[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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As Blackbeard had anticipated...
Ogre approached him with a proposal: join his police force.
While this world didn't assign official ranks or levels to strong individuals, anyone with functioning eyes could see Blackbeard's impressive strength.
Ogre was no exception.
Despite being responsible for maintaining the security of the entire imperial capital, the garrison's overall combat prowess paled in comparison to soldiers who faced dangerous creatures and alien races beyond the capital's borders.
Given that the boot camp had only been running for a month, Ogre, acting quickly, managed to learn about Blackbeard and Tatsumi before leaders from other departments could.
He wasn't interested in Tatsumi, who had the qualifications of a general.
Ogre knew he couldn't keep someone of Tatsumi's caliber confined to the imperial capital.
Compared to Tatsumi, Blackbeard—equally strong but with less potential for future advancement—was a far more practical choice for recruitment into the police force.
Everything unfolded just as Ogre had hoped.
After brief negotiations, Blackbeard agreed to join the police force without hesitation.
Ogre was elated. Using his authority, he immediately transferred Blackbeard from the training camp and granted him the rank of guard adjutant.
Given the strength Blackbeard had displayed, the title was well-deserved.
---
A few days later...
In the private dining hall of a luxurious hotel in the imperial capital, Blackbeard stood on a raised platform, holding an expensive glass of red wine.
With a rosy complexion and a broad grin, he declared:
"Zehahahaha! Come, brothers, drink this glass with me—today, we are family!"
"We must work together! Together, we dedicate our lives to the prosperity of the empire!"
"Everything, for the empire!!!"
The golden light from the chandelier sparkled in the crimson wine as Blackbeard drained his glass in one gulp.
Around him, a group of young guards in uniform raised their glasses, echoing his cry with enthusiasm:
"Everything for the Empire!!!"
This marked Blackbeard's official induction into the Guard as Ogre's adjutant, and the celebration was his idea.
At his suggestion, the veteran officers of the Guard were excluded from the banquet.
Instead, Blackbeard used his own money to invite all the young recruits to the most extravagant and expensive hotel in the imperial capital.
With his financial prowess, Blackbeard quickly won their admiration.
His humor and charisma endeared him further, solidifying his position among this group.
As Blackbeard watched the young guards indulge in the feast, a sinister grin crept across his face.
"It seems my first team in the imperial capital is ready," he mused.
"In just a few months…"
"In just a few months, when Hydreigon and I have fully recovered our strength…"
"That will be the moment when I reveal my true power to this world!"
Becoming a dimensional interactor had been a significant milestone for Blackbeard.
But he wasn't content with being a mere adjutant, no matter how flattering the title.
His ambitions were set on the empire's highest position—this had never wavered.
Every step he took was part of a greater plan: to assemble the perfect team of loyal subordinates for when he ultimately seized the empire!
Blackbeard wasn't just a brute who relied on force.
He understood deeply that achieving his grand vision would require more than his own strength.
Even if he could conquer this world by sheer might... once he moved on to the next world, who could say what would become of the empire he left behind?
This was why he placed such importance on Tatsumi.
Blackbeard understood all too well that if he could help Tatsumi resurrect his two fallen comrades, Tatsumi would likely follow him unconditionally in the future.
But relying on just Tatsumi wouldn't be enough to completely dominate a world.
Blackbeard needed more subordinates.
For example...
Among the people present at the banquet was an orange-haired girl who seemed out of place—Seryu Ubiquitous.
She was the only direct disciple of Captain Ogre of the Guard.
---
"What's wrong, Seryu? Is the food not to your liking?"
Noticing the reserved girl sitting quietly, Blackbeard swirled his wine glass, took a seat beside her, and smiled.
"Or perhaps…"
"Are you unhappy about having a new adjutant who appeared out of nowhere?"
"Ah?!"
Seryu was startled, her face instantly flushing red with embarrassment.
Although Blackbeard had spoken aloud what she was thinking, she would never admit to such impolite thoughts.
Waving her hands frantically, she stammered:
"No... it's not that..."
"I don't have any special opinions about Adjutant Marco..."
"It's just... just…"
"It's just that you wanted to become Captain Ogre's adjutant yourself, isn't it?"
