Roy's Guess and the Gathering / Platinum: "...?"

Sure enough, a muffled sound, muffled by the sound coming through the door, entered the room.

"Miss Bianca, are you there? I'm a staff member of the Knights Association, here to inform you of something."

"O? o"

"... Yes, just a moment."

After giving a somewhat reluctant reply, Bianca quickened her washing up, wanting to see what this was about or what excuse they would use to contact her this time.

Only one night later, someone came looking for them. Dai'e couldn't help but suspect their motives. Rather than an announcement, it seemed more like a test.

"Click--"

After washing up, Bianca checked her clothes before walking to the door and opening the hotel room door.

"What's going on with the Knights Association?"

As she spoke, Bianca was also silently sizing up the group of men in work uniforms in front of her.

After confirming that the man in front of her was just an ordinary employee, she subtly withdrew her gaze.

After hearing Bianca's question, the staff member did not hesitate and respectfully explained:

"Miss Bianca, you have advanced in the elimination rounds and will be able to participate in the tournament soon. However, as an Independent Knight, there are some requirements that I need to inform you of."

"That means you'll need to join a knight order or a family to represent them in the upcoming matches."

"Okay, I understand. Is there anything else?"

After listening to the explanation from the person in front of her, Bianca raised an eyebrow slightly with a strange look in her eyes before continuing to ask questions.

Clearly, the silly goose had no idea that this was really just a notification...

"That's all. This is the message the Knights Association sent me to deliver to you."

"Um."

"Bang..."

After seeing the Knights Association member off, Bianca closed the door to her room, a hint of conflict flashing in her azure eyes.

Although she was surprised that it wasn't a test, she was more concerned about the competition rules.

Dai'e was naturally aware of this rule, but whether to temporarily join a knightly order or create her own right now... she hadn't decided yet.

As for family... she never considered it from the beginning; she wasn't a local, so what family could she join?

Therefore, Bianca really hates this kind of formalism. Why insist on having this empty title when she could just participate directly in the competition? It's not like she can't win...

However, the tournament is still a long way off, so Bianca isn't in a rush. She plans to consult Zofia, who has more experience in this area, before making a decision.

Outside the Great Knight's Territory

"..."

Looking at the scene before him, Qingjin Roy could not hide the shock in his eyes.

A large section of the suburban forest has been completely leveled, the trees reduced to wood chips... and familiar corpses can still be seen intermittently on the cratered ground...

To be honest, Roy, who had gone through a "hard" journey searching for clues to finally find his way here, never expected to see such a scene before him.

Because his "prey" had already safely returned to the city, he had guessed that Xuan Tiewei might have been severely injured, and even predicted his death...

However, sometimes death and the manner of death are not comparable... Who kills a few people and clears out half a forest?

"..."

After composing himself, Roy cautiously and warily made his way towards the destroyed area.

He now needs to confirm Armorless Union, is still alive. After all, he needs to see him alive or dead, otherwise he won't be able to explain himself.

However, as Roy slowly approached, more and more details came into view. At the same time, he became increasingly alarmed...

However, he soon noticed a detail: although there were many corpses on the ground, they could be divided into two categories. Most of them were similar to those with "impact injuries," where people were smashed to pieces.

In rare cases, the cause of death is a clean, sharp knife wound to a vulnerable part of the body.

As Roy continued his journey, he finally saw the Xuan Tie position he had been searching for...

"Hiss--"

However, his superior's current appearance made Lazurite gasp, and even sent a chill down his spine.

The usually serious, even terrifying, Xuan Tie Dawei lay dead on the ground, his headless body twisted and grotesque from the force of the impact.

His head, filled with confusion and astonishment, rolled to a spot not far away, looking at his own twisted body.

In this somewhat eerie scene, a small blue flower on the ground still displays its beauty and vibrancy.

P. S.: I've been having some lag lately, so updates have been less frequent and I haven't posted anything. I promised the group members tonight that I'd really resume normal updates tomorrow. I'll try my best to post two updates even if it kills me. That's all for now, see you all tomorrow.

Chapter 40 Roy's Guesses and the Gathering

Upon seeing the corpse of his own Xuan Tie Da Shi, Roy suppressed his discomfort and observed and analyzed the situation before leaving. As he left, he didn't forget to take the [Forget-me-not] that seemed out of place with its surroundings.

His intuition told him that this flower must be related to the two people who caused the current situation.

As for why there were two people, it was because Roy had observed them beforehand. If the few people he had recently seen who were killed with a single blow led him to this assumption...

Then, the severely damaged and twisted corpse of the Xuan Tie Da Shi, and the incongruously neat cuts on his neck and head, further reinforced this idea in him.

While it's possible that Bianca used a knife-like weapon and was extremely skilled at it, Roy himself leans more towards the possibility that there was another person involved.

It wasn't just because of the flower he had never seen before, but also because of an intuition—the intuition of a "martial artist."

Of course, these were just thoughts in Roy's mind. After all, he was just a "Lazurite" (a lowly employee), a nobody. He should report these things to his superiors and let them decide and handle them.

However, after this incident, Roy secretly labeled Bianca as someone not to be trifled with.

He may be an assassin, but he's just an assassin who does it for money. It wouldn't be right to risk his life for money or so-called missions.

Thinking about it, Roy quickened his pace on the way back.

At a suitable time, Bianca bought some food and then went to Bald Martin's tavern a few days later.

