Chapter 150: Acquaintances?
A makeshift wooden table and four chairs, seemingly grown straight out of the metal deck, stood in the center of the standoff. The wood was fresh, smelling of pine and deep earth—a scent completely alien to the ocean.
Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi, sat at this rustic table. He maintained a posture of clasped hands, his expression radiating a sincere, almost blindingly innocent desire for peace. His eyes seemed to say, "Everyone, please give me face, sit down, and have a cup of tea. War is so yesterday."
The juxtaposition was absurd. On one side, the terrifying killing intent of Uchiha Madara. On the other, the freezing, sadistic aura of General Esdeath. And in the middle... a man offering tea.
"Hmph."
A cold snort cut through the air, sharp enough to shatter glass.
Uchiha Madara, the Ghost of the Uchiha, seemed to put a stop to this invisible confrontation. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, the scarlet, spinning patterns of the Sharingan had receded into the abyss of his dark pupils. His face was restored to its previous, impassive indifference—the look of a god who found mortals too boring to squash.
He didn't even bother to glance at Esdeath again. To him, if she wasn't attacking, she wasn't worth his attention. He refocused his gaze on the endless sea horizon, crossing his arms over his chest, as if the clash of titanic wills just moments ago had never occurred.
"Heh heh..."
Seeing that the "porcupine" had withdrawn his spikes, Esdeath also relaxed.
She raised her hand, and the sharp, deadly ice cones floating around her fingertips dissolved into fine snow, scattering in the wind.
She licked her red lips, a predatory habit. Her ice-blue eyes flashed with a light of lingering satisfaction, like a cat that had just found a particularly feisty mouse.
"Captain, your crew... is very interesting," Esdeath purred.
She turned her head, flashing Suzaku a charming smile that was equal parts beautiful and terrifying.
"Strong men. Dangerous men. And men who aren't afraid to look me in the eye," she mused. "I'm starting to look forward to the journey ahead! This ship is far better than the boring capital."
This world—this "One Piece" world—was even more exciting than the memories Suzaku had implanted in her mind. With such powerful individuals present on a single ship, her blood, usually cold as ice, was already starting to boil with the thrill of the hunt.
"Haha, interesting, right? I told you," Suzaku laughed, though he wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. "The one thing this ship of mine doesn't lack is 'surprises'!"
Suzaku watched this temporarily subsided "internal conflict," his heart doing somersaults. He looked at his crew—his collection of ticking time bombs.
A sadomasochistic Ice Queen who worshipped strength and war, viewing the torment of the strong as the ultimate pleasure (Esdeath).
An extremely arrogant Asura of the ninja world who viewed the heroes of the world as mere blades of grass and was prone to "dancing" at the drop of a hat (Madara).
A God of the Ninja World who possessed power to crush nations but was naive enough to want "mutual understanding" and tea parties with everyone (Hashirama).
And a serious, taciturn little loli in a military uniform who could transform into a mobile Iron Blood fortress capable of sinking islands (Odin).
Add to that himself, the only "normal" Captain trying to herd these cats...
"How could this combination be anything less than wildly entertaining?" Suzaku thought, a wry smile forming on his face. "Or wildly fatal. It's a fine line."
Just then, the heavy steel door of the cabin creaked open.
A group of people poured out of the entrance on the other side of the deck. The clash between the freezing cold air and the burning killing intent earlier had been too startling, penetrating the ship's hull and alerting everyone inside.
"Wow! Freezing!"
"What happened just now? It suddenly got so cold! I thought Rem had opened the freezer door and left it open!"
Nami, the Navigator with short orange hair, poked her head out first. She shivered, rubbing her bare arms as the residual frost on the deck crunched under her sandals. Following close behind was the equally curious Mink Tribe girl, Carrot, whose ears were twitching nervously.
"Brrr! It feels like winter on Zou!" Carrot exclaimed, puffing out a breath of white mist.
"Sister, Sister, there seems to be a very powerful aura outside..."
Rem, dressed in her pristine maid outfit, gripped the handle of her morning star flail. Her blue hair swayed in the wind, her one visible eye scanning the deck with vigilant hostility. She sensed a threat to her hero, Suzaku.
"Rem, Rem, calm down. Put the weapon away," came the calm, analytical voice of Ram.
The pink-haired sister appeared much calmer, though her gaze was sharp as a razor. She swept her eyes over the new arrivals—Esdeath and Odin—standing in the center of the deck.
"Master Suzaku has brought new guests," Ram stated, her Clairvoyance seemingly having already assessed the situation. "Though these guests seem... rowdy."
Among the crowd, the reactions of two specific figures were the most intense.
"Huh?"
A cry full of genuine surprise rang out, breaking the tension.
The girl with beautiful, long silver hair and crimson eyes—the Heavy Cruiser Pola of the Sardegna Empire—froze mid-step. Her eyes locked onto the small figure standing next to Esdeath.
"That military uniform... the black and red scheme... the rigging design..."
Pola's eyes widened.
"It's Iron Blood's design! Is that... Odin?!!"
Pola practically sprinted across the deck. She completely ignored the "do not approach" aura emanating from Uchiha Madara (who frowned at her audacity) and the lingering dangerous frost around Esdeath.
To a shipgirl, the resonance of a Wisdom Cube was stronger than fear.
"It really is Odin! Prince Eugen mentioned you to me back at the base! The H-class battlecruiser that only existed in conceptual designs! The phantom ship!"
Stars twinkled in Pola's emerald eyes, showing the warmth and excitement of meeting a "kindred spirit" from her world's axis alliance.
"I never thought I'd meet you here, in another world!"
Odin, who was still being held like a plush doll by Esdeath, also showed a flicker of emotion on her usually serious, robotic little face.
