For Mai and Ty Lee, the greatest regret of their lives was probably eting Azula, that little demon.
There was nothing else that even ca close.
Although not all their mories together were bad, and they even got along quite well at tis, the mont Azula extended her invitation, they regretted everything.
"…I must have misheard you."
Mai maintained her usual cool deanor, looking calm and composed on the surface.
In truth, she was simply numb from shock.
"You want us to rebel?"
"Azula, that isn't funny."
Mai emphasized the words, hoping this was only so terrible joke.
But she was destined to be disappointed.
"Don't you think it would be exciting to take part in such an interesting operation?"
Azula spread her hands with amusent and smiled.
"Don't look so gloomy, my friend."
"See?"
"Isn't Ty Lee happy?"
"…That is not what I would call happy."
Mai thought Ty Lee looked more like she was about to cry.
Or perhaps she already was crying.
Of course, anyone would react that way after hearing they were being invited to rebel against their own country.
Mai then looked toward Kahn, who was standing nearby, with a faint plea for help in her eyes.
"Kahn, you wouldn't actually go crazy with Azula, would you?"
Kahn had always disliked dangerous and troubleso matters like this.
And given Azula's feelings for him, perhaps his stance could restrain her.
However, Kahn only scratched his head awkwardly and said,
"Actually, I was the one who started this operation."
"…?!"
"?!"
Mai froze, her gaze turning incredulous.
I can't believe you're that kind of Kahn.
She then looked at Azula again in disbelief.
Kahn suggested rebelling against your father, and not only did you agree imdiately, but now you are actively trying to drag us into it too?
What kind of black-hearted little daughter are you?
Your loyalty is bending so far outward it might snap.
At that mont, Mai suddenly understood sothing.
She had always wondered why Azula liked Kahn.
Was it because the two of them were fundantally the sa kind of person?
Before, she had silently wished Kahn good luck.
But it turned out she and Ty Lee were the ones who needed good luck.
She had been the clown all along.
In any case, once they boarded Azula's pirate ship, getting off easily was impossible.
However, aside from Azula's coercion and temptation, Kahn also spoke frankly from beside her, carefully explaining why he and Azula were doing this, as well as everything Ozai had done.
After hearing those secrets, Mai and Ty Lee were both sowhat shocked.
At the sa ti, Kahn's attitude reassured them a little.
At least from his attitude, Kahn treated them as true companions, not disposable pieces to be sacrificed at any ti.
And after fully understanding the current situation, Ty Lee finally beca less afraid.
She asked,
"So this operation isn't really rebellion."
"It's more like overthrowing Fire Lord Ozai's evil rule, right?"
"Of course."
Azula snapped her fingers in satisfaction and confird it.
"Our operation is a righteous crusade."
"And I, having recognized my father's true evil nature, am naturally the wise and mighty Princess Azula, who resolutely chose justice over blood."
"And you, of course, will also beco loyal protectors of the nation who understand the greater good."
"Your glorious deeds will surely be passed from mouth to mouth among the people."
"That sounds pretty good…"
Ty Lee was clearly vulnerable to this kind of phrasing.
And aside from Azula's narcissistic bragging, what she said was technically true, so Ty Lee's stance began to waver.
Mai, however, remained calm.
"I don't care about any of that."
"I only have one question."
"Are you sure you can succeed?"
"Of course."
Azula spoke with absolute confidence.
"When have we ever failed?"
Kahn added,
"We aren't acting on impulse."
"We've prepared this plan thoroughly."
"Even Iroh supports it."
"Of course, Zuko does too."
"He'll secretly return to the capital soon to prepare for the plan's launch."
"…Alright."
Mai finally compromised.
She sighed, then continued,
"But I'll say this first."
"If things go wrong, I'm leaving."
Hearing that, Kahn smiled.
"Don't worry."
"You won't get the chance."
After convincing Mai and Ty Lee, Kahn now had to wait for Iroh and Zuko's defection, as well as Zuko's return.
According to the plan he and Iroh had made, Iroh would soon find an opportunity to escape and contact him after succeeding.
A few days later, Kahn entered the Spirit World at the appointed ti as usual, but did not find Iroh there.
Only then did he understand that Iroh and Zuko's operation had begun.
For several days afterward, Iroh did not appear in the Spirit World.
What Kahn found strange was that the outside world remained calm, with no news at all of Iroh's defection.
That unnatural silence left him sowhat puzzled.
It was then that Azula brought back news from the palace.
"Iroh and Great-Grandfather suddenly defected."
"The army failed to react in ti and lost them."
"Father was furious in the war room and dismissed quite a few people from their posts."
Azula recounted what she had seen in the war room to Kahn with great interest.
Iroh's sudden betrayal, along with Zuko's, had caught Ozai completely off guard.
His furious yet helpless appearance in the war room could only be described as rather pathetic.
As for why the outside world remained calm, that was naturally because Ozai had sealed off the news.
Back when Jeong Jeong, then an admiral of the navy, suddenly rebelled, the impact had been extrely negative.
Many units had responded, causing Ozai to suffer a great loss at the ti.
If even Jeong Jeong's rebellion had carried that much influence, then news of Iroh's rebellion—soone with even greater influence than Jeong Jeong—would undoubtedly cause an uproar across the nation.
It would have an extrely damaging effect on both the army and the people.
Therefore, the mont Ozai received the news, he ordered all information about Iroh's rebellion sealed.
No one was allowed to leak it.
Many people were even killed because of it.
As for Zuko, Ozai did not care much.
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