The Ice Queen and The Dark Prince

Kill the Executioner

"We're back!" Leone announced as they walked into Night Raid's headquarters, her voice booming with enthusiasm as always. Her lion-like grin stretched across her face as she slung an arm around Tatsumi, who still looked a little shaken from the mission he'd returned from.

"Ah, welcome back," Najenda, the leader of Night Raid, said calmly, sitting at her desk with a cigarette between her fingers. She exhaled a cloud of smoke, her one good eye studying them. "I assume the mission was successful?"

Leone gave a casual shrug, though there was pride in her voice. "Of course! You know us, boss. One more corrupt noble wiped off the map. Easy work."

Najenda's lips quirked in a small smile. "Good. No casualties on our side, I take it?"

"Nope," Leone said, her eyes gleaming. "Though we did run into a bit of an unexpected guest."

Najenda raised an eyebrow, immediately picking up on the tension in Leone's voice. "Unexpected guest?"

Akame spoke up, "There was... someone there. Someone strong. He didn't seem to be with the Empire or the Revolutionary Army."

"Describe him," Najenda said, her tone sharpening as she leaned forward, all business now.

Leone nodded, her expression serious. "Tall guy, black hair with dreads, cold eyes. He was fast—faster than most people I've fought. His fighting style was strange too. Almost like he was using some sort of technique to control his breathing."

Najenda's gaze flickered with recognition. "dreaded hair... Did he say his name?"

"He didn't, but he wasn't after us. He was after Akame," Leone explained, her expression turning serious. "Said something about revenge for his clan."

Najenda's eyes narrowed, the gears in her mind turning quickly. "Revenge? For his clan?"

Tatsumi glanced over at Akame, who had been standing quietly by the door, her face as stoic as ever. "Akame... do you know him?"

Akame's eyes darkened slightly, her grip on Murasame tightening. "I've... encountered him before. It was a long time ago, back when I was still with the Empire."

Najenda inhaled sharply, piecing it together. "So he's another ghost from the past... like many we've faced."

Akame nodded, her expression unreadable. "His name is Minatiro Kurogami. I killed his father and his entire clan when I was still an assassin for the Empire." Her voice was steady, but there was a weight to her words.

The room fell silent.

"Sounds like we've got another problem," Leone muttered, glancing around the room at her comrades. "If this guy's as strong as he seems, he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"And what he wants is Akame," Najenda said quietly, her expression thoughtful. "We'll have to be careful. He could come for us at any time."

Tatsumi clenched his fists. "We can't let him hurt Akame."

Akame's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she spoke again, her voice calm but resolute. "I'll deal with him when the time comes. His grudge is with me, not with Night Raid."

Najenda nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on Akame. "We'll deal with him together if he comes. We're not leaving anyone to face this alone."

Meanwhile

It had been two weeks since Minatiro's intense clash with Akame. The encounter still replayed in his mind, but for now, he had other priorities. Since then, he had managed to keep a low profile, picking up a job at a local bar in the capital. It wasn't much, but it gave him the perfect cover to monitor Night Raid's movements without drawing too much attention.