(Note: There is no mention of the four-person group in this chapter.)
"This boring job is finally coming to an end..."
At the entrance to Kawalerielki, the crowds heading to this bustling commercial city are gradually thinning out.
The reason is simple--
The Grand Knight Territory have issued a notice, effective tomorrow.
This megacity, comprised of four mobile city-states, is about to set sail.
The staff at the testing station stretched, relieved that their workday was over, but their colleague poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
"Isn't this job good? It's a bit boring... but it's still much better than working overtime until midnight, right?"
"But we don't have enough money..."
The staff member sighed; in his younger days, he could occasionally go and support his favorite knight.
But at some point, even though he was earning more and more money, he was able to keep less and less of it...
"That's true... the more marks (the currency of Kazimierz) in your bag, the better."
His companion nodded in understanding, then looked at the itinerary with some confusion and asked:
"The departure date has been moved up quite a bit, hasn't it? I don't recall any Catastrophe Messenger warnings recently."
"The new competition is about to start, but the Business Federation doesn't want to sell tickets anymore?"
"Of course, the gentlemen in the Business Federation want to make more money."
The staff member stamped the passerby's passport at the window and waved listlessly.
"But things aren't very stable over there; money is certainly not as important as life."
"Border?"
His companion frowned. Kazimierz bordered many countries, and among them, the one most likely to start a war...
"Are the Ursus bear cubs coming to attack?"
"No, it's Victoria's kittens causing trouble again."
The staff continued stamping, which puzzled his companion.
"While there have indeed been many frictions Kazimierz and Victoria, it hasn't reached the point of direct war, has it?"
"Victoria may not have this idea, but the dukes might not."
After seeing off the last passenger, the staff breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ever since that kitten's head rolled, those dukes' mobile warships have been making an increasingly loud racket..."
The companion understood immediately; it was probably another duke preparing to make a move.
It was a "drill".
"Tsk... Grand Knight Commander just going to let those kittens keep gloating like this? Why can't you have more mobile warships?"
"Do you think those are just radishes in a field? The cost of a warship is astronomical."
The staff member rolled their eyes.
"The Business Federation may have money in their pockets, but they have to be willing to spend it."
"I was just saying... it's because those kittens always act so arrogant whenever they come over."
At this point, his previously listless companion suddenly perked up.
"However, I heard that the Business Federation may be planning to reform the military."
"Reform the military?"
The staff member looked at his colleague with a "Are you crazy?" expression, while the latter stated emphatically:
"Don't you believe me? Do you know about Columbia's power armor?"
His companion pointed to the man standing outside the checkpoint.
"From Columbia, I heard it's a big company, something like... Rhine Lab?"
"Hiss... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."
The staff member fell into deep thought, while his colleague became even more excited.
"I heard they're going to partner with the Business Federation. If they could buy the blueprints for the powered mechs..."
"Why would they sell such confidential information? By the way, who is that man? He looks so greasy..."
"It looks like the security captain of Rhine Lab."
"Ha, have you been captivated by my charm...?"
Sensing two pairs of eyes looking at him from not far away, Jeston glanced over discreetly.
Seeing their excited expressions, he couldn't help but smile, but then quickly smiled back after remembering the purpose of his visit.
Not long ago--
"The rest of the convoy will be here soon. Please meet them at the entrance."
Justin, exhausted, gave the order, Jeston offered to protect him.
The truth is... being around the boss and getting to know them is essential; running errands is simply not suitable for his position. (In his opinion)
However, Justin seemed to have seen through his little scheme, and he calmly refused.
"... This is the headquarters of the Business Federation. If something happens here, you won't be of much use."
"Damn it... how dare they underestimate me!"
Jeston's face contorted in rage; in his mind, he was perfectly capable of taking a higher position.
Although I didn't beat Saria during the initial assessment, it must have been because we were too close!
If we keep our distance, we might be able to handle the situation using our Originium Arts.
(Jeston's Originium Arts are manipulating iron, Saria's are enamel.)
Recalling the assessment back then, a dull pain shot through Jeston's face again.
Vouivre monsters!
Cursing inwardly, Jeston glanced at the approaching convoy and quickly composed himself.
However, as the convoy continued to approach, Jeston's expression gradually turned grim.
The convoy was much smaller than previously agreed upon, and the remaining damage on the vehicles proved that they had been attacked by bandits.
And most importantly...
"Keep it up! Don't let them get into the city!"
Watching the bandits chasing after him in the distance with modified vehicles, Jeston's face was so gloomy it could drip water.
Logically, these losses shouldn't concern him, but this is his review period... Every evaluation of his tasks will be on the commander's desk!
"You bastards!"
Already feeling depressed, Jeston naturally didn't intend to hold back. He activated the magical unit hidden within his body, and the Machinery around the testing station suddenly trembled.
Amidst gasps of surprise, the Machinery floated in mid-air.
Then it was broken into sharp fragments and shot towards the convoy with a wave of Jeston's hand.
Before the bandits could react, the metal storm had already destroyed half of the vehicles and machinery.
