Capture Lancelot (5.5K)

Clovis, who was sitting in the command room, could no longer sit still and took over command.

"Your Highness! Are you really going to do this?"

Clovis's advisors, inside the base vehicle, advised the prince, "If you do this, there will be a gap in the encirclement, and then these terrorists..."

"It's alright. As long as my personal guards plug the gap, the enemy's main force is undoubtedly here right now!"

The enemy is nothing but a bunch of lowly terrorists. How can we Britannia soldiers compromise with terrorists! Send the Royal Guard in large groups to advance. The terrorists only managed to intercept our aircraft; they were caught off guard because they used our identification signals!

"Order the armored forces to raze the Shinjuku slums, leaving not a blade of grass and not a single person alive!"

Clovis ignored the advice of his staff and insisted on acting arbitrarily.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

When the staff heard that Clovis disagreed with his opinion, they could only obey loudly. After all, he was just a subject, and all the power was in Clovis's hands.

After issuing the orders, Clovis sat in his command chair, though he had no words to express his frustration.

Although he wasn't cut out for war, he wasn't completely stupid either. How could he not know that his advisors' suggestions were the safest approach?

But now there is no longer any chance for him to waste any more time. If word gets out that the Britannia army was outmaneuvered by a bunch of terrorists, he, the governor, will probably be recalled to the country. And if the emperor finds out about his research on the Code, being stripped of his right to the throne would be the least of his worries; he would most likely be placed under house arrest or even executed!

In this situation, he had no choice but to take a desperate gamble!

If they can capture the test subject, that would be fine. But if they can't, then he probably won't have a future...

Just like his younger siblings, who were sent abroad as hostages when they were young and have remained missing ever since.

"Clovis has some brains, but not many."

Sitting in the cockpit, Mahiro his head up and listened to the commands coming through the communication channel, his fingers tapping lightly on CC's slender, soft thigh.

It seems he hasn't remembered anything he taught Clovis; he can't even maintain the most basic composure.

While it's good that they realized they were being completely exposed to the enemy, sending out their personal guard...

Even if doing so would indeed strengthen the encirclement, wouldn't that indirectly reduce the defensive strength of the main base?

If it were a general like Cornelia who led from the front, that would be fine.

But Clovis is a weakling who can't even kill a chicken; isn't doing this just courting death?

"In the end, that idiot Clovis still learned a bunch of useless tactics from Cornelia..."

Mahiro was speaking to himself, commenting on Clovis's idiotic command.

But then he heard a burst of silvery laughter.

"Heh, you really are a cold-blooded brat. I remember Clovis was also your student, right? Using him as a sacrifice for Lelouch, don't you feel any remorse?"

"Won't."

Without the slightest hesitation, Mahiro answered directly.

"Although I also feel sorry for this talented young man, the regret is that it wasn't me who wanted to kill Clovis, but Lelouch."

Besides... I've helped him fulfill his wish, haven't I?"

"What wish?"

His words startled CC slightly.

However, a subtle smile appeared on Mahiro's lips as he calmly said:

"Clovis's greatest wish was to become an artist, but you know, a living artist is worthless; only after death can their works be remembered for generations. Don't you think so?"

Upon hearing this, CC was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter without any regard for her image.

She laughed until her stomach hurt, clutching her belly with both hands, feeling as if she wanted to curl up in his arms.

The two of them looked as if they were sleeping on a small bed.

The faint, sweet fragrance emanating from the witch in his arms filled Mahiro's nostrils, making him feel quite content.

After laughing for about a minute, CC finally stopped, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and huffed and puffed as she said:

"You really are a strange brat, not only cold-blooded, but also with such a twisted sense of humor..."

In CC's memory, besides this man, probably no one else could have uttered such a twisted joke as killing someone to make their artwork famous.

Even Emperor Charles and Princess Marianne were not allowed.

"Well, thank you for the compliment."

Having long since thickened his skin, Mahiro simply accepted it as a compliment.

This action left CC speechless for a moment.

She increasingly felt that this man was far too strange, unlike anyone she had ever met...

Just as she was thinking this, screams came again from the Britannia frequency band.

Unsurprisingly, Lelouch unleashed his signature move that would later become his ultimate technique—

Lift the floorboards.

The explosion blew through the floor of Shinjuku, wiping out the entire legion sent by Clovis. The remaining fresh troops are retreating towards their main camp.

