Chapter 263: Esdeath's Betrayal

With Lingyun's Jade Talisman, the Revolutionary Army's forces easily captured the Danger Beasts that Dorothea had sent out to forage, and the members of Night Raid struck with all their might, annihilating them after a fierce battle. Dorothea and her two companions were also successively slain under the siege of Night Raid and the others; although in the process, Run snatched away the head of the clown Champ, this was merely a trivial matter of no consequence.

Without the interference of the alchemical monsters sent by Dorothea, the Revolutionary Army's forces pushed forward step by step. Although the troops guarding the outskirts of the Imperial Capital were elites of the Imperial Army, because they lacked sufficiently powerful commanders, they could not form a formidable fighting force and retreated steadily under the attacks of the Revolutionary Army.

Facing this situation, the Minister had originally intended to send Esdeath out to command the army. However, Najenda seemed to have seen through his intentions and led Night Raid to launch several assassination attempts against him. Having nearly lost his life, the Minister had no choice but to recall Esdeath to his side to protect his own safety.

On one hand, the Revolutionary Army's forces were constantly pushing forward, and on the other, Night Raid was eyeing his life in the shadows; the Minister truly had not been having an easy time lately, and he had even eaten much less of the meat he usually loved. However, just before the Revolutionary Army's forces marched to the Imperial Capital, the Minister finally received a piece of good news: General Budo's injuries had finally healed, and he was able to go to the front lines to lead the troops.

Hearing this news, the Minister could not help but heave a sigh of relief. Although he had always extremely loathed this stubborn old man who looked down on him and even wanted to kill him, he had to admit that Budo was a master of his generation when it came to leading troops. With the Imperial Capital's army led by him, whether the Revolutionary Army could capture the Imperial Capital was definitely an unknown.

Upon hearing that General Budo's injuries had healed and that he had resumed command of the army, Najenda personally rushed to Lingyun's mansion to tell him this news.

"So Budo has resumed command of the troops? It just so happens that I have also thoroughly researched this item, Shangri-La. Najenda, have you collected all the things I asked you to?" Lingyun nodded slightly after hearing this.

"They have all been collected, but I don't quite understand why you want to collect these things," Najenda asked.

"Of course, it is for the final decisive battle!" Lingyun took a pile of papers from his side and handed them to Najenda. "After the Revolutionary Army invades the Imperial Capital, have your people set things up according to the information on these blueprints."

"This..." Looking at the pile of patterns on the blueprints that dazzled her eyes, Najenda's eyes were full of confusion.

"This, it is prepared for dealing with the Empire's ultimate trump card—the Supreme Teigu—when the time comes!" Lingyun explained.

"You know what the Empire's Supreme Teigu is?" Najenda asked with a look of astonishment.

"Don't forget, my library here houses many rare editions. From some obscure content mentioned in these books, as well as some intelligence provided to me by Esdeath, I have deduced the true face of the Supreme Teigu!" Lingyun spread his hands. "Alright, you should leave here first; I am going to Esdeath's place!"

Jaegers Headquarters.

Esdeath was looking at some plants she had planted when, suddenly, a breeze blew past her. A flash of sharp light crossed Esdeath's eyes, and with a casual wave of her hand, countless Ice Spears condensed around her and shot off in one direction.

"Damn, Esdeath, are you trying to murder your teacher?" Lingyun's figure appeared out of thin air, and he raised a hand to block the incoming Ice Spears.

"Tch, do you think this kind of attack of mine could have any effect on someone like you?" Esdeath said coldly. "Why have you come to find me all of a sudden? Could it be that the timing you spoke of has arrived?"

"Indeed, the time has arrived; now is the moment for you to make your choice." Lingyun nodded slightly.

"Of course I will follow you. I have a premonition that by your side, I will encounter more experts, experience more battles, and step into a higher realm!" Esdeath's eyes sparkled with a soul-stirring light.

"And what about your subordinates?" Lingyun asked.

"Of course they are coming with me! If anyone falls behind, I can only finish them off!" Esdeath spread her hands. "Alright, all of you, stop hiding and come out!"

Following Esdeath's voice, the other members of the Jaegers appeared one after another from the shadows.

"What is your choice?" Esdeath's gaze swept over everyone present as she spoke.

"Of course I am following Master!" Kurome was the first to speak.

"I am also following Lingyun," Seryu said as well.

"This country has completely rotted. If we want to change its current state, perhaps only the Revolutionary Army can do it," Run closed the book in his hand and spoke.

"I, I am of course following you all, but this counts as treason, right?" Seeing everyone's gaze fall upon him, Wave could not help but break into a cold sweat on his forehead as he spoke.

"Treason? Can this country still be called a country?" Lingyun said.

Bols looked left and right, then still chose to follow the trend and go along with the majority's decision. As for his wife and daughter, after Syura had led people to his home last time, he had already sent them out of the Imperial Capital to a safe place, so there was no need to worry about his wife and daughter being caught up in this incident.

"Since you have all made your choice now, let us leave the Imperial Capital!" Lingyun let out a whistle, and a giant Heavenly Dragon descended from the sky.

The people present leaped onto the flying dragon one after another and flew toward the outside of the Imperial Capital.

Imperial Capital City Defense Command, Budo was frowning as he looked at the tactical map on the wall.

Suddenly, a figure rushed into the tent: "General, something terrible has happened!"

Budo turned around abruptly, looking at the person who had rushed in with a trace of displeasure: "What happened, why are you so flustered? Could it be that the Revolutionary Army has attacked the city?"

"The matter is much worse than the Revolutionary Army attacking the city, General!" The person said with a bitter smile. "General Esdeath, General Esdeath she..."

"Esdeath?" Hearing the person mention her, Budo could not help but frown slightly. "What happened to her?"

"General Esdeath has committed treason!" The person's voice was trembling.

"What did you say?" Budo's eyes suddenly widened, and he appeared in front of the person in a flash, grabbing him by the collar. "What on earth is going on?"

"I don't know the specific situation either, but someone previously saw General Esdeath taking the members of the Jaegers and boarding a Heavenly Dragon to enter the Revolutionary Army's position, but the two sides did not engage in battle, so some people are saying General Esdeath has committed treason!"

"Heavenly Dragon?" Budo knitted his brows, and then he recalled the scenes at the Empire's Execution Ground; some things he had felt were strange finally began to make sense. "To think that someone had already infiltrated the interior of the Empire and even incited Esdeath to rebel without anyone noticing; truly a brilliant move. However, I am also curious: what kind of conditions did the other side use to move Esdeath, this battle-crazed maniac?"

"General, what should we do now?"

"Now? The other side has two fierce warriors, Esdeath and Najenda; next, they will definitely launch an all-out attack on us. The time for the decisive battle has arrived! I will use my Teigu to give these damned traitors the punishment they deserve! Order the whole army to prepare for battle!" Budo put on his cape and strode out of the tent.