Blackbeard took a sip of his wine, his smile taking on a mischievous edge.
"This..."
Seryu, having her feelings laid bare once again, lowered her head in silence.
Afraid that Blackbeard might misunderstand, she hesitated but eventually explained in a soft voice:
"Actually... this is all my fault."
"Because my parents are gone, the only family I have left is my teacher. I've always wanted to stay by his side."
"And the adjutant position, which has been vacant for so long, has always been my ultimate goal."
"I thought that after contracting a Teigu, I could finally achieve it."
"But..."
Seryu glanced at Blackbeard briefly, her eyes welling with tears, but she held back her words.
It wasn't that she didn't acknowledge Blackbeard's qualifications as an adjutant.
Though in her eyes, this unkempt, rugged-looking man didn't exactly exude charm, she couldn't deny his incredible strength.
When Blackbeard first joined the Guard, he had sparred with Captain Ogre in front of everyone.
Although the match ended with Blackbeard narrowly losing to Ogre, Seryu, who understood combat well, had seen the truth:
Blackbeard's strength was already on the verge of surpassing Ogre's.
And this was before Blackbeard had even acquired a Teigu of his own.
Once he gained recognition from the higher-ups and obtained his own Teigu, his power would undoubtedly surpass anything she could imagine.
Because of this, Seryu couldn't help but respect him.
---
"I see…"
After listening to Seryu's concerns, Blackbeard's lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile before he quickly masked it.
He leaned forward, his face adopting a warm, almost fatherly expression, and pushed a freshly poured glass of wine toward her.
"Why give up so soon, Seryu?" he asked gently.
"Huh?" Seryu raised her head, looking at him in confusion.
Blackbeard continued:
"You're still so young, and your future has just begun."
"Think about it. You've already been chosen by a Teigu, and you have a great mentor like Captain Ogre."
"Your future should be brimming with hope."
"Why stress over the position of adjutant?" he added with a grin.
"Why not aim for something even greater?"
"If one day, you become the general of this empire, you could easily invite Captain Ogre to be your adjutant."
"Dreams have no limits, Seryu."
"Don't let life dictate your path."
"It's you who decides how to live!"
With that, Blackbeard picked up the bottle of wine, downed its contents in one swift motion, and stood up with deliberate grace.
Before Seryu could respond, he walked away, leaving her lost in thought.
"The... general of the empire..."
Seryu stared at the empty wine bottle Blackbeard had placed down. The initial look of defeat in her eyes began to fade, replaced by a growing glimmer of determination.
A fire was ignited in her heart, intensifying with each passing moment.
Suddenly, Seryu grabbed the glass of wine Blackbeard had poured for her.
Despite her usual distaste for alcohol, she downed it in a single gulp.
Then, mimicking Blackbeard's earlier gesture, she slammed the glass onto the table with conviction.
"That's right! I shouldn't let myself sink like this!"
She turned sharply to face Blackbeard, who was now walking away, and offered him a deep military salute.
Blackbeard, sensing her movements, glanced back with a sly smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"Another... Teigu user," he muttered under his breath.
---
Time Flies
In the blink of an eye, two months passed.
As the adjutant of the police force, Blackbeard flawlessly handled every mission assigned to him.
His exceptional performance not only bolstered the reputation of the police force but also reaffirmed Captain Ogre's belief that recruiting Blackbeard was a stroke of brilliance.
During this time, Blackbeard steadily gained Ogre's trust.
Through Ogre's connections, he was even introduced to the true power behind the empire: Prime Minister Honest, the man who guided the young emperor's rule.
However, due to Blackbeard's relatively low rank, their interaction was brief. After a perfunctory introduction, Blackbeard was stationed outside the meeting room, tasked with standing guard as Ogre delivered his report to the minister.
Or at least, that's what it appeared to be.
Using his formidable Observation Haki to eavesdrop, Blackbeard clearly overheard their conversation.
Though framed as a "report," the discussion had little to do with imperial security. Instead, it centered around the bribes Ogre had received recently and the shady favors he'd done in return.
In order to keep his well-paying position, Ogre couldn't pocket all the bribes for himself.
