Vina nodded. Establishing contact with the self-salvation forces within Londinium was one of the missions His Highness had entrusted to her. With that in mind, she no longer hesitated.
"It's late, Baird, Cador. Thank you for your hard work. Get so rest tonight. We'll move tomorrow."
Cador frowned as if he wanted to speak, but in the end he remained silent. Instead, Baird led him over to Morgan and the others to make introductions.
The remaining operators, realizing they were allies rather than enemies, returned to their own tasks.
The night passed quickly.
At dawn, the group split up and departed one by one. According to Baird's reliable intelligence, the Self-Salvation Army was active in the Sudean District, resisting Sarkaz rcenary incursions while helping innocent civilians escape danger. Where there was resistance, there was suppression. The Sarkaz had stationed part of their forces in Sudean, and the Self-Salvation Army waged a relentless guerrilla campaign against them.
Vina, Baird, and Horn moved together.
Sudean was an industrial district, the very heart of Londinium. Countless factories stood there. In ordinary tis, workers busied themselves producing machinery to maintain the mobile city or equipnt for the Victorian City Defense Army. Now, their labor served only the latter. Whether that equipnt ultimately ended up in Victorian hands or those of the Sarkaz rcenaries was anyone's guess.
The Victorian army had failed to protect them. That was the conclusion the workers had drawn after witnessing everything firsthand. The City Defense forces had long since bowed to the Sarkaz, abandoning their pride as Victorians and becoming their lackeys.
Clad in black robes, the three hurried along the streets. Sarkaz rcenaries stood guard nearby, their sharp gazes sweeping over passersby from ti to ti. As they approached Sudean, it beca clear that the entire district was sealed off. The blockade was so tight that not even a mosquito could slip through.
"The workers are trapped inside and forced apart from their families," Baird said softly. "Fortunately, there are living quarters in the district. At least they don't have to sleep on the streets."
"How do we get in?" Vina asked in a low voice.
"…Wait a mont." Baird led them into a narrow alley. "There are two options. One is to claim we're family mbers of workers in Sudean. But they'll conduct body searches, Siege and this lady don't exactly look like ordinary citizens."
"The other option is to wait for unrest to break out and slip in during the chaos."
"Isn't there a secret passage or sothing similar?"
"The Sarkaz have already searched this place thoroughly. The three secret routes the Self-Defense Force used before have all been destroyed. There may be others I don't know about, but that's all the information I have." Baird narrowed her eyes. "…They're here."
Bang!
A deafening explosion erupted beneath them, the shockwave rippling through the ground. Horn grabbed onto a pipe for support while Vina caught Baird just as she was about to fall.
The explosions continued, one after another. Vina peered out and saw several oddly shaped machines launching explosives at the Sarkaz rcenary stronghold. The rcenaries were clearly accustod to such harassnt. Cursing loudly, they took cover. After the barrage paused, they drew their weapons and charged toward the machines.
A dozen crude robots, cobbled together from scrap iron and steel bars, rushed out from a shadowed corner. They brandished sharp implents. Though their movents seed stiff and awkward, they were astonishingly fast, provoking furious shouts from the rcenaries.
Flas flared as Originium Arts were unleashed. The Sarkaz rcenaries showed no rcy, bombarding the scrap-tal constructs with destructive force.
"Now!"
Baird hissed, bolting forward with Horn and Vina. Her stamina faltered almost imdiately, and she stumbled. Vina seized her arm and dragged her onward. Enduring the searing heat, the three scrambled through a gaping hole blasted open by the explosions.
Within monts, they were covered in dust and gri.
"…Sudean organizes attacks like this every day," Baird panted. "I heard there's a genius chanic in the Self-Salvation Army. He's skilled at turning spare parts into simple combat machines. But against so many Sarkaz rcenaries, he can only buy ti."
They crouched within a partially collapsed structure nearby.
Through crumbling walls and shattered eaves, they saw several nimble workers darting toward the Sarkaz encampnt. Taking advantage of the chaos while the rcenaries were preoccupied with the robots, they rushed to the supply area where weapons, equipnt, and rations were stored. Grabbing what they could, they fled without hesitation.
