Why are you here?
Why can't I be here?
Before the knight's arena, the tall knight and the young girl looked at each other in bewilderment.
The surrounding crowd subtly moved in, clearly wanting to be bystanders.
"You two know each other?"
Using his body to block his view, SilverAsh scrutinized the hooded girl in front of him.
"Know..."
Looking at the familiar face, Gregor felt a headache coming on.
Flame Tail, or rather, Sona.
The girl was wearing clothes that clearly didn't fit her properly, and was trying to shrink herself into an inconspicuous ball.
Unfortunately, her signature beautiful tail protruded from behind, looking like a torch in the night.
What are you doing here?
Gregor lowered his voice and pulled the girl to a less crowded area on the side of the arena.
"I told you, why can't I come!"
Sona stiffened her neck, but her voice clearly betrayed her guilt.
"What do you think? Don't you know how dangerous this place is for Infected?"
"I'm not alone."
"There are other people!?"
Sona pointed into the crowd, and Gregor saw several familiar faces hiding behind the billboards.
"... How many came?"
"Just... a dozen or so." Sona's voice lowered considerably.
How did more than a dozen of them manage to get here?
Gregor felt his head throb even more.
"Never mind, I'll take you away first."
Sona's eyes widened, and she was about to answer when an unfamiliar voice interrupted.
"Gentlemen, is there anything I can help you with?"
A staff member squeezed through, wearing a standard professional smile.
His gaze lingered on Gregor for a moment—probably trying to identify which company the Cavalier was signed with.
"If you want to register for the competition, the registration area is over there."
"We don't--"
"Yes!"
Sona's voice rang out at the same time as Gregor's, who lowered his head in disbelief.
"You want to participate?"
Sona didn't look at him; she kept her eyes fixed on the staff member.
"The Honor Championship is open to Infected, right?"
The staff member's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
"Yes, Miss. The Business Federation is dedicated to providing a level playing field for all knights."
"Regardless of your background, you can prove yourself on the field."
He paused, then added:
"However, I should remind you that the kill limit has been removed in this competition, which means --"
"I know how to report it... What are you doing!?"
Before Sona could finish speaking, Gregor carried the girl under his arm and left, with the hidden Infected silently following behind.
The staff did not stop them; instead, they breathed a sigh of relief and watched the group leave.
In a hidden alleyway--
"Why are you participating? Have you already spent all your remaining Pure Gold?"
Sona took a half-step back as Gregor stared at her, but then straightened her back and stood firm.
"Not all of it has been spent."
"Then why--"
"But it will run out sooner or later."
The girl raised her head, her face full of stubbornness.
Thank you for your concern, but we will figure something out ourselves.
"What can you do? Fight those Campaign Knights? Go to that arena where the kill restrictions have been lifted?"
Gregor pointed out the alleyway, where the neon signs of the arena displayed the knights in their magnificent attire.
Do you have armor?
Sona pursed her lips and remained silent.
Do you have weapons?
The Infected lowered their heads.
"You're injured, is there anyone to treat you?"
"We're still alive."
"You think you can defeat those Campaign Knights by fighting desperately?"
"Of course I know I can't win!"
Sona's answer surprised Gregor.
"But I will run, I will hide, I will wait until they reveal their weaknesses."
"We're not here to be champions, we just need to win a few games and get enough prize money, that's enough..."
Sona's voice trailed off; she knew, of course, that Gregor was worried about them.
But no one can resist that temptation.
Allowing Infected to participate in competitions... This single sentence from the Business Federation has brought hope to countless Infected.
They knew, of course, that they had no chance of winning the championship.
The prospect of winning prize money through lower-level competitions remains irresistible to them.
Gregor looked down at Sona; the girl's shoulders were tense, as if she were awaiting a verdict.
After a long silence, he sighed.
"Can you beat me?"
"Ah?"
Sona was stunned.
I said...
Gregor pulled the registration form from the girl's hand.
"Can you beat me?"
"We can't beat them..."
"Then you don't need to register."
Gregor turned and walked back the way he came.
"I'll register before you, and then you'll be drawn in the first round."
Sona stood frozen in place, but the Infected's eyes suddenly lit up.
They had witnessed the other's power; the melted ruins still stand above Block 0.
If it were him...
"Oh, right."
Remembering something, Gregor turned around and said:
"Soon, a community for Infected will be established on Block 0."
"Infected community?" Sona repeated, puzzled.
"Ah, the Grand Knight Commander granted special permission."
Having grasped the meaning of this promise from that title, the Infected stood frozen in place.
"There will be jobs specifically for Infected in the future, so it's best to stay away from Knights Arena."
"As for now... I'll send you back after I've registered."
After Gregor left, the Infected began to discuss excitedly.
Without questioning the truthfulness of the other party's words, the Infected did not believe they possessed any value worth being deceived.
Liao glanced at the registration area, which was now in an uproar because of someone, and then SilverAsh turned to look at Sona.
"SilverAsh, Gregor's friend."
