The next day, a big news broke out in the Imperial Capital: Minister Honest was assassinated at his mansion by a killer hired by the rebel army. It was said that the assassin was an Imperial Arms user, and he alone killed Rakshasa Four Demons' Zhu Tian along with 46 guards. Fortunately, the minister escaped through a secret passage. The assassination attempt was unsuccessful.
This matter quickly spread to the court. The young emperor, upon hearing the news of the minister's assassination, immediately summoned his officials in the resplendent audience chamber.
"The rebel army actually has such a powerful Imperial Arms user!"
A civil official, hearing about the assassin sent by the rebels, turned pale with fright.
The First Emperor developed forty-eight extraordinarily powerful weapons a thousand years ago, calling them "Imperial Arms." However, five hundred years ago, a large-scale rebellion occurred in the empire, and many Imperial Arms were lost to the populace or even abroad.
He didn't expect that Imperial Arms had already fallen into the hands of the rebels.
"They were once just a small resistance force… When did they become so troublesome!"
The officials below the steps began to stir. Honest's mansion could be said to be the safest place in the entire Imperial Capital, and among the guards were the Rakshasa Four Demons, who were capable of rivaling Imperial Arms users.
The assassin killed Rakshasa Demon Zhu Tian at the minister's mansion and still managed to escape safely. Cold sweat broke out on the officials' foreheads. The reason for their agitation was that they didn't want to suffer the fate of being assassinated. They weren't protected by people from Shaolin Temple and were afraid of having their throats slit by an assassin while sleeping in the middle of the night.
"Everyone, there is no need to panic… They are just small-time villains; we can easily deal with them if we take it seriously!"
The young emperor leaped down from the dragon throne, waved his hand, and spoke with great spirit.
However, before His Majesty's voice faded from the hall, he turned his head and asked the minister beside him, "Is it alright, Minister?"
"Hahaha… As expected of Your Majesty, calm in the face of danger."
Even though Honest was severely disciplined by Lin Feng last night, he was still holding a steak and eating it in large bites.
Afterward, Honest suggested that a special security force should be established in the Imperial Capital to eliminate the rebel army hostile to the empire.
The personnel should ideally be elites, and they must have an incredibly firm belief in protecting the country from being destroyed by rebels to eliminate the assassins lurking in the Imperial Capital.
"And regarding the head of the special security team, I plan to recommend a capable person to Your Majesty. He is a minority from the border region. Although he is still a newcomer, Your Majesty will definitely like him when you meet him!" The minister said to the young emperor beside him.
"Isn't General Bude still in the Imperial Capital?" A general who disliked the minister immediately retorted.
"Minister Honest, this is not your responsibility. The establishment of a special police force should be taken over by the military!"
The dignified General Bude also spoke at this moment, looking at Honest with a stern expression, and the killing intent emanating from him made the minister pause his eating.
The ruling class of the empire was composed of civil officials who managed politics and military officials who managed military affairs. Minister Honest and General Bude were the highest leaders of the two aforementioned institutions, each performing their duties and not interfering with each other.
This time, Honest proposed to establish a special police force. In General Bude's view, the minister wanted to cross the line and encroach upon the general's power!
"Your Majesty… My duty is to recommend talent to you, and you are the co-lord of the world… The First Emperor founded the empire's thousand-year foundation, and later generations have not been able to compare, but Your Majesty's ability is far beyond that!"
The young emperor, who was originally listlessly listening to Honest and Bude's conversation, was greatly invigorated when he heard that he could be compared to the First Emperor. He had always hoped to be worthy of being an emperor and become a wise ruler, and now the minister was actually comparing him to the First Emperor.
He rubbed his nose somewhat shyly and smiled, "I cannot accept this compliment from the minister."
"Your humble servant is by no means flattering you." Honest stroked his beard and said in a respectful tone.
"Oh, by the way, I am very curious about whom the minister wishes to recommend. Who is this person who has caught the minister's eye?" the young emperor asked.
"His name is Lin Feng. Although he is not an Imperial Arms user, his ability is no less than that of Esdeath, the empire's youngest and strongest general!" The minister stroked his snow-white beard and introduced him.
What happened next was within expectations. The officials sent by the minister began to persuade, saying that if his strength could approach General Esdeath's, then he would surely successfully assume the position of head of the special police and easily eliminate the rebel army's assassins.
General Bude's people, on the other hand, worried whether their vested interests would be shaken by the sudden appearance of a new department and an unfamiliar head parachuting in…
The two factions of officials in the hall immediately began to argue, attacking each other's shortcomings, and for a time, the hall was exceptionally lively.
However, the young emperor clearly trusted the minister who helped him ascend to the throne, so he forcefully made the officials stop arguing.
Honest calmly said, "Let him come in. It's a good opportunity to introduce him to His Majesty."
