Chapter Ninety-Five: Trifles and the False Assault on the Ninth Heaven

Although Hill was all right, which relieved everyone, the arrival of a stranger at the base was no small matter.

"Oh. So you're the one from yesterday... the person who wanted to join Night Raid." Akame suddenly struck her palm, remembering something.

"You're only thinking of that now?" Qui complained. "Yesterday I said I would reach the imperial capital by eight this morning and prove my strength to earn your trust, so I came to fetch you today."

"Oh, so it was you. Leone did mention it last night, but..."

"How did you find this base?" the wild, mature Leone asked coldly.

"You were followed back here last night, of course. Otherwise, when I put on my little performance, none of you would have shown up, and that would have been a waste of effort." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qui calmly returned to his seat and took a sip of black tea.

"Impossible. No one was following us last night. Do you think we're some kind of pushovers? And the barrier I set showed no reaction at all." The green-haired boy frowned unhappily. This was practically a slap in the face.

Qui glanced at him indifferently. "I was flying in the sky."

"Uh..."

Indeed, if someone was flying overhead, especially at night, who could possibly notice?

"Kid, you may intend to join us in Night Raid, but you haven't actually joined yet. We don't know much about you, so barging into our base like this is rather hard to excuse," Leone said lightly.

"That is why I invited you to the imperial capital to see the performance I’m about to put on. If I can earn your trust, then there’s nothing to worry about. If you still don’t trust me, then at worst we’ll just have to move the base."

"There’s no sign of anything outside." Mai, who had gone out without anyone noticing, and the tall man returned from outside and said quietly.

The atmosphere eased considerably.

"So you were worried I'd set up an ambush outside," Qui said with a smile, sipping his black tea. "It's getting late now. When are we leaving?"

"Why the rush? Does your performance have a time limit or something? I haven’t even eaten yet," Mai snorted.

"Not at all. Everyone, sit. Make yourselves at home," Qui said with a wave, like the owner of the place.

"So thick-skinned."

"I'm going to prepare breakfast."

"Then I'll go train for a bit at the grounds."

...

Though they did not entirely believe Qui’s words yet, at the very least he had chosen not to attack when alone with Hill or Mai, and the chance of him attacking later was even lower. Besides, none of the people here were easy prey.

With that confidence, everyone went off to attend to their own matters.

Qui continued drinking tea and reading as though he were no outsider at all.

"Hey, shameless one. Why did you use the back of your foot to catch Hill just now when she fell? Do you not have hands?" Mai began looking for trouble.

"Because of my shoes."

"What does that mean?"

"Because I’m a hopeless playboy."

"Huh? What are you even talking about? Say it clearly. Don’t beat around the bush like a womanizer," Mai said angrily.

"Because I already have a girlfriend, but I’m also very promiscuous, so I used my shoe-clad foot to catch Hill rather than gently holding her in my arms. Oh, and let me warn you: I already have a girlfriend, so don’t fall in love with me."

"You... a perverted narcissist with a thick hide. Who would fall for you anyway? Your girlfriend must be blind. What exactly does she like about you?" Mai slammed the table and shouted.

"Hm...?" Qui’s gaze grew distant as he sank into an old memory. "She likes my bearing, my attentiveness, my persistence, my honesty, my gentleness, everything about me. I was moved by her confession, so even after she chose her family, she kept waiting for me. I may be a flirt, but I don't want to be one."

Mai was only a girl of fifteen or sixteen, and though she had never experienced love, she could sense the faint sorrow in the man before her. "She didn't come out with you?" she asked softly.

"Right. Because of circumstances beyond my control, I had to leave, and she chose to stay behind and care for her two younger sisters. She's a good big sister."

"Let's not talk about that. Just don't fall in love with me, all right? I'll also try to keep my distance from all of you."

"Get lost. If you already like someone and don't want to be a flirt, then why keep saying you're one?"

"Because I'm easily drawn to female charm. It's hard to resist. Don't fall in love with me. I already have a girlfriend. Since it's important, I'll say it three times."

"Haah... another troublesome one." Mai shook her head and sighed.

"Breakfast is ready. Everyone, come eat," Akame said as she walked in carrying a massive tray.

The others greeted one another with smiles as they arrived one after another.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why can you act so casually and eat with everyone like this? Do you have no sense of shame?" the green-haired boy pointed at Qui.

"Tastes pretty good. By the way, who are you?" Qui asked after swallowing the meat in his mouth.

"Damn it. Before asking someone else's name, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

Then I won't ask.

The green-haired boy looked ready to explode. "My name is Lubbock. Remember it."

"My surname is Qui. My given name is simply 'Brother.'"

"Brother Qui? What a ridiculous name... I'll fight you."

...

The playful breakfast ended, and the group set out cautiously for the imperial capital. The route, timing, and even the direction were chosen by Night Raid themselves, minimizing the chance of an ambush.

"All right, my performance is about to begin. Hide yourselves well in advance and watch carefully," Qui said when they were still some distance from the city gate.

"We haven't even entered the city yet. What are you going to perform?" Mai asked in confusion.

"There are four wanted members in Night Raid right now, so you can't just show yourselves openly on the streets. Hide yourselves, and you'll see what I'm going to do." With a smile, Qui took out a mask and put it on.

"Yo, kid, I like you. I hope you really can join us in Night Raid," Brand, the tall man, said with a hearty laugh.

"Don't disappoint me, kid," Leone said encouragingly as well, clearly beginning to acknowledge him.

"You've got a lot of potential," Akame said calmly.

"Good luck," Hill shouted, raising her right hand to the sky.

"Bastard, I hope you fail," Lubbock muttered fiercely.

Mai said nothing, only giving Qui a quiet look.

Once everyone had vanished, a grin spread across Qui's lips, growing wider and wider. Then he burst into laughter, the sound swelling louder and louder. In his right hand, he now held a diamond-hard rod as tall as he was.

The ever-louder laughter alarmed the gate guards. But before they could reach him, his voice had already carried across the entire imperial capital.

"Today, I'm going to slaughter my way to the highest heavens, throw the world into chaos, flatten the imperial city, and as for the minister and the emperor, wash your necks clean and wait for your Grandpa Sun! Hahahaha, hahahaha!"

Under the early summer sunrise, the monkey-faced mask on his face shone brilliantly.

(Two chapters are up; another chapter tonight.)