"Hahaha! That woman isn't bad either. If I could play some games with her tonight, I'd be walking on air!"
"If that's the case, why don't you go find her right now, my Lord?"
"Because there are more important matters at hand, obviously..."
On the streets of the Imperial Capital, Syura—son of Minister Honest—was prowling with the members of his special security unit, Wild Hunt, constantly scouting for beautiful women.
However, Syura didn't seem to have any such intentions today, despite having already "claimed" quite a few women over the past few days.
"The old man gave me an important mission, so hobbies and interests have to take a back seat for now~"
"Of course, if some pretty women show up among the enemies during the mission, I wouldn't mind accepting them."
The voice of his father, Honest, echoed in his mind...
"Syura, I am truly proud of you. I never expected my son to one day become the 'Empire's Strongest.'"
"But being the strongest in the Empire doesn't mean you're the strongest in the world. The situation the Empire is facing right now is dire... Budo is dead, and not a single general below him can hold their own. The only one I can truly trust is you."
"So, show me what you're capable of, Syura. Let me see if you truly have what it takes to inherit everything I own!"
Afterward, Honest had shared a portion of his plan with Syura, leaving the young man with a look of genuine shock on his face.
Pretty bold, you old geezer... you actually dare to hand such a dangerous task to me?
But I accept!
I'll show you what I can do!
Leading his subordinates from Wild Hunt, Syura and his men donned black cloaks to avoid drawing attention. They began loitering around the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, searching for a specific organization...
Finding them wasn't easy. Unless the organization revealed themselves, it would likely take at least ten days to half a month. While Syura was internally impatient, he wasn't about to pass up this chance to prove himself to his father.
As time ticked by, the sun began to dip into the west, marking the end of the day. Syura wasn't discouraged; if they didn't show today, they'd come back tomorrow. Eventually, they would cross paths.
As it turned out, Lady Luck was smiling on Syura. Just as Wild Hunt was preparing to depart, a voice suddenly rang out from behind them, causing the group to instantly snap into defensive stances.
"You lot... you're from the Empire, aren't you?"
"Everyone here possesses decent strength. Are you playing the 'waiting game' here?"
The speaker was alone, but the pressure Syura sensed told him his goal had been achieved.
"Ha! Isn't it obvious? And by the look of it, you're doing the exact same thing as us, aren't you?"
"..."
Upon hearing Syura's words, the cloaked figure fell silent for a moment before glancing at the surrounding street.
"The place where the Royal Capital's control is weakest is this Northwest Street. It's a den of iniquity where the owner of any shop you grab could be rightfully beheaded. Everyone inside and outside the Capital knows one thing..."
"The Empire abandoned this street specifically to use it for things that can't see the light of day," Syura answered for him. Neither side seemed surprised by the answer.
"This street is unofficial, which means there are bound to be..."
"Revolutionary Army members here. That would be you, wouldn't it?"
"Correct," the cloaked figure nodded, then turned and began to walk away slowly. "Since you didn't attack after all this time, it means the Rebels and the Empire are thinking the same thing..."
"If you want to negotiate, follow me."
"How lucky~ You don't mind if I bring my people along, do you?"
"No problem. This is a negotiation; I have no intention of fighting."
Moonlight grazed the forest like a young girl admiring the beautiful earth.
Under the cover of night, several figures sprinted away from the Royal Capital at high speed, not stopping until they reached a river.
"Whoa, whoa! You said no fighting, so why are there so many people?"
Before they even got close, Syura had sensed several powerful auras. Upon arrival, he saw ten or so people standing on the opposite bank, each exuding a formidable sense of pressure.
Syura could only watch as the guide jumped across to the other side, leaving him and his Wild Hunt members on their bank.
"This is a necessary safety precaution. Besides, when you left the Capital, didn't you tell the guards you needed backup? We're both in the same boat..."
"Say whatever you want," Syura waved a hand dismissively, his expression turning serious. "Now, let's get down to business!"
"You're here to talk cooperation... right?"
Syura stood at the front of Wild Hunt, his eyes scanning the group of cloaked figures. Soon, one man stepped forward to speak with him.
Since he was authorized to negotiate this matter, he must hold a very high position within the Revolutionary Army. If Syura captured him, he could likely pry a wealth of intel from him—but that would mean the cooperation would fail. Better to hold back. This was his old man's direct request; it would be bad if he botched it.
"Of course. We have come with sincerity."
The cloaked man slowly pulled back his hood, revealing an aged face that made Syura's eyes widen.
"The Vice Leader of the Revolutionary Army? I didn't expect you to come personally. I really am lucky!"
"None of that matters. What matters is that I can represent the Rebels. And you... can you represent the Empire?"
The old man's gaze was sharp, giving Syura the feeling of being seen through. Even though the elder wasn't strong and showed no signs of martial training, his eyes seemed to pierce through everything.
So this is the Rebel Vice Leader?
They really do have plenty of talented people!
"Of course I can. I am Honest's son, after all—the man who will inherit this Empire in the future!"
To prove his identity, Syura pulled a gold medallion from his cloak. It featured an elegant pattern and a large character for "Emperor." It was a token that only the Emperor himself was permitted to use, yet it was now in Syura's hand.
"Very well!"
The elder didn't waste words on Syura's bravado. In his eyes, Syura's words were a joke—because the Empire would eventually be overthrown by the Revolutionary Army anyway.
"Since we have both proven our identities, let us have a proper discussion regarding the United Resistance Against the North!"