"It's actually Pri Minister Honest?!"
Soone couldn't help but exclaim in a hushed voice.
Mahiro also calmly shifted his gaze to the obese noble.
Only then did he realize it was indeed that guy, the Pri Minister. That physiologically repulsive face and physique—there was no second person in the empire like Pri Minister Honest.
At the sa ti, he subconsciously activated the "Eye of the Spirit" to scan Honest from the inside out.
Although the man appeared extrely obese, the muscles beneath the fat were quite well-developed. It seed he had undergone systematic training and possessed a certain level of combat ability, perhaps not inferior to that Gozuki.
He was nothing like the weak and feeble version from the TV series.
In short, he was just a fat pig with so fighting skills.
At the sa ti, Pri Minister Honest, who had been tearing into his steak, suddenly stiffened before turning his head to et Mahiro's gaze.
This was their first eting.
Mahiro simply offered a polite smile and gave a slow nod.
"Pri Minister Honest, is sothing wrong?"
"Ah, it's nothing. I just suddenly shivered, feeling as if soone ant harm."
Who would have thought this old fox would be so perceptive.
Mahiro chuckled inwardly.
"But General Esdeath, those soldiers are yours, aren't they?"
"Hmm?"
Hearing the minister's words, Esdeath turned and saw them. At that mont, Nyau stepped forward, standing ramrod straight as he respectfully reported:
"Reporting, Vice General Esdeath! All six personnel have arrived at the torture chamber as requested!"
His voice was as clear as a girl's.
What a pity he was male.
"Hmm, good. This ti you're actually punctual."
Seeing the complete team assembled before her, Esdeath revealed a satisfied smile.
"Then Pri Minister Honest, if you'll excuse , I need to take my subordinates out for training!"
"Go ahead. I'll stay here to continue enjoying the show."
Minister Honest's narrowed eyes remained fixed on the boiling pot as he casually waved Esdeath away, voraciously stuffing pieces of at into his mouth.
Only after Esdeath had led her team out of the torture chamber did Minister Honest finally turn to look toward the door.
What a sha. If only I could bring that woman under my command, I wouldn't have to hold back anymore... No, I wouldn't even need to fear Grand General Budo anymore.
That way, I could smoothly install the young crown prince on the throne and hold absolute power over the court.
Minister Honest held Esdeath in very high regard.
That cruelty, that strength—these were exactly what he needed. The only things Esdeath currently lacked were official rank and status.
Thinking of this, the minister couldn't help but viciously tear into his steak again, accompanied by the screams of the prisoner before him.
...
anwhile.
Esdeath led them away from the empire's military affairs departnt, instead bringing them to a place resembling an ancient Roman amphitheater.
No, to be precise, this was indeed a colosseum.
The only difference was that the nurous surrounding seats were empty of spectators.
"Lady Esdeath, why have you brought us to the colosseum?" Nyau couldn't help asking, his voice trembling slightly.
He seed to have already guessed sothing, his body unconsciously tensing up.
"This is today's training ground. Don't complain—I put great thought into carefully selecting it for you. If all goes well, it should enhance your practical combat abilities."
A captivating, brilliant smile blood on Esdeath's lovely face.
But the other five besides Mahiro, recalling yesterday's rigorous training, couldn't help shivering.
Yesterday, Esdeath had taken them to the Stone Rock Mountains outside the Imperial City, demanding they climb from the base to the summit.
Although the mountain path was steep and covered with uneven stones, it should have been quite easy given their abilities.
That's how it should have been—they had even thought the new recruit training would be nothing special.
But unexpectedly, Esdeath suddenly increased their burden by making each of them carry dozens of pounds of weight and demanding they climb to the top within an hour.
Otherwise, they would face punishnt.
And then...
They all ended up being punished together.
That's why today they looked utterly dejected and wronged—who could possibly handle such devilish training?
Now they had arrived at the colosseum again, wondering what tricks this general had in store this ti.
"Don't worry! I have no intention of making you fight in the colosseum matches. I'm just borrowing the venue."
Esdeath seed to have seen through their thoughts and explained with a benevolent smile:
"Today's exercise is simple: hunt Danger Beasts."
Nyau and the others initially felt relieved hearing they wouldn't have to compete, but Esdeath's next sentence sent shivers down their spines.
"H-Hunt Danger Beasts? Us?!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the heavy stone gate on the opposite side of the colosseum slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black cavern.
Mahiro's eyes clearly saw a pair of glowing green eyes emitting an eerie light from within the darkness!
"Eek! Wh-What is that?!" Nyau scread, her slender voice echoing throughout the colosseum.
A massive body finally erged from the stone gate—it was a giant lion over three ters tall!
Moreover, it already bore initial dragon-like characteristics, covered in scales like a chira.
Most crucially, the lion's gaze toward them shimred with a sinister glow, as if looking at a delicious feast.
