Chapter 413: Are There Two Woods?

Esdeath's subordinates, "The Three Beasts," were known to Wood and Najenda from their time in the military. To put it simply, having spent so much time under Esdeath, those three had become twisted individuals—vicious and certainly not good people.

"In order to welcome 'The Three Beasts,' those nobles in the minister's faction are even hosting a banquet specifically for them. Many of the Empire's parasites will attend that party, which presents a perfect opportunity for us," Najenda explained.

Due to Night Raid's recent activities, the minister's faction nobles were constantly living in fear. Now, with Esdeath's trusted subordinates, "The Three Beasts," returning to the capital, they naturally jumped at the chance to hold on to them for protection.

Though "The Three Beasts" were merely Esdeath's lackeys, and their status was far inferior to the nobles present, at the end of the day, power ruled supreme. Esdeath had spread terror to the surrounding territories, and even if "The Three Beasts" weren't as famous, they still commanded a certain level of infamy.

To the nobles of the Empire, Night Raid was just a ragtag group of assassins and couldn't possibly compare to "The Three Beasts," who had been on countless battlefields.

Since this assassination involved multiple targets, Najenda decided to mobilize all of Night Raid, assigning specific tasks to each member.

Bulat and Tatsumi were responsible for infiltrating the banquet venue, identifying assassination targets among the nobles, and reporting their locations. Mine and Sheele would work together to execute long-range assassinations based on Tatsumi's reports. Leone and Akame were assigned to create a distraction elsewhere in the capital to prevent the Empire from sending reinforcements to surround the nobles' ship, ensuring that Bulat and Tatsumi could successfully retreat.

Wood and Lubbock were assigned to provide support and handle anything unexpected. Lubbock would use "Cross Tail" to set up barriers around the venue, preventing the targets from escaping, while Wood was to stay mobile and adapt to the situation as needed.

The banquet held by the nobles to welcome "The Three Beasts" took place aboard a luxury ship docked at the pier. Tatsumi had infiltrated the venue disguised as a waiter since he wasn't on the Empire's wanted list, while Bulat used his Incursio to stay invisible and hide on the ship.

Tatsumi took in the bustling banquet scene, watching the nobles fawn over "The Three Beasts." He patted his cheeks, reminding himself to stay calm. "The Boss mentioned it—these targets aren't like the ones before. 'The Three Beasts' are Teigu users, and each one of them is stronger than that serial killer, Zank. I need to stay focused!"

Leone had also advised him to keep his presence low, forget who he was, and blend in naturally so that others would overlook him.

Just as Tatsumi was about to carry a tray of wine toward a group of nobles, aiming to take out some of them discreetly, he caught sight of a familiar figure in the corner of his eye and was immediately stunned.

So stunned, in fact, that he doubted his eyes and moved closer to confirm.

"You there, waiter! Just in time. Bring that wine over to us—we're out over here," a young noblewoman called out, reaching for the wine without waiting for Tatsumi to respond. She then eagerly poured a drink for a young man beside her.

Pouring drinks was a waiter's job, but this noblewoman didn't seem to care. And it wasn't just her—several other noblewomen nearby were doing the same, competing for the attention of this young man.

This scene was rare, but it wasn't what truly shocked Tatsumi. What left him stunned was that the young man receiving all this attention looked exactly like Wood, a member of their own assassination organization!

"Mr. Wood, your stories are simply fascinating. Would you tell us more?"

"Mr. Wood, this is my address. You're always welcome to visit my home, and I promise you'll be well taken care of."

"Mr. Wood, we have many interesting things at my estate..."

Seeing the scene before him, Tatsumi could hardly believe his eyes. To his knowledge, Wood was a wanted man in the Empire, yet here he was, openly mingling in such a high-profile venue. Even more perplexing was how none of his conspicuous behavior seemed to raise any suspicion.

Unable to comprehend the situation, Tatsumi initially thought it might just be someone who looked like Wood. So, he stayed on the sidelines to gather more information.

According to this "look-alike," his name was also Wood, and he was an adventurer. He had traveled to uncharted mountain peaks, ventured to the ends of the world, fought dragons for his family, and matched wits with witches for his friends.

The story was captivating, one twist following another. Initially, Tatsumi thought it was all just a fabrication, but the way the man described the scenes and the events, they seemed so vivid and real—it almost made him believe every word.

This Wood was noble, always risking his life for his family and friends, and yet, he had no true love interest. The young noblewomen, being in their prime and highly emotional, were all entranced by the adventurer's charisma. His charm, his sense of humor, and his genteel demeanor—all combined with his striking looks—made him an irresistible figure.

This Wood claimed that he merely shared a name with a wanted criminal of the Empire, and the noblewomen believed him. He added that it was just bad luck that he happened to look similar to the wanted man, and they believed that too!