Sona gave her name and then looked at the registration area.
Aren't you going to try and persuade him?
"No, I believe in my best friend's abilities."
Maintaining a polite smile, his SilverAsh eyes swept over the crowd outside the alley.
(Very poorly concealed... looks like an amateur.)
Turning back to the Infected, SilverAsh learned about them from Gregor and knew where they came from.
Therefore, one question becomes very important.
"Miss Sona." SilverAsh's smile gradually faded.
"How did you and your companions get here?"
"How did you get here? The Business Federation has someone who picks you up and drops you off."
"..."
Without a reply, SilverAsh slowly turned his head and looked at the massive arena behind him.
He learned something in Victoria.
When someone who usually makes things difficult for you suddenly becomes kind to you...
That does not mean the other party has reformed.
"Miss Sona, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"What's up?"
"When you arrived... were there any other Infected on the bus besides you?"
Sona thought for a moment and nodded.
"Yes, but they didn't get off with us; they got off at the previous stop."
"The previous stop?"
"Hmm, it looks like... a shopping street?"
SilverAsh's smile vanished.
"What happened, boss?"
Sensing something amiss from his superior's expression, the Courier silently placed his hand on his weapon.
"No, it's still just a guess."
With a long sigh of relief, SilverAsh took out his pocket watch and checked the time.
He had to go see the Grand Knight Commander ahead of time.
"Distinguished guests have arrived; may we ask what brings you here?"
Iberia, Perdoni--
In response to the old man's question, the visitor bowed slightly, the silk hem of his robe flowing like water in the candlelight.
"You speak the Great Yan language quite fluently, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do, how about we communicate in Iberian?"
"... Can."
The old man behind the table scrutinized the uninvited guest in front of him, while the newcomer also sized up the old man.
One of them was dressed in silk, with a handsome face, and looked like a noble young master from a wealthy family.
Firstly, his hair and beard were all white, yet despite being over a hundred years old, he was incredibly robust.
In the silence, the newcomer took the initiative to start a conversation.
"Your Excellency Carmen, before we begin our conversation... would you like to try some of the fine tea I brought from Hundred Kitchens?"
Looking at the "young man" in front of her, Carmen's voice lowered.
"I'm too old for that. Don't waste your time. Just tell me what you're here for."
"... It seems that the previous misunderstanding has created some distance between us."
The young man lowered his eyes, took out a piece of paper from his pocket, and pushed it onto the table.
Silently staring at the other person, Carmen picked up the paper.
"An order?"
"To be precise, it's my compensation to the Inquisition."
The young man put his hand to his chest and bowed, apologizing to the old man and the Iberia emblem behind him.
"The deception in the previous contract was the caravan members' own doing. As qualified merchants, integrity has always been our most valued quality."
"That member who acted on his own initiative has received the punishment he deserved. As for this list... consider it my small compensation."
A small compensation?
Carmen quietly looked at the supplies on the list; even the most inconspicuous food alone was worth more than the total amount of supplies over the past three years.
"Is this compensation a little too late?"
Putting down the list, Carmen wasn't fooled by the sugar coating.
"You still remember a bill from 40 years ago?"
"It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost, isn't it?"
The young man's expression remained unchanged; before he knew it, the aroma of tea wafted from the teaware in front of him.
Carmen remained silent.
A word game 40 years ago prompted the Inquisitor to learn the script of the Great Yan.
As the losers in that game, the Inquisition, despite suffering losses, never considered seeking redress from Great Yan.
But even he himself had almost forgotten the present moment when a compensation 40 years overdue was delivered.
Whom do you represent?
"No need to worry, Lady Carmen. As I said before, this is my personal apology."
"Personal intervention... in the contract between the Great Yan and Iberia?"
"Of course, if you insist on being more formal... this is a document specially approved by the Emperor of Great Yan."
An ornate document lay open on the table, its unique seal testifying to its authenticity.
Having confirmed that it was genuine, Carmen became even more wary.
The Great Yan would never embarrass itself over a trivial old grievance, so the origin of this document is rather alarming.
How did you get it?
Carmen gripped the hilt of her sword, the young man's smile unchanged.
"It's just that I spent a bit more on material things."
Bribing a real dragon with money is utterly absurd...
But what if it's true?
Looking into those calm eyes, Carmen began to guess the identity of the person in front of her.
"Based on your previous description, is the Chamber of Commerce your personal property?"
"It's just a trivial hobby that's been around for thousands of years."
Carmen: "..."
It's confirmed, it's the old guy.
"Carmen?"
The "young man" tilted his head, as if wondering why he had suddenly stopped talking.
Carmen took a deep breath.
Well, at least it wasn't a test from the Great Yan.
As for how many years this person has lived, how much wealth he has accumulated, and how he obtained the true dragon's document—
These are things I can't understand no matter how much I think about them, and I can't get answers no matter how much I ask.
He lowered his head and picked up the list again.
"... I'll accept the things."
When Carmen said those words, Carmen felt that her skin, which had been thickened by over a hundred years, had probably gotten even thicker.
