Platinum, disheveled and bloodied, rushed back to a safe house belonging to the Armorless Union in Kawalerielki. He could not be said to be covered in wounds, yet his injuries were severe enough to leave him limping. After taking Margaret's direct and overwhelming assault, Platinum, still unclear about the full situation, knew it was unwise to remain any longer. He did not even dare to face Margaret's Originium Arts head-on.
He understood all too well how the champion of the previous Knights Major had claimed victory, and he did not believe himself to be any stronger than the opponent Margaret had defeated.
Staggering into the safe house, he stopped the bleeding, applied medicine, and contacted the headquarters of the Armorless Union through his terminal.
"Platinum, your entire squad has been wiped out. The designated Region has fallen into complete chaos. Have you completed your mission?"
In front of the Flametail Knight, in front of the Infected, Platinum could display his power as he once had. Yet before the operators of the Armorless Union, despite maintaining a fearless expression, he straightened his posture instinctively.
His role was clear. He was nothing more than a hunting dog, albeit a higher-grade one.
"The mission objectives have been achieved. All Infected individuals underground in the Region have been eliminated."
The injuries Margaret had inflicted made his body twitch, and he let out a suppressed groan of pain.
Platinum continued, "However, the plan did not proceed as expected. I encountered a knight from the Fate Knight, who wiped out my squad. After that, I encountered Margaret."
"Margaret Nearl?"
"That's right. I fought her, but I was no match for her. Margaret has broken the agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. I propose issuing the Crimson Hunt Order in Kazimierz."
There was no immediate response. After a brief silence, Platinum spoke.
"I believe this is related to that person. Perhaps we could—"
"No."
The operator's reply was cold and decisive. "That person is a distinguished guest of the Chamber of Commerce and an indispensable asset to its future. I have already reported Margaret's whereabouts."
Click.
The call was cut off abruptly. Platinum slammed his terminal shut. Looking at his shattered equipment and battered body, hatred surged in his chest, but he dared not direct it toward that person. From the operator's reaction, Margaret's fate was already clear.
He had chosen his next prey.
The Flametail Knight, a core member of the Fate Knight, would be his new target.
___
At the headquarters of the Fate Knight, the main competition had begun. Crowds of enthusiastic fans gathered outside the arena, as though chasing after celebrities, hoping to catch a glimpse of the knights in their everyday lives.
The majority of them were fans of the Candle Knight, which was hardly surprising. Elegant in demeanor and free of scandal, the Candle Knight possessed both beauty and grace. Her combat style and Originium Arts were equally dazzling, naturally drawing the cheers of countless young men and women.
The other knights each had their own steady fanbases, with one exception.
The Infected Knights.
Ordinary people still harbored deep fear toward them.
Flametail Knight slowly awoke, staring at a familiar ceiling, and immediately realized where she was.
"The infirmary… right. Where's Margaret?"
"What Margaret?"
The gray-haired knight sitting nearby lifted his gaze. "You were found unconscious in the training grounds. You had multiple injuries, likely from a fight. Who did you spar with to end up like this? That opponent showed no mercy at all."
Flametail felt a wave of dizziness as she tried to sit up, only to be gently pressed back down by the gray-haired knight.
"You lost too much blood. Don't try to get up yet. Still, if you rest properly, you should be able to participate in the match the day after tomorrow."
"Make sure you're in perfect condition."
Flametail blinked. Her body felt unbearably weak, yet strangely numb. As the pain slowly seeped back in, she closed her eyes, her mind replaying fragments of the battle before she lost consciousness.
She was certain of one thing.
She had seen Margaret Nearl, the knight she admired.
She could still feel the lingering warmth of Margaret's light in her palms.
"…I encountered an assassin from the Armorless Union."
At those words, the gray-haired knight immediately stood up. "I don't know if the Blood Knight is here. I'll go look for him."
Before Flametail could stop him, her companion had already disappeared from the room. She lowered her gaze.
The actions of the Armorless Union needed to be reported to the Fate Knight, warning them to stay vigilant. But what could they truly do?
They were, after all, just a competitive knight club.
Could they really protect all the Infected?
Realizing that her actions had not only burdened the Fate Knight but also caused trouble for her benefactor, Flametail swallowed her frustration and a trace of self-loathing, letting out a quiet sigh.
The Blood Knight strode into the infirmary. In his resting state, he was not wearing his distinctive crimson armor. Seeing Flametail lying on the hospital bed, he gave a slight nod.
"Blood Knight, I'm sorry to have troubled you."
"I heard about your condition from the Gray Knight. Get some proper rest."
The Blood Knight sat down beside the bed and nodded solemnly. "The Armorless Union has been attacking the Infected for several years now, and their actions have intensified during this year's Knights Major. Moreover, I myself have also been targeted by the Armorless Union."
"…Eh?"
"It was the Lazurite," the Blood Knight said calmly. "I was attacked while carrying out a mission. The opponent retreated immediately after failing to strike, and I chose not to report it to His Highness. It felt shameful to trouble him over such a trivial matter."
"Lord Blood Knight…"
The Blood Knight shook his head. "Now that the Fate Knight have been attacked, I will report this situation to His Highness and let him decide how to proceed. However, given the current circumstances, the Armorless Union will likely only act in secret. As long as we remain within the Fate Knight's base, our safety should be assured."
"But sir, what about those Infected?"
"I've heard that the adventurers under Tomorrow's Development have already accepted various missions, including those to assist the Infected. Flametail Knight, you don't need to worry. Your priority right now is to recover."
"…Understood."
Flametail closed her eyes. The Blood Knight rose and quietly left the infirmary. The situation in Kawalerielki was growing increasingly chaotic. With the arrival of adventurers, the Armorless Union had become more aggressive and reckless. As the spiritual symbol of the Infected Knights, the Blood Knight himself was being hunted by two Lazurites.
