Chapter 101 - #100 Aftermath (1/2)

----When Akashi left the village----

Approximately after a few hours, the Empire found something strange about one of their secret villages since all of them were had to report at regular intervals. When they didn't get any report from one of their villages, Saikyuu was instantly informed about this. He was thinking about sending out Dark Squad that was trained with Bill's help and his enhancing drugs but then he suddenly recalled that in that village was also resting Gozuki's kid so he sent for him and informed him about this, ordering him to go and investigate it.

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”Father, what had happened?” Green asked while they were jumping from one tree to another, speeding towards the village.

There was Akame, Green, Najasho, Poney, Tsukushi, and additional help Natala and Gin who were previously rescued from the tombs. All of them were being led by Gozuki.

Such a deadly group of people would be able to take care of any enemy, even if it was Rebel's army as long as their numbers didn't reach thousands.

”We lost contact with one of the villages and that specific village is also where Gai is currently resting.” Gozuki explained without even looking back at them and kept focusing on what's in front of him.

”?! What?! We need to hurry up!” Tsukushi was shocked by such information but she wasn't the only one who was shocked.

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They kept traveling through the forest with uneasy expressions until they reached the village. By the time they reached the village, the sun already rose and started sending peaceful and warm sun rays on the entire village.

”...? Where is everyone?” Akame muttered with a dumbfounded expression while looking around the village.

*Sniff* ”I don't see neither I smell any blood in the air...It's as if everyone just disappeared.” Gozuki muttered with a thoughtful expression.

Everyone was looking around with cautious expressions while they were nearing the village's center.

”?! There is something unusual there!” Poney said while pointing at a big boulder that shouldn't belong there and started running towards it.

”Wha- Poney, wait!” Akame instantly ran after her because the enemy could still be around.

'I know that enemy can be around but this is the best way how to lure them out, appearing to be off-guard plus you are right after me, Akame, if anyone decides to attack, he won't be able to live for much longer.' Although it looked like Poney just thoughtlessly ran towards the boulder, she actually intended to become bait for potential enemy lurking around.

Everyone quickly followed after Akame and Poney but they were more cautious than them therefore they were slower.

”?!” Poney stopped in front of the boulder while looking at it with wide-open shaky eyes, even Akame wasn't an exception when she caught up to Poney.

”What is wrong, both of you?!” When others caught up to them, Green and Tsukushi instantly asked when they saw Poney and Akame just staring at the boulder in front of them.

[Here lies a brave warrior named Gai. Smiling and laughing in the face of death itself until the end. Struggling despite knowing that it is futile. May he rest in peace despite not knowing that he isn't even fighting for what he believes in. May those who lied to him burn in hell]

Everyone read the sentences craved into the boulder with wide-open eyes.

”No...Wait, we can't be sure until we see his body!” Tsukushi said while tears poured down her cheeks.

”...I will go look for some tools we can use to make sure...” Akame said while holding back tears, she quickly left the group while Gozuki gestured with his hand for Green to follow her since the enemy could still be around.

Gozuki looked at the ground in front of the boulder and saw that soil was just recently excavated and put back, maybe a few hours ago.

'...He is most likely dead but what kind of enemy would bother himself with doing this?' Gozuki thought to himself with closed eyes.

While Akame was looking around for the tools, she has entered the barn to look for tools for digging and she has found them but she also found some documents near it. She decided to have a quick look at them before returning with Green.

[Nare Village exterminated and reduced to ashes: 236 Adults, 64 Children. No survivors, mission well accomplished.]

[Futshi Village...]

[...]

The more Akame read, the more shocked she became and she couldn't stop herself to read even more despite wanting to only cast an eye over them previously.