"Ha.ha.ha,"Leone laughed loudly, her arm resting on her stomach as she pointed at Tatsumi.

"Looks like 'bring it on' didn't quite work out, huh? They've got full baskets, and you've got just one fish even after hunting the whole five hours," she teased.

Akame, who listened to Leone's remarks, focused on preparing salads, as she commented, "Not quite up to par."

'Shit!, am I worth nothing in her eyes?' Tatsumi inwardly cursed, feeling inadequate as he took the rice out of the cooker.

SIZZLE

Leone observed Bane frying the fish in the pan, impressed by his cooking skills. "You know, Bane, it seems like you're quite talented at cooking. But you should wear an apron. It would add to your charm," she remarked smugly. The aroma of the frying tuna filled the air.

Bane, who was focused on his cooking, responded, "No, I prefer not to wear it." As he carefully arranged the fried fish in the pot along with the prepared gravy and spices.

"Leone's right, Bane. It wouldn't hurt to try," Tatsumi chimed in as he placed the rice from the cooker to the serving plate.

Bane focused on cooking, as he didn't appreciate the interruptions. "Shut up, do not disturb me, while I cook. And starting tomorrow, it's your turn to cook for the entire week," he declared while stirring the fish in the pot.

He then turned his attention to Akame and noticed her eating the meat, which was near salads, instead of serving the dish, "And why are you eating instead of serving them? Najenda assigned you to cook for us," he scolded, pointing the ladle at her.

Akame defended herself with a sheepish "I was just tasting it,"

"'No, you are not!'" The rest of the Night Raid members called her out.

Ignoring the chaos, Bane finished cooking and served the food on the dining table. As the bowls of curry were placed in front of them, a tantalising aroma filled the air.

The scent of roasted cumin, coriander, and turmeric combined with the savoury tuna fish created a warm and comforting aroma, promising a delicious meal.

Leone's curiosity piqued as she admired the dish Bane had prepared. "What is this delicious-looking and heavenly smelling dish?" she asked, trying to control her drool.

"It's fish curry with rice. You can eat it now," Bane replied simply, as he finished up the plating.

The sight and aroma of the dish caused Akame, Mine, and Lubbock to start drooling, while Najenda, Bulat, Sheele, and Tatsumi appreciated the tantalising scent.

"Happ!, Mhn"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Meanwhile, Akame, already seated on the chair, had started devouring the fish curry with rice eagerly, as if she hadn't eaten in ages.

"Oye, Akame is already digging in. We better eat before she finishes or there won't be any seconds," Lubbock remarked, prompting everyone to start enjoying their meal.

As they savoured spoonfuls of the tuna fish curry, a symphony of flavours exploded in their mouths.

"The sauce is perfectly balanced, with a harmonious blend of tangy tomatoes, creamy coconut milk, and aromatic spices. The tuna fish itself is tender and flaky, soaking up the flavours of the curry, and along with the rice, it's heaven on earth," Lubbock commented between bites, his eyes tearing up from the exquisite taste.

"Indeed, it is tasty," Bulat commented. "you can even ask another favor from me for this amazing dish, Bane." He joked.

"No thanks," Bane bluntly said as his back tingled after seeing Bulat's smile. 'Something is wrong with this man,' he thought.

"Would you marry me?" Lubbock jokingly asked Bane, but he quickly quieted down upon seeing Bane's stern eyes from behind his mask. He returned his focus to his fish curry, not wanting to test Bane's patience.

Each bite was a delightful fusion of savoury, spicy, and slightly tangy flavours, leaving a pleasant warmth on the tongues of the Night Raid members. In just a few minutes, they devoured multiple servings of the fish and rice, thoroughly enjoying the meal.

"Hmph, I could make a much better dish than this. Though I admit it is tasty, you can cook for us sometimes," Mine muttered quietly to herself, but Bane could clearly hear her.

'A Tsundere, huh,' thought Bane after observing Mine's attitude toward expressing her appreciation for the dish. 'Though I don't know what this word implies, I have a gut feeling that it is a perfect word for this pink-haired girl,' Bane concluded internally.

"Seriously, where did you even learn to cook, Bane? I don't recall members of the special squad having enough time for cooking back at the revolutionary army," Najenda remarked after finishing her meal, she said this because she knew that the soldiers always eat the food prepared by the kitchen staff or they have to eat dry meat during their missions.

"It just came to me," Bane said, though he couldn't explain how he learned to cook or gained such a good grasp of spices. It felt as if he had prepared meals for himself countless times in the past.

"Why don't you also eat the food, Bane?" Sheele asked, noticing Bane standing there. She felt a bit guilty for not asking him earlier.

"I have separately cooked a whole pot for myself as I have a large appetite like her," Bane said while pointing at Akame, who was burping after her satisfying meal.

.

[A day later]

Five individuals were present in the room, with one individual relaxing on the couch and the rest occupying their designated seats nearby.

The remaining Night Raid operatives, including Sheele, Lubbock, Mine, and Bulat, had embarked on their missions the day before, rendering them absent at this time.

Najenda directed her inquiry towards Leone, seeking information regarding the specifics of the mission assigned by the client this time.

"Our designated targets are the Ogre, who serves as the captain of the capital guards at the main palace district, and an oil merchant named Gamal," Leone paused briefly before delving into further details. "The client informed me that Ogre is a corrupt officer, who is accepting bribes from rich oil merchant Gamal.

Whenever Gamal commits a crime, Ogre aids him by framing innocent victims. This includes the client's fiance, who, like others, fell victim to Ogre's manipulation."

Leone's expression grew graver as she continued, revealing how the client resorted to selling her body to gather funds for this commission, evident from the bruises on her arms and scent of disease which lingered on her.

Tatsumi was in a rage, after listening the extent of the woman's sacrifices, "How can she sell her body like this, she should have-" but his initial outcry faded into a somber realization of the woman's plight, unable to act for her fiance because of her weakness. She placed her last hope on Night Raid, the renowned assassination group.