Some of the noblewomen, now completely smitten, even offered to use their influence to have the bounty on his head rescinded. Don't underestimate these women—those who could attend this banquet were daughters of powerful noble families, and their collective influence was not to be taken lightly.

However, Wood gently declined their help, explaining that as an adventurer, the Empire was merely a stop along his journey. His life belonged to the stars and the wide horizons beyond. His poetic response left the young noblewomen dazzled. One of them even suggested giving up her noble status to accompany him on his travels.

After eavesdropping for a while, Tatsumi concluded that this "look-alike" was just a very talented storyteller with no other significance. He certainly wasn't the Wood he knew, who was carefree, often got drunk with Leone, and peeked at women with Lubbock.

This refined, piano-playing, courteous version of Wood couldn't possibly be the same person. Everything—from his elegant demeanor to the way he respectfully kept his distance from the infatuated noblewomen—seemed like a completely different person.

"Amazing how the world works... I wonder what Wood would think if he found out there's someone who looks just like him. Too bad I'm on a mission now; otherwise, I'd want to chat with him—his adventure stories are quite entertaining, and he seems like a decent guy."

Realizing he had a mission to complete, Tatsumi glanced at the "fake Wood" one last time before moving on to locate his actual target.

But as Tatsumi left, the real Wood, still surrounded by the young noblewomen, stopped playing the piano. Smiling warmly, he addressed them, "Ladies, I may have to excuse myself for a little while."

"Mr. Wood, this is my address. I'll be waiting for you at home tonight..."

"Mr. Wood, I have a villa in the capital. I truly admire your piano skills and hope you'll come by to play for me again."

"Mr. Wood, this is my address. My husband is out of town for a month, and the plumbing at home seems a bit off. It would be wonderful if you could come by to fix it..."

Wood, hearing some of the more suggestive comments, kept his composure. "Madam, you put me in a tough spot... But, out of my spirit of service, I'll see if I can find time to pay a visit."

Elsewhere, Tatsumi followed one of his assassination targets into the bathroom, slicing his throat cleanly before he could react. Just as Tatsumi finished, another target unexpectedly entered and caught sight of Tatsumi standing over the dead body.

The new arrival quickly pieced together the scene and was about to yell for help. Before he could make a sound, a crisp "snap" echoed through the air, and the man crumpled to the floor, his neck broken.

"Tatsumi, you were too careless. If that guy had managed to shout, our mission would have gotten much more complicated," a voice called out from the doorway.

Still in his offensive stance, Tatsumi looked toward the door, startled, as the figure stepped out of the shadows. Slowly, Tatsumi's mouth opened in shock.

"Wood! That guy who was just playing the piano and telling stories—that was really you?!"

Wood, dressed in a dapper suit and elegantly wiping his hands with a handkerchief, gave Tatsumi a wry smile. "Who else could it be? Did you honestly think there was someone else out there with my exact looks and the same name?"

"But that guy played the piano... He knew noble etiquette... He was so refined... While you usually drink yourself stupid, act like a pervert, and are so laid-back..."

Tatsumi wanted to point out just how vastly different this version of Wood was from the one he knew. But he held back, aware of their camaraderie and, more importantly, Wood's strength. He didn't want to risk a beating, so he quickly changed his tone.

"Has no one ever told you that before joining Night Raid, I was the eldest son of a merchant family? I mastered piano, etiquette, and socializing at a young age. Besides, having an extra identity is always useful in this line of work. It keeps you alive longer."

Though Tatsumi didn't always understand Wood's reasoning, he couldn't deny his admiration for him. In every aspect—combat skills, intelligence, assassin's instincts—Wood seemed flawless. Even Tatsumi, who knew Wood personally, hadn't connected this version of Wood to the one he knew. So, how could the nobles, who had never met him before, make the connection?

With Wood's assistance, the assassination progressed smoothly. However, as the number of missing people aboard the ship increased, it became evident that something was amiss. By the time "The Three Beasts" members Nyau and Daidara noticed Tatsumi lurking around, they didn't hesitate to launch their attack.

Just as Tatsumi turned, signaling to Wood that they'd need to split their opponents between them, he realized, to his dismay, that Wood had already vanished without a trace.

The reason Wood left was simple—Mine had gotten word to him that Bulat was in trouble up on the ship's deck, and the situation was dire. Normally, Mine would have been able to provide support from a distance, but she and Sheele were also having issues of their own.

It seemed that Akame and Leone hadn't managed to intercept all of the Empire's reinforcements, as they'd encountered a woman from the Imperial Guard with some... peculiar mental issues. She was also a Teigu user, which had forced Mine and Sheele into a tough spot as well.