Chapter 122 - #121 Burning city (2/2)

”I don't promise anything. They will get a choice.” Akashi said while looking at the man.

'...He knew what I wanted to say. And it doesn't feel like he is blind...maybe he is some kind of sage as the one in those stories for the kids, haha. Anyway, at least I know that he will try to save them, that's all that matters.' The man thought and with that, he breathed his last breath.

”Dad?! Daaad!!” The boy immediately started shaking with the body of his dead father, trying to wake him up.

*Steps* ”Survivo-!” A man dashed inside the house and when he saw 3 people still alive, he wanted to shout to alarm others, however before he was able to finish it, a dagger pierced his throat which extremely scared the kids but after a while, they once again only focused on their father.

”Let's go.” Akashi said but none of the kids moved away from their father.

”...No, not until dad wakes up.” The boy said with a resolute voice while tears were pouring down his cheek.

”It wasn't a question.” They could only hear Akashi's words before they collapsed on the ground, unconscious.

Before taking them out of the burning house, Akashi burned the father of those kids to the ashes and gathered them into a small battle.

When he was done, Akashi took each kid under his arms and when he was outside, he summoned Kiyomi.

”Take them somewhere safe for now, then quickly come back here.” Akashi said while putting both kids onto Kiyomi's back.

*Chirp* Kiyomi nodded her head and tried to stealthily fly from the city under the curtain of smoke.

'That man had clothes belonging to the Dark Squad, Bill's special ȧssassination unit enhanced by the drugs. So they are working together, The Incineration Squad is burning the city while Dark Squad is looking for the survivors. Let's hurry up and see if there are other people I can secretly save, although, it could also backfire me if I save them...Well, worries come later, for now, I should take care of that dead man.' Akashi thought and went back to the house where he killed the man belonging to the Dark Squad and burned him so no one can find him.

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Kurome met up with Akame and Green since both of them weren't going fast.

”Kurome, are you alright?” Akame asked while looking at Kurome's tattered clothes.

”Yeah, just a few scratches, nothing new. Anyway, I took care of the problem so no one will suspect you two or me. Are you both going towards the city?” Kurome replied while they were slowly traveling in one direction. She asked with a curious expression since she thought that their friends were inside the forest and not inside the city.

”Thanks once again, Kurome. And yes, we are going towards the city since it can be said to be our safe point.” Green said with a grateful expression while looking at Kurome who just nodded her head to acknowledge it.

”Since when were you so strong? Did he stuff you with something...unpleasant?” Akame asked with a worried expression while looking straight into Kurome's black eyes.

”Please, have more confidence in me, big sis. And Akashi Nii-sama never forced me into anything and I am not using any drugs to enhance my strength either.” Kurome replied with a gentle smile.

”Instead of strength...I think that your strategy was even better than your strength, without any offense of course.” Green added with an impressed smile.

'This guy...I noticed how he looks at big sis...Does he love her? Is this also the reason why he is helping her despite knowing that she is suspect in the eyes of the Empire?' Kurome thought while examining a guy named Green more closely but her thoughts were interrupted when they finally exited the forest.

”Wha-! Why is the city...on fire?” Akame muttered with an absent-minded expression while looking at the burning city in the distance.

Her voice made both Green and Kurome wake up from their own thoughts and both looked in front of them just to be shocked by the burning city in the distance.

”A-” Green opened his mouth but nothing came out as he only stared in confusion.

”Akame, Green, you are finally here. We already thought that you are dead, your unit isn't inside the city anymore so you don't have to go there. I will give you directions on where your unit is instead.” A man with black hair, wearing a standard Dark Squad uniform approached three of them and explained with a stoic expression. He threw a curious look at Kurome and then back at Akame but he didn't say anything more.

”Kylie? What is going on? Why is the entire city covered in flames?” Akame asked the newcomer named Kylie who was the current leader of the Dark Squad.

”That was the point of our operation, our goal was to eliminate everyone affiliated with the Rebels. This way we were also able to make their army leave their fortress and meet us head-on” He said with his stoic expression while looking at the horizon on the burning city.

”So you burned the entire city?! What about civilians?!” Akame turned at him and almost shouted at him with a shocked expression.

”...It seems that The Incineration Squad took it a bit too far. They massacred everyone to make an example out of them.” He answered with narrowed eyes.

'...Kana, Tetsu' Akame thought about two kids she met not a few days ago, while she was looking at the city with a defeated look in her face.