Royal Palace:
Prime Minister Honest led his loyal soldiers in a desperate battle against the ninja army. Finally, outnumbered, he attempted to escape but was stabbed in the back during his retreat.
"Hang Honest's body on the gates of the imperial capital with a sign declaring that we're here to save the people," Lucas commanded, waving for his subordinates to use the corpse to win public support.
The imprisoned Great General Budo, restrained by sealing techniques, struggled frantically upon hearing these words. "Rescue? Don't be ridiculous! You killed the emperor—you're the empire's enemy!"
Lucas spread his palms indifferently. "I am indeed the empire's enemy, but are you certain the empire deserves to continue? The empire and its people have never been united, and now they're completely disconnected."
He glanced at Honest's body being dragged away and added mockingly, "We should thank this minister! If not for his corrupt actions, the empire's citizens wouldn't be so disillusioned with their country, and I wouldn't have come to save them."
Budo was speechless. Golden Lion Shiki, standing nearby, interjected: "Group Leader, why waste words on him? Just lock him up for experiments."
Lucas shook his head. "No! Budo is among the few loyal and virtuous ministers in the empire. When Minister Honest committed atrocities and murdered honorable officials, Budo sheltered many conscientious imperial administrators. With his assistance, taking over the empire would be much simpler."
Budo sneered, "Help you claim this empire? Preposterous! My family has served the royal family loyally for generations. You killed the emperor—you're my mortal enemy."
Lucas laughed. "Are you certain you won't join me?"
He studied Budo with interest. "I'm curious about something. Despite having the ability to stop Honest's indiscriminate actions, you remained indifferent. Was it truly because of ancestral teachings that military generals shouldn't meddle in politics?"
Budo responded coldly, "Although Honest is despicable, he's capable. The power under his control isn't insignificant. I refused to waste imperial resources fighting him internally."
[CHAT GROUP]
Gengetsu Hōzuki: Why does this guy remind me of Sarutobi Hiruzen? That Minister Honest is like Shimura Danzō.
Senju Hashirama: Hiruzen believed Danzō was useful, and the Root ninja only obeyed Danzō. Eliminating Danzō would have triggered fierce infighting, depleting Konoha's power. Truly nothing new under the sun!
Senju Tobirama: If Budo resembles Hiruzen, then his status as a loyal and virtuous minister is questionable.
Uchiha Madara: I won't listen to your criticism. Who said Hiruzen wasn't loyal? Although he opposed your Senju family, for Konoha as a whole, Hiruzen was a faithful minister.
Senju Tobirama: %@#$¥
Unable to utter profanities, Senju Tobirama sent a string of garbled characters for Uchiha Madara to interpret.
In the outside world:
Lucas looked at Budo with contempt. "You believed that regardless of Honest's arrogance and corruption, he couldn't threaten the emperor's position. As for ministers he mutilated and commoners he abused—all sacrificial pawns."
"His actions created a large network of corrupt officials. Once fattened, they could be slaughtered, instantly enriching the treasury. The people would applaud the emperor for eliminating these traitors."
"Is that correct?"
Budo was stunned. "Can you read minds?"
Lucas sneered. "No! Your method isn't original. Many emperors have employed this tactic. Honestly, I'm surprised a general like you, instead of focusing on military strategy, mastered imperial manipulation. You're quite ambitious."
Budo instantly grew furious. "Don't question my loyalty to the royal family! Everything I've done was for them!"
"That changes now! Starting today, everything you do will be for me. Human Path: Divine Mind Manipulation[Shin'i Kaisha]"
Lucas locked eyes with Budo, who immediately became compliant, transformed into Lucas's loyal servant.
"You must know which imperial officials remain uncorrupted. Recruit them and help pacify the imperial capital's citizens."
Seeing Lucas's technique subdue the formerly stalwart Budo, Esdeath, Akame, and others were shocked.
Esdeath's interest piqued as she looked at Lucas and sneered. "What did you do to Budo? Clearly a special ability—do you intend to use it on me too?"
Lucas regarded Esdeath coldly. "If not for your prestige within the army, a beautiful but twisted woman like you would be locked in my basement receiving re-education."
Akame and others were stunned, while Hashirama and companions silently raised their gaze skyward.
While looking upward, Roger couldn't help asking: "This woman is deranged—how could she command high respect in the military?"