"Of course," the young man nodded politely.
"In the end, we were in the wrong regarding what happened forty years ago. We should compensate for what we owe and make up for what we need to make up for; it's simply the duty of a businessman."
The aroma of the tea is even stronger now.
The young man had added water again at some point, and fine white steam rose between the two of them.
"Want to try some?"
The young man picked up his glass and took a sip.
Carmen watched him drink it before picking up her own glass.
"... It is indeed good tea."
The young man's eyes crinkled, and his smile held a newfound sincerity.
"One of my younger brother's hobbies is that he may not have many other skills, but he's very enthusiastic about tinkering with these things."
"If you like, you can add a few more cans to that list—"
"Cough cough!"
Carmen coughed twice loudly and waved her hand to interrupt the topic of corruption.
Iberia may be poor, but it's not spineless.
"Please speak frankly, what do you want from Iberia?"
"You jest. This is my apology; how could Iberia possibly need to pay a price?"
Carmen remained silent, quietly watching the other person.
"Well... I do have a favor to ask."
"Please speak."
"I'm looking for someone in Iberia."
Is that all?
Carmen's tense nerves relaxed instantly, and she even found it somewhat amusing.
"No problem, the Inquisition will handle everything. The person you're looking for..."
"I'm sorry, perhaps I didn't explain myself clearly."
The "young man" interrupted Carmen.
"I want to go into Iberia to find someone."
"..."
A silence fell as Carmen pondered whether there was any deeper meaning behind his words.
Iberia is currently under complete lockdown in order to prevent its current weakness from being exposed.
But the "immortal" before them was definitely not a spy, and besides, the Great Yan had no reason to be hostile to Iberia.
Let's test the waters...
Do you know where he is?
"Gran Faro."
Carmen frowned at the instant she gave the answer.
Gran Faro was indeed important to Iberia because of the lighthouse's special location.
But that's the southernmost point of Iberia, what would he be doing there?
"Could you tell me who you're looking for?"
"... To be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself."
The young man rubbed his temples, as if complaining:
"My elder brother entrusted me with the task of finding this person, but he only provided the location, not their appearance."
"There are two other similar locations, but for some reason, it's inconvenient to get close to them."
Is it inconvenient to get close?
It is something that keeps the peaceful and unassuming Great Yan at bay...
Could it be Ursus? But where is the other place?
Unable to understand the details, Carmen said in a deep voice:
"In that case, for your safety, the Inquisition will provide appropriate security."
They both understood that they were being monitored.
"Thank you very much."
The "young man" rose and bid farewell to Carmen.
"The supplies will be delivered to the border by a caravan later. Now... may we set off?"
"Certainly."
Somewhat surprised by the other party's impatience, Carmen still agreed to the request.
Carmen suddenly awoke as she watched the other party leave under the protection of two Grand Inquisitors.
He doesn't seem to know the other person's name yet...
Carmen frowned, preparing to ask the other Inquisitor.
Beep beep!
A rapid knocking sounded at the door, followed by an urgent report from the National Defense Forces.
"Lord Carmen, a large number of caravans are gathering at the border. The National Defense Forces are requesting instructions!"
You arrived so quickly?
Carmen paused for a moment, impressed by the other party's efficiency, and then gestured for a reply.
"Check them one by one; if there are no problems, accept them."
After his colleagues left, the old man was finally able to relax in his chair.
The tea that had been left earlier was still steaming, and Carmen silently poured herself a cup.
"Good tea..."
"Lady Carmen! Urgent report from Gran Faro!"
"Puff--"
After wiping the tea off her clothes, Carmen immediately returned to work.
Who sent it?
"It's Lord Dario!"
Dario?
For a moment, Carmen was surprised, then began to look through the letter her beloved student had sent.
As the translation progressed, the doubt in his eyes gradually deepened, then transformed into a shock that astonished the world.
Aegir reconnects...
The Seaborn Mutates...
The fleet returns...
The hero "Alfonso" is saved...
There were still two chapters left in the letter, but Carmen wasn't going to read any further.
"Quickly! Escort that person back!!"
Amidst the bewildered gazes of the other Inquisitor, the usually composed and calm Saint's face turned bright red.
Carmen couldn't help but be excited.
Right now, supplies are a minor issue.
The Golden Armada has returned; whether you're from Yan or anything else, you'll have to step aside.
News of the Gran Faro incident... must not cross the border!
"Lady Carmen!"
Another Inquisitor walked in, and the agitated Carmen didn't bother to correct her behavior.
"What is it? Just say it!"
"A report has come from the National Defense Forces: People from the Great Yan have arrived!"
"Another person has arrived?"
Carmen frowned, initially intending to directly suggest closing the border, but after some thought, she decided to ask first.
"What kind of person?"
"Dressed in red robes, claiming to be an official of the Great Yan, they are here to find a man named [Ji]."
"Official personnel... which department do they belong to?"
"Um, they call themselves [Sui Regulator]."