If the assassination attempt had targeted only him, he might have handled it alone. But now, because of the Armorless Union, a knight of the Fate Knight had been gravely injured. That was an entirely different matter.
As he walked toward the lounge to report the situation to Felix by email, Felix himself was already in an underground facility, engaged in discussion with Lady Russell and other members of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi. Their topic was the future relationship between Kazdel and Kazimierz.
In addition to that, there was also the matter of how to deal with the Chamber of Commerce.
The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi was far from powerless. In the past, the Chamber of Commerce had controlled Kazimierz's primary economic channels, monopolizing nearly all national expenditures. This year's Knights Major, however, failed to meet the Chamber of Commerce's expectations, giving rise to internal discontent among its member families. At the same time, the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi seized this opportunity, quietly consolidating its strength behind the scenes.
This was as much as the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi could do for now.
"Your Highness, please take a look at the knights of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi, who fight for Kazimierz on all fronts."
Before Felix stood forces secretly assembled by the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi, knights who had long vanished from the public eye. Rumors claimed they guarded Kazimierz's borders, fought endless battles of offense and defense against Ursus, and had long since faded into legend.
Now, this fabled order of knights appeared before him. They stood in formation within the vast underground hall, the faint clatter of silver armor and weapons echoing softly.
Felix's eyes brightened. He had long dreamed of forming such a war-focused knight order, but in the past he lacked the money, the authority, and even the chance to reach the deeper layers of Kazimierz. Now that he had returned, he was finally seeing the fighting force he had yearned for.
These knights were all seasoned veterans. Their armor, forged from rare metals, rivaled that of ancient relics. They stood in silence, their gazes conveying unwavering loyalty to the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi.
The knights observed Felix in turn and nodded in approval. Presenting this war knight order was both a display of strength and a means of reinforcing their confidence in future diplomatic dealings with Kazdel.
Felix withdrew his gaze, a faint smile on his lips. He noticed the satisfaction among the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi's representatives, though he did not exaggerate his reaction. These knight orders were indeed formidable, and it was easy to see how Kazimierz had maintained a thriving tourism industry despite being surrounded by powerful enemies.
Lady Russell smiled warmly. "Your Highness, we have long been aware of Kazdel's strength. We hope that future diplomacy between us can proceed on equal and friendly terms."
Felix leaned back against the sofa and nodded slightly. "Then what are your plans regarding the Chamber of Commerce, Lady Russell, and everyone else?"
"Organizations like the Chamber of Commerce must be eliminated, including the Armorless Union." A knight spoke up at once, his voice heavy with disgust. "The very existence of the Chamber of Commerce is unreasonable, and groups like the Armorless Union should be destroyed as well."
The other knights remained silent. A few wore thoughtful expressions, while the rest shared the same open hostility.
Lady Russell, however, was deep in contemplation. Her thoughts were not focused on the fate of the Chamber of Commerce itself, but on why Felix had raised this question. She had heard that Felix had accepted an invitation to attend an internal meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, much like the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi was doing now. After that meeting, the Chamber of Commerce's attitude seemed to have shifted slightly, yet it had not deviated from its fundamental intentions. This was evident from the recent reports of deaths and injuries in the Infected camps. They had not given up, nor had they fallen into despair.
"The Chamber of Commerce is like a centipede that refuses to fall even after it dies," Lady Russell said softly with a sigh. "Even if we manage to suppress it this time, its internal structure is far too complex. What we see now is only the surface of its power. They has existed for hundreds of years, and we have no idea how much influence it holds, both openly and in the shadows."
Felix could not easily refute her words. He had personally attended that meeting. On the surface, many families and representatives were present, but he was certain there were far more hidden forces, mouthpieces, and families who refused to reveal their names or show their faces. They preferred to remain behind the curtain, watching the world bleed. No matter how the sky collapsed, it would never fall on them.
He did not believe that an organization with a century-long history lacked any real foundation. The current Chamber of Commerce had only exposed a portion of its least important families, those that could be removed without causing serious harm.
Even if the current group were dismantled, another would soon be propped up to take its place.
That would only treat the symptoms, not the root of the problem.
Moreover, one of the reasons the Chamber of Commerce had shown such enthusiasm toward Felix was precisely because he could serve as an excellent shield. Whether they could truly manipulate him, however, was an entirely different matter.
"The Chamber of Commerce cannot be completely eradicated," Felix said, continuing Lady Russell's train of thought. "Even if they were to disappear entirely, the forces and families behind it would still remain. Kazimierz can exist without the Chamber of Commerce now, but exposing every family secretly tied to it would be unrealistic and far too destructive."
"That would only mean they continue to exist in a different form within Kazimierz."
"Your Highness… so the Chamber of Commerce truly cannot be abolished?" Some of the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi's knights shook their heads or lowered their gazes, their expressions tinged with disappointment. The Chamber of Commerce had long been their sworn enemy. Naturally, they hoped that one day it could be defeated openly, restoring a bright and just world for the knights of Kazimierz. Yet from the words of Lady Russell and Felix, that day still seemed distant.
Lady Russell nodded toward Felix. "Your Highness, I understand the importance of the Chamber of Commerce in Kazimierz as it stands, but…"
She paused briefly before continuing. "The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi supports the Chamber of Commerce's invitation for you to participate in their negotiations."
"Is that truly a good idea?" Felix asked. "If I were to lead the Chamber of Commerce, wouldn't that make me no different from Kazdel, and no different from General Theresis, the Regent?"
"…Your Highness, you are not General Theresis," Lady Russell replied softly. "You are the Liberation King of Kazdel, and the salvation of this land."