Don't Let the Sorrow Spread Any Further (Continued)

Suzaku Kururugi quickly looked away, and like a stray dog, slunk away from the deck and back into the cabin.

Looking at Lancelot parked in the hangar, Suzaku Kururugi couldn't help but step forward and gently stroke the silver-white surface of the machine with his mechanical prosthetic arm.

Sure enough, only this cold mecha could make him feel a trace of warmth.

Soon after, the warship successfully arrived at Shikine Island and slowly sailed into the harbor.

When the busy dockworkers saw a young girl step off the warship docked at the pier, they all stopped what they were doing and saluted her.

"We have arrived at Shikine Island on time, Your Highness Euphemia!"

"Yeah."

"The frigate will not enter port, but will remain in the nearby waters to carry out patrol duties. Do you grant permission?"

"I'm not good at commanding troops, so I'm leaving everything to you, Captain. Authorization granted!"

"Yes!"

Cornelia specially chose this warship for Euphemia, knowing she was going on a trip; it might be severely inadequate in terms of performance as an offensive vessel.

However, the protective measures are excellent, and the interior includes a VIP lounge, allowing Euphemia to enjoy a comfortable life even at sea.

Cornelia is incredibly devoted to her younger sister.

Even the troop deployment is basically complete, and it can be said that there is no problem in terms of complete safety.

Euphemia needs to do is welcome her brother, the emperor, as his younger sister.

However, even with such meticulous planning, such a simple matter could still have unexpected events due to Zero's presence.

For example, right now—

Rumble!!!

With a deafening roar, black smoke billowed from the command post in the center of the island.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Aaaaaah--"

Screams echoed through the communication channel, leaving no chance to glean any information; they were wiped out in the blink of an eye.

The only ones capable of doing this, besides the Knights of the Rounds and Lancelot, the Guide Weapon, are that one—

"They've finally arrived, Black Knights, Zero!"

Suzaku Kururugi immediately guessed who was capable of attacking this place.

He was also the first to make a move. He gritted his teeth and, without waiting for orders, took Lancelot's key from Lloyd and boarded the mech to launch an attack.

Meanwhile, in the plaza of the command post, Kallen, piloting the Crimson Lotus Mk-II, and Zangetsu, in Tohdoh, led the Four Holy Swords in an assault.

The Sutherland garrison was like a piece of cake to these few men.

Crimson Lotus Mk-II grabbed one of the machines, and the radiation wave instantly melted it into molten iron.

The Four Holy Swords and Tohdoh each took down their opponents with a single strike, driving the Britannia garrison into a rout.

"Everyone, listen up! Quickly eliminate all the guards and seize the headquarters!"

On the high ground behind the command post, Lelouch sat in the driver's seat of the Burai, Tohdoh, Kallen, and others issued the order to annihilate.

However, the next moment, a violent roar and explosion suddenly came from another direction of the command post.

In his white mech suit, Lancelot burst onto the battlefield.

Blades clashed, and they quickly engaged in battle with Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords.

"Hmph, I thought I'd be waiting for Knights of the Rounds, but it turns out to be Suzaku Kururugi..."

Lelouch quickly changed his original plan in his mind and gave the order:

"Everyone, make a strategic retreat. Avoid direct confrontation with Suzaku Kururugi. Kallen, lure Lancelot to the designated location as planned!"

"Huh? But, isn't that...?"

Wasn't that a trap set for the Knights of the Rounds?

If we use them to imprison Lancelot, what will happen when the Knights of the Rounds appear?

"Let's follow Zero's orders, little girl. We need to trust him."

As Tohdoh Kyoshiro piloted Zangetsu, he calmly gave a reminder while retreating.

Despite saying that, Kallen remained confused.

However, since Tohdoh, who was in charge of the military department, said so, she naturally obeyed the order and changed tactics.

He feinted at Lancelot, broke free from the entanglement, and quickly retreated into the mountains and forests.

"Don't even think about running!"

Suzaku Kururugi, just as Lelouch had predicted, followed closely behind, as Suzaku Kururugi desperately needed a victory to prove himself.

"It really is you, Zero!!"

Suzaku Kururugi, who had caught up with them, 'accidentally' discovered Zero piloting the Knightmare.

He ignored everything and charged straight at the other person.

Zero, as if shocked at why he was there, used his less-than-stellar driving skills to steer the Burai around and flee haphazardly into the depths of the jungle.

However, Suzaku Kururugi was also alert. He noticed that the other members of the Black Knights did not stop him at all, allowing him to pursue Zero. This unusual situation made Suzaku Kururugi tense up, but with his superior skills and daring, he confidently continued the pursuit.

The result, naturally, was that they fell into Lelouch's trap.

The radiation interference emission devices set up around the sandpit instantly emitted a dazzling flash, and magnetic field fluctuations were transmitted. The emitted light waves successfully blocked the Sakuradite power source.

"Hehehehehehehehe!!! You've been captured, Suzaku Kururugi!!"

Lelouch burst into laughter, never expecting that using himself as a trap would be so effective!

