(DISCONTINUED) Night Raid's Joker (Akame ga Kill x Persona 5)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Spectator

"Have you found the next target, Mona?" I asked, rubbing my chin with my legs crossed on the chair I sat on.

"Who do you think I am? In this place, I'm your best scout." Morgana snapped, licking his paws and cleaning the top of his head.

"Is that so now?" I replied, smirking cheekily.

It was the morning after the assassins came back. All of Night Raid had returned, including Lubbock, Bulat, and Sheele. I was sitting in my room, wearing my prop glasses with Morgana sitting on my desk. Tatsumi came back with his hair singed, complaining how Mine burned his hair off with her gun, named Pumpkin. Recently, I learned that the assassins seem to possess strange weapons, Pumpkin being one of them. I'm not entirely sure how they work, so I will have to look into it later.

Until then, I had asked Morgana to scout for any new targets the assassins have come across. I know that they eventually die by their hands, but I will still continue to change their hearts. It may be pointless, but I think that letting rotten adults with distorted desires lose those desires will grant them a peaceful death in the end. It seems idealistic, but that's just how I see the world. Even if everyone here is disgusting...

"Well? Don't keep me on the edge of my seat. Who is it?" I asked, leaning my hand on my chin.

"I spied on Najenda, who was going over the targets for today. One of them is named Zanku." Morgana reported.

"Zanku? What are his crimes?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Zanku has a title: 'Zanku the Executioner.' It's exactly as it sounds." Morgana noted. My eyes narrowed. A murderer...It seems like this world is full of them. I've dealt with a couple of them while I was still a part of the Phantom Thieves, but it seems like most, if not all of our targets will be killers. "Around here, he's famous for beheading anyone he encounters at night. Citizens, Guards, it doesn't matter. As long as the poor soul dies, he doesn't care."

"He's probably already killed dozens...I muttered. Alright, that's one target to remember. Pushing my chair back into my desk and swapped my glasses for the Joker mask I always wear. Can't ever be too careful. Morgana hopped onto my shoulder, as we left to our job.

In other words, taking care of the assassins.

"There you are! I was wondering when you would wake up."

"You're awfully energetic, Pinky. Are you always like this?" I teased, smirking as I turned to the short, pink haired girl. A vein appeared on Mine's head, as she grinded her teeth.

"Shut up, newbie! Staff like you can't talk down to an assassin like me! I'm above you!" Mine hissed. She's not wrong, but please stop talking...

Choosing to ignore the pink hair's comment, I simply walked to the kitchen, getting ready to prepare breakfast. Hmm, maybe I should make coffee and curry. Do they even have coffee machines and coffee beans in this world? Well, only one way to find out. Stretching my arms and cracking my knuckles, I immediately opened up the assassin's cupboards, searching our stock. Hmm....Seems like they have the materials I can use for curry, especially the spices. I think I can cook up something good. Coffee? Hmm, I see black beans in there...Smells similar to Blue Mountain. It's probably not the same, but I think I can use this. Just like Sojiro told me...But no love. I don't want anybody dying on me.

Next to the beans, I found a bottle filled with black liquid. Lifting my eyebrow, I opened up the cap, taking a quick sniff. This salty scent...Soy. Suddenly, an evil smile spread across my face, as Morgana watched as I grabbed it, along with the materials I need for breakfast. What do you know, this place has a giant pot. It seems this place has a basic stove here as well. As for the coffee, I can just grind them up and soak them in water. There's probably something similar to filter paper. I think I'm proficient to improvise cook on the fly, though, so I think I'll be okay.

Whistling to myself as I cooked the curry and prepared the coffee, as well as my little surprise, I sighed happily as I breathed in the scent of warm curry and rich coffee. Blue Mountain is known for its rich aroma, after all, and its very relaxing. People always say I smell like coffee, and Sojiro says that I have Blue Mountain scent specifically.

"Oh? Hard at work, I see!"

"Please put your shirt on in the kitchen, Bulat..." I turned to the muscle-headed assassin, crossing my arms.

"Ouch! No need to be so cold, Ren!" Bulat chuckled, flexing with a blush on his face.

"Either put a shirt on or get out of the kitchen. The last thing I need is breakfast smelling like sweat." I said, staring up at the tall man. Bulat chuckled, scratching the back of his head. Sighing as I plated the curry and put the coffee in mugs, except for one, containing my surprise.

"Something smells good..." the voice of Akame came from the kitchen.

"Ooooh! Looks like Ren-kun is making curry again!" Leone's excited voice followed.

"Eh?! That newbie probably can't cook for crap!"

"You do realize that Ren is the guy who cooks your food, right Mine?"

"Eh?! I thought that was the other rookie and Akame!"

"You do know that he's staff here, right?"

"I-I knew that!"

"Here." I caught everyone's attention, placing a plate of hot curry in front of everyone. The assassin's eyes widened when the spicy scent hit their senses. I quietly poured each of them a cup of coffee as they stared. Meanwhile, I placed the surprise in front of Mine.

"Whoa! This looks delicious!" Lubbock exclaimed, drooling. Akame was already eating, a blank expression as her eyes sparkled. Everyone soon joined in, as I watched them all devour the plate. Najenda watched her subordinates eat, grinning as she ate at a moderate pace.

