Upon the boundless azure sea.
A gigantic beast nearly one hundred meters long exposed part of its body as it slowly swayed its tail and swam forward.
A hundred-meter giant beast whose back was as broad as a small island slowly advanced while breaking through the water's surface.
With just a casual swing of its tail, it stirred up raging waves several meters high.
The previously calm sea had been churned into chaos, white foam rolling beside it.
Atop this Special Danger Beast that would terrify any sailor out of their wits, a figure sat leisurely.
Long azure hair danced in the wind.
Esdeath extended a slender finger and lightly held down the brim of the white beach hat that was nearly blown away by the wind.
She had removed that somewhat serious Imperial military uniform, and now wore only the simplest pure white three-piece bikini.
Wearing that military uniform while riding a Special Danger Beast in the ocean was truly inconvenient.
Besides, she had worn it for a long time without having time to wash it, so she simply took it off altogether.
Esdeath lazily stretched her shoulders and neck.
Her left arm bent behind her head while her right hand casually pulled at her left elbow in a stretching motion.
This action made the proud and full curve of her chest appear even more prominent.
Under the sunlight, her snow-white skin seemed to radiate a cool jade-like luster.
The smooth and clearly defined abdominal lines on her stomach also outlined curves filled with wild charm.
Esdeath absentmindedly supported her chin as her ice-blue eyes looked into the distance.
On the horizon, the outline of an island gradually became clear.
"The route wasn't wrong, it's just... it went very far around."
She muttered softly, her voice containing no anger, but rather a playful amusement like someone discovering an interesting toy.
After stretching her body, she supported her chin and looked ahead.
The shape of an island faintly emerged not far away.
Several traces of contemplation flashed through Esdeath's ice-blue eyes.
"The route was right, just a little far."
"You deliberately made me take a huge detour..."
As she thought this, a dangerous curve rose at the corner of her lips.
"While I was away... what exactly have you been plotting, Uesugi Ryu?"
Although she had been tricked, Esdeath was not angry about it.
Being schemed against by a former subordinate and trapped in the distant sea did not discourage her in the slightest.
Instead, a long-lost thrill surged up from her spine, bringing almost numbing ecstasy.
How could sparring with obedient subordinates compare to a traitor risking his life in a desperate struggle?
"Heh..."
A light laugh escaped her lips.
Esdeath stood up abruptly atop the smooth head of the Danger Beast with her bare feet planted firmly!
"Whoosh!"
The violent sea wind instantly swept away that leisurely beach hat.
At the same time, it violently dragged her azure hair that hung to her calves and the bangs before her forehead backward.
Beneath the fully exposed smooth forehead, there was no trace of laziness left in her ice-blue pupils, only pure and burning hunting desire.
Esdeath gently stroked the mark on her chest with one hand as the curve of her lips widened sharply.
"The boring journey ends here. I've been holding back for so long, don't disappoint me!"
As the Special Danger Beast continued advancing, the surging waves far behind it suddenly stagnated for an instant.
Crack crack crack!
A crisp sound suddenly rang out as the waves froze into ice sculptures.
This absolute freezing spread madly outward from the waves as the origin point.
The azure sea visibly lost all vitality at a speed discernible to the naked eye, covered in endless frost and solid ice in the blink of an eye.
Before Esdeath herself even arrived, the sweeping chill and terrifying power capable of changing the climate had already crossed the sea ahead of her!
...........
The western foreign tribes at the border had been repelled with ease.
Neither Budo himself nor the advanced firearms equipment were things they could resist.
Uesugi Ryu had never regarded these nearby countries as worthy opponents.
Lightly flipping through the alchemy documents Dorothea had handed over.
Uesugi Ryu lifted the teacup emitting hot steam and took a light sip.
The scalding tea slid down his throat, and the fingers that were about to turn to the next page paused slightly.
Uesugi Ryu turned his head and looked out the window.
Specks of snowflakes drifted past outside, and the temperature instantly began to drop.
"It's snowing..."
Closing the book in his hands, he slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the terrace.
"Snowing at this time is rather abnormal. It's Esdeath, huh."
He stretched out his hand to catch two snowflakes, lowered his head to examine the patterns of the snowflakes, and muttered softly.
"She's moving even faster than I imagined."
He quietly stood by the terrace, admiring the snowy scenery.
Who knew how much time had passed before the snow grew heavier and heavier.
Goose-feather-like snowflakes seemed intent on covering the entire world, and visibility gradually blurred.
Patting his shoulders and shaking off the large patches of snow covering him.
Uesugi Ryu suddenly smiled and turned around, returning to the dim room.
"Mm... it's decided then. Tonight, we're having mutton hotpot."
At a time when everything was waiting to be rebuilt, everyone was busy.
Mephistopheles was building an intelligence organization, Seryu had gone to the border, and Stylish was doing research as usual.
Wave and Run were busy coordinating with Night Raid and the others, while Bols... had gone home to accompany his wife and children.
As for Kurome, she naturally kept clinging to her sister Akame without letting go.
Only Uesugi Ryu, the boss himself, was bored out of his mind, though this was the privilege of being the boss.