The heavy scent of rust mingled with disinfectant, churning through the cramped room.
Mine's pale face sank into the pillow, even her breathing carrying the ashen stillness of someone at death's door.
A layer of half-congealed dark red blood had collected in the enamel basin beneath the bed, while the blood bags hanging from the IV stand reflected a faint sheen under the moonlight.
Both of Mine's hands were covered with needles, blood continuously flowing into her body.
All of Night Raid had crowded into the room.
Uesugi Ryu's clone had already vanished.
Delaying Blood Frenzy's violent energy was not something a mere Phantom Clone could accomplish.
Uesugi Ryu slowly walked in.
The difference between the clone and the real body was obvious.
The moment those molten gold eyes came into view, the hairs on everyone's neck stood on end.
Night Raid's members all tensed, every face filled with vigilance.
Unlike his cold demeanor during the negotiation, Uesugi Ryu now greeted them warmly.
"Don't all look so down. Our interests align right now, so let's get along."
Tatsumi and Leone, however, could not possibly feel pleased.
They had personally destroyed the pleasure district and witnessed Uesugi Ryu's crimes.
Right now, his attitude looked more like provocation than friendliness.
Najenda remained calm. She clapped her hands lightly.
"Welcome. Do you need any preparations to remove the blood poison?"
Najenda suspected that the blood poison was the ability of either a Teigu or a Shingu.
Night Raid was very familiar with cursed Teigu like that.
Akame's Teigu, One Cut Killer: Murasame, was among the best of its kind.
Uesugi Ryu casually glanced at Mine lying in bed.
"No need. Turn her over."
Akame and Leone immediately stepped forward.
After carefully removing the needles, the two of them worked together to turn Mine onto her stomach.
The wound that stretched across her back squirmed unnaturally.
Sensing its master, the dark crimson energy stirred excitedly, wriggling beneath her skin like a living thing.
Uesugi Ryu snapped his fingers softly.
Threads of crimson energy slowly seeped out from the wound.
Blood Frenzy could induce bleeding, and naturally, it could also stop it.
Uesugi Ryu's control over his energy was now incredibly precise.
Mine's wound quickly stopped bleeding.
Lubbock leaned against the window, quietly observing everything.
"So it's not a Teigu or a Shingu. It's his own ability?"
After it was done, the pain on Mine's face lessened considerably.
Night Raid collectively let out a huge sigh of relief.
No matter what, the fact that no one had died was the best possible outcome.
Teigu could be stolen or acquired again.
Dead people could not be brought back.
Uesugi Ryu stared at Najenda and said flatly,
"I've shown my sincerity. I hope you won't try to fool me."
Najenda pulled out an eye-shaped Teigu from her coat and handed it over.
"Gaea Foundation: Spectator. This is the deposit. Return Pumpkin first."
What Najenda really wanted to say was, Return Sheele first.
But she could not reveal just how much Night Raid valued its comrades.
Uesugi Ryu did not immediately take it.
He was no fool.
Pumpkin was far more valuable than Extase.
The former grew stronger against stronger opponents.
The latter was little more than a sharp pair of scissors.
"I'll accept it. But Pumpkin stays with me. I can return Extase."
"And prepare some daily necessities for that purple-haired girl. I can't be bothered taking care of her."
Najenda frowned.
Uesugi Ryu was even more cunning than she had expected.
Still, getting one back was better than getting none.
She nodded.
"Fine. But..."
A sharp crash of shattering glass interrupted her.
A giant pair of scissors flew through the broken window and embedded itself right beside Lubbock's feet.
"Fair trade."
Uesugi Ryu smiled faintly and accepted the Teigu from Najenda.
Lubbock and Bulat immediately looked outside, but saw nothing.
For Mephisto, dense night and heavy rain were the perfect camouflage.
Uesugi Ryu could have simply taken the Teigu from his system inventory.
He just did not want to reveal that information.
Cold wind and rain poured into the room through the broken window.
Najenda's silver hair fluttered wildly.
She chuckled softly.
"A man as strong as you can't possibly be content as a mere merchant. Interested in joining us?"
"We can help you gather what you want. Any spoils you capture will belong entirely to you."
The Revolutionary Army united all possible allies.
Even the infamous assassination group Oarburgh had once cooperated with them.
Since Uesugi Ryu's allegiance remained unclear, he was worth recruiting.
At the very least, his actions clearly put him at odds with the Prime Minister and his faction.
Najenda was simply trying her luck.
Testing the waters cost nothing.
Most of the others stayed quiet.
But Tatsumi's expression darkened immediately.
Night Raid was justice in his heart.
How could they possibly accept a villain like Uesugi Ryu?
A trace of disdain crossed Uesugi Ryu's face.
"Not interested. I have no desire to be some nameless hero. Besides, don't you think your offer is a bit ridiculous?"
Najenda shrugged.
Exactly the answer she had expected.
"Then let's cooperate. We'll pay a sufficient price."
Uesugi Ryu neither agreed nor refused.
He still needed to think about it.
The system had not yet issued any relevant mission, but he suspected a faction choice would eventually be required.
He glanced at Tatsumi, whose expression had grown hostile.
Pretending casual curiosity, he asked,
"What are you planning to do with the people from the pleasure district? Surely righteous Night Raid has a proper plan."
"With your compensation, I might even consider abandoning that low-profit business."
Confidence flashed across Tatsumi's face.
He looked toward Leone by the bedside.
Leone had previously told him they would find doctors to treat those girls who had been controlled by drugs.
"Of course we do. Right, Big Sis?"
Leone awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
There was no way they could properly take care of that many people.
At most, she could bring a few girls she personally knew to receive treatment.
Night Raid did not have the resources to support so many patients.
Leone guiltily looked toward Najenda.
"Uh, Boss, we can... right?"
Najenda immediately understood what had happened.
That kind of matter was beyond Night Raid's capabilities.
The Capital had more than one pleasure district.
Places like that were everywhere.
Even if they saved them, it would only treat the symptoms, not the disease.
What puzzled Najenda was why Uesugi Ryu was asking about this.
From their brief interactions, he was clearly a self-serving pragmatist.
A pleasure district could never be called unprofitable.
Businesses like that had always been immensely lucrative.
What exactly was he trying to imply?
Najenda's silence answered everything.
The light in Tatsumi's eyes gradually faded.
He lowered his head, deeply discouraged.
Even he understood that this was beyond what an assassination group could handle.
But having no hope at all still hurt.
His throat moved slightly, but no words came out.
Leone covered her forehead regretfully.
She had agreed to it on impulse at the time.
Everyone fell silent.
This sort of problem would likely only improve after overthrowing the Prime Minister's brutal regime.
A barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of Uesugi Ryu's lips.
"If you won't handle it, then help me kill a few people. I'll take care of the rest."
His voice was soft, yet in the dead silence, it rang with perfect clarity.