Looking at the various XX symbols displayed on the screen, even Mahiro couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"This could be considered a surprise tactic, right...?"

"But that's not enough for your assessment. It can't shake Britannia, let alone destroy the world."

Just as he was getting into the swing of things, the witch, completely oblivious to the atmosphere, timely poured cold water on him.

Turning his head slightly to look at CC, whose expression was calm yet tinged with a hint of sarcasm, Mahiro simply smiled.

"Of course I know. Clovis is just Lelouch's tutorial level, and..."

The real battle is about to begin.

"Your Highness, it seems your personal guard has been completely wiped out. Do you need our Special Dispatch assistance?"

Inside Clovis's base vehicle, a light blue-haired man in a lab coat pressed his head tightly against the large screen and spoke.

"Mr. Lloyd! Please don't speak to His Highness like that!"

Beside him, a woman with dark blue hair angrily called out to her boss.

Clovis's face was ashen. He first looked at the data displayed on the radar to the side, and he could hardly believe that his personal guard had indeed been wiped out.

He gritted his teeth, as if grasping at a last straw, and stared at the researcher named Lloyd like a hungry wolf.

"... Are you really confident you can take down these terrorists?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness! I've found the last piece!"

Lloyd said with great confidence, "That's the weapon I developed, the Knightmare, which is of epoch-making significance!"

Although Clovis didn't want the help from the Second Prince's Special Dispatch Guidance Technology Department, he knew that if he refused now, he would be finished!

"Alright! I agree to your attack!"

"Then please enjoy, Your Highness! My most perfect, Lancelot performance!"

Lloyd shouted excitedly.

The purpose of weapons is, of course, warfare. If they cannot be tested in actual combat, then even the best weapons are useless!

"Ahhh!!"

What is that white machine?

"I can't take it! I'm going to die! Help!!"

"Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm!!"

The communicator crackled with screams and screams.

The battlefield situation, which had seemed to be on the verge of victory, was suddenly reversed by the appearance of a white mech.

Like an invincible blade, it directly pierced and tore through Lelouch's carefully arranged formation, completely reversing the situation.

In the blink of an eye, the white mech led the remaining Britannia forces in a fierce charge towards them.

"What the hell... is that thing?!"

Even Lelouch couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when he saw the brand-new mecha that looked like the Grim Reaper.

But just then, a clear, cold female voice, completely different from all the previous ones, suddenly rang out in the communication.

"Target detected. Shall we begin capture?"

Chapter 243 Capturing Lancelot (5.5K)

The continuous screams coming from the walkie-talkie completely threw Lelouch into a panic.

Seeing the white mechs that seemed like the Grim Reaper galloping across the battlefield, Lelouch broke out in a cold sweat.

"What exactly is... that thing?"

Could it be the seventh generation of Knightmare?

What should I do next?

Damn Britannia!

What should we do...?

"P1, retreat to the rear, destination: building at point five."

"Waaaah--"

"P1! Hey, P1!!"

Lelouch was still making a desperate struggle, but the screams coming from the walkie-talkie completely shattered his hope.

At this critical moment, Lelouch also remembered Mahiro and the words he had said to him before—

"If you feel you lack strength and need help, come to me and I will help you."

"... Will you help me?"

Lelouch had considerable faith in Mahiro's abilities.

After all, it was Yotsuba Mahiro who was in charge of teaching the course on piloting mechs.

The problem is, that guy isn't Superman, so how could he possibly stop that monster-like, next-generation weapon of war when he's unarmed!

Damn it!!!

Lelouch clenched his teeth and gripped the phone in his hand tightly.

However, at that moment, a woman's voice came from the walkie-talkie.

"Target detected. Shall we begin capture?"

"Who are you? Who are you?!"

Lelouch was immediately alarmed.

This sound is completely different from the previous Q1.

In other words, their communication frequencies were hacked so easily?!

But in fact, when this sound rang out, it wasn't just Lelouch's side that received it; Clovis's side received it as well.

In what appeared to be a provocation, broadcasts were made across both sides on all frequencies, signaling the involvement of this third-party force.

Then, a detached voice came through the communication.

"Okay, let's get started."

Action?

What operation?!

Before Clovis and Lelouch could react, the situation on the battlefield changed again.