Chapter 185 - #184 The End ?/? (2/2)
Hearing his words, Budo's eyes widened in shock.
”You can't do that! Generations after generations, only those of royal blood can become emperor. You are completely breaking the traditions!” Budo immediately disagreed.
”Hahaha” Akashi actually started laughing after he heard Budo's words.
”? What is so funny?!” Budo frowned and questioned.
”The Empire was at its peak during the rein of the First Emperor yet it gradually started crumbling with each new descendants of the First Emperor. Just because you have the blood of someone capable doesn't make you capable, blood is nothing but genes that determine your appearance. Not to mention there are numerous genes mixed in by their wives so if we speak about purity of his bloodline, it will be very thin. HE IS a descendant of the emperor but that doesn't qualify him to be one himself. End of the discussion, we are done here, understood?” Akashi said before he walked away from the former emperor, approaching Budo. When he was walking past him, he ordered with narrowed eyes.
”...Yes” Budo replied without looking at Akashi, having his own worries to think of.
'All of what he said does make sense but...is it really fine to end tradition like that?' Budo thought with a hard expression.
”I-It's not just about my royal blood...it's because my blood is a key to activate the Capital's ultimate Teigu.” The former emperor suddenly raised his head and shouted at Akashi who was walking towards the exit and his words managed to stop him.
”Hm? Haha, kid, I don't know if you are more naive or brave, maybe it is just ignorance...By telling this information to me, you are just endangering your own life. I can just use your body to experiment with your blood...” Akashi once again laughed right into his face.
”I know but you promised that you have no ill intentions towards me” He replied with a resolved eyes.
”That was under different circumstances when I still had no idea about this information...Well, whatever, I will have you show me that ultimate Teigu and I will either destroy it or come up with a plan to destroy its bond with the Emperor's bloodline, that is if this ultimate Teigu will be worth it.” Akashi waved his hand before leaving the throne room with Esdeath behind him, completely shocking Budo and the former emperor.
Outside of the Palace, inside the Capital, a big commotion began once a few people heard rumors about fight ongoing inside the palace. Some of the braver ones started rebelling on the streets but they were quickly apprehended by the Imperial police.
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Akashi and Esdeath went to the room usually used by her subordinates where they found everyone. Akashi's group and also Esdeath's special unit.
”Commander!” Everyone from Esdeath's unit exclaimed with happy expressions when they saw Esdeath walk in but that happy expression haven't lasted for long before they noticed her just looking at them, not helping them.
”A-Akashi? Is that you?”
Akashi heard a shaky voice so he turned its direction and saw an acquaintance.
”Oh? Seryu! How are you doing?” Akashi asked with a friendly smile while seeing her in binds with her teigu being paralyzed by Kurome's weapon.
There was one more person who was completely paralyzed by her lightning and it was someone covered in dark blue armor, similar to Incursio.
'That must hurt...Mostly those types of Teigu have elemental resistances but it seems that Kurome didn't waste any energy on him and his armor turned into misfortune instead of his greatest defense.' Akashi thought while looking at a guy lying down on the ground in dark blue armor, his body was shaking with the yellow lightning constantly running on the surface of his armor.
”Hm?” Akashi turned to one...man or at least he looked partly human who was already dead so Akashi looked at Taeko to explain the situation.
”He injected something into his body so I deemed it was safer to quickly kill him instead of waiting for the effects of that drug.” Taeko explained with a regretful look in her eyes.
”No problem, who is he?” Akashi shook his head before turning at Esdeath.
”We called him Dr. Stylish” Esdeath shortly replied.
”I see...let's brief all of you about the current situation, shall we?” Akashi said while helping the guy in armor to get rid of that armor.
”*huff* I can't feel anything...thanks” Once the armor disappeared and turned into a dark sword, a man with short dark blue hair was revealed.
Akashi looked strangely at him for thanking him but he proceeded to the explanation.
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After around 10 minutes, most of them calmed down a bit and were ready to be freed of their bindings.
”I knew it would come to this one day...I guess it's my time.” A big muscular guy wearing a mask typical for an incineration squad said with a sad tone while rubbing his wrist.
”What are you saying Bols?!” The armor-guy exclaimed with an upset expression.
'Jeez, he is an annoying one...Maybe I shouldn't have freed him but I must admit he recovered quite fast once the armor was removed which means he is quite tough even without it.' Akashi thought while looking towards guy named Bols and the other guy he freed.
”Wave...I appreciate your concern but I am guilty. When I was member of the incineration squad, I have done many bad things...And if I say bad, I mean the worst of all.” He replied with a tone as if he was ready to atone for his sins.
”But what about your wife and daughter?!” The armor-guy named Wave asked while gritting his teeth.
”...” This time, Bols just looked at the floor without replying.
*Clap* *Clap* Akashi started clapping which made everyone look toward him.
”Good display of friendship and hardship! You two would be able to write down and perform some really good theater plays.” Akashi said with an amused smile and a playful tone.
”Unfortunately, you aren't guilty...yet! I will firmly have people go through all records about everyone and if they have never done anything truly bad on their own, they won't be charged as guilty. However don't misunderstand, just because you were under orders doesn't mean you are innocent, but it looks like I don't need to remind this to you when you already consider yourself as a sinner” Akashi said with a more serious tone.