She looked at the enthusiastic girl in front of her. She sensed the familiar energy signature—the hum of a Wisdom Cube, the soul of a warship.
A mixture of confusion and closeness appeared in Odin's ruby-like eyes.
She struggled slightly, wiggling out of Esdeath's arms. She dropped lightly to the ground, her boots clanking on the metal.
She straightened her uniform, stood at attention, and gave Pola a standard, crisp military salute. Her voice was level, lacking emotional fluctuation, but respectful.
"Iron Blood Warship, Odin. Battlecruiser Class. Designation H-39."
"Identification signal: Friendly force confirmed."
"Hello, Heavy Cruiser Pola, affiliated with the Sardegnian Empire. It is logical to assume we are allies in this theater of operations."
"Oh, come on, don't be so serious! We aren't in a briefing!"
Pola laughed, grabbing Odin's small hand without hesitation. The slightly cool, metallic touch of Odin's hand didn't deter her; it made her even happier.
"We are all Captain Suzaku's crew now! That makes us family! Sisters!"
Pola pulled the stoic little tactician closer.
"Come on, come on, you must be hungry, right? Materializing takes a lot of energy! Do you drink oil or cola? Ram and Rem made lots of delicious food today! Their cooking is the best in the whole world! I promise it's better than Iron Blood rations!"
Saying this, she naturally led the slightly bewildered Odin toward the kitchen.
"Food... intake required for bio-fuel replenishment," Odin muttered, stumbling slightly as she was dragged away.
The serious, tactical Odin was being led by the enthusiastic, drunk-on-life Pola. The two figures, one large and bubbly, one small and stiff, formed a wonderfully harmonious scene amidst the monsters on deck.
Esdeath watched this scene with interest. She crossed her arms, leaning back. She did not stop them.
"Weaklings grouping together," she murmured, but there was no malice, only amusement.
Meanwhile, an even more shocking "reunion" scene was unfolding on the other side of the deck.
The atmosphere there did not lighten; it thickened.
When the black-haired, red-eyed girl, who always carried a long poisonous sword (Murasame), stepped onto the deck, time seemed to freeze for her.
Akame.
When she saw the tall, blue-haired woman standing confidently in the center, her entire body stiffened. It was a visceral reaction, like a prey animal spotting its natural predator.
Her pupils suddenly contracted into pinpricks.
That face. That figure. That uniform. That unique Queen's aura that smelled of ice and blood...
It was etched into her soul. It was the nightmare of the Revolutionary Army.
Akame's hand instinctively went to the hilt of Murasame. Her muscles tensed, ready to strike or flee. Her lips trembled slightly, and a title slipped out, barely a whisper but echoing like a scream in her mind.
"General... Esdeath...?!!"
This title caused the eyes of everyone else present to focus on them.
General?
Hearing the familiar voice, Esdeath finally shifted her gaze from the retreating Odin. She turned her head slowly, her ice-blue eyes landing on the black-haired girl.
Recognition dawned instantly.
She scrutinized her from head to toe. Then, a curve of dangerous interest appeared at the corner of her mouth—a smile that was possessive and terrifying.
"Oh?"
Esdeath took a step forward.
"Isn't this... Akame?"
Esdeath's voice dropped an octave. It carried a hint of nostalgia, but it was twisted. It was the tone of an owner finding a lost pet.
"I didn't expect even you to arrive in this world. What a small universe."
She looked at Akame with burning eyes.
"You've grown taller, little Akame. Your killing intent is sharper."
"However," Esdeath's eyes narrowed at Akame's clothes, "that outfit... it seems you are no longer a member of the Imperial Army? You aren't wearing the uniform I gave you."
Suzaku, standing between them, felt his heart nearly leap out of his throat.
"Holy crap!"
"Akame and Esdeath?"
"Aren't they the arch-enemies from Akame ga Kill!?"
Suzaku's mind raced. One is the Empire's strongest General, the symbol of tyranny. The other is the Revolutionary Army's ace assassin, the symbol of rebellion.
"Shouldn't their meeting be a clash of thunder and fire? Shouldn't Akame be drawing Murasame right now to end this? If they fight here, the ship will sink!"
However, the violence Suzaku feared didn't erupt immediately.
The conversation that followed allowed him to settle his pounding heart, though the tension remained high.
Akame took a deep breath. She forcibly unclenched her hand from her sword hilt. She realized where she was—on Suzaku's ship, not the battlefield.
She bowed slightly toward Esdeath—a reflex born of years of military discipline.
"...Yes, General," Akame said, her voice complicated, mixed with respect and fear.
"A lot has happened! I... I have already left the Empire. I chose a different path."
Her red eyes held awe and vigilance, but they lacked the deep-seated, blood-feud hatred Suzaku had expected. There was no mention of Night Raid. No mention of Chelsea or Mine.
"Is that so? You left..."
Esdeath nodded thoughtfully. She didn't seem surprised or angry; instead, she found it more interesting.
"That's fine. Survival of the fittest. The weak rot in the Empire, the strong carve their own path. There's nothing wrong with choosing to follow your own heart, Akame."
Esdeath walked up to Akame, looming over her. She reached out and tilted Akame's chin up with a gloved finger.
"Since you are also on this ship, that makes you my subordinate again."
"Continue to perform well under my observation from now on. Don't disappoint me, or I'll have to punish you."
Her matter-of-fact tone made it sound as if Akame had never truly left her control.
Suzaku, watching from the side, was sweating profusely. He quickly did the math in his head.
"It looks like the point in time I summoned them was critical!"
"It was either right after Akame defected, or when she was still in the Imperial Black Ops but hadn't completely broken ties with Esdeath!"
"The two haven't yet incurred a blood feud over the deaths of their comrades! Tatsumi hasn't died yet in their memories!"
Suzaku let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Safe... for now."
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