Chapter 66: White Mask Set

"Phew, finally back."

Chelsea felt a sense of relief as she returned to the Revolutionary Army Headquarters after several days away.

That said, during her time infiltrating the Empire's Assassination Unit, she hadn't found herself particularly worried. On the contrary, her target had actually taken good care of her.

It was all thanks to her decision to transform into a black cat on a whim—had she chosen a different form, she doubted it would have worked out as well.

The Revolutionary Army Headquarters was located in the southern region of the Empire. The base covered a vast area and wasn't particularly hidden.

The Revolutionary Army had a certain level of confidence—they possessed several Teigu of their own and weren't too concerned about the Empire discovering their base's exact location.

Additionally, they had formed alliances with the Western Region and the Northern Tribes. The Empire was already preoccupied with fending off those external threats and had little capacity to focus on the Revolutionary Army.

Of course, this alliance had come at the cost of ceding imperial territory—otherwise, those foreign nations would never have agreed to cooperate so easily.

For now, the Revolutionary Army had ample time to prepare for the Empire's downfall.

"Chelsea, you're finally back. How did it go?"

The moment she returned, someone immediately approached her for an update.

"Not bad. I've learned a lot about the target."

"Let's hear it. That guy—I remember he's the Commander of the Empire's Assassination Unit. Is he really as upright as Najenda claimed?"

The Revolutionary Army had an extremely low opinion of the Empire's Assassination Unit. To them, it was nothing more than a group of mindless killers led by a bloodthirsty commander.

Akame was the sole exception, but only just.

And Blayn? He was an even more exceptional figure—an Assassination Unit commander. They found it hard to believe that someone like him could truly become an ally.

"Surprisingly, yeah. He's different from any Imperial official I've ever met. Honestly, he gives off a vibe that's even more principled than the so-called 'Conscientious Party.'"

Chelsea's assessment was straightforward.

"More principled than the Conscientious Party? He's an Assassination Unit commander—how is that even possible?"

The person was immediately skeptical.

"I get why you'd think that, but I'm just telling you what I saw with my own eyes."

Chelsea shrugged, exasperated.

She then recounted her experiences within the Empire's Assassination Unit over the past few days to the Revolutionary Army's key leaders.

Of course, she deliberately left out certain details—like the part where Blayn had helped her bathe. Some things were just too embarrassing to mention.

"As expected, Night Raid's instincts were spot on. Just like Najenda said, Blayn is definitely someone worth recruiting."

After reviewing Chelsea's report, the Revolutionary Army's leaders formally classified Blayn as a potential ally.

"And what about what you said earlier—Blayn trying to change those kids in the Assassination Unit? Are you certain about that?"

They were particularly interested in this point.

After all, the Imperial Assassination Unit was one of their primary adversaries.

If Blayn was truly working to change those children...

The best-case scenario would be successfully bringing Blayn over to their side. If that happened, the Assassination Unit itself might follow under his leadership, turning from a formidable enemy into a valuable ally.

That would be a massive advantage for the Revolutionary Army.

"I'm not completely certain, but it's highly likely," Chelsea said. "He's gone against his superiors on multiple occasions—halting brainwashing, reducing drug dosages, even taking those kids out to explore the Imperial Capital. Taking such risks means he must have a clear intent."

Hearing this, several key leaders nodded.

"Whether he succeeds in changing the Empire's Assassination Unit or not, his current situation is dangerous. This is the perfect time for us to win him over."

"Agreed. Chelsea, after this, head over to support Night Raid. Also, inform Najenda about this matter and have her take charge of recruiting Blayn, just like she did with Akame."

"But… if you're still not over what happened with 'Oarburgh,' we can have someone else take your place for now."

Oarburgh had been the organization Chelsea was previously affiliated with—an assassination unit under the Revolutionary Army, much like Night Raid.

While she had only been away on a mission for a few days, by the time she returned, the Empire's Assassination Unit had completely wiped out Oarburgh.

The leaders were concerned that she hadn't fully recovered from the loss.

The death of even a single comrade was difficult to bear, let alone losing all of them at once.

"I'm fine. They all completed their missions with honor. At least they had no regrets," Chelsea said with a natural expression.

"Is that so? Then there's no problem."

With that, the leaders let go of their worries.

As Chelsea left the meeting room, her face remained composed, but the moment she was out of sight, a fleeting sadness flashed across her eyes.

Taeko—the adorable yet naive girl. Merraid—the eccentric but dependable leader. Gilberda, Cassandra... So many comrades she had once fought alongside were now gone.

How could she truly not care?

She had simply forced herself to forget, numbing herself with excuses.

She had lost too many companions before. Crying wouldn't bring them back, and dwelling on sorrow would only waste time.

So, she quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

Needing a distraction, her mind instinctively wandered to Blayn.

"I ran off so suddenly… I bet that guy was a little upset. If I get the chance next time, I'll thank him. He really did take care of me all those days..."

Placing her hands behind her back, Chelsea walked away with light steps.

She couldn't wait to surprise Blayn the next time they met.

That guy would never guess that the little stray black cat from before was actually her.

The thought instantly lifted her mood, and she found herself looking forward to their next encounter.

But first, she needed to head to Night Raid's base and relay the leaders' decision about Blayn.

...

Perhaps influenced by Blayn, Chelsea ended up joining Night Raid earlier than expected.

Meanwhile, the "main character" of all this—Blayn—had no idea.

At that moment, he was busy testing out the White Mask he had just obtained.

The mask was pure white, adorned with the Rinne Eye pattern, featuring three tomoe-shaped holes—two of which perfectly aligned with his eyes.

Its functions were twofold: first, wearing it granted a +10 boost to all attributes, including ocular power; second, it was intricately linked to the "Gunbai Uchiwa."

Both items were part of the "White Mask Set," and obtaining the White Mask was a prerequisite for purchasing the Gunbai Uchiwa.

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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