The Sarkaz rcenary captain roared in rage, unleashing a stream of curses in his native tongue. Baird could not understand them, but Vina and Horn, who had once lived on the Venus, caught fragnts of the aning.
Before long, the robots were reduced to twisted scrap. The rcenaries quickly regrouped into small squads and advanced into the Sudean District, clearly intent on retaliation.
"Let's move," Baird said after catching her breath. "We need to get into the factory area first."
Vina and Horn nodded in agreent.
Keeping a careful distance, they followed the Sarkaz rcenary squad. The rcenaries barged into residents' hos without courtesy, smashing furniture and overturning belongings under the pretense of searching for criminals. In the end, however, they did not draw their blades. Their captain had strictly forbidden unnecessary killing. If the factories stopped producing weapons, what would they use to wage war?
Though only a portion of the factories were now reluctantly manufacturing equipnt for them under coercion, it was still better than nothing.
In front of one factory gate, a group of workers stood with arms crossed, their gazes cold and unyielding as they watched the approaching Sarkaz.
"Another search?"
"That damned devil…"
"Tch. I don't even want to keep doing this."
The Sarkaz rcenaries grunted, hands resting on the hilts of their swords as they suppressed their anger.
The captain ordered his n to comb through the factory for any trace of the troubleso chanic. That naturally included ransacking and vandalizing the workers' dormitories.
"If there's nothing else, please leave. We still have work to do."
The speaker was an elderly woman, though she carried herself with remarkable strength. Dressed in work clothes, hands on her hips, she regarded them with an indifferent expression. "Or are you planning to demolish the factory?"
"Our patience has its limits, Catherine," the rcenary captain replied coldly. "If you understand your situation and cooperate properly, you may yet survive. But I cannot promise when I'll decide to begin a massacre."
"You should rember," Catherine said evenly, "this isn't your Londinium."
She turned her head, waved a hand, and dismissed the gathered workers. The captain let out a derisive snort and continued the search with his n. Finding nothing suspicious beyond so stored provisions, they moved on to the next factory.
Ten minutes later, the captain returned, cast one final sweeping glance around the area, and finally led his squad away.
Only after the rcenaries had rejoined their unit did Vina approach the factory. As she stepped toward the main gate, a low male voice sounded behind her.
"Use the side entrance. They're still monitoring the front."
Vina turned to see a young man beneath the dim factory lights, motioning to the three of them.
Under the circumstances, trusting him seed their only option.
After entering through the side gate, they finally saw him clearly. He had short brown hair and the look of soone accustod to working behind the scenes.
"Operator Vina, Miss Horn, and this lady," the young man said. "My na is Feist, codena Stainless. I am one of His Highness's students. I previously worked at Rhine Lab in Columbia. A year ago, when Victoria's situation deteriorated sharply, I consulted with His Highness and returned to Londinium as an informant to maintain communication."
"So you're the one who built those robots?" Vina asked, realization dawning.
"Yes. I've only learned a fraction of what His Highness knows."
Feist, also known as Stainless, smiled shyly. After graduating from Trimount Polytechnic University, he pursued a master's degree at Columbia Polytechnic University. During that ti, he worked in the chanical Engineering Departnt of Rhine Lab Sciences and collaborated with senior engineers to develop several products that were well received by technology firms and the military. Had he remained there, he would undoubtedly have risen to a leadership position.
He kept in contact with Felix and followed Tomorrow's Developnt growing strength. As Felix's student, Feist wanted to make him proud, and that ant continuing to push himself. When he learned from newspapers and reports about the worsening situation in Londinium, he resolved to return to the city where he was born and raised, determined to help its people in any way he could.
"They are… His Highness's people, correct?"
Catherine, who had been standing by the door, pushed it open. Seeing her grandson and the three won, she nodded slightly. "Feist has already explained the situation to . You're brave. The Sarkaz have developed a new surveillance device. If we recklessly launch the Clever into the air, it may trigger the Originium monitoring system within Londinium."
