Chapter 45: The Price and the Risk

The [All-Seeing Observer] was originally an Imperial Arm used by a prison warden to interrogate criminals.

However, it was stolen by a deranged Imperial executioner, and while he was running amok and killing people on the streets, Night Raid targeted him.

Thus, this Imperial Arm naturally ended up in Night Raid's possession.

But since a Teigu user can only wield one Teigu at a time, and every member of Night Raid already had their own, the only one without a Teigu, Tatsumi, tried using the [All-Seeing Observer]—but it didn't acknowledge him as its user.

As a result, the [All-Seeing Observer] was sent to the Revolutionary Army's headquarters.

Though the Teigu wasn't currently in Night Raid's hands, if Najenda wanted it, she could still retrieve it from the Revolutionary Army.

The only question she had to consider now was this:

Was it worth it?

She had to admit that Yoshino proposal was incredibly tempting—because it offered a fundamental solution to the Empire's plight.

The Empire, once a prosperous nation where people lived in peace, had fallen into ruin in a matter of just a few decades.

Ninety percent of the reason was due to the Emperor being misled by treacherous officials, deceived by the illusion of peace and prosperity.

Even someone like Najenda, who had once held the title of Imperial General, had no way to offer counsel to the Emperor—let alone the common folk.

It wasn't that no ministers had tried to awaken the Emperor before.

But history proved—they all failed.

Internal reform was nearly impossible. The only path left was violent destruction from the outside.

This wasn't just the belief of the Revolutionary Army. Even within the court and among many regional officials, this was a shared sentiment.

It was only thanks to the support of internal officials and local authorities that the Revolutionary Army had grown to its current scale.

But Yoshino appearance introduced a potential breakthrough into what had previously been an impenetrable inner circle.

Honest had taken the initiative to open the "cage" around the Emperor, attempting to trap Yoshino inside it as well—thereby further solidifying his cooperation with Esdeath and bringing Yoshino closer to the Emperor.

If Yoshino could bring the [All-Seeing Observer] to the Emperor and allow him to hear Honest inner thoughts—to see Honest true nature—then all problems could be resolved.

Because the Emperor held the highest authority.

Even someone as powerful as Honest could only manipulate the Emperor through deception and concealment, guiding him to make decisions beneficial to himself.

Once his disguise was torn away, he would be nothing.

After pondering for a moment, Najenda saw through the entirety of Yoshino plan.

"Yare yare... This is completely different from the plan I had in mind." Najenda chuckled and shook her head. "Not only did I fail to acquire the treasure in your hands, but we'll have to hand one over instead? Tatsumi said you were naïve, but I think you're actually quite clever."

"Because Yoshino is Yoshino, and Yoshinon is Yoshinon," Yoshinon replied casually. "So, Miss Najenda, what do you think?"

"It sounds like a great plan... but that's only how it sounds," Najenda said as she raised two fingers and let her smile fade. "Because this plan has two aspects that I cannot control."

"Let's hear it."

"First, I can't confirm whether the Emperor will be acknowledged by the [All-Seeing Observer] and gain the ability to use it. If not, then the Revolutionary Army will have simply lost a precious Teigu for nothing," Najenda said. "Second, I can't be sure just how much the young Emperor trusts you. Even if you present the Teigu before him and tell him directly that the Grand Minister cannot be trusted, I think there's a greater chance he'll have you executed on the spot—just like he did to countless loyal officials who once tried to advise him."

"The first concern," Yoshinon said, still unfazed, "isn't really a problem."

Her tone remained as relaxed as before, as if she had already prepared a response.

"Because Makoto doesn't need to be acknowledged by the [All-Seeing Observer]. He just needs to use it briefly, to hear part of Honest thoughts."

"Brief usage?" Najenda frowned at first but soon her eyes lit up with realization.

There is always a period of adaptation between a Teigu and its potential user.

During that time, the candidate can access the Teigu's abilities, while the Teigu uses its own judgment to determine if the person is suitable.

Back when they first obtained the [All-Seeing Observer], Tatsumi had briefly used it.

But because his heart was too upright and pure, completely incompatible with such a sneaky tool, he was rejected in less than ten seconds.

Najenda didn't know the young Emperor's personality, but he surely couldn't be more virtuous than Tatsumi.

A few minutes of adaptation time should be feasible.

To eavesdrop on Honest thoughts—though a few minutes wouldn't reveal everything, even hearing a portion would be enough to show the Emperor Honest true character.

"As for the second concern," Yoshinon continued with a smile, "Yoshino is Makoto only friend. While his trust in her may not surpass his trust in Honest, he definitely wouldn't kill her without a second thought."

"You may have great confidence in yourselves," Najenda said, "but I have no way of verifying what you said."

"And that," Yoshino shrugged, "is the part where you have to take the risk."

"Every plan involves risk. But if you choose Yoshino's plan, then even if it fails, you're only losing one Teigu. If it succeeds, the Empire can be fundamentally changed—without bloodshed.

But if you continue down the Revolutionary Army's path, regardless of success or failure, countless innocent civilians and soldiers who might otherwise live—will die."

Najenda fell silent at those words.

Yoshino had made her proposal clear.

And precisely because of that clarity, Najenda realized—she had no reason to refuse.

Compared to the risks the Revolutionary Army was shouldering, the risk taken by Yoshino was far greater.

As Yoshino said, even if the plan failed, all they would lose was a Teigu.

But Yoshino, even with Esdeath status and influence protecting her, would definitely lose her freedom—if not her life.

"It really is a proposal I can't refuse," Najenda said, taking a deep breath as a smile returned to her face.

"Miss Yoshinon, you've successfully convinced me."

"Oh oh! That's awesome!"

Yoshinon rubbed her hands together, grinning with expectation.

"Then, about the Teigu that Yoshino needs..."

"I'll go to the Revolutionary Army's headquarters to retrieve it myself," Najenda replied. "Time is of the essence. I'll depart now. Riding a Special Danger Beast, I can be back within a week."

"A week? That's way too long!" Yoshinon shook her head, then patted her chest confidently.

"Let me take you there. Akina Mountain's drift queen at your service—I'll show you what real speed feels like."