It suddenly charged toward them, but with a thunderous crash! A loud noise ca from the darkness, scattering dust everywhere.
A thick chain stretching from behind the stone gate was pulled taut, its other end firmly attached to the lion's neck.
Seeing that it couldn't pounce on them, the five finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I-It's actually a first-class Danger Beast, the Dragon Lion... How astonishing."
"Hehe, that's right. I went through great trouble to capture it a few days ago."
Esdeath said with a smile.
However, Mahiro was curiously examining the strange lion.
A species he hadn't seen before...
Even though he had previously circled through the forest and killed almost all the local first-class Danger Beasts, there were still varieties he didn't know about.
He just wondered how this lion would taste.
"You can't be serious, Lady Esdeath... Are you planning to use it as our training target?" Nyau asked with wide eyes.
A first-class Danger Beast was not sothing they could defeat with their current strength. Nyau estimated that aside from Lady Esdeath, even if all six of them worked together, they probably wouldn't be enough to fill this Dragon Lion's teeth gaps.
The others agreed with this assessnt.
But one burly-looking brute claid that even a first-class Danger Beast could be easily defeated if they all attacked together.
This made Esdeath glance at him slightly.
However, Esdeath then spoke up: "No need for wild guesses. I'll now announce today's training exercise."
"Your objective is indeed to hunt this Danger Beast, but no group attacks—you'll go one by one. Additionally, there's one more requirent..."
Another requirent?!
That's so like you, Lady Esdeath.
Thinking that solo hunting of a first-class Danger Beast was already outrageous enough, and now there's an additional requirent!
"Since this lion of mine hasn't eaten for several days, its physical strength is far from what it used to be. So you must engage in fair combat with it bare-handed. Don't be afraid—if I alone can handle it, I believe you can do the sa."
"..."
The five were rendered speechless.
No wonder the lion seed desperate to pounce on them when it saw them—it had been starving for days...
And now they had to fight this monstrous thing bare-handed?
At this thought, a chill ran down their spines.
"Lady Esdeath... isn't this a bit too dangerous?" Nyau said quietly.
"Hmm, you're right. That's why I specially prepared safety asures for you."
Saying this, Esdeath retrieved a pre-prepared several-dozen-ter-long iron chain from the corner of the arena and tossed it over. Attached to one end of the chain was actually a pet collar!
"See? Just put this collar around your neck when you go out to fight. If I determine you're truly in danger, I'll pull the other end to drag you out of the arena."
Everyone broke out in cold sweat, regardless of Deputy General Esdeath's danger assessnt standards.
If they really had to wear the collar during combat, it would feel like Lady Esdeath was treating them as pet dogs.
No, judging from her subtly excited eyes, this was clearly the dagger revealed when the map unrolled!
She had planned this from the very beginning, hadn't she!
Hunting Danger Beasts? Taming pets was your real goal, wasn't it!
"Alright, who wants to go first?"
Hearing this, all five stepped back simultaneously, imdiately throwing Mahiro under the bus.
"Oh? You? As expected of a last-minute addition, quite courageous." Esdeath looked at Mahiro standing his ground and smiled with satisfaction.
Though that smile was sowhat improper.
"?"
Mahiro glanced around and saw the five who had stepped back pretending to look at the sky, none daring to et his gaze.
"Alright, I'll do it then."
"Hmm, good. Then to reward your courage, I'll personally put this on you."
Esdeath strode forward, holding the collar as she walked directly toward Mahiro.
Just as she was about to put it on, Mahiro suddenly stepped back, evading her.
"General Esdeath, you should keep that dog collar for yourself to wear when you're bored. It's just a re Danger Beast, why go through all this trouble?"
Upon hearing this, the others were stunned, silently giving him thumbs-up in their hearts.
What a warrior!
You're truly a real man, daring to speak to Lady Esdeath like that!
"Oh~"
Esdeath raised her elegant eyebrows, slowly lowered her hand, and turned to look at him. "Indeed quite courageous. You're the first to dare speak to like that."
"Is that so? Then I feel honored."
Completely ignoring Esdeath's dangerous gaze, Mahiro smiled slightly. "By the way, one more thing—if I kill this Danger Beast, would it be alright to use it for dinner tonight?"
"Of course, if you can manage it."
Esdeath was magnanimous, completely unbothered by his earlier insulting words, even saying with appreciation: "If you succeed, we'll throw a party for you tonight, funded by ."
"Good, it's settled then."
Mahiro turned around, looking at the lion-like Danger Beast frantically pulling at its chains, and said softly:
"Then I'll begin!"
As soon as the words fell, Mahiro's figure instantly vanished from where he stood.
"So fast!"
Nyau and the others widened their eyes—their vision couldn't even capture Mahiro's movent.
And when he reappeared, he had already leaped into mid-air, arriving above the lion's head.
"Oh, not bad at all."
