Chapter 35: I have become the Child Emperor

A FEW DAYS EARLIER:

In the midst of the unfolding chaos caused by Zank the beheader's attack on the capital, Najenda was seen storming out of a meeting room where high-ranking leaders of the revolutionary army had gathered. Her face bore an annoyed scowl as she made her way towards the nearest window, pulling out a cigarette and hastily lighting it. The meeting had left her exasperated, and she knew the revolutionary army was facing a monumental problem.

The Emperor's sweeping tax reforms and his overreaching authority that overshadowed the local nobles' power, combined with the General Inspector's campaign to subdue corrupt and cruel military officers within the Empire, were putting immense strain on the revolutionary's cause. The very foundation they had built their movement upon was slowly crumbling before their very eyes. Countless meetings had been held, all revolving around one critical question: Should they continue their armed struggle against the Empire, or should they seek negotiation for peace with Emperor Makoto and disband altogether?

The revolutionary army lacked a central leader; instead, it operated through alliances forged by powerful individuals weary of the Empire's corruption. Najenda could have been part of the decision-making powers, but her defection from the Empire had led to a devastating ambush by General Esdeath, leaving only a few survivors from her personal army. This denied her the privilege of taking on a central leadership role.

Initially, the council-like leadership structure had garnered favor from Najenda and a significant number of rebel forces. It prevented any single individual from wielding unchecked power and kept the leaders in balance with one another.

However, now this power balance had become a double-edged sword, causing the organization to stagnate amidst the ongoing debate. The arguments had been raging since Najenda's arrival, and she could only imagine how many times this same conversation had taken place before she joined them.

The tension and disagreements in the higher echelons of the revolutionary army didn't escape the notice of those in the lower hierarchy. This led to the formation of two opposing camps within the organization – one advocating for the overthrow of the ruling class and a complete restructuring of the Empire's government, while the other sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict via negotiation with the Emperor.

This division further fueled the heated debates in the meetings, with leaders using it to strengthen their own positions and gain support for their cause.

Caught in the middle of this ideological clash, Najenda found herself unsure of the best course of action to take. As she stepped foot in the headquarters, representatives from both camps sought her allegiance, as well as that of Night Raid, the elite assassination unit she led.

Lucky for her, she was always able to deflect them by stating that she is loyal to the cause of the revolutionary army, whatever that was at the moment was still uncertain, even to Najenda. For her, both factions were not wrong, picking one over the other was not an easy decision to make.

"You seem tired," a young woman's voice broke Najenda's contemplation. The speaker had pale skin, auburn hair, and captivating red eyes. She dressed in a vocalist-like outfit, with a white, long-sleeve shirt, a red ribbon-tied collar under a black vest, a red checkered miniskirt, and black leather below-the-knee boots.

Najenda glanced at the young woman, who always had a lollipop in hand whenever they crossed paths. "Chelsea, how have you been?" she asked, acknowledging her presence.

"Nothing really," she replied, moving beside Najenda. "So the council still hasn't made a decision, huh?" she added, her playful tone contrasting with the seriousness of the situation.

Chelsea, a skilled Teigu user, was not a member of Night Raid; instead, she belonged to the regional assassination team. Their task involved eliminating targets of the revolutionary army who were far from the capital. While Night Raid consisted mainly of combatants, the regional team was not as powerful in direct combat, but they were experts in lethal assassination methods, even resorting to using poisons when necessary to secure their targets.

A few weeks prior, the regional team had found themselves in a perilous situation, nearly surrounded by the Empire's formidable assassination unit, Dark Squad. Chelsea and her comrades had braced themselves for what seemed like an inevitable and deadly confrontation. However, to their bewilderment, the Dark Squad received sudden orders to retreat, abandoning their pursuit and halting all operations against the regional team.

This astonishing turn of events left the revolutionary army perplexed and determined to uncover the reasons behind such a peculiar order. Yet, their efforts to investigate the matter were hampered due to the current spy network in the Capital no longer existing and still in the process of being remade.

It was after this confrontation with Dark Squad, that the regional team reluctantly returned to the headquarters to recuperate and await their next mission. However, the ongoing and unresolved debates among the leaders kept them indefinitely confined to the base.

"It's going to be a while before they officially decide what to do next," Najenda replied, taking a hit of her cigarette. "I'm thinking of going back to the Night Raid base and just wait there," she added, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Already annoyed with staying here?" Chelsea teased, tilting her head with a smirk.

"You could say that," Najenda mumbled. Each passing day had tested her patience, and the continuous attempts by the two factions to recruit her were wearing her down. Unwilling to pick a side, she had decided that leaving the headquarters was the best course of action.

"If that's the case, do you mind if I join Night Raid?" Chelsea's unexpected request caught Najenda by surprise. While Chelsea was undoubtedly qualified for Night Raid, she had been a dedicated member of the regional team since the beginning, making her sudden desire to leave her team quite unusual.

"Why are you leaving your team?" Najenda inquired, curious about Chelsea's motivations.

With a sigh, Chelsea replied, "Honestly, I'm also growing tired of staying here. I'd like to join Night Raid and see if I can take on some missions with them."

"But we haven't had any targets recently. Your transfer might not have much purpose right now," Najenda pointed out.

"It doesn't matter. I don't mind training with Night Raid either," Chelsea responded, causing a slight furrow in Najenda's brow. Her instincts were telling her that something was off with Chelsea's request, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"Was this transfer approved?" Najenda asked, seeking reassurance.

"Of course, a council member already approved it," Chelsea confirmed.

Despite Chelsea's assurances, Najenda couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She trusted her instincts, and she knew that this sudden desire for Chelsea to join Night Raid might have deeper implications. But due to it being approved from someone higher up, she had no authority to deny Chelsea's request.

"Alright then, we'll leave in a few days", Najenda stated, reluctantly.