"Oh, our knight in shining armor has returned. I was starting to wonder if, now that you've freed yourself from those restraints, you went off to reunite with some long-lost lover. Turns out you went to visit Bols' wife and daughter."
After resolving the situation with Bols' wife and daughter, Wood felt much lighter at heart.
Some might see his actions as foolish and unnecessary, but Wood didn't care. As long as it brought him peace of mind, he would do it.
Mine and Chelsea hadn't left the area. Curious about Wood's unusual behavior, they had secretly followed him and witnessed his interaction with Bols' wife and daughter.
From Mine's perspective, Wood was far too soft-hearted. Killing Bols but sparing his family was already generous by an assassin's standards.
But Wood went further—not only delivering the cake but also admitting to being the killer, leaving an open door for revenge.
"Judging by Bols' wife's final attitude, she probably won't seek revenge. She seemed like a smart woman.
"In this chaotic world, she might be able to raise her daughter properly. But only if she follows your advice and relocates.
"Otherwise, if the Revolutionary Army overthrows the Empire, their fate as mother and daughter probably won't end well."
Chelsea's sharp observational skills and keen understanding of human nature made her assessment clear. She had taken note of Bols' wife's every word and action.
Mine, however, didn't fully understand. Why would Bols' family be in danger if the Revolutionary Army triumphed?
"From our standpoint, the Revolutionary Army seems like the force of justice. But in truth, no side in this world is absolutely just.
"Every faction acts with its own agenda. Who's to say the Revolutionary Army today won't become tomorrow's Empire in a century or two? That's just the nature of humanity."
"Bols was a member of the Jaegers and an elite of the Empire. If the Revolutionary Army succeeds, do you think its leaders will spare the families of the Empire's elites?
"Of course not. Even if those families are defenseless or entirely ignorant, the ruling powers would eliminate any potential threats at the root.
"We managed to gather Bols' information. The Revolutionary Army, when they take over, will be able to do the same. That's why relocating is the wisest choice."
Hearing Wood's explanation, Mine froze. As a member of Night Raid, her sole focus had been on toppling the corrupt and dark Empire. She had never considered these broader implications.
"Ugh, dirty politics! So who are we even fighting for? Is what we're doing really meaningful?"
Wood's words shook Mine to her core, challenging the very foundation of her beliefs.
"For now, what we're doing is meaningful. At least the Revolutionary Army is better suited to rule this kingdom than the Empire.
"As for the future, that's none of our business. The rise and fall of dynasties are part of history's natural progression. All we need to do is stay true to the path we've chosen."
Chelsea observed Wood with growing curiosity. Finally, she asked, "I've been wondering, Wood. You're about the same age as Mine, right?
"But you seem to understand things far more deeply than others your age. The way you speak and act is so mature, like you've experienced a lot in life."
Wood chuckled, brushing off the compliment. "You're exaggerating. Before joining Night Raid, I was the eldest son of a prominent family. It's only natural I'd have a broader perspective than most."
Realizing he might have said too much, Wood quickly changed the subject.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Tatsumi and his group had begun targeting other members of the Jaegers.
With Bulat and Sheele back, Night Raid had regained some of its strength.
Their first targets were Dr. Stylish and the yandere girl Seryu.
The reason for choosing these two was simple: Dr. Stylish and Seryu rarely stayed at the Jaegers' base.
Seryu often patrolled various parts of the capital under the guise of justice, hunting down criminals.
Dr. Stylish, on the other hand, conducted dangerous experiments in a laboratory outside the capital.
In terms of pure combat strength, Night Raid couldn't hope to match the Jaegers.
To level the playing field, Tatsumi and his comrades decided to take out their targets one by one.
Using their mobility and assassination skills, they planned to eliminate the Jaegers' members before Esdeath and the others could react.
If a strike failed, they would retreat far away. When it came to stealth and assassination, the hastily formed Jaegers couldn't compare to the seasoned Night Raid.
In Dr. Stylish's lab, Seryu was watching a monitor displaying Tatsumi and Leone sneaking toward them. She turned to Dr. Stylish, who was typing rapidly on a computer.