"I must say, you are definitely a talented cook. Maybe staff is a better position than an assassin for you." Najenda noted. I'm not sure how to feel about that. I'd much rather be a thief, thank you very much.

"Is this...coffee?" Tatsumi noted. I didn't say anything, watching as he took a tentative sip. He smiled warmly, exhaling in relief and quickly glugging the rest. "WHOA! This is amazing!"

"It can't beat good old alcohol, but that hits the spot!" Leone purred, a wide grin on her face.

"WOO! I feel like I can do anything now! Najenda-san, will you go out with me?" Lubbock asked.

"No." Najenda immediately shot him down, taking a sip with her one eye closed. "Such aroma..."

"Warm..." Akame noted, scarfing down curry and chugging coffee afterwards. This girl is a black hole, I swear...

"Mmhm. It's nice to have a nice cup of Joe after a good workout." Bulat smiled, flexing.

"Put your shirt on. Sweat will make everything taste and smell bad." I noted bluntly, putting my hand to my mask.

"Uwah!" Sheele suddenly spilled her cup, getting it all over the table. Clumsy one, isn't she? Sighing as I whipped out a towel from thin air, I began to wipe it down, discreetly watching Mine, who had yet to drink from hers.

"It can't be that good..." Mine noted, taking the mug in both her hands and taking a sip. Immediately, she spat it out all over Tatsumi, who was sitting across from her. The assassin screamed, his skin boiling from the surprise. Mine shrieked, black liquid dripping from her mouth as she pointed at me angrily. "YOU BASTARD! WHA-WHAT IS THIS?!"

"Heated soy sauce." I stated bluntly, cleaning up Sheele's spill and Mine's mess.

"DAMN NEWB-"

"I don't believe that I ever mentioned that this was coffee." I cut her off, smirking. I'm gutsy enough to pull a prank like this. I hope your ready, Pinky, because this certainly isn't the end~!

"All right, that's enough. Leone, get off the floor. It wasn't that funny." Najenda noted, said blonde still busting a gut. "Mine, clean up after yourself. That was a waste of good soy sauce."

"A WASTE?!"

"This coffee really is good..." Najenda ignored her.

"...More." Akame commanded, putting her empty plate and mug in front of me. I let out a small smile as I gave the red eyes assassin seconds and poured her a second cup.

"Alright, let's get to work." Najenda's voice made the room become silent, as everyone stopped eating. Seeing as this was probably not for my ears, I left, taking the empty dishes to the kitchen. While washing dishes, I could hear the details of the mission. It turns out that Morgana's intel was accurate. Their target this time was a serial killer, Zanku. While listening, I got a little bit more background of the executioner. Apparently, the title is very literal. Before he wandered the streets of the Empire, he was an executioner for the largest prison in the kingdom. Since the Prime Minister is such a scumbag, he had a lot of people to kill, so he's probably been driven insane, decapitating all he comes across.

"A man like him sounds dangerous! Let's find him and take him down!" Tatsumi yelled, before I heard shuffling. My eyes narrowed. I do hope he's not being overconfident. A man experienced with killing should not be trifled with. Besides, Tatsumi has yet to fight a man who fought back. He killed an Ogre with a changed heart. Speaking of which...I should prepare for a fight with Zanku's shadow in Mementos.

"Now hold on a moment. Zanku stole a Teigu that was i the possession of the prison head, and now walks the streets with it. We can't be too reckless, now can we~?" Bulat warned Tatsumi. My eyebrow raised up. Teigu? What is that? A weapon, perhaps? There's too much I don't know about this world, and asking Najenda and the others would be too suspicious and nosy. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Glancing at Morgana, the cat nodded, a determined look in his eyes. My expression hardened along with the cat's, as we both mentally prepared ourselves for a difficult fight.

. . .

When I was done washing the dishes, i quickly slipped away to my room, pulling out my phone. Morgana took the infiltration tools crafted the night before in his mouth, somehow stuffing them into his yellow collar. He gave me a short nod, showing he was ready. Nodding in response, I slipped one of my hands in my pockets, smirking when I felt the familiar dagger in my hands.

"Alright. Let's go." I stated, pressing, "enter" on the MetaNav and feeling the entire world distort around me. Closing my eyes as I waited for the familiar feeling to fade, I soon found myself standing in the same room as before, only now I was sitting on a small bench at the entrance of a giant gate that only showed darkness beyond its bars. My eyes narrowed. This is where Night Raid's base is located in Mementos. Just outside of the giant prison, in fact. It's how I'm able to get around so quickly. Apparently, anywhere within the Empire is considered a prison in Mementos, so the only place with any real breathing room is the place the Prime Minister has no influence over. Night Raid's headquarters, for instance. I looked to my left, seeing Morgana in his anthropomorphic form. The cat took the infiltration tools from earlier out of his bandanna, stuffing them into his utility belt for later.

Looking to my right, I found the familiar blue door oozing a blue aura with the familiar girl standing beside it. Lavenza nodded at me in greeting, to which I returned. Taking off the prop mask, I steeled myself, pushing in the gates to Mementos and moving past the gate into the grim darkness.

Mementos, much like in my world, is underground, so I needed to take a long flight of stairs to truly be inside the prison. The second my feet touched the first floor and the empty cells surrounded me, my clothes suddenly changed in a burst of red and black energy, flowing like blood.