"[Kazimierz curse!] This is a tough one, get the big one!"
"But we're almost at the checkpoint. Won't doing this attract the city's defense forces...?"
"What's there to be afraid of! We can just run away when the time comes. Can they run faster than a car?"
Seeing the effectiveness of his attack, Jeston's lips curled into a wide smile.
Feeling the intense gaze from behind, he could already imagine tomorrow's headlines for Cassirer.
[Mr. Jeston of Rhine Lab was brave and fearless...]
"[Kazimierz curses!] Do you know how much those devices cost!?"
Jeston's smile froze, not because of what the staff member said, but because of the actions of the opposing team.
"A howitzer!?"
Among the remaining convoy, a large howitzer stands atop its chassis.
Compared to those used by the regular army, these howitzers were often privately modified "junk".
But it is precisely because of this that its deterrent power is even more terrifying.
Because once the inferior shells they use explode, a large amount of Originium dust will completely cover the area.
Jeston frantically tried to regain control of the metal interceptor, only to find that he had already discarded all the surrounding objects.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as the yellow-glowing shell hurtled towards him.
Damn it!
With a muttered curse, Jeston ran backward.
He could use the iron plates inside his body to block it, but who knows if he would inhale the scattered Originium dust.
Only after the figure that had been "dominating the battlefield" fled did the staff members suddenly realize the gravity of the situation and begin to panic.
The detection station erupted into chaos as the shells reached their highest point and began to fall.
However...
Boom--!
A blinding flash of light appeared high in the sky, followed by the shriek of something hurtling past.
People stopped what they were doing. Some thought it was a defective shell exploding, but others caught a glimpse of a flash of silver light.
"Damn it! Who made this shell?!"
The bandit leader's face was contorted with rage, but before he could even question him, a rumbling sound came from behind him.
Everyone turned their heads in astonishment, and a cloud of dust rose from the distant plains.
"What the hell...?"
The leader squinted, trying to see clearly, but all he saw was a fleeting glint of silver.
Pfft--
"Boss!"
The leader's body was carried away by the flying spear, and before his other men could react, his deputy immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hurry! It'll be too late if we don't leave now!"
Without the slightest concern for the leader's safety, the convoy immediately turned around.
But it was too late.
The dust cloud, which was originally far away, rapidly approached, and the convoy watched helplessly as it passed over them.
"Don't stop! Charge straight out! Don't stop!"
Cold sweat dripped down his back; the deputy's utter despair was palpable.
"Damn it! Why are they here!?"
The convoy obeyed the order and accelerated, but before it could even break through, the sound of a fast Mercedes came from the dust cloud beside them.
The bandits felt a sense of absurdity.
How do you catch up with a vehicle by manpower? Or is it a vehicle specifically modified to exceed speed limits?
They will soon no longer have any doubts.
Boom--!
Suddenly, two Silverlance emerged from the smoke and dust on both sides, easily probing under the car and flicking it away.
The vehicle leaped into the air, and in the next instant, a figure descended from the sky and slammed into the hood.
With a metallic, grating sound, the bandits took to the air.
In the last moments before their consciousness faded, they glimpsed golden wings beside the silver helmet.
"Who are you...?"
Bang--!
"What happened?"
The staff at the checkpoint watched in bewilderment as the bandits suddenly fled, only to be enveloped in inexplicable smoke and dust.
Before they could even understand, the smoke and dust rapidly approached the testing station.
Jeston, who had planned to come back for a quick look, was ready to run away again, but the smoke and dust quickly slowed down, revealing its true form.
"That's... a knight?"
Someone murmured aloud, because of the silent knight before them.
Unlike the glamorous knights on screen, the knight before me wore only a simple suit of silver armor.
But that simple silver is more eye-catching than any neon light.
Click... Click...
The knights slowly approached, the sandstorm subsided, and the sandstorm transformed into cloaks that gradually disappeared.
The bandits were thrown to the ground, and the knights headed towards the gate, at which point the staff remembered to stop them.
"Wait! You need to go through an investigation before you can..."
The staff member instinctively tried to stop them, but was held down firmly by his colleague.
"... Why did they come back at this time?"
"What do you mean? You know them?"
The staff member stopped, not wanting to provoke this group of knights who looked like troublemakers.
"Of course I know him..."
His colleague took a breath; this usually flippant colleague now seemed to be reciting the Bible.
"The Silverlance Pegasi is the most elite force among the Campaign Knight."
Each knight could slice through stone pillars with his sword and pierce through buildings with his spear.
"Really...?"
The staff member was stunned. He naturally knew the legend of the Silverlance, but...
How did you know?
His companion fell silent and turned to look in the direction from which the Silverlance had come.
The sky was crystal clear, a stark contrast to the swirling clouds all around.
"My grandfather said that it's actually quite easy to tell if the Campaign Knight are Silverlance."
"Because..."
Rumble--
A sudden sound rang out, and the belated voice finally caught up with the knight who had gone first.
"When the Silverlance Pegasi descends,"
Looking at the sudden patch of clear sky, his companion slowly said:
Heaven and earth will make way for them.