Chapter 422 375: Reactions from All Sides, The Great War Approaches

Koller looked cautiously at the Wizard Slayer in Reinhardt's hand. He had served in the Imperial Legion for a millennium and had read about and encountered many secrets.

Although he wasn't a Technician Priest, he knew a thing or two about ancient Wizard creations.

This Knight's Broadsword reminded him of a secret rumor he had overheard seven hundred years ago on Zitak-21 Planet while assisting a Technician Priest with the excavation of some ancient ruins—a rumor about the Supreme King's Guard.

In that ancient era when Wizards ruled the entire Cosmos, the Supreme King was explicitly recorded as one of the most powerful Wizards in existence.

And his guard was the nightmare of many powerful Wizards of that age.

The specific records had long since scattered to the winds in the river of time. However, the Mechanical Sage he had been protecting at the time was excavating the ruins of a civilization on Zitak-21 Planet where a member of the Supreme King's Guard had died.

The sense of unease he felt while he was responsible for transporting the batch of excavated Extraordinary Creations was identical to what he was feeling now.

In other words, the 'Knight's Broadsword' that Sipia had used to suppress the Avenger Flagship's Spiritual Energy communications, which he later abandoned on the secondary command platform while fleeing, was very likely once the weapon of a member of the Supreme King's Guard.

Koller had tried more than once to stop Reinhardt from using these weapons, which had come from the hands of a heretic.

It wasn't just a matter of purity or Loyalty.

He was more concerned about the adverse political consequences.

The Great Tutor of the Emperor's Vengeful Angels, brandishing a heretical creation openly on the bridge... if there were spies from the Judgment Court within the command structure, such an act could easily be used against him.

After careful consideration, Koller ultimately decided to swallow his words.

'Whether we'll even leave Cyrenaica alive is questionable. Besides, the Ash Soil Star Zone isn't under the Empire's rule. With Reinhardt's influence, perhaps I'm the one who is overthinking things.'

'Heretic? What heretic?'

'As long as it can be used to fight for the Emperor and execute traitors, then it's a loyal and legitimate Wizard creation!'

Koller stopped worrying about the Wizard Slayer. He relayed the precise geographical coordinates to Technician Priest Pavlo, let out a slow breath, and his expression turned serious.

"Gentlemen, the safety of the Administrative Region is in our hands. For the Emperor."

RUMBLE—

A muffled thunderstorm flashed and flickered within the pitch-black clouds.

As if a giant shadow had swallowed the bridge in an instant, the Avenger Flagship plunged headfirst into Cyrenaica's atmosphere. Leaden clouds blotted out the sun, and a torrential downpour pelted the ship's hull.

Rainwater collected on the bridge's viewports, forming rivulets that streamed endlessly downward.

The dim, damaged lights reflected off steel and conduit, making the atmosphere on the bridge feel even colder. A grim aura spread relentlessly.

A suffocating silence blanketed the bridge.

They traveled on in silence.

...

「Radiant Calendar Year 1462, Iberian Time, April.」

Stearns, Second Company Commander of the Vengeful Angels, was leading his troops aboard the Strike Cruiser Battle Axe Two, a vessel provided for them by the Administrative Region. It was currently traversing the Net Path.

Their arrival at Cyrenaica was still five hours and seventeen minutes away, according to Holy City Standard Time.

"Still no contact?"

Compared to the Avenger Flagship with its crew of less than one hundred, the Strike Cruiser under Stearns's command was over two kilometers long and possessed an entire thirty-thousand-person logistical support team assigned to him by the Military Affairs Department.

Furthermore, it was equipped with three Nightlight Combat Gunboats for rapid troop deployment.

The cruiser itself was also fitted with three hundred conventional ship-mounted cannons and one main cannon: the 'Star Spear.'

Given that the Avenger Flagship lacked the support of powerful Technician Soldiers, the firepower and maneuverability of the Battle Axe Two Strike Cruiser might even surpass it.

Stearns and his three Adjutants had been standing guard before the Radiant Beacon for a full hour, but no matter how the Star Speakers searched the entire Ash Soil Star Zone for any trace of the Avenger Flagship, it was as if the vessel had vanished into thin air, leaving no sign behind.

At first, he suspected that the two Star Speakers were simply not skilled enough. However, after a prolonged search and communication with the 11th and Twelfth Infantry Corps, he gradually began to realize that something might have happened to Reinhardt and his people.

"Damn it—!"

Stearns slammed his fist on the table, his brow tightly furrowed. "In my name," he said angrily, "transmit a message to the Military Affairs Department reporting the Avenger Flagship as missing."

At that moment, his Adjutant standing behind him—Alchjo, a Six-star Military Rank Official Knight from the Death Battle Group—offered some words of comfort. "Commander, I have faith in Lord Reinhardt's power. He can thwart any enemy plot."

"I hope so."

Stearns's expression was grave. After a moment's consideration, he commanded, "Notify Matthias, who is reporting to the Military Affairs Department. We don't have time to let the Department continue forming the First Company.

He and the Great Tutor's Guard must depart for Cyrenaica immediately.

Also, tell him to contact Lord Agate and secure the Punisher. It must be used to reinforce Cyrenaica at top speed. No matter what, I need to know what the hell happened in that damned place.

There can be absolutely no issues with Lord Reinhardt's safety."

A year ago, they had already abandoned one rescue attempt on Reinhardt in order to cover the Radiant Angels' retreat. The memory had filled him with self-reproach for a long time.

Now, less than half a year after Reinhardt's triumphant return, if anything were to happen to the Great Tutor on his watch, he, as an Imperial Knight of the Death Battle Group, would never be able to face Lord Sedon.