It was fine before Maria Nearl brought the goose to the tavern, but ever since she did, they've had many gatherings there, and it's practically become their meeting place.

However, the tavern owner, bald Martin, didn't have any objections; on the contrary, he quite welcomed these younger girls to gather at his place.

After all, in his opinion, watching young people having a lively gathering was much more pleasing to the eye than watching two old men drinking and making a ruckus every day.

"Hey, Bianca's here so early again today."

Upon opening the tavern door, Maria Nearl saw Bianca helping bald Martin.

She then put down what she was holding and walked towards the two of them, asking as she went, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No need, Maria Nearl, please sit down over there. I'll help Martin with this; it'll be done quickly." Hearing this, Bianca looked up, gently shook her head in Maria Nearl's direction, and said with a smile.

"Haha, yes, Bianca is strong, she'll be done quickly. Maria Nearl, you don't need to come." After hearing Bianca's words, bald Martin laughed and added.

"Oh well."

Since both parties had said so, Maria Nearl didn't intend to go up and cause trouble. However, she didn't leave either, but stood aside quietly watching the blonde girl with a serious expression.

If someone were to observe carefully at this moment, they would notice a faint look of confusion in the foal's golden eyes.

"Click--"

Just as the atmosphere inside was relatively pleasant, the door opened again, and Zofia walked in.

"!"

Startled by the sound of the door opening, Maria Nearl had been somewhat dazed, quickly averted her gaze, then turned to look at the person who had entered, and said, "Aunt Zofia... Sister! I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly."

"...?"

After listening to Maria Nearl's words and seeing her expression, Zofia raised an eyebrow slightly, a look of suspicion appearing on her face.

"Ahem... Alright, I bought some food, Zofia, come and sit down." Maria Nearl coughed lightly twice, feeling a little embarrassed as her aunt stared at her, and changed the subject.

"Um..."

Although Zofia was still somewhat puzzled by Maria Nearl's behavior, she didn't press the matter. Instead, she went along with someone's wishes and sat down at the table.

After all, children also need some privacy and secrets.

What? You're asking how Zofia knew?

Putting aside the fact that her own child knows about this, Maria Nearl's face practically screams "I have something on my mind, a secret"...

If Zofia still can't see through this situation, then she would have wasted the years she spent with and taking care of Maria Nearl.

"Thank you for coming over this time, Zofia."

After helping out, Bianca washed her hands and then sat down next to her two friends.

"It's alright, it's alright. I'm actually quite happy to get together with you. Besides, we're all friends now." Hearing this, Zofia gently curled the corners of her lips and waved her hand dismissively.

"Zofia is right, it's really relaxing and fun to play with Bianca." Maria Nearl, who was sitting to the side munching on a cookie, nodded quickly after hearing what the two of them said.

Hearing their conversation, a hint of helplessness flashed in Bianca's azure eyes as she smiled and said, "I..."

"Shh."

However, before the silly goose could even speak, Zofia stopped her with a gesture, then blinked gently and said, "Don't rush to answer. Let me guess what you're planning to ask me."

"It must be a problem with the rules of the Knights Tournament. Is it restricted by the rules of the Knights Order?"

"Yes, Zofia, you guessed right,"

After hearing Zofia's guess, Bianca's face showed a hint of surprise, then she nodded slightly and seriously.

"As expected, that's the problem." Looking at the obedient person in front of her, Zofia sighed helplessly. After sighing, she continued, "How could I have guessed correctly? Anyone who knows you even a little would probably think you would be restricted by these rules."

"After all, ever since we met, you've disliked dealing with these messy forces, let alone joining them."

Hearing this, Bianca's expression turned helpless, and she said, "There's nothing I can do; I really don't like those factions. In fact, I don't really like competitions like the Knights Tournament."

"Yes, yes, Miss Knight of Justice. So, what are your thoughts on this rule? Tell me."

Hearing Bianca's similar remarks to Margaret Nearl's back then, Zofia's eyes were filled with so much helplessness that they were almost overflowing.

My thoughts...

P. S.: There will be another chapter later. I'll try to write it as quickly as possible, but it will probably still be past midnight. Please urge me to finish.

Chapter 41 Platinum: "...?"

After Bianca shared her thoughts, Zofia carefully analyzed the pros and cons of the two options and some conditions for her.

After saying all that, she said nothing more, returning the choice to the goose so she could think and choose for herself.

"Okay, I understand. Zofia, Zofia, for explaining all this to me." After listening to Zofia's analysis, Bianca smiled gently and said sincerely.

Although the goose hasn't made a choice yet, Zofia's explanations and analysis have indeed been a great help.

Even with Sakura around, there are many things and details that Bianca doesn't know as much or as comprehensively as Zofia.

"It's nothing, just a small matter. However, I didn't expect that you, Bianca, actually had plans to create a knight order..." Upon hearing this, Zofia gently shook her head; she didn't mind such a trivial matter.

However, as if remembering something, she raised a question she had just encountered in the analysis:

"So, are you planning to create this order and support the entire knightly order all by yourself?"

Zofia noticed this problem while she was doing this analysis. Let's set aside whether the Knights Association actually agrees to Bianca creating the Knights Order.

Even if they agree, wouldn't the knights of Bianca's Order, now targeted by the Commercial Union and the Knights Association, be terrified of being targeted by treacherous forces?

While the goose might possess enough strength to directly dismantle all the machinations, the knights who join her order might not necessarily have that same power.

'Sigh...'