Negotiations

Lubbock, Mine, and Tatsumi returned to their temporary new hideout not far from their old hideout. The trio contemplated whether to relay Valdis's message to Akame and ultimately decided that they shouldn't just keep it from Akame even if they thought it was too risky.

"He really just let you leave and didn't even attack you except for self-defense?" Najenda questioned with dubious expression as the trio reported in front of everyone, including their 2 new members.

"It's the truth, he also had a strange dark gray aura swirling around him serving as armor in form of large ribs. Despite using Incursio, my hand went a little numb even after I hit it with everything I have got, and not even a crack appeared on it." Tatsumi nodded his head with a serious expression.

"He sounds just like the type of person you must not trust" A girl with auburn hair and a lollipop in her mouth said.

"Chelsea, you don't understand...He has really been one of us, he even saved me. THAT'S- why I am even angrier at him! I can't understand his actions!" Tatsumi said, gradually raising his voice as he clenched his fist.

"No one can understand him and even if he means good, it doesn't change the fact that he has killed our comrade. Even if he did all of that just to get deep into the enemy's ranks, nothing changes. Someone who is capable of doing such horrendous things is not a strong person and ally worth fighting alongside." Najenda said resolutely, calming Tatsumi a little.

"...What if he truly killed her despite seeing her as a friend?" Lubbock suddenly asked while looking down at the ground as Valdis's face with a hint of sorrow appeared in his mind.

Everyone looked at him with widened eyes. It was one thing pretending to be somebody's friend and then kill them but to kill one's true friend...such a person must be completely twisted and they honestly couldn't imagine this being the truth.

"I doubt that however if it's truly the case, then such a person is beyond saving. It might not be exaggerating to say such a person is as or even more twisted than Esdeath. Enough about this matter, Akame, what do you want to do about his offer? He has yet to reveal the location of our old hideout so he might not be all talk, however, it's quite risky to go alone. This could easily be a trap as Mine suggested." Najenda said with a thoughtful expression before sighing out. She directed her gaze at Akame and the rest did just the same after hearing the question.

"I..." Akame looked down, she perfectly knew the risks, yet Valdis's words reignited something inside her...It was a hope that she has lost long ago. She was prepared to fight and kill her sister, however, hearing his tempting words made her see a new way illuminated by light, though, she has yet to take step toward it.

'He got hold of her weakness...this is not good' Chelsea frowned when she saw Akame's hesitation.

Even everyone else already knew her answer when they saw THAT Akame hesitate.

"I will go meet him in 3 days. If he wasn't lying then he can still be of help to us, we should make use of it even after what he has done. I believe Sheele wouldn't want us to pursue vengeance if it wouldn't help us at all. I will at least hear him out and if it's a trap...I will make sure to at least cut him down" Akame raised her head and replied with a resolute expression, tightly gripping the sheath of her Murasame."

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3 days quickly passed by and Valdis spent them mostly resting and recovering from the earlier battle. At least he had to make it look like he was injured as his illusion suggested. It was an extremely hard task for him to make Esdeath leave him since she wanted to cuddle him while sleeping. Thankfully she was reasonable enough to leave him in his own room to give him some space to recover, however it came with Valdis' promise to properly tend to her after he recovers.

The moment other Jaegers learned of their trip and ambush, everyone showed various reactions befitting their personality except for Stylish he seemed deeply immersed in his thoughts which were quite out of character even for him and Valdis instantly knew what was going on. Stylish was suspicious of how Valdis ordered Kurome to get the reinforcements yet no one died. Valdis attained only minor injuries while the rest of the Night Raid run away. He also most likely thought Valdis shouldn't have been able to hold on against 3 Teigu users no matter how strong his defense is.

'She is extremely weird, she is showering me with so much love that she makes me feel like I am in some rom-com world. She even started spending more time with me and less time going to the torture chambers. She is frankly quite scary.' Valdis thought as he was lying on the bed, he was sure that Stylish was paying attention to him, therefore, getting to the meeting place would be quite hard, well, if it wasn't for his left eye's power.

He still had no idea for how long the illusion could last when he was out of range but he still needed just a moment to get away from the capital, he was capable of masking his tracks and he could easily explain himself to Esdeath if they were to discover he disappeared. Obviously, Stylish at that time would most definitely keep a close eye on him which was also one of the things Valdis wanted to happen.

'I think it's time to go now' Valdis smiled and used an illusion to make it look like he is sleeping in his bed before he sneaked out of the window.

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When Valdis arrived at the place, Akame was already there, waiting for him while eating some berries.

'Isn't she a bit too carefree' Valdis's lips twitched when he saw her carelessness.

"Hello, I assume you came alone Akame, right?" Valdis announced his presence and Akame stopped eating her snacks.

"...Of course, can you tell me what you have to say quickly? I would not like to spend too much time around someone who regards his comrades as tools unless it was for a battle" Akame said with an aloof expression.

'Just as expected from a professional assassin' Valdis couldn't detect any anger from her

"Then I will get straight to the point. Do you want Kurome to return to you? Do you want her to stop fighting for the Empire and join your side as the sisters should be?" Valdis asked with a serious expression to show her that he isn't just playing around with her.

"..." Despite anticipating this question, she still got surprised that Valdis truly wants to discuss the matter he mentioned in his message. She was already prepared for any kind of ambush but this was slightly out of her expectations.

"How? You don't know the thing about us in the first place, how could you offer something like that without even knowing our history?" Akame frowned and asked after recovering from her shock.

"That's where you are mighty wrong. I know quite a lot about Kurome and you, I know of your connection to the 'Selected Group', a group of 7 kids trained by the Empire to become ultimate assassins. You are acting like I have done something unforgivable yet you are even more similar to me than you would like to admit. Weren't you the one who killed your best friend, betraying her and joining the Revolutionary army?" Valdis asked with a smile.

Hearing his words turned Akame's face pale.

"T-That was different! We were being lied to and Tsukushi was trying to kill me, I didn't wish to kill her!" Akame raised her voice with watery eyes, acting quite out of character, however it just showed how deeply Valdis's words affected her.

"H-How do you know so much about me?! Most of the people and records connecting to my past should have disappeared!"

Valdis saw several text messages giving him several points for driving Akame into the corner, at least, mentally.

"You were the one saying I know nothing about you but now that I revealed I know a few things you are acting so shocked...Anyway, it isn't important how I know- what is important is the fact that I know Kurome has been severely more brainwashed than you were. And also that I can help you get rid of the effect that brainwashing had on her." Valdis told her all that information before just to make her believe him a bit more even if it was subconsciously.

A silence permeated the surroundings, just the chirping of birds could be heard.

"...And what do you want for your help? I am telling you in advance that I won't betray Night Raid." Akame asked after almost a minute of silence and staring at each other.

Hearing her question, Valdis smiled widely.