The Banquet

Akame and Ryu were welcomed by the King of Urmolion Sirgon Viii.

"Welcome back fine hunters."

Akame and everyone else bowed their heads down whereas Ryu was still reading his book. Everyone was looking at Ryu angry as he was not bowing his head down. It was a direct disrespect to the King. Akame immediately hit Ryu right in the knee as he fell.

"What you do that for?" He asked

"Bow your head before the king idiot!" Akame replied.

She smiled at the king and responded,

"He doesn't know the basic manners of the country. Forgive him as he is nothing but a Beldromoth"

"I can see that. Regardless let's go inside "

As they head in Ryu asked,

"Whats a Beldromoth?"

"It means retarded than a monkey."

"What you say?!" He yelled.

"Exactly you are one. Don't know when to show proper manners."

Ryu sighed,

"Damn I miss Ken."

They were greeted by many maids. They began to take their gear and give them proper Urgonian clothes. A suit of armor with a weapon.

Ryu asked,

"Are we supposed to eat while wearing this?"

Gerald responded,

"It is a custom of ours. We must be ready for battle at any moment."

"Oh, I see."

"then what's the point of changing gear in the first place" he murmured to himself.

They enter the dining hall. The dining hall was huge as it stretched far and wide with delicious meat and other delicacies. Ryu was shocked to see so much food. Silvia pulled Akame and responded,

"Now now... Don't be shy. Eat as much as you like."

Ryu began to eat like a beast. The king and everyone was disgusted by Ryu's eating habits. Not a spoon or a fork but with hands. Ryu looked at them and responded,

"What? I was hungry."

Regardless the king did not do anything. Professional musicians began to play. Dancers performed in front of them as they drank. While they were having a feast Silvia asked,

"So Akame what brings you back to Urgonia?"

"Well long story short I lost my ship so I came here to buy a new one"

"Oh your just in luck. We just got our last shipment from the Space colony"

"The space colony?"

"Yes, and it is said the ships were designed by the genius T borg himself."

"T borg" Akame suddenly remembered Borsalon mentioning the name. He also asked his organization's master to search for it. That name kinda put her mood off. Silvia noticed it and responded,

"Anyway enough of the work talk. Have you found yourself a mating partner yet?"

Akame spilled her drink just by hearing that.

"A mating partner?" She blushed.

"My my? Have our cold assassin found someone?"

"Don't joke around Silvia. I don't have time for that stuff," she responded in a flustered voice.

"So you're telling me you haven't had an interest or even a slight feeling towards anyone in these years?"

Akame suddenly imagined Ken's face in her head as she yells at herself,

"Why am I imagining him all of a sudden!!!"

Silvia understood everything from Akame's silence.

"So what's his name?"

"What do you mean what's his name!!" She yelled

"I already know you have someone in mind. Now spill it out" she kept on persisting.

"Get off my back will you!!"

"Come on. Tell your friend."

Back on the other corner

Ryu and Gerald were having an eating contest. The others were cheering from the side

"You're a tough customer. I will give you that." Gerald responded.

"Huh. I haven't even warmed up yet." Ryu answered.

"Oh, yea? Then let's go round 5"

"You bet!"

The king tapped his glass to calm everyone down. He stood up in his chair and began to speak.

"Everyone. It is a great privilege to have so many fine warriors in our dining hall. I would like to take this moment and announce the 1245th Hikku festival that will be held in this country."

"The Hikku Festival?" Ryu murmured while

chewing his food.

"As we all know the Brave warrior Akame was declared the 1243rd Hikku. She also represented our country and won the title of Hikku."

Everyone clapped for her. She didn't boast about it.

"I am looking forward to another successful year. Us rich and royal should keep our number one spot. Let us hope for another amazing festival. Cheers."

"Cheers" everyone shouted

"That last line didn't sound right...", Ryu murmured.

As the banquet finishes everyone started to head towards their sleeping quarters. Ryu and Akame were going down the hallway when Ryu responded,

"I am going to start looking for him from tomorrow."

"Whatever. I have my own business to do."

Ryu paused for a moment and replied,

"You say that yet why is that you look frustrated"

He hit the bullseye on that. Akame was extremely frustrated about Ken's whereabouts. She kept on walking and responded,

"You might get lost trying to find him by yourself. So the least I can do is help you since I know this country."

Ryu smiled and shouted,

"He isn't a kid so don't worry about him not surviving the night" he gave an odd smirk saying those lines. Akame felt annoyed due to Ryu's smug face. She yelled back,

"I'm not worried and don't shout that stuff in the hallway! Bunch of shitheads."

She went to her sleeping quarters. Ryu also began to walk to his room when suddenly noticed the king was there on the balcony talking to a mysterious person. He was looking left and right as if he didn't want to be seen. Ryu thought it was suspicious and decided to follow the King from afar. What secrets does this royalty hold?