”So you mean-?” Bols raised his head and asked with a surprised voice.
”Yes, I will give everyone a second chance...well, not everyone, heh.” Akashi said with a small chuckle that caused all members of Esdeath's unit to shiver.
”Taeko, Poney, Kurome, here you have some additional targets that might still be hiding inside the palace. The commotion we caused was still just a few moments ago so we have to use that chance to catch everyone.” Akashi said while giving Taeko a few posters.
”It will be done” Taeko nodded with a faint smile before leaving together with the girls.
”I am leaving them to you, Esdeath. I am going to return to the throne room to talk with Budo and our former emperor” Akashi said sarcastically before leaving the room.
'Not letting me have a word in this, huh?' Esdeath thought with a small grin that actually surprised everyone inside the room.
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Outside, the rumors were only getting wilder and people started gathering around the palace and since most of the guards were called to the throne room, those few guards outside had no chance at suppressing the crowds for a long time, fortunately for them, a few people walked out of the palace right at the moment of need.
”Great General Budo!!” The guards exclaimed with new hope in their eyes but that hope quickly disappeared when they noticed a small person next to him.
”Y-Your majesty?! Please return, you can't be here!!!” The guards who were holding of the crowd immediately shouted when they started losing control over the situation.
Akashi who saw this narrowed his eyes and focused his aura on the crowd in front of the palace and everyone froze in place, including the guards, they could only move their heads a bit.
”Listen up, citizens of the Capital! I, heir of the Phoenix house, Akashi Phoenix would like to announce to you of our emperor's abdication of the throne!” Akashi shouted as loud as he could and people closest to him even had to protect their ears.
”...” There was complete silence and only disbelieving faces, from both citizens and guards.
”This country has faced corruption for too long! However, all of that will end today! Most of you have to be aware of the state of my territory, maybe some of you already visited it...Imagine, imagine how would the country advance if this was realized across the entire Empire! No longer, no longer we would have to watch children on streets starve and die without their parents!” Akashi continued with an extended arm towards the crowd. A big part of the crowd started to cry just from remembering all the things that happened to them or to their family members.
”I will personally see to it that all those who are responsible for the state in which this country is, will face justice! However, to build something anew, to build a country I am speaking about, we need a lot of capable people and we can't afford to be blinded by our hatred. Some of the people like those guards just did as ordered or they would have been the ones killed, of course, that doesn't mean that they are innocents, however, it is a perfect opportunity for them to redeem themselves by working towards this country's bright future!”
By this time, Akashi already stopped restraining the crowds with his aura and they just stood there obediently and listened to him with various emotions raging inside them.
”Fear not, I will have my people investigate all people before giving anyone a second chance. My ultimate goal is to make this country stronger, more prosperous than during the time of the First Emperor! The Blood doesn't give one talent to rule, we have already seen that with our own eyes, however, we cannot blame the former emperor who is here with us! Look at him, he is just a child, his parents were murdered by the Prime Minister Honest and then he was raised by Honest himself or more like controlled by him. I agree with most of you that he should be held responsible but do you actually think that as a descendant of the Emperor, he likes to see his country slowly crumble? He will suffer much more by watching someone else rule the country and making it prosper! He will realize his wrongdoings!” Akashi said while clenching his fist to appear more dramatic.
The crowd was mostly agreeing with Akashi but a little commotion began once he mentioned sparing the former emperor although no people were getting violent, only shouting back at him in disapproval.
”Don't forget that he isn't your main target here! Bring him here!” Akashi shouted before waving behind him and the guards with uncertain expressions brought tied up Honest who had his arms broken by Akashi for ”security” reasons.
The commotion once again started but this time, people were only shouting and throwing rocks at Honest who was kneeling on the ground with moist eyes.
Akashi continued his speech for a while before returning to the palace, of course, without Honest who was left outside to face the wrath of all people. It's wonderful sight how thousands of thousands of people can work together and agree on terms when it comes to their common enemy. The guards around the palace no longer tried to stop the crowds from doing whatever they want with Honest.
Thus started Honest's eternal torture, people were taking turns in stabbing him and those proficient in medicine were there to heal him. They were making sure not to make any big wounds that would be hard to heal but they compensate for it by selecting very painful locations.
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When the Prime Minister Chouri arrived at the Capital, he was surprised to see only a few people on the streets however he quickly noticed the queue leading towards the palace. He was quickly escorted there with Mera's help and then he was once again shocked to see the sight of Honest bloodied body.
'It looks like Akashi fought the entire battle alone and now I am here just to help stabilize the situation.' Chouri thought with closed eyes and a faint smile.
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”...That was something else” Budo commented while walking next to the former emperor and Akashi.
”It's always annoying to do these embarrassing speeches.” Akashi muttered with an uncomfortable expression.
Even the former emperor was looking at Akashi with reverence in his eyes, he was prepared to face death for his bad ruling but he was surprised to see Akashi's ability to satisfy crowd however it would have been impossible if Akashi wasn't already well known for his strength and also for his territory which was the most prosperous part of the city.