"Mr. Stylish, are you sure about this?
"Night Raid consists of notorious criminals, but we can't deny their strength. They've escaped our clutches multiple times.
"They're clearly well-prepared this time, and General Esdeath has been searching for them. Shouldn't we notify her?"
Dr. Stylish had known for some time that Night Raid was targeting him and Seryu. His advanced surveillance equipment had revealed their approach long before.
But instead of notifying Esdeath or the Jaegers, Dr. Stylish decided to handle things himself.
"If we call General Esdeath and the others, they'll wipe out Night Raid, sure. But that would diminish our contribution.
"With my latest research and your power, we can take them down ourselves. Imagine the glory, Seryu!"
Dr. Stylish was a narcissist who took immense pride in his creations. He was confident in his abilities and wanted to claim full credit for eliminating Night Raid.
During the attack on Night Raid's hideout, Dr. Stylish had lost most of his "Stylish Squad." But Esdeath had rewarded him with new resources for locating the base.
With these resources, Dr. Stylish created an even stronger Stylish Squad. His greatest masterpiece was a fully mechanized boy wielding a blue longsword.
If Tatsumi and his group saw this mechanical boy, they would be shocked—he bore a striking resemblance to Wood and wielded the Teigu God of Calamity: Winter Knight.
This Teigu, like Esdeath's Demon's Extract, was too dangerous for ordinary people to wield. It had remained sealed because no user could withstand its extreme cold and side effects.
But Dr. Stylish was clever. He realized that while human bodies had limits, a cyborg wouldn't suffer from cold or physical side effects.
Using a death-row prisoner as the base, Dr. Stylish modified the boy's body to create the ultimate weapon.
He even erased the boy's mind and implanted Wood's combat techniques and strategies, collected from Wood's battle with Esdeath.
The result was a perfect replica of Wood, albeit a mechanical one.
Now, Dr. Stylish intended to test his creation by using it to crush Night Raid.
When Tatsumi and Bulat reached Dr. Stylish's lab, they had been discussing their battle strategy, preparing for a stealthy assassination mission.
However, much to their surprise, the laboratory doors opened automatically as they approached.
Dr. Stylish, clad in his iconic white lab coat, glasses gleaming, walked out with an exaggerated flourish. Behind him was Seryu, dressed in her Imperial Guard uniform, and a lifeless-looking black-haired boy.
"Welcome, members of Night Raid, to my humble laboratory. I've prepared a stage for your arrival and arranged the perfect opponent for you. So please, look forward to the show."
Seeing Dr. Stylish and his companions standing openly before them, Tatsumi and Bulat knew their stealth approach had been detected. There was no point in hiding any longer.
They stepped forward boldly, realizing they had been exposed from the beginning.
"What do we do now? Should we retreat?" Tatsumi asked, his gaze fixed on Dr. Stylish's calm and confident demeanor.
Tatsumi wasn't being cowardly; he had matured after many battles. Now, he understood the value of strategy and knew when to cut losses.
If Dr. Stylish had anticipated their arrival and still dared to stand before them without calling for reinforcements, it could only mean one of three things:
-Dr. Stylish was bluffing to scare them off.
-He had already informed Esdeath and the Jaegers, stalling until reinforcements arrived.
-Dr. Stylish had enough confidence in his own strength to take them on directly.
He was bluffing, trying to intimidate them into retreating.He had already informed Esdeath and the other Jaegers, and his goal was to stall for time.He was confident in his strength, believing he could deal with Night Raid on his own.
Of these possibilities, only the first was favorable for Night Raid. The second and third scenarios were both deeply problematic. That was why Tatsumi turned to the group for input.
"Thinking of leaving so soon? That won't do. If I let you walk away so easily, others might think I'm a poor host.
"If you want to leave, you'll have to leave something behind—your heads, your lives—I'm not picky."
Bulat had also considered retreating, but Dr. Stylish's words made it clear that leaving wouldn't be simple.