Leaving the palace, Akuto could clearly feel how every gaze along the way had changed…
Whether it was maids, the Imperial Capital Guard, or the officials he passed—everyone looked at him with awe and longing.
Awe for his strength.
Longing… for his future.
So young, yet already at grand-general class, and he'd even defeated Budo.
For the coming decades, this man might well be the Empire's strongest.
Even if you couldn't join his faction, forging a good relationship with him could only help.
Just after Akuto stepped outside the palace gates, the System lit up.
Ding!
Main Story Quest Triggered — "Ogre of the Capital."
Quest Rank: Blue
Quest Intro: Ogre is one of the representative figures of the Empire's corruption. With superb swordsmanship he earned the title "Ogre" and the post of Captain of the Imperial Capital Guard.
Objective: The death of Ogre.
Note: The more the death matches the Host's expectations and brings the Host delight, the higher the bonus multiplier.
"Ogre? The Capital Guard captain who didn't even have a Teigu in the original story?"
"Perfect. I was planning to thoroughly reorganize the Imperial Capital Guard anyway. Before Esdeath returns, I need public security firmly in my hand."
Very soon, the capital's boulevards were buzzing even louder than usual.
"Imperial Governor? I've never heard of that post."
"Of course you haven't. I heard it's brand-new—created by Her Majesty. Super badass—almost equal to the Minister and the Grand General!"
"Equal? That's huge. Wait! If Interior Officer Akuto got promoted, wouldn't his former duties pass to someone else?"
"That's the beauty of it. The Imperial Governor covers both parts of the military and the civil side. So Governor Akuto still handles a chunk of the previous administration."
"Ohhh—then I'm relieved. No—more confident! If Akuto keeps rising like this, the Capital's gonna boom for a long time. I need to increase my investments now or miss the boat!"
Akuto's promotion gave merchants the biggest certainty signal imaginable.
News of his new office rippled across the capital, and commercial arteries began to thrum even harder.
Imperial Capital Guard Headquarters.
A hard-eyed middle-aged man lowered his newspaper and blew a thin smoke ring.
His name was Ogre, nicknamed Ogre of the Capital, current captain of the Capital Guard.
"Seryu, apologies. I'll have to postpone what I promised you. I need to set the Guard's house in order to welcome our new superior—"
Across from him, an orange-haired girl in a green uniform—white stockings and boots—hurriedly waved both hands.
"It's fine, Master Ogre! Please focus on your duties!"
Seryu Ubiquitous, a member of the Capital Guard—Teigu user of the Biological Transformation: Hekatonkheires.
Outwardly a sunny, kind beauty, but the moment she identified "evil," her convictions turned absolute.
In the original plot, after her master Ogre was killed by Night Raid, Seryu's hatred toward Night Raid spiked off the charts; she even kept night-long vigils in the bushes to ambush them.
But now, Seryu had not yet fully blackened, nor undergone any mechanical augmentation.
Through the fold of his newspaper, Ogre noticed the front-page portrait and clicked his tongue.
"Oh-ho… so that's what Interior Officer Akuto looks like? Young, huh~"
"Young?"
Hearing Seryu call Akuto "young," Ogre's eyes narrowed. He recalled a certain bit of intel:
Rumor has it Governor Akuto loves beautiful women; all his close aides are powerful female fighters.
A new official lights three fires; he'll definitely overhaul the Capital Guard I command.
To avoid him going for my throat, I should probably curry some favor with the new boss.
Ordinarily, as a man under the Minister's banner, Ogre would never bow to an official from a rival faction.
But this Akuto had defeated Budo.
A grand-general at such a young age, plus terrifying governance capacity—once the Minister died, this Governor was very likely to become the Empire's Regent.
If Furina-sama permitted… it wasn't impossible for him to become the Emperor in all but name.
Ogre still swore loyalty to the Minister.
But that didn't stop him from preparing a little "gift" for the likely future regent.
Forcing a smile onto his brutal face, he asked:
"Seryu, your master has a question."
"What is it, Master Ogre?"
"Per regulation, the Capital Guard must dispatch a protective detail to the Governor's residence—to ensure the safety of the new superior at close range."
"Akuto is strong, but rules are rules."
