Chapter 8: Target – Yoshino

Esdeath has a younger sister?!

Upon hearing this rarely known piece of information, the people present all showed varying expressions.

Some were indifferent, some were surprised and doubtful, and some looked curious.

Although the name Esdeath was well-known throughout the Empire, details about the great general's background were scarcely known.

None of the Night Raid members doubted the truth of this revelation, because their Boss had also once been a general of the Empire. As she had said, she had worked alongside Esdeath for a time, and their relationship had even been quite good at one point.

However, hearing Najenda speculation made Tatsumi uneasy.

"That's impossible, absolutely impossible," he immediately objected aloud. "How could Yoshino possibly be the sister of such a brutal and ruthless woman? That makes no sense!"

"There may be a difference in personality, but in every other aspect, she matches perfectly."

Rather than scolding Tatsumi for being too emotional in his attempt to separate Yoshino from Esdeath, Najenda calmly analyzed, "Esdeath is from the Partas clan, a tribe that lived on the northern borders of the Empire. Blue hair and blue eyes are their signature traits. Eight years ago, this tribe was wiped out by the northern barbarians. Tatsumi, your village was also in the Empire's north, and you found Yoshino around the same time. Plus, you mentioned that Yoshino suffers from severe mental issues, which were likely triggered by an intense psychological trauma. Witnessing her tribe being destroyed and her people slaughtered would certainly be enough to cause that."

With each reason and piece of evidence laid out, Tatsumi face grew grimmer by the second.

His lips trembled as if trying to argue, but in the end, he couldn't say anything.

Though he instinctively didn't want Yoshino to be related to Esdeath, based on the current information, Najenda speculation seemed to be the most accurate.

But if Yoshino really was Esdeath younger sister… and Esdeath was the enemy of the Revolutionary Army… then where did that leave him?

With this thought, Tatsumi seemed to lose all his energy, once again becoming like how he was when he had just lost Ieyasu and Sayo.

"You're overthinking it. There's no need to feel so down."

Perhaps sensing his inner struggle, Najenda comforted him, "You said yourself that Yoshino has lost her memories. Right now, to her, Esdeath is just a stranger. Our confrontation with Esdeath won't affect your village girl."

"But what if she regains her memory…"

"That's why we need to get her out of the Capital before that happens," Najenda said seriously. "Whether she's already been captured by Esdeath or still wandering around the Capital, we must bring her back."

"And once we bring her back?" Tatsumi suddenly asked. "Boss, will you let Yoshino go home?"

For a moment, Najenda fell silent.

If Yoshino weren't Esdeath sister, then of course, she would have let her return to her village without hesitation.

Not only to protect Yoshino, but also to protect Night Raid.

But now… the situation had changed.

Having worked with Esdeath for many years, she knew that the great general had never given up on searching for her sister. In fact, every city guard in the Empire was shown Yoshino portrait before being assigned to their post.

Whenever Esdeath conquered a new city while fighting the northern barbarians, she would always send people to search for any girls who might have been taken during the raids.

If there was one weakness in this cold-blooded, ruthless general… it would definitely be her sister.

Under the watchful eyes of the others, Najenda let out a deep sigh.

"Though we are assassins, doing work that cannot be seen in the light, we still have our lines we won't cross," she said calmly. "Once we bring Yoshino back, I'll try to trade with her, to obtain the treasure she possesses. But no matter the outcome, I will arrange for her to be safely returned to her village."

Upon hearing this, not only did Tatsumi look relieved, but a number of Night Raid members also looked visibly more at ease.

Though they were assassins, their targets were always corrupt officials and oppressive landlords. They had always seen themselves as a righteous army.

If they were to use a little girl—someone who mentally was still a child—as a bargaining chip, then how would they be any different from the Empire?

"Let's move immediately."

Given the urgency of the situation, once the plan was decided, Najenda gave her orders without delay.

"Leone, Lubbock—you two are not yet wanted by the Empire. Bulat, your Imperial Arm has stealth capabilities. Take Tatsumi and retrieve the last person from his village."

At the same time, within the Capital, in the General's mansion...

The Three Beasts entered the front courtyard of the General's estate, kneeling on one knee before Esdeath.

They were her most loyal and powerful subordinates, and all three were Imperial Arm users.