Vina and Horn exchanged a glance and nodded.
"We'd like to et the Self-Salvation Army," Vina said. "And understand the current situation in Londinium."
Catherine shrugged. "Feist, take them. The Sarkaz will return soon."
Feist gave a faint smile and let out a whistle. A small chanical dog poked its head out from the doorway. It appeared to be assembled from discarded scrap tal, compact and rough-edged, its two chanical eyes fixed on Feist.
"Monitor the movents of the Sarkaz squad."
At the command, the chanical puppy darted off without hesitation.
Feist nodded to the three won. "Let's move."
___
anwhile, the army advanced steadily into Victoria's border region. Inside the control room, Ines, dressed in a crisp military uniform, studied the electronic map with a grave expression.
"An unidentified fleet has appeared sixty kiloters ahead, Your Highness. Shall we engage?"
Seated upon the golden throne behind her, Felix rested his chin against his hand. "With the exception of the few noble fleets Duke Winderre signaled to hold position, crush the rest. Victoria is already rotten to the core. The remaining nobles either collude with those who assassinated the late king or conspire with the Tara nobles, exploiting the people to enrich themselves. They are mongrel among mongrel."
"Scouts have confird the fleet belongs to Duke Fife and Duke Ashworth. Eight battleships in total." Ines turned and knelt on one knee. "Your Highness, please issue your command."
"Duke Fife and Duke Ashworth. Winderre claims they stand on par with Duke Wellington, correct?" Felix said calmly. "Then crush them."
Ines rose and turned back to the command deck. "All hands, this is the Venus. Radar officer, report enemy positions."
"The enemy fleet is concentrated in grid 3-7-5. They have ford an interception formation and are issuing warnings!"
Ines drew a steady breath. "All ships, deploy in a fan formation. Main gun charging sequence begins."
The holographic screen flickered to life, captains appearing one after another. Kumori, Lao silais, Cabus, Yang Yan XF, and others, headsets on, filled the display.
"Nagato, Trinity, Hyperion, Warspite. Report Yamato guns status."
Kumori, captain of the Nagato, glanced at her instrunts while listening to the excited chatter from the other players. Her voice was soft but deep and controlled. "Rail capacitor at ninety-eight percent. Main guns armor-piercing shells fully loaded."
"Charging complete!"
"Charging complete!"
"Ready to obliterates!"
The one shouting was Cabus, a fierce grin spreading across his face, eyes blazing. His excitent bordered on reckless. Damn it, a man should command warships, not just dream about them.
Ines spoke sharply, "All units, synchronize countdown with the master clock."
"Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen…"
Ahead of the Venus, the advancing warships emitted a low, resonant hum. Massive main cannons elevated into firing position. Warning alarms intensified as arcs of energy flickered along the muzzles.
"Enemy vessels have launched jamming drones and three armor-piercing rounds!" the radar officer shouted.
"Warspite, dedicate one close-in weapon system to clear the nine o'clock airspace!" Ines ordered.
Yang Yan XF roared in response, "Roger! Automated artillery groups, rotate and intercept!"
Streams of light tore into the sky. Three dull explosions followed, shockwaves rippling across the scarred land. Players manning machine guns poured relentless fire into the swarming drones overhead as explosions echoed in rapid succession.
"Ready to fire ma'am!
"Lets drop so lead on those mother.."
"Now! Yamato guns, fire!"
At the command from Commander Ines aboard the Venus, the commander from 4 battleship bellowed, "Nagato, Yamato guns, fire!"
"Firing!"
"Fire!"
"Firing!"
Four triple devastating beams swept across the battlefield and vanished into the horizon. A heartbeat later, a thunderous explosion erupted in the distance, flas towering skyward.
"Direct hit! Shields on four enemy ships have collapsed. Multiple fires confird. Incoming counterattack!" The radar officer slamd his fist against the console.
Ines cut in imdiately, her hand slicing through the air. "Wings of Liberation, Lightbearers, Himlswächter Prepare to intercept!"
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