The Longsword Of The Renmant Flame

[3rd POV]

Everyone from the new group called Jaegers finished the audience with the Emperor and went back to the special police conference room, with Wave and Bols using the fishes that Wave brought for dinner.

Wave: Using my memento… The seafood I brought from home to make a big welcoming dinner was a good idea. 'But isn't it a little strange that he can cook with that face!?'

Bols: Wave, the spinach needs to go in last. It's a bit too early for that.

Wave: Oh, sorry. But… You know Bols, I sure was relieved to discover that you're actually a kind person.

There was a moment of pause, before Bols replied.

Bols: I'm not… Really that kind at all…

Meanwhile, everyone else was in the main room, with Run dressed as a waiter and Dr. Stylish still in his suit, while Seryu, Esdeath and Kurome sitting on the table, knowing better each other.

Seryu: General. What about you? What have you been doing with your spare time?

Esdeath: Mostly hunting and torture, otherwise I study. But at the moment… I was thinking… That I might try my hand at being in love.

The last sentence surprised Kurome and Seryu, but Esdeath continued to smile.

Esdeath: By the way, has the report on the spare Teigu come in yet?

Seryu: Ah.. Y-Yes it has. The giant scissors Teigu that we retrieved from those evil people is currently being held in the main guard office. But we have yet to find anyone suitable to use them… 

Esdeath: And at this rate, the Prime Minister will take control of them, hmm… That would be such a waste. In order to find someone capable enough to use them, I say we should put on an entertaining show.

[The next day]

Right now Billy was walking around the imperial city wearing only a brown coat that reached his knees, while his katana rested at his side and a map was on his hands.

Entering in the shop district, he looked around until he saw the place he was searching for, Booknight, a store selling books, and Lubbock was standing in front of the entrance with his job uniform.

Lubbock: Ohh?

Billy: Yo.

Lubbock: Hey.

Lubbock pointed a thumb inside, signaling Billy to follow him. The two of them went inside the store and to the back door, where inside it Lubbock opened a trapdoor, revealing stairs.

Lubbock: Be careful while heading down.

Billy: Nice place you have here…

Lubbock: Right? I'm very proud of it.

At the end of the staircase, Billy and Lubbock found Leone sitting on a sofa, with some empty wine bottles in the wooden table in front of her.

Leone: Hey there! Welcome to the capital hideout!

Billy: Did you at least left some wine for me?

Leone: Sorry, that's mine!

Lubbock: Anyway, so, Mine has finally appeared on the wanted posters. Therefore the only ones who can walk around the capital openly are us three.

Billy: While I was going around everyone kept talking about the Jaegers, a new police squad around the capital…

Lubbock: Obviously, since Esdeath is their leader… That's the real hot topic…

Billy: ...Right. I also heard about a tournament, what do you guys think?

Lubbock: Oh, about that…

Then Lubbock took out something from the bag that was in the sofa and gave it to Billy, the item was revealed to be a poster.

Lubbock: Esdeath is sponsoring a city wide tournament! The winner will get a huge cash reward! This will be a good opportunity to gain more money, probably they just want to see if there is any recruit, but for you it should be easy to not get f.u.c.k.e.d up, right?

Billy looked at the poster before a smile formed in his face.

[Meanwhile]

In the imperial palace, the Prime Minister and Emperor were eating together, guarded from some guards. While the Emperor Makoto was eating at his own pace, the Prime Minister Honest was literally eating a whole cake barehanded.

Makoto: Say, Prime Minister? About general Esdeath… Why has she started talking about things like love?

Honest: Everyone starts desiring the opposite s.e.x when they reach a certain age, such as general Bianco, who usually stood with her husband before going to a mission out of the Capital, before she died. General Esdeath has always been a person that has lived for the thrill of battle… 

She's always chose war over flowers until now. But it seems that d.e.s.i.r.e is finally blooming.

Makoto: I see, and for that, she wishes to find someone suitable…

Honest: She is a person of great pride. So she won't accept anyone inferior.

Makoto: Hmmm… But could a man who meets these requirements really exist…?

Makoto took out a scroll and showed it to Honest, who looked through it.

1st. Above all, must possess a deep well of untapped ability. I wish to mold him into a person of General class abilities.

2nd. Must be fearless, a person who can hunt the most dangerous species of the world with me.

3rd. Cannot have been raised near the capital. Just like me, must have been raised on the outskirts of the Empire.

4th. Will be under my direct control, so must be younger than me.

5th. One who has a pure and innocent smiling face would be nice.

Makoto: Looking at the first requirement would disqualify almost everyone, huh…

Honest: Being trained by her to become of General quality would be rough too… Good luck to the one who will be chosen from her…

[Tomorrow]

Right now Esdeath and Run were over a platform spectating the tournament that started some time ago, in a colosseum surrounded from citizens.

Esdeath: *Yawn*

Run: What do you think of these ones, captain?

Esdeath: I think boring fighters make for boring fights. I guess it's too much to ask for someone capable of using a Teigu to suddenly appear, huh?

Run: Oh, it seems the fight is about over.

Below them, in the arena, one of the two fighters were in the ground while the other was standing over the former, while Wave, holding a mic, announced.

Wave: Winner! Nobunaga of the Dry-Goods store!

Nobunaga: Yeaaaaah! I'm the winner!!

Later, the next two fighters entered in the arena, one of them was a very large, well-built, middle-aged man, with a bull's head. He's got yellow eyes, a large hoop ring running in between his nostrils and small horns on top of his head. 

He wears penny loafers, a pair of cargo shorts with a red sash around his waist and dons a black leather jacket that roughly stretches to his c.h.e.s.t. Additionally, he sports black wristbands with a logo of a red bull on them. 

While the other was… Billy. Nothing more…

Wave: In the east corner! Kalbi the Butcher! In the west corner! Billy the Traveler!

In the platform, Esdeath gazed at them without any hint of interest, while Run held a twitching smile.

Run: ...I would have never thought I would see you here…

Esdeath: See what?

Run: Nothing… I think I saw an acquaintance of mine, but I don't know if its really him.

Esdeath: I see…

Back in the arena, Kalbi was grinning at Billy.

Kalbi: You're a tiny one, ain't you? That prize money is already in the bag, kukuku… I may have been excommunicated, but I'm a 9th level master of the imperial fist, ya know?

Billy: ...I would have never thought about saying this in a place that isn't the bathroom, but it's time to beat the meat.