The other members of the Black Knights, who had been lying in ambush, also emerged from the surrounding area in their Knightmare vehicles, completely surrounding Suzaku Kururugi and Zero in the center of the sand pit.

"Well done, except the range is a bit small, but the interference intensity and duration are excellent."

A woman dressed in white, Rakshata, stood on the edge of the sand, leisurely smoking a pipe, and casually remarked.

The data presented on the notebook in front of her exceeded her expectations in every single aspect.

Unfortunately, the radiation jamming transmitter was not made by her alone; it was completed with the assistance sent by the Shadow Garden.

"Little girl, would you like to be my assistant?"

She turned to look at the little girl dressed in all black who was squatting on the ground, fiddling with another computer, and asked.

"No, I'm not interested. I will only obey Shadow Brother's orders."

Ita didn't even look up, speaking in a lazy, drowsy tone.

Although his sleep schedule had been forcibly changed under the supervision of Alpha and others, he was still always tired and seemed to be sleepy all day long.

Her gaze remained fixed on the computer screen, where a large amount of data was scrolling rapidly.

"Brother Shadow, oh..."

Rakshata took a deep drag on his pipe, but it seemed like he couldn't inhale anything.

"... This guy is really lucky; he didn't die on the operating table."

On another hilltop, Mahiro stood overlooking the current situation on Shikine Island.

The command post was destroyed, the Britannia army was regrouping, and Suzaku Kururugi, who had ventured deep into enemy territory alone, was trapped in place by a radiation jamming device.

"Since you want him to die so badly, why not do it yourself? You're capable of that, aren't you?"

Just then, accompanied by faint footsteps, a voice sounded from behind him.

It's CC.

Like Mahiro, she came to the edge of the cliff, tugged at her hair, and calmly gazed at the scenery below.

"Of course I could do it, but this guy hasn't provoked me, so why kill him? Besides, he still has some use to him. Occasionally, you can see him and Lelouch having a love-hate relationship. Don't you find that interesting?"

"What a man with a twisted sense of humor."

"Same here, I admit I have a wicked sense of humor, but aren't you, you witch, just as two-faced? You said you weren't coming, but you ended up following me."

"I just feel uneasy."

The witch looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

Then, she suddenly laughed strangely, crossed her arms, and tapped her slender, beautiful fingers on her arm, saying, "But speaking of which, I heard that recently in Britannia, things like male-male sex seem to be popular? Maybe it would suit you."

"..."

Mahiro's face immediately darkened.

Who on earth taught this guy all this weird stuff?

"I can't be bothered with you. I'm leaving. I'm going downstairs to take a look."

Mahiro gave her a disdainful glare, then leaped off the cliff and disappeared into the jungle.

Looking at the spot where he disappeared, CC's lips curled into a slightly triumphant smile.

"Suzaku Kururugi, I'm giving you a choice: either surrender and submit to me, or be annihilated here. What will you choose?"

Is this a threat?

Lelouch, disguised as Zero, confronts Suzaku Kururugi, who has left Lancelot, in the sandpit.

"No, this is not a threat, but a friendly offer, and a final warning."

Lelouch, hidden behind the mask, spoke in a deep voice.

"Leave Britannia, it's not for you, Suzaku Kururugi."

"I refuse."

Suzaku Kururugi replied righteously, "I've said before that results obtained using the wrong methods are meaningless."

"Then what is meaningful? You stubborn fool!"

The voice coming from behind the mask sounded slightly excited.

"Are you saying that Britannia's actions were justified? Suzaku Kururugi, I ask you, how was Area 11 established? And how many people have died under the guns of the Britannia army? Have you forgotten all of this?!"

"You haven't forgotten how this false peace was achieved, have you, Suzaku Kururugi?"

"Although the official narrative was that Genbu Kururugi committed suicide, he was actually killed by someone, which caused chaos in the command system, ultimately leading to his unconditional surrender."

"The person who killed Prime Minister Kururugi not only broke the rules, but also arbitrarily deprived the people of their will!"

"Can't you wake up yet? Do you want this sorrow to continue to spread? Suzaku Kururugi!"

Lelouch questioned loudly.

Even now, he still harbors a sliver of hope for Suzaku Kururugi.

But Suzaku Kururugi was determined to change everything within Britannia, no matter what.

Even Britannia wouldn't do it, yet someone from Area 11 dares to harbor such fantasies.

"You're still so naive, Zero."

"Shadow?!"

A sigh drew everyone's attention.

Looking up, one could see a figure dressed in a sharp black outfit, with flowing silver hair and red eyes that could illuminate the night sky. There could be no other person besides the Mahiro Shadow.

He strolled slowly along the edge of the sandpit, step by step, down the sandpit with steady strides.

At the edge of the crater, you can also see CC with long green hair.

Why are you here?

"Can't I come?"

In response to Lelouch's question, he looked at Suzaku Kururugi, who was full of vigilance, and asked him in return.

"How boring. I can't believe you still have illusions about this kind of person... Is the saying 'one cannot make plans with a petty scoundrel' really that hard to understand?"