The tavern fell utterly silent after the woman's declaration.
Every eye turned toward her.
She was beautiful—unnervingly beautiful.
Cold, flawless, a kind of beauty that made lesser men hold their breath.
Her long blue hair cascaded like silk down her back, matching those glacial blue eyes that shimmered with danger.
The white military uniform hugged her figure perfectly—waist cinched tight, chest armor straining with poise and power.
The newcomer was none other than Esdeath from Akame ga Kill!
A woman whose smile could freeze the blood in your veins.
Sadistic by nature. A pure battle maniac. And a conqueror to her core.
Worst of all—
she was creative with torture.
Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she strode forward.
Tack, tack, tack, tack.
When she reached the counter, she pulled a chain from her coat,
and with a smooth, eager motion, swung it toward Ron's neck.
"General Esdeath, please restrain yourself."
Ron tilted his head aside, sidestepping neatly, his tone light—but his heart sank.
Great. I just hit her kink, didn't I?
The chain clattered to the ground, the metallic sound snapping everyone out of their daze.
"Don't resist," Esdeath said, tilting her head, eyes narrowing with excitement.
"Come with me. Too many distractions here."
She didn't sound angry that he'd dodged her strike—if anything, she looked more thrilled.
After all, Ron ticked every box on her ideal partner list:
Didn't grow up under her Empire's rule? Check.
Younger, easier to dominate? Check.
Clean, innocent smile? Check.
It had only taken one polite greeting when she entered—
and her heavily armored heart had cracked wide open.
And the final test—courage.
A man who could found a cross-world tavern clearly didn't fear "Danger Beasts."
She had found her prey.
But before she could move again, two small figures stepped between them.
Rem and Ram, eyes sharp, hands glowing—
one with flame, the other radiating heat and energy.
The twin maids stood firm, like loyal lionesses guarding their master.
They might've been trembling inside, but their gazes didn't waver.
Esdeath's lips curved in faint amusement.
She didn't even glance at them twice.
Small, flat, and unimposing—hardly worth acknowledging.
Then—her body tensed.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She felt it—two piercing glares from behind.
Killing intent, cold and suffocating, the kind that made even her seasoned heart seize for a beat.
Turning slightly, she found herself meeting the eyes of two women—
Lucoa, smiling faintly, and Tohru, in her maid outfit, tail twitching.
"You're strong," Esdeath said, unsheathing her sword. "I want to fight you."
Her pulse quickened with excitement.
Strong opponents—finally!
Her own world hadn't offered a single worthy challenge.
According to the Empire's own reports, defeating her required fifty thousand soldiers and ten Imperial Arms users at once.
Her strength was monstrous.
And yet—this tavern had four beings she could feel could kill her.
Rayleigh raised both hands in surrender instantly.
"Don't look at me, lass. Got a war to fight tonight—can't waste the energy!"
Esdeath nodded seriously, then turned toward Tohru.
"Fighting is forbidden in the tavern," Ron sighed. "You're killing my business here."
Esdeath's lips curled upward. "Then come with me. We'll… discuss philosophy in my room."
You do the oral exam, or I do the practical? Ron thought, deadpan.
Then—flash!
A dazzling arc of blue light sliced through the air.
Esdeath's sword came down like lightning toward Tohru—
only to meet a resounding clang.
Ron stood before her, the sword Ace in his hands, its edge halting hers mid-swing.
"No fighting in my tavern," he said, voice calm—but carrying the weight of authority.
"It's a rule. Everyone follows it."
With his final word, a tremendous wave of Conqueror's Haki burst from him,
rippling outward like a hurricane, slamming into Esdeath.
In that instant—her breath hitched.
The man before her seemed to change.
His presence swelled, vast, dominating, almost divine.
For a fleeting heartbeat, she could see it—
a dragon's silhouette rising behind him, its roar echoing in her bones.
Her knees trembled; her sword hand faltered.
She wasn't dizzy—but something inside her had been pushed back.
Before she could hit the floor, Ron stepped forward, catching her by the waist.
"What was that power?" she whispered, slipping free of his grip.
"It… didn't feel human."
The aura he'd unleashed—she had never seen anything like it.
That overwhelming dominance, that primal force—
it was as if he had commanded heaven and earth themselves.
What Esdeath had witnessed was the fusion of Dragon Physique and Conqueror's Haki—
a new evolution of willpower, a force beyond ordinary kingship.
"I'm even more interested in you now," she said softly, returning to her seat with a smile.
She wasn't the type to keep picking a fight when outmatched.
She might be an S—but she had no desire to be someone's M.
Ron merely smiled and turned back behind the counter.
"She's one of the tavern staff now," he said evenly. "No fighting, unless it's self-defense.
If you'd like, drop by often—you'll meet others on your level."
Honestly, had he not stepped in just now,
Tohru might've obliterated Esdeath in a single blow.
Even among dragons, Tohru ranked near the top—
a gap no "Imperial Arm" could bridge.
And Ron didn't want to make things harder for Esdeath.
After all—
she wasn't here to conquer the world.
She just wanted to conquer him.
"Then I'll drink," she said finally, voice calm again.
Her tone softened. With her long blue hair and icy demeanor,
she looked every bit the perfect ice queen.
"Don't frown. Drinking's good too," Ron said with a grin.
"I'll serve you something called Du Kang. They say only Du Kang can ease sorrow."
Moments later, Tohru carried over a sealed wine jar.
"Your drink. Please enjoy."
As soon as Esdeath lifted the cloth seal, a rich aroma filled the room.
"Thank you," she said, smiling—
a genuine, gentle smile.
Tohru blinked. What the—
This woman had been ready to chop her in half minutes ago,
and now she was sitting there smiling like an angel?
The whiplash was so strong it almost hurt.
Humans… are impossible to read! she thought, shivering slightly.
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