Chapter 2086 - 2084: Anning Dao

At the same time, Fang Zheng learned from "Ratziel" about the Empire’s formation of the Hunter Troop.

So, elite forces from the Empire? Hmm... let me see...

Fang Zheng flipped through "Ratziel" and then squinted his eyes.

This woman...

"I say."

Fang Zheng raised his head, looking at the group.

"Does anyone know about a sect called Anning Dao?"

".......?"

Faced with Fang Zheng’s inquiry, the group was stunned for a moment, and then most of them shook their heads, except Chelsea spoke up.

"Ah, you mean the sect that claims doing good will bring happiness and longevity, right? I know a little about it."

Upon hearing Chelsea’s response, Fang Zheng frowned slightly and then looked at Main.

"Main."

"What is it?"

"Go back to Night Raid and tell Najenda we plan to take action against Anning Dao."

"Eh?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

"Anning Dao is a group deeply trusted by the people!"

"That’s right."

Fang Zheng raised the "Ratziel" in his hand.

"And according to my investigation, Anning Dao is planning an armed uprising recently."

"I’ve heard some... "

Compared to Main and Akame, who mostly stayed in the Imperial City, Chelsea, who spent most of her time at the Revolutionary Army headquarters, knew more. She was now staring seriously at Fang Zheng.

"But do you really plan to do this? The Revolutionary Army has always intended to ally with Anning Dao, by doing this, you’re standing against the Revolutionary Army!?"

"That’s why I want Main to go back and tell Najenda, so they don’t get involved."

Fang Zheng sank his face, his tone becoming serious and earnest.

"We assassins protect the people’s Free Will, and those manipulating people’s minds in the name of religion are the most intolerable existence to us. Moreover, they are trying to deceive the people into dying..."

"Wait, wait, Anning Dao is a religion deeply trusted by the people."

Main also spoke up at this time.

"If you do this, you’ll be resented!"

"So what?"

However, Fang Zheng was indifferent. He had exterminated the Land of Buddha throughout history, so what was Anning Dao to him?

"Don’t you care? The people might not know if their minds are manipulated; they only know that Anning Dao brings them happiness and peace. But if you kill those Holy Practitioners of Anning Dao, they’ll resent you greatly!"

"Then what?"

But, faced with Main’s response, Fang Zheng continued to be indifferent.

"We are just a group of assassins; who would resent us?"

"Uh... this... "

Hearing this, Main realized indeed, unlike Night Raid, Fang Zheng and his group didn’t have a name. So people can’t say "those Night Raid bastards killed my family." While Main and her team are assassins by profession, being cursed is still painful.

But Fang Zheng and his team don’t have any specific name. As Fang Zheng said, they are just a group of assassins, and there are many assassins around the world. If you don’t mention names and just say a group of assassins, how could Fang Zheng care? After all, without specifying, who knows who you’re talking about?

"Besides, we have our creed."

As Fang Zheng spoke, he raised his hand, and the other assassins slightly bowed.

"Everything is permitted, nothing is true."

"Let’s go, our target this time is Anning Dao’s high-level followers, leave none alive, kill them all!"

The reason Fang Zheng wanted to take action against Anning Dao wasn’t just because its behavior reminded him of Buddhism. In fact, through "Ratziel," Fang Zheng also learned that Anning Dao was started by remnants of the Witch Cult?!

After disposing of the Archbishops of Sin, Fang Zheng hadn’t bothered with the Witch Cult. It seemed these guys couldn’t stay in Lugnica and came to the Northern Empire to cause trouble?

Too bad they ran into me again.

"........."

This time, no one spoke. The assassins bowed and then quietly left the hall. Fang Zheng also turned and walked towards the doorway, then turned his head to look at Chelsea.

"You can come with us, stay here with Akame, or perhaps try returning to Night Raid. Maybe I won’t be able to catch you."

"............"

For a moment, Chelsea really wanted to run away right then and there, but since the other party dared to say this, it meant he was fully confident he could catch her before she returned to Night Raid. Moreover, Chelsea wasn’t eager to run. She wanted to know how Fang Zheng identified her. What if she had a real weakness?

In Night Raid, Chelsea was considered the brainy one, after all, with her Teigu and skills, she would have died a hundred and eighty times over if she didn’t use her brain. So she was very concerned about any potential weaknesses. Until that thorn was removed, she wouldn’t dare to go on an assassination mission. After all, the atmosphere in the Imperial City was tense, and Chelsea had learned from Fang Zheng that the Empire had assembled a Hunter Troop, comprised of elite soldiers and strong individuals from other nations.

