spending more time with her...jeez it sounds like I am thinking about some dating sim game.'

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When Zero woke up early in the morning, he already noticed Guy sleeping on the floor right next to the empty bed which made him roll his eyes.