Chapter 139: Esdeath’s Public Declaration of Love

"The winner is Mr. Kaitian, who defeated the Martial Emperor. What a truly astonishing battle."

"Master, are you alright?" Wu Kong hurriedly stepped forward to help the elderly Martial Emperor to his feet.

"Heh heh, I'm fine. The kid still knows how to respect the elderly and cherish the young. Your master can only go this far; the rest is up to you now. Your master is old."

"Mm, leave it to me. I will definitely defeat that guy."

"The next pair to fight is... General Esdeath is actually walking down. Could it have something to do with her?"

Qi, who had just been about to step down from the stage, froze, turning around with a somewhat stiff smile.

"Boss, has Esdeath discovered Qi's identity? Should we..." Leone asked in a deep voice.

Najenda shook her head at the Night Raid members looking over, then said in a low voice, "Judging from the battle just now, Qi's strength has improved once again. I believe it is on par with Esdeath's. Coupled with his versatile nature and immortal body, Esdeath cannot do anything to him.

Furthermore, looking at Esdeath's demeanor, she doesn't seem like she's here to fight. Let's wait and see how things develop."

"All right." Leone reined in her emotions and watched the development of the situation.

The other Night Raid members also quieted down, with Sheele being pulled down to a seat by Mine. Their nerves were already taut, ready for battle at a moment's notice.

"You... your name is Kaitian, right? What a bold and imposing name." Esdeath stopped two meters away from Qi, her bright blue eyes gazing straight at him.

"Thank you. I wonder what business General Esdeath might have with me?" Qi said calmly.

"That match just now was truly magnificent. It even got my blood boiling a bit," Esdeath said with a hint of excitement.

"Could it be that General Esdeath wants to fight me here?" Qi narrowed his eyes. It seemed his identity really had been exposed.

"No, although I would love to fight you, not right now. Tell me, how about coming over to my side? With your talent, it is simply a waste not to gallop across the battlefield," Esdeath said tactfully. If the other's strength hadn't been so formidable, she might have just resorted to force directly.

"I'm sorry, I have no interest. I only participated in this tournament to spar with martial arts masters. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave." Qi was surprised by Esdeath's invitation; it seemed she hadn't discovered his true identity after all.

"Wait a moment," Esdeath blocked Qi's path.

"Is there something else?" Qi furrowed his brow slightly.

"If I defeat you, will you stay with me?" Esdeath asked earnestly.

"Even if you defeat me, I would only come to challenge you again after growing stronger. As for joining your ranks, I truly have no interest," Qi shook his head. He couldn't understand why Esdeath was suddenly so thirsty for talent, especially when Meiling had performed even more brilliantly than him.

"Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly enough. I mean, are you willing to spend your entire life with me?" Esdeath asked again earnestly and loudly.

"......" The spectators fell silent.

"......" The members of Night Raid fell silent.

"......" The Jaegers fell silent.

"......" The martial arts masters fell silent as well.

At this moment, the world seemed to have halted, everyone frozen in place as if under a binding spell.

"The Captain is amazing, actually making a public confession on an occasion like this," Seryu said with wide eyes.

"Qi's charm is simply invincible. Even Esdeath, who buried four hundred thousand foreigners alive, was actually captivated by him," Leone said, her mouth agape, unable to believe her eyes.

"I didn't expect this either. I just wonder what Qi will do; he's always been saying he has a girlfriend." Najenda didn't even notice her cigarette going out as she fell into contemplation.

"......" Qi remained silent throughout, finally letting out a heavy sigh. "I already have a girlfriend. I am very sorry."

"Is that so? Who is she, and where is she? You are a man I've set my sights on. If you won't dump her, then I can... do it for you," Esdeath waved her hand dismissively.

Qi's expression instantly turned cold. "There's no need. She is no longer in this world. She is... waiting for me in another world."

"I see. Then why are you still rejecting me?"

"Because my girlfriend is waiting for me in another world, and besides, you are not the woman I desire to spend my life with." Qi directly rejected Esdeath from the root. "I'm leaving now."

Esdeath closed her eyes in thought for a fraction of a second, her figure flashing instantly to appear behind Qi as she reached out her hand toward him. "A man targeted by me, Esdeath, how could I let you escape like this?"

"What?" Qi hadn't expected Esdeath to attack him in full view of the public, and after she had just confessed to him. "Women truly are incomprehensible creatures."

Lifting Qi, who had been frozen into a block of black ice, onto her shoulder, Esdeath walked straight ahead. "Wave, continue arranging the upcoming matches. I'll be taking Kaitian away first."

"Uh... Understood." Wave was left somewhat speechless.

"Boss, Qi has been captured. What should we do?" Leone asked anxiously.

"Let's return to the base first. Qi's identity hasn't been exposed, and Esdeath even confessed to him publicly, so there's no danger to his life. He probably just consumed too much energy fighting a grueling battle against the Martial Emperor and was caught off guard by Esdeath's sneak attack. With his methods, escaping will only be a matter of time."

Najenda stood up, gestured to the other Night Raid members, and turned to walk toward the exit.

Just as Najenda had said, right now Qi lacked the support of his Grimoire, and after such a prolonged and massive consumption of energy during the Silver Reversal, most of his spiritual energy was already depleted. If he tried to break through the mysterious ice now, he simply wouldn't be able to shake off Esdeath's pursuit.

"You heartless bunch, you actually aren't coming to save me. I've already been dragged into the Imperial City." On the way back to the base with the rest of Night Raid, Qi's voice echoed out from the diamond bead Akame carried with her.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and gathered around.

"Qi can even communicate over a long distance? That's amazing." Chelsea, seeing this scene for the first time, curiously examined the tiny diamond bead. Her earlier anxiety also relaxed considerably.

"To be confessed to by such a great beauty like Esdeath and taken back to warm her bed—I'm not envious in the least. If I had known, I would have just told Esdeath your true identity. Anyway, since she's already killed you once, killing you again wouldn't be a big deal. I'm really not envious at all. Truly."

"Wipe your tears, Lubbock," Leone waved her hand. "If you ask me, Qi should just conquer Esdeath and make her rebel against the Empire as well."

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