Chapter 368 323: Avenger Power Armor Type I, Lady Catherine's Letter

It was only after Urus and his troops had cleared the explosives planted in the main structure of the top-level port and, with the assistance of the Red Flame Son and the Navy Boarding Team, eliminated the private soldiers of the Judgment Court stationed there.

Fedor sat on an iron crate used for transporting weapons, piles of corpses scattered at his feet. He was meticulously wiping the blood from his Dragon-Hunting Spear with a piece of cloth.

He still couldn't believe the two sentences he had heard in the mid-level corridor.

'Could the Great Tutor of Vengeful, a man of so few words, have really said that?'

If Reinhardt had, in Fedor's initial impression, always been an imposing and unsmiling Imperial Knight, then those two short sentences completely shattered that image.

In other words, compared to a war machine born only for slaughter, he suddenly realized that even the Great Tutor of Vengeful was a living, breathing person, just like himself.

Thinking of this, Fedor couldn't help but laugh. It was no wonder. On the Eternal Battlefield, the power Reinhardt had displayed, along with the miracle of the Emperor's manifestation, had made his first impression of the man akin to that of a living saint of the National Church.

However, this actually made him feel more at ease when working with Reinhardt.

If Reinhardt were truly the type to demand that everyone around him strictly adhere to law and doctrine in every word and deed—rigid and dogmatic—the very thought was enough to make one's skin crawl.

"Sir, Stearns and the men from the Second Company have departed. They will arrive at the port in fifteen minutes."

Hearing Urus report to Reinhardt from a distance, Fedor stood up and walked over.

Gregory, an officer from the Navy Boarding Team, was also present. After receiving an order from the Radiant Beacon, he said to Reinhardt with a helpless expression, "My men may not be able to accompany you on the next mission. Colonel Brian has ordered me to lead my team back immediately. Ground combat is outside our jurisdiction."

Facing Gregory's disappointed gaze, Reinhardt turned and said in a deep voice, "I have witnessed your loyalty and courage, soldier.

Now, your mission is complete."

Receiving praise from a Vengeful Angel himself, Gregory's previously disappointed expression instantly turned to extreme excitement, his eyes shining as if they were about to burst with light.

He snapped to attention and saluted, responding in a loud, proud voice, "Vengeance Fire is with me! It has been my honor to fight alongside you!"

Reinhardt gave him a slight nod of affirmation.

Not long after the Navy Boarding Team officer and his men departed, two vessels slowly entered the top-level port's hangar bay. Soon after, Stearns appeared, leading fifty fully-armed Imperial Knights in armor with paint schemes and colors that matched the Avenger Armor. In a formation of five columns and ten rows, they quickly arrived at the temporary command post for Kosai Port.

Upon seeing Reinhardt, Stearns removed his Full Coverage Helmet. Frowning, his expression serious, he announced loudly, "Second Company Commander Stearns, reporting!"

At the same time, a Spiritual Energy communication from the command network connected to Reinhardt, and Koller's voice sounded.

"Along with the first batch of soldiers from the Second Company to arrive, there's also a shipment of weapons and equipment from the Mechanical Order. It's what you're seeing now—Avenger Power Armor Type I.

It's a new type of Power Armor recently developed by the Mechanical Order. The Mechanical Sage I'm in contact with told me this equipment was prototyped from your own Power Armor and, after improvements, is now ready for small-scale mass production.

You can discuss the specifics with him; I'll patch his voice through.

One more thing. A personal letter from the Golden Capital was sent to me. I've had Stearns bring it to you."

After Koller finished his report, a voice devoid of emotional inflection, almost as if mechanically synthesized, appeared in Reinhardt's mind.

"Reinhardt."

Hearing the vaguely familiar voice, Reinhardt's brow furrowed slightly. "Agate?"

"It's me."

After a long silence, Agate continued from the other end of the Spiritual Energy communication, "Their weapons and equipment are a simplified and improved version based on your Power Armor.

After testing and rating, their strength and performance are on par with Hundred Refinements models.

Furthermore, based on the personnel list provided by the Military Affairs Department, I have already made a series of fine adjustments to each suit of Power Armor according to the user's habits and Mighty Power Traits.

Besides the standard Zeka Energy Shield, Clay Steel Reinforcement, and Jumping Gang Backpack...

...there are also the Explosive Arrow Guns, which are already in mass production and being issued to Imperial Knights in large quantities. After testing, these firearms—modified for mass production based on weapons blueprinted from ancient ruins excavated by Great Sage Gneus—are effective against a Slaughter Demon.

I hope... this equipment can help you."

From beginning to end, Agate never mentioned anything about the Radiant Angel, Albert, nor did he ever express any welcome for Reinhardt's return.

But as the coordinating Mechanical Sage, he had no obligation, nor did he need to lower himself, to explain so much in such detail to the recipient.

Given the Mechanical Order's typical approach, they would most likely have just tossed the recipient an impossibly complex instruction manual and let them figure it out. Whether it could be understood was not their concern.

The recipient only needed to confirm whether the weapons and equipment they provided were usable.

In other words, for a Technician Soldier with four hundred years of service and extensive body modifications, speaking words of welcome was truly asking a lot.

Compared to empty words, Agate's actions had already said it all.

As for the matter of the Radiant Angel, Albert, Agate did not speak of it, and Reinhardt would not ask. This was a tacit understanding they had reached as founding members of the Vengeful Angels, forged through life and death.

Sedon had said that Albert was still with the Mechanical Order.

In all likelihood, Agate was also involved in the recovery efforts.

Until there was substantial progress, all information regarding the Radiant Angel was under strict lockdown; not even Reinhardt was qualified to know.

After the brief conversation ended, Koller cut their Spiritual Energy communication.

At the same time, after finishing his report, Stearns took out a very old-fashioned paper envelope. The wax seal was in the style of the Capet Dynasty, bearing Lady Catherine's private signet.

"Sir, Commander Koller asked me to deliver this letter to you."

Reinhardt's gaze swept over the fifty Imperial Knights standing silently before him in neat formation, awaiting his inspection.

From a mere knight's attendant at Frostfire Fortress to his current high position, wielding great power, even someone like Reinhardt couldn't help but think of the past.

He remembered the past, when he and his former comrades would line up in the cold wind of the training grounds, waiting to be inspected by Vice Commander Erich. He also remembered Instructor An Jie, who would always stand silently in the distance...

Or rather, it was more than just nostalgia.

To this day, Reinhardt still hadn't come to terms with the deaths of Instructor An Jie and Vice Commander Erich. In fact, the feeling had only grown deeper with the passage of time.

Taking a deep breath, he broke the seal on the handwritten letter that Lady Catherine had sent him in such a traditional manner, all the way across half the Ash Soil Star Zone.

The message was brief.

[Alas, many matters keep me occupied, and I cannot see you as soon as I would wish. I miss you dearly. —Catherine.]