While they couldn't see through it, Esdeath could clearly see Mahiro running forward, then leaping up and using the chains for leverage, performing a double jump to reach the dragon-lion's head.
Simultaneously, he clenched his fist and raised it high.
"Now—LIE DOWN!!!"
BOOM!
With one punch, dust instantly billowed up.
Through the dust, they could see the massive body of the lion slowly collapsing, with a figure standing atop it.
It was Mahiro.
Jumping down from the pierced head of the dragon-lion, as the dust gradually cleared, his figure erged step by step.
Still wearing that constant smile, his clothes still perfectly neat, as if nothing had changed.
Except for the dragon-lion lying motionless in a pool of blood.
"Lady Esdeath, mission accomplished."
"Well done. Your remaining training for today is canceled."
Esdeath said this, but received no cheers in response.
Because the other five were looking at Mahiro as if he were a superhuman.
"He actually took down a first-class Danger Beast with one punch..."
"...Is this guy even human?"
They were completely dumbfounded.
Only Esdeath's gaze towards him held an inexplicable glow, the smile at the corner of her lips growing even more brilliant.
"Heh, interesting."
...
...
"This lion at isn't particularly tasty either..."
True to her word, Esdeath had indeed thrown them a party, but everyone had practically been in tears throughout, as this was the first proper al they'd had since yesterday.
After the banquet concluded, Esdeath gave them ti off, allowing them to move about freely and relax.
Thus, Mahiro, picking his teeth, made his way back to the restricted military jurisdiction area.
After all, this place was not only the military headquarters but also the base of the Imperial City Guard.
He intended to familiarize himself a bit with the surroundings. As for the military path, he had already given up on it, since the one leading it was Esdeath, who completely rejected any form of bribery.
Even the rewards from the emperor, she would distribute every last bit to her subordinates or donate to the families of fallen soldiers.
Besides, it was mainly because above the military was that General Budo.
He was an obstinate, almost fossilized old man who not only refused any bribes but also paid no attention to court politics. Otherwise, how could Pri Minister Honest have been able to stir up trouble so freely?
Not to ntion, even a naturally gifted commander like Esdeath had spent many days climbing to the position of deputy general.
Though it seed she was about to be promoted again soon.
"Ouch, who is it?! Watch where you're going!"
Just as he was lost in thought, it seed he had bumped into soone.
No, to be precise, it wasn't that he had bumped into soone—with his abilities, it was impossible for him to bump into anyone while walking. Rather, a door nearby had just opened, and soone walking out had collided with him, causing the other person to tumble to the ground with a thud.
The person was wearing a white lab coat, looking less like a doctor and more like a researcher.
He wore a pair of black-frad glasses, had a bit of stubble on his chin, and his black hair had a streak of white dye. For so reason, though, his voice sounded sowhat effeminate.
"Are you alright?" Mahiro stopped and asked calmly.
The man, who had initially raised his eyebrows angrily and was about to start cursing, swallowed his words upon seeing Mahiro's strikingly handso appearance and finely sculpted features.
Instead, he replied in a delicate, soft voice:
"Oh dear, I think I've sprained my ankle a little. Could you please help to the infirmary?"
A bit disgusting.
But...
"The infirmary? Where is it?"
"Oh, you must be new here, no wonder you don't recognize . I'm Dr. Stylish, in charge of the empire's dical and technological research. Actually, you could say I'm assigned to the Imperial City Guard departnt."
Hearing this na, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
No wonder he was so effeminate—it was that guy, the weirdo who particularly enjoyed conducting human experints.
However, this guy did have so uses, especially with the body-enhancing drugs he created for Kuro. Perhaps he could help enhance the effects of his own potions.
For example, incorporating the abilities of so super Danger Beasts, like Tyrande or sothing.
Not to ntion, this guy seed to have so connection with the assassination corps, so this could be an opportunity to make contact or sothing.
He then spoke with a warm and friendly expression:
"Hello, I am Yotsuba Mahiro, the newly appointed captain of the Imperial City Guard. I'm currently undergoing new recruit training under Lady Esdeath."
Upon hearing Esdeath's na, Dr. Stylish's body involuntarily trembled—her sadistic nature was notoriously fearso after all.
It was precisely because of her fondness for torture that his supply of experintal subjects had significantly diminished.
However, upon learning that Mahiro was from the Imperial City Guard, he imdiately breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, we're colleagues! We should look out for each other more in the future—!!!"
Mahiro helped him up from the ground, but the man imdiately leaned in close, wearing an expression that seed ready to devour him.
He wasn't into n, nor did he have any interest in that direction.
So his body reacted instinctively—grabbing the other's arm, spinning 360 degrees on the spot, and directly flinging Dr. Stylish against the wall.
Like a mural, he beca embedded in the wall.
Mahiro: "..."
What should I do if I accidentally used too much force and turned soone into a wall mural?
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