In truth, 80% of the bribes Ogre collected were handed over to Prime Minister Honest.
This arrangement explained how Ogre, despite his mediocre combat prowess, managed to retain his position as captain of the Guard.
But what Ogre didn't know was that, while he and the Prime Minister divided their ill-gotten gains with glee, an assassination plot against him was already underway.
---
Meanwhile, far from the imperial capital, in a hidden base, the Night Raid organization was making preparations.
Although Tatsumi had been abducted into the empire's recruit training camp by Blackbeard, the Night Raid team remained undeterred. They continued their mission of gathering evidence against corrupt officials and planning their assassinations.
The current target was Captain Ogre.
The catalyst for this mission was a bribe Ogre accepted from a wealthy merchant. Ogre had used his authority within the police force to eliminate a troublesome individual at the merchant's behest.
The victim's fiancée, devastated and desperate, sold everything she had to seek justice. Her efforts eventually led her to the Night Raid, where she begged them to eliminate both the merchant and Ogre.
True to their principles, the Night Raid could not ignore such a blatant abuse of power.
Two of their strongest members were chosen for the mission:
Leone and Akame.
For these seasoned assassins, it was a straightforward operation.
---
On a dark, windless evening, Leone and Akame infiltrated the imperial capital with practiced ease.
Their first target, the wealthy merchant, was dispatched swiftly and silently. His body was hidden without a trace.
With the first part of their mission complete, the pair moved through the shadows toward their next target.
Their intelligence indicated that Ogre had a habit of drinking alone on a specific street near the palace after nightfall.
It was the perfect opportunity to strike.
...
...
"Wow, hahaha! Marco, I didn't expect you to have such a strong drinking capacity! I can't even outdrink you!"
"Not bad! Not bad!"
"What are you saying, sir? You're the real drinking champion here!"
"Where am I now!"
Under the warm glow of streetlights, Ogre and Blackbeard staggered out of a tavern, leaning on each other for support.
The camaraderie between the two was undeniable—they didn't seem like a superior and subordinate but more like a pair of close friends.
This bond had developed over the past two months, largely due to Blackbeard's willingness to act as Ogre's financial sponsor.
Whenever they went out to eat or drink, Blackbeard would always pick up the tab, and Ogre, true to form, never once "competed" with him to pay.
As time passed, Ogre grew increasingly fond of his dependable adjutant.
The two of them had become inseparable drinking buddies.
On this particular evening, as usual, they wrapped up their revelry at one restaurant and were about to head to the next.
But just as they were making their way down the street...
A cloaked figure suddenly stepped out in front of them.
"Excuse me... Lord Ogre,"
Leone's soft, pitiful voice called out as she raised her eyes toward Ogre.
But in the blink of an eye—
Her expression froze. Her gaze locked onto Blackbeard, who stood beside Ogre, and her pupils widened in shock.
It was him.
The man standing before her was unmistakable—the very one who had stolen Mine's Teigu that day.
Heart pounding, Leone immediately lowered her head, careful not to let Blackbeard catch a glimpse of her face.
Luckily for her, both Ogre and Blackbeard appeared drunk, their senses dulled. They noticed nothing unusual about the cloaked figure standing before them.
Drawing on her skills as a seasoned assassin, Leone forced herself to stay calm.
Sticking to the plan, she introduced herself as the daughter of a wealthy merchant seeking to bribe Ogre, hoping to lure him into the alley where Akame lay in wait.
The ploy unfolded flawlessly.
Ogre, suspicious by nature but easily swayed, bought into her story with little hesitation.
However, there was one unexpected twist.
Ogre didn't go into the alley alone—he brought Blackbeard along.
As she led the way, Leone's mind churned with conflicting thoughts.
From what she'd seen during their last encounter, Blackbeard possessed a Teigu unknown to them.
His unexpected presence could complicate the assassination plan.
But at this point, the die was cast. There was no turning back.
Leone steeled her resolve, her confidence unshaken.
According to the intelligence they'd gathered, Ogre's combat ability was far from impressive.
She or Akame could easily handle him.
As for Blackbeard...
As long as the two of them work together, it shouldn't be a problem to deal with a Teigu user!