"Good, you've all completed your quotas. The social internship to earn money is now considered passed."
Looking at the seven young boys and girls standing before him, Gozuki weighed the bag of gold coins in his hand and smiled like a loving father as he praised them.
"Heehee, the villagers were all so friendly!"
With a pure and sunny smile, the energetic girl Poney sat on a chair, kicking her little feet.
"Yeah! They even gave us lots of gifts!"
With short brown hair, brown eyes, and a brown-and-white dress, the girl with a cute, round face seemed much more ladylike compared to the energetic Poney.
With a childlike face and a voluptuous figure, this girl was the assassination rank NO.6—Tsukushi.
Next to Tsukushi sat the cool and silent boy in military uniform, Najasho. Unlike the energetic Poney and the cute Tsukushi, Najasho, who was ranked NO.1 in both strength and talent among the seven, seemed uninterested in everything.
Behind Najasho stood the tall and voluptuous big sister Cornelia. To his right was the legendary pervert, Guy, who would spend all his money on women in the village as soon as he got it.
According to rumors, Guy had a crush on the beautiful and gentle big sister Cornelia, but he had never succeeded due to her superhuman strength. However, Guy was exceptionally persistent and seemed to have never given up!
By the door, away from the crowd, leaned a reserved bespectacled young man.
Yes, his name is Green, and he's quite reserved, as everyone in the team knows…
Finally, standing by the window is the cool yet occasionally adorable Akame. With black hair and red eyes, she wears a white combat dress and holds her weapon, the Kiriichimonji, a long sword.
As Gozuki scanned the seven young boys and girls below, a look of immense satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Especially when his gaze fell on Najasho from the boys' group and Akame from the girls' group, Gozuki looked at them as if they were precious treasures.
"You have all endured my strict training for the past eight years and have finally become excellent warriors…"
Seeing the young boys and girls quiet down and listen attentively, Gozuki continued:
"But now, wars are still breaking out in the world, engulfing peaceful villages in the flames of war!"
With a tone of indignation and fervor, Gozuki had said these words to the young boys and girls before. Watching the innocent and adorable children express their anger, a strange smile curled up on Gozuki's lips.
"Very soon, you will be given your first mission. Be prepared!"
A glint of excitement flashed in Gozuki's eyes, and his words exploded like a bomb among the seven young boys and girls. Anticipation, excitement, and a hint of fear filled the air as they eagerly discussed. Even the strongest, Najasho, showed a slight change in expression, losing his previous calm demeanor.
"Kurome, are you okay now?"
"I'm finally going to kill someone. I will definitely bury the target!"
"So, you must also do your best…"
Not joining the discussion, Akame held her sword and gazed out the dark window, her crimson eyes filled with endless longing…
…
The next day.
"It seems you are all prepared. It's about time to give you your first mission!"
Looking down at the young boys and girls he had trained for years, now ready for action, Gozuki spoke loudly, his voice filled with anticipation and excitement.
"Daddy, what is our miss…"
With a serious expression and gentle long hair, Cornelia suppressed her excitement and calmly asked.
"Hehehe… Yes, this assassination target is different from the usual training with dangerous beasts. It's a real person!"
A cruel and bloodthirsty smile curled up on Najasho's lips, exuding an icy coldness.
"Finally, this day has come!"
Without a trace of worry or fear, she clenched her fists, her face filled with anticipation.
Yes, this is the energetic girl, Poney, who seems a bit slow-witted and blindly trusts "Father."
"My hands are starting to itch!"
The lustful big guy, Guy.
"Finally, we're dealing with real people…"
Adjusting his black glasses, the reserved Green.
"Ah… I must do my best!"
With a childlike face and a serious expression, Tsukushi.
"For my first mission, I will definitely succeed!"
With a determined glint in her crimson eyes, the cool Akame.
"Well, with your skills, ordinary people are no match. Just do as you usually do."
"And you also possess 'Shingu'!"
Looking down at the seven young boys and girls with varied expressions, Gozuki smiled.
"Shingu???"
Hearing this unfamiliar term for the first time, the young boys and girls were filled with confusion.
"Yes, the real name of the weapons given to you is this."
As if intentionally revealing it to the young boys and girls, Gozuki's lips curled into a strange smile as he continued:
"A thousand years ago, the first emperor who established the empire created 48 weapons called 'Teigu' to eternally protect the country. Each was a super weapon made by combining lost secret techniques and materials from legendary dangerous beasts."
"Four hundred years later, the emperor at that time also tried to create Teigu. However, the result was only some weapons that couldn't compare to the Teigu. Since they could never surpass the previous weapons, they were mockingly called Shingu."
"The emperor was deeply ashamed and sealed all the Shingu. Although they can't compare to Teigu, their performance is still high. The Shingu in your hands were taken from the empire's secret treasury."
Hearing Gozuki's explanation, the seven were filled with astonishment and carefully examined the weapons in their hands, feeling a strange excitement.
"Now you understand, right? Your mission is so important that the nation's treasures, the Shingu, are given to you!"
"Be proud! Your work will save the entire empire!"
Gozuki's voice seemed to have a magical power, instantly filling the young boys and girls with immense pride. Full of passion, endless pride, and honor.
It must be said, Gozuki is a professional brainwasher. Despite being a group of dirty assassins, he has trained them to be so pure and innocent. Though their hands are stained with blood, they still hold a sense of righteousness, believing they are doing something great and sacred!
"By the way—"
Seeing the young boys and girls' excited and proud expressions, Gozuki suddenly changed his demeanor, a sinister smile on his face:
"If anyone fails their first mission, I will definitely not spare them!"
"This is an important and crucial task for everyone's happiness. Those who can't do it are not worthy to be my children!"
Seeing the seven's tense expressions, a look of satisfaction flashed in Gozuki's eyes.
Although his goal is to keep these tools proud and pure-hearted, unaffected by the killings, the premise is that they must remain obedient!
"This is your mission. Open it later; the details are written inside. Helping each other is prohibited."
Handing each of the seven an envelope, Gozuki spoke seriously.
"Yes, Father!"
Exchanging glances, the seven sensed from Gozuki's tone that he was very serious this time and dared not disobey, immediately replying respectfully.
"Alright, set off!"
With a wave of his hand, Gozuki gave the seven the order to depart.
Without further delay, filled with boundless anticipation and excitement, the young boys and girls leaped and vanished from their spots.
"The targets this time are mostly death row convicts. If they can survive by reaching the designated location, they will be pardoned. This serves as our training," Gozuki muttered to himself as he watched the departing youths.
However, there are exceptions A peculiar smile curled on Gozuki's lips as his gaze shifted in a certain direction.
There, lay the target of the girl Akame…