…And so,
Lin Feng, dressed in a black suit, walked into the main hall and looked directly at the dragon throne on the steps. The young emperor had a baby face, with a childish look, long eyelashes, and held a golden scepter symbolizing imperial power in his right hand. When he sat on the throne, his feet couldn't reach the ground and could only dangle in mid-air.
Lin Feng's direct gaze at the emperor was severely against etiquette.
The minister timely stepped forward to explain: "It is understandable that a border resident does not understand the rules; there is no need to demand adherence to court law."
"There are vicious assassins holding Imperial Arms in the Imperial Capital, and even the elite guard is helpless against them. What ability do you have to deal with them?"
The young emperor also looked at Lin Feng below the steps. Normally, any Imperial Arms possesses immense power, and only an Imperial Arms user can deal with another Imperial Arms user. And Lin Feng was not an Imperial Arms user.
The young emperor was not confident in entrusting such an important matter to someone who had no achievements.
Lin Feng was not someone who liked to pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger. In his opinion, no one in the world of Akame ga Kill could kill him a thousand times. So, he walked up to the most formidable military official in the entire hall and said, word for word, "He is not as good as me."
Instantly, these words were like a bombshell, causing an uproar among the officials. Even the officials of the minister's faction did not believe Lin Feng's words. In the entire empire, only one person could rival General Bude in strength, and that person was General Esdeath, who possessed the strongest Imperial Arms.
Everyone's gaze gathered on Lin Feng.
He looked young, with delicate skin, clearly someone who had never been on a battlefield. Not every young person who had experienced many battles could train to Esdeath's level.
And Lin Feng provocatively extended his right hand. His slender fingers did not look like a martial artist's at all, but rather like those of a pampered noble.
General Bude was muscular and tall, with thick armor and a rugged face. Just standing there, he exuded an imposing aura.
The General, with a somewhat stern gaze, grasped Lin Feng's right hand.
The two of them were like competitors in a test of strength… their hands cracking loudly as they squeezed!
This guy has so much strength!
His armored hand was dented from the squeeze, and Bude knew that his opponent was definitely no ordinary person; such immense strength must have come from some method of enhancing his physique.
For the honor of being the "Great General," Bude was still gritting his teeth and struggling to hold on, his dark-yellow forehead covered in bulging veins.
The next second,
Lin Feng, with an almost crushing dominance, pulled hard.
This caused the Great General, who was known as the strongest man, to stumble badly.
However, the Great General was a stubborn character who refused to admit defeat. After forcefully regaining balance of his out-of-control body, he coldly said, "Hmph~ It's just strong hands, that's all."
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. This old man was just stubborn. The Great General, hailed as the strongest, could clash with Mine on the battlefield, and in the end, he was shot dead by her Romantic Cannon without dodging. He was not just a little bit worse than Esdeath.
"If the Great General is unconvinced, you and I can certainly have a match in front of His Majesty."
Although Lin Feng's tone was calm, to others, his words were undoubtedly extremely arrogant.
Their gazes met, full of gunpowder. The sound of the Great General clenching his fists was exceptionally clear, and a chilling killing intent emanated from him. For a moment, everyone held their breath.
"Alright… I already know your strength… To be able to shake the Empire's Great General, your power is indeed astonishing."
The young emperor spoke up, stopping the two who were on the verge of fighting. Although he was somewhat naive, he was by no means a fool. Lin Feng, with such a slender body, could pull the mountain-like Great General; his strength must be very strong.
Although Bude looked indignant, believing that Lin Feng only had great strength and that in a martial arts competition, he could easily incinerate his opponent with the Imperial Arm Adramelech. However, since the emperor had spoken, he returned to his position.
"I have already seen your strength. So, to establish a new department, how many people do you need under you?"
Lin Feng knelt on one knee on the marble tiles and said, "Ten people can be drawn from the Minister's secret police and the Great General's police force. Led by me, we will surely eradicate these petty villains in one fell swoop!"
"Only ten people? I heard that assassin is very cunning, and he might have accomplices in the Imperial Capital." The young emperor said, his bright eyes wide with some concern.
"Your Majesty, you have already seen Lin Feng's strength. He can handle the rest; you don't need to worry."
Honest spoke to reassure him.
Publicly bringing a devil into the Empire, although it might lead to the downfall of this country in the future, the Minister didn't care about that much. Now, he just wanted to survive. If he couldn't complete the task given to him by this devil, Heaven knew how Lin Feng would torment him.
"Whew… Since the Minister says so, I'm relieved. With Lin Feng as the head of the Special Security Force, the Imperial Capital will be safe."
The young emperor let out a long sigh. After his imperial father suddenly died of illness, the Empire's situation rapidly deteriorated. When he first took over this country, there were foreign tribes to the north eyeing them covetously, internal tribal rebellions breaking out, continuous natural disasters, displaced common people, and the national treasury was empty with only 200,000 taels of gold left.
Now, with the help of the Minister, the situation had stabilized, which was a cause for satisfaction. Today, he had gained another fierce general, and the young emperor was overjoyed.