"Would you… be willing to take this assignment?"
In Ogre's eyes, sending Seryu to Dr. Stylish for mechanical augmentation would be a waste.
A top-tier beauty like Seryu should be put to best use—by Governor Akuto.
And once Seryu was put to best use by Akuto… Ogre could be put to best use by Akuto. (You get the idea.)
"Eh? May I?"
Truthfully, Seryu wanted to go to Akuto's side as well.
Not to cling to a rising star, but to see for herself what kind of person the interior officer so beloved by the citizens truly was—nothing more.
Of course, if Akuto faced danger, Seryu would gladly lay down her life to protect him.
In her eyes, anyone the people trusted and praised like that had to be absolutely righteous.
On patrol, she often heard the capital's common folk praise Akuto and his policies.
If he lived—if he continued reshaping this country—then even dying to protect him would be worth it.
"Good!"
"In that case, Seryu, give it your all—aim to become Governor Akuto's personal bodyguard!" Ogre folded his arms, grinning widely.
"Understood! I'll keep striving toward that goal, Master Ogre!"
The orange-haired girl in white boots snapped to attention and made a solemn vow.
The next day.
Imperial Palace, inner court.
At Akuto's proposal, the young emperor convened all ministers who could attend on short notice—an emergency court session.
As Imperial Governor—a grand-general–class office—Akuto, like the Minister, held the right to call a solo court meeting.
Under the Minister's gaze, Akuto spoke slowly:
"Furina-sama, I called this audience because I have tremendous good news for you."
"Oh? What news?"
Furina straightened, very satisfied with what she saw.
No wonder he was the right hand she relied upon—two days in office and already "tremendous good news!"
"Let me guess," she teased. "Has Governor Akuto captured another Night Raid operative who's vexed us? Or perhaps you've reformed tax and commercial law again so revenues can double?"
"Neither."
"Then what? Don't tease me, Akuto."
The girl emperor pursed her red lips, a hint of impatience as her white-socked toes tipped idly.
Akuto could only smile wryly.
This little emperor really thought reforming tax and commercial codes was easy? Without Anvale City's massive resources and his personal power, a normal official who tried would "commit seppuku with seven daggers in the back" the very next day.
Under Furina's focused gaze, Akuto raised his voice:
"To the north, south, and west of the Empire are various foreign tribes. To the east, across the sea, lie countless islands—collectively the Fusō Archipelago."
"On those islands, I have discovered vast gold and silver deposits."
Akuto had known even before transmigrating that Akame ga Kill's world geography mirrored his previous life.
If so, then the rich sites of his old world would likely exist here too.
And they did. Surveying confirmed the presence of famous deposits like Ikuno Silver, Sado Gold, Iwami Silver, and more.
"Oh? How much annual output are we talking?"
At the talk of profits, Furina leaned in.
"The annual yield of these mines is enough to match the Empire's yearly tax revenue."
"If we dispatch the Imperial Army to secure them, from this day forward the Empire will have no fiscal woes over gold and silver."
He flipped on Full Bull Mode for the sales pitch.
The yields were real enough; the "no more fiscal woes" part… was complicated.
Injecting a flood of specie into a semi-closed economy often breeds inflation.
Real development needs what Anvale City had—higher per-capita productivity.
"Governor Akuto, are you proposing a campaign to subdue the Fusō Archipelago?"
The Minister's eyes lit up.
Sought it with iron shoes and found it with no effort!
If Akuto marched out, the Minister could… adjust certain power networks in the capital.
"Correct. I propose we bring the Fusō islands under imperial dominion—so the Empire is never again shackled by gold and silver supply." Akuto nodded.
"In that case," the Minister said swiftly, "this old servant recommends that Governor Akuto personally command the expedition to conquer Fusō—so the Empire's tax base will never again be in doubt!"
"To let Akuto lead personally? Indeed—if it's Akuto, he will not disappoint!"
Furina's cheeks flushed—not from shyness, but from excitement.
She had thought only the capital's revenues would tick up.
She hadn't imagined Akuto had found ore deposits capable of doubling the Empire's intake!
But just as Furina's joy soared, a dissenting voice rose to pour cold water…
(End of Chapter)
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