Lucas explained: "She treats wealth lightly, distributing battle rewards to her soldiers. Which soldier doesn't appreciate victory under her leadership? Her tendency toward cruelty is typically directed at enemies, earning her considerable support among troops."
Esdeath looked surprised. "How do you know me so thoroughly?"
Lucas sneered. "You don't need to understand—just become my servant!"
Another victim of Shin'i Kaisha, Esdeath submitted. After her restraints were removed, she departed to secure the city and pacify the imperial forces.
Akame looked at Lucas with a pale face. "Will you use this technique on us too?"
Lucas responded dismissively: "Why would I? You don't merit it."
Akame and others: "..."
Not being controlled should be positive—why did his response feel so offensive?
Who exactly was he looking down upon?
They all possessed considerable talent.
Lucas clarified: "Budo and Esdeath are extraordinary warriors, each capable of defeating thousands. I don't lack powerful fighters—what I value is their ability to help stabilize this nation quickly."
He snorted, looking at Akame and her companions with a half-smile. "As for you all, you have some strength, but nothing impressive to me. Beyond your combat abilities, you offer little value."
Akame asked resignedly: "Then what do you intend to do with us?"
Lucas smiled. "Don't worry. I won't mistreat you. Submit to transformation, and perhaps someday you'll serve me."
Akame: "..."
No, we're not anticipating that day.
Waving his hand to have Akame and the others secured, and assigning everyone duties to stabilize the capital, Lucas approached the shattered remains of the Supreme Teigu.
[CHAT GROUP]
Howard Stark: Although this robot is destroyed, its materials are exceptional. The intact components could help us study the alchemy behind its creation.
Lucas: I don't need to study alchemy—I've already reached its pinnacle. Killing that transmigrator earlier granted me supreme alchemical knowledge.
In the outside world:
Saying this, Lucas placed his hand on the Supreme Teigu and employed his divine alchemy—Matrix Forging. The entire wreckage trembled, then disintegrated into fragments.
These metal pieces continuously condensed before Lucas, quickly assembling around his body, transforming into armor that encased him. When the forging completed, Lucas wore gleaming golden armor of remarkable design.
[CHAT GROUP]
Howard Stark: Group Leader, did Tony in the future develop his armor to look like that?
Lucas: Something like that!
Pirate King Roger: Group Leader, is this alchemy? Can you create Teigu now?
Lucas: With appropriate materials, I can easily craft items like Teigu. The alchemy I've mastered represents the pinnacle of this art.
Senju Tobirama: Group Leader, did you condense all the Supreme Teigu's remains into this armor?
Lucas: Is there a problem?
Senju Tobirama: Nothing really, it just seems strange! That such an enormous robotic wreckage would yield only this relatively small armor.
Lucas: Not surprising—I compressed the Supreme Teigu's remains to enhance their quality.
Pirate King Roger: Group Leader! After size reduction, which is stronger—this armor or the original Supreme Teigu?
Lucas: Obviously my armor is superior. Don't you understand that essence becomes concentrated? The more concentrated the power, the greater its destructive capacity—basic principle.
Pirate King Roger: But you used only the Supreme Teigu's wreckage! And... if condensed armor is more powerful, why didn't the First Emperor create the Supreme Teigu as armor instead?
Uchiha Shisui: Observing the Supreme Teigu's attack methods, most featured wide-area impact rather than concentrated force. I believe the First Emperor built it not for individual combat but for battlefield troop elimination.
Uchiha Shisui: If this armor represents Kage-level power, then the Supreme Teigu parallels a tailed beast. A Kage-level fighter can defeat a tailed beast, but their respective values to a ninja village differ dramatically.
Gengetsu Hōzuki: That explanation makes sense. If individual combat power were the priority, Esdeath and Budo would suffice. Other Teigu already create elite warriors, so the Supreme Teigu likely focused on battlefield dominance.
Lucas: That's one possibility. Another is that the alchemists employed by the First Emperor lacked the ability to condense the Supreme Teigu to this level.
Senju Tobirama: Group Leader, is condensing the Supreme Teigu into a single armor piece difficult?
Lucas: Absolutely! This requires god-level alchemical skill. Do you believe any common alchemist possesses such mastery? Don't be naïve!
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