Several hours had passed since we were confined to this warehouse. By now, it must be dark outside. Lancelot should be storming in through the underground passage any moment.
Nina's sobs echoed through the warehouse as Japanese Liberation Front soldiers patrolled, maintaining vigilance.
Almost time, isn't it?
I exchanged a glance with Lucy, who was holding Euphemia's hand beside me.
Almost simultaneously, a Japanese Liberation Front soldier walked past Nina. And then—
"E-Eleven…"
In the quiet warehouse, the sound was unmistakable, resonating without the possibility of being concealed. Naturally, the Japanese Liberation Front soldier didn't miss the derogatory term.
"What did you just say?! Did you say 'Eleven'?! We are Japanese!"
The soldier snarled, pointing his gun at Nina.
"I know! So stop it!" Milly cried out, shielding Nina in a protective embrace, but it only served to further enrage the man.
"Correct yourself! We are not Elevens!"
"I will correct myself!"
"What kind of tone is that?! You two, come here. I'll teach you a proper lesson!"
"No!"
The Japanese Liberation Front soldier roughly grabbed Nina's arm. Seeing this, Euphemia started to rise, but Lucy caught her hand, stopping her.
"…Fine, I'll handle it," I muttered softly, pushing myself up, ignoring the two who were looking at me with puzzled expressions.
"Accelerate."
Using the mental command 'Accelerate,' I charged at full speed towards the two soldiers: the one holding Nina, and the other who was observing.
"What?!"
As expected, the observing soldier noticed me first and tried to aim his gun, but it was already too late! Before the muzzle could fully turn my way, I closed the distance and delivered an uppercut that grazed his jaw. The violent jolt to the tip of his jaw caused his brain to shake vigorously, and the Japanese Liberation Front soldier collapsed, concussed.
"You bastard!"
Seeing his comrade fall, the soldier still gripping Nina's hand frantically tried to point his gun at me. But with 'Accelerate' granting me abnormal speed, I was already behind him by the time he moved his weapon.
"Take a nap."
I chopped him on the neck, knocking him unconscious.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Euphemia asked, somehow already by Nina's side, speaking to her. Watching this, Lucy sighed and spoke.
"Your Highness Euphemia, please consider your position for a moment. This time it was fine because Axel was here, but…"
"Y-Your Highness Euphemia!?"
Nina's voice was louder than when she had whispered "Eleven," but fortunately, due to the commotion caused by the fallen soldiers, her cry was only heard by me, Lucy, Milly, and Shirley, who were nearby. The latter two, realizing who stood before them, were wide-eyed with shock.
Shirley aside, Milly is a member of the Ashford family, who are Marianne's patrons. She might have seen Euphemia before somewhere.
Euphemia scanned the faces of the hostages in the warehouse, then finally turned her gaze to me.
"Mr. Axel, would you grant me a request?"
"A request?"
"Yes. I wish for you to take me to the leader of the people lying over there."
…Why is it always like this? In the original story, she revealed her identity to save Nina, but there's absolutely no need for her to deliberately put herself in danger now. No, it would be better to escape the hotel while the guards are unconscious or contact Cornelia outside.
"No. Escaping this hotel should be our priority. Fortunately, I can manage Euphemia alone."
"Alone? So you intend to leave everyone else here behind?"
"Your Highness Euphemia, you are the Sub-Viceroy."
Lucy agreed with my assessment, but Euphemia shook her head.
"Precisely. As Sub-Viceroy, I cannot abandon these people and flee alone. I will negotiate with the perpetrators."
"Your Highness Euphemia."
Should I just knock her out and carry her away? Cornelia might be angry, but considering Euphemia's safety, it might be the best option… No, wait. If the original story holds, Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe should be killed by Zero soon. So is she safe then? Zero shouldn't harm Euphemia here. And above all, if I leave her alone, she might charge in by herself, even without me.
"…No choice, then."
"Axel!?" Lucy glared at me reproachfully.
"Don't look at me like that. From the looks of it, she might charge into the Japanese Liberation Front alone. It's better if we go with her, at least."
"That's…" Lucy faltered, no doubt realizing that Euphemia would indeed go alone if left to her own devices.
Ultimately, it was decided that only Euphemia and I would go to negotiate. Lucy insisted on coming too, but Euphemia's request for her to protect the hostages in the room was something she couldn't refuse.
"Alright, let's go. Make sure to follow my instructions."
"Yes."
"Axel, please protect Her Highness Euphemia."
I nodded at Lucy's words and exited the warehouse.
Fortunately, it seemed the two in the warehouse were the only guards, as there was no sign of anyone else around.
I activated my Spatial Storage out of Euphemia's sight, retrieving Lemon's custom visor. To anyone else, it would appear as though I pulled the visor from inside my suit.
"Mr. Axel, what is that?"