After returning to the Capital with Esdeath, they were quickly given a new mission:

Assassinate the ministers who were loved by the people, frame Night Raid for the crimes, force the rats hiding in the shadows to show themselves, and then wipe them out all at once.

But just before they were about to depart, Esdeath suddenly recalled them with urgency.

"General Esdeath, may we ask the reason for your summons?"

The leader of the Three Beasts, Liver—wielder of the Imperial Arm Water Dragon Possession: Black Marlin, a silver-haired veteran with no signs of aging—asked respectfully.

"This is the first time I've ever seen General Esdeath wear such a confused expression. Did something happen?" asked Nyau, a petite, adorable boy who wielded the Marching Dreams: Screech Imperial Arm, curiously.

"No matter what it is, we Three Beasts will solve it for you!" declared Daidara, the large, burly man who wielded the Double Axes: Belvak, volunteering enthusiastically.

Under their eager gazes, Esdeath tried to rein in her current expression and return to her usual queenly demeanor.

But the moment she recalled the scene she had witnessed earlier, confusion once again clouded her face.

"I… I think I saw my younger sister, Yoshino, in the Capital."

The moment she said this, the Three Beasts looked shocked and overjoyed.

It was as if it wasn't Esdeath sister that had been found, but their own.

"That's great news!" Nyau beamed sweetly. "Congratulations, General Esdeath! After all these years, you finally found her!"

"This is indeed a joyous occasion," Liver nodded. "But then… why do you seem troubled?"

"Because Yoshino… hasn't changed at all," Esdeath frowned. "Her height and appearance are exactly the same as they were eight years ago, just as I remember."

Upon hearing this, even the Three Beasts were taken aback.

They knew that Yoshino was Esdeath full-blooded younger sister. Esdeath was already in her twenties, and naturally, so was Yoshino.

As the saying goes, 'girls change drastically in eighteen years'—even Esdeath herself had changed so much compared to eight years ago.

So how could her sister look exactly the same?

"Could it be a mistake?" Daidara asked bluntly. "Saying she's exactly the same sounds like an exaggeration. Maybe it's just someone who looks Similiar?"

"That's what I thought at first too," Esdeath massaged her temples. "But then I saw a stuffed rabbit in her left hand—that rabbit was one of the few keepsakes left by my late mother, and it was Yoshino most treasured possession. If that's also just a coincidence, then it's far too coincidental."

"If that girl really is your sister, then perhaps she encountered something unusual eight years ago that stopped her physical growth," Liver speculated. "For example, alchemy has youth-retaining elixirs, and there are rumors of a spring of immortality in a nation beyond the Empire."

"Those aren't things Yoshino could've come across… but I really don't know how she's survived these past eight years, so I suppose those possibilities can't be ruled out."

"Didn't you try asking her directly?"

"I intended to… but due to a certain interruption, I lost track of her."

At the thought of the assassin she had encountered earlier, Esdeath face darkened, and a chilling aura began to emanate from her.

Earlier today, while the Three Beasts were preparing for their mission, Esdeath had also intended to lure out the Night Raid assassins hiding in the Capital.

The first part of her plan had gone smoothly—she had indeed attracted someone who looked like a Night Raid member.

However, that person had been far too cautious. Despite Esdeath intentionally appearing unguarded and even revealing multiple weaknesses, the assassin never made a move.

If not for that assassin, she would not have lost Yoshino.

Hearing this, the Three Beasts exchanged glances and immediately understood the true reason behind their sudden recall.

"I need you three to help me find the girl who might be Yoshino," Esdeath said seriously. "But this matter must remain secret—do not let anyone else find out. I don't want certain people learning of her existence."

"Yes," ×3

The Three Beasts understood completely and set off at once after receiving the order.

Although sending three powerful Imperial Arm users to find a single girl was overkill, since Esdeath didn't want Yoshino existence to be exposed, only her most loyal subordinates could be entrusted with this mission.

After they left, Esdeath slowly stood up and walked to the window.

In those cold, icy-blue eyes—feared by both enemies and allies alike—there was an unexpected glimmer of warmth.

"Yoshino… if it really is you…"

Looking out at the bustling Capital, she murmured softly:

"This time, I won't lose you again."