Chelsea was even more cautious about making any reckless moves.

Fang Zheng was formidable, but what if there were others with similar skills who could see through her?

No wonder Chelsea was being so paranoid about it. It’s worth noting that since obtaining her Teigu, this was the first time someone had seen through her. Of course, if she had disguised herself as a person, it could be explained as not being familiar enough with the prototype, leaving clues. A careful reflection would solve it later.

But being spotted even when transformed into a cat was a much bigger issue.

Therefore, until she figured out why Fang Zheng could see through her, Chelsea dared not go back to work.

Being a master of deception herself, if someone saw through her and feigned being deceived to counter-kill, that would spell doom.

She didn’t have Akame’s Attack Power.

As for Akame.........

Chelsea quietly glanced at Akame, who was still carving a wooden sword on the chair. To be frank, if she could, she’d rather stay by Akame’s side. But something about Akame’s aura these past couple of days felt off, just approaching her stirred a fear akin to stepping into a grave.

She had asked Main, and her response was that Akame had been delving into swordsmanship these days... Well, though Chelsea didn’t know the exact style, it gave off a very bad vibe, so she......

decided to follow Fang Zheng to Anning Dao to see the situation, at least there would be some liveliness.

Everyone had left, leaving only Akame alone, making it feel like an underground tomb...... Chelsea thought of herself as still a youthful girl, better suited for action under the sun.

Moreover, honestly, she was very curious about what Fang Zheng intended to do this time.

"Are you planning to deal with Anning Dao?"

Walking through the city where Anning Dao’s Northern headquarters was located, Chelsea, now in disguise, looked at Fang Zheng with a sly smile and asked. She was curious too, because if the target was one or two high-ranking individuals, an assassination was straightforward, but to assassinate the entire leadership of Anning Dao?

"I just investigated, although the reputation of the Sect Hierarch’s assistant isn’t good, the Sect Hierarch has a very high Reputation among the populace, are you really going to kill him?"

"Hehehe."

Facing Chelsea’s questions, Fang Zheng chuckled softly.

"Minister Ernest is the Prime Culprit of the Empire’s corruption, the Emperor is an innocent victim being deceived, do you really believe that?"

"This........."

Hearing this, Chelsea was momentarily stunned.

"Remember this, when things turn out like this, none of the ones in power are innocent."

Fang Zheng lowered his voice and walked forward.

"Why is someone in a position of power? It’s because they’re supposed to use people wisely. If he fails to do this, then he is derelict, regardless of his justifications, whether he is deceived or manipulated, by sitting in that position, he must bear responsibility for his choices."

At this point, Fang Zheng glanced at Chelsea.

"It comes with the duty. Once derelict, punishment will follow. Do you think the Sect Hierarch’s assistant is bad, and the Sect Hierarch is good? But is the Sect Hierarch blind? Why would he keep such a poorly reputed person by his side? Don’t you think these two are playing good cop, bad cop? When the assistant’s deeds come to light, the Sect Hierarch can paint himself as the victim, apologize to the followers, and that’s it. Doing so, he removes his enemy, bolsters his standing among his followers, and gracefully takes over the wealth his assistant unlawfully amassed, isn’t it a win-win situation?"

"This........."

Hearing this, Chelsea was at a loss for words, Fang Zheng’s words seemed absurd, but upon deeper reflection, they indeed made sense......

"And, do you think the Emperor is completely unaware of the outside situation? There are quite a few ministers who must have spoken about the people’s suffering to him, yet why is there no response from the Emperor? The reason is simple: he doesn’t care."

"............"

At this moment, Chelsea couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

"He... he doesn’t care?"

"Exactly, he doesn’t care. His world is only as big as the palace. The world outside the palace, to him, is like the world in a book, where you read about the deaths of thousands or tens of thousands, does that evoke emotions in you? Don’t assume the Emperor understands the world like you do; in truth, you two are entirely different."

This time, Chelsea didn’t speak for a long while and after an indeterminate time, she let out a long breath.

"It’s hard to imagine, hearing you say this, it’s as if you’ve been an Emperor yourself."

"Hehe........."

Hearing Chelsea’s reflection, Fang Zheng turned his head to look at her.

"How do you know I haven’t been one?"