"It's a multi-functional visor… well, simply put, it has night vision, telescopic capabilities, and various other functions needed in situations like this."
Its main purpose, of course, was as a countermeasure for Geass.
"More importantly, let's head upstairs without making any noise."
With the gun I took from the warehouse soldier ready, I ascended the stairs, leading Euphemia. After about ten minutes of progress—
"…This is it."
Feeling human presences, I cautiously surveyed the floor. Normally, I'd use slime for reconnaissance, but with Euphemia present, that was impossible.
"Two people… I see."
Two people were by the door, and I sensed multiple presences inside the room. Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe was probably in there.
Now, what to do? Killing them would be the quickest solution, but if Cornelia found out I killed someone in front of Euphemia, I might be the one killed.
However, before I could think, events unfolded. A gunshot echoed from inside the room. Hearing it, the guards became agitated, repeatedly checking the room. At least the area where we were was completely unguarded.
"Stay here quietly," I told Euphemia, then approached the guards and knocked them out with a hand chop to the neck, just as I had in the warehouse.
"What was that gunshot? Was it big sister?"
"Who knows? We'll find out when we go inside. …Are you ready?"
I picked up the guns from the unconscious soldiers. It must be Zero inside, but the Black Knights should be arriving soon.
"Concentrate."
I used the mental command 'Concentrate,' glanced at Euphemia, and opened the door. Simultaneously, another gunshot rang out!
"!"
Thanks to the 'Concentrate' command, I instinctively shifted my body and successfully dodged the bullet fired by Zero.
"What?!"
A muffled voice came from Zero's mask. He probably hadn't expected his surprise attack to be dodged.
"Ha!"
Ignoring the astonished Zero, I charged directly at him. By the time Zero reacted, the gun in my hand was already pressed against his mask.
"Too bad, Zero."
"Kuh."
"Mr. Axel!"
However, almost at the same moment I pressed the gun to Zero, the Black Knights arrived in the corridor where Euphemia was, pointing their guns at her.
"Too bad, Euphemia. I'm sure you came to negotiate the release of the hostages for the sake of the people… but you're still as naive as ever."
"Zero, I'll need you to behave. While Euphemia is our hostage, don't forget that you are ours. This mask isn't bulletproof, is it?" I lightly poked his mask with the gun barrel.
"Hmph. A stalemate, then. We can't stay like this forever. How about a hostage exchange?"
Indeed, if we stayed here, we risked being caught in the destruction of the hotel's underground base by Lancelot and the explosions from the bombs set by the Black Knights.
"…Fine. Euphemia here. I'll move away from Zero."
"Agreed."
Zero nodded, and Euphemia and the Black Knights entered the room. Simultaneously, I put distance between myself and Zero, moving to Euphemia's side.
Zero, perceiving that sufficient distance had been created, spoke.
"I hear you have been appointed Sub-Viceroy. Princess Euphemia."
"It's nothing to be happy about."
"Indeed. Because Clovis died. …I killed him. He begged for his life until the very end. With the same mouth that ordered the killing of Elevens."
"Is that why you killed my brother, Prince Clovis?"
"No."
"Then, why!"
"Because that man was the child of the Britannian Emperor."
"Huh?"
"Now that I mention it… you are as well."
Zero pulled out a gun from his coat and aimed it at Euphemia, but the next moment, he lowered it.
"However, now…"
"Zero, what in the world are you—"
Just as Euphemia was about to speak, a white KMF flashed into view outside the window. Lancelot?!
Several streaks of light shot from Lancelot's gun, and the building began to sink into the lake as its base was destroyed. The moment Zero, standing near the window, saw Lancelot outside, he pressed a switch he had pulled from his pocket.
Simultaneously, explosions began to erupt throughout the hotel.
"…I wonder if this encounter was unfortunate or fortunate… In any case, that's enough for today. We will be escaping this hotel with our hostages, but what about you? If you wish to come with me, you are welcome."
Zero's words made Euphemia look at me.
"No, Euphemia and I can escape alone. Don't mind us, go on."
"I see. Then we shall depart."
Zero's cape swirled as he left the room with the Black Knights. He would undoubtedly declare the establishment of the Black Knights next.
"Euphemia, we need to hurry too. It wouldn't be fun to get caught in the hotel's collapse here."
"Yes."
Leading Euphemia, I descended the hotel. There were occasional explosions and falling debris, but thanks to my physical abilities and the slime I secretly deployed out of Euphemia's sight, we managed to get through without incident.
"Euphe!"
Seeing Euphemia and me emerge from the hotel, Cornelia let out a cry of joy and rushed towards us. Her demeanor was less that of a soldier and more entirely that of an older sister.
"Big sister!"
Euphemia, visibly relieved to see Cornelia, had tears in her eyes as she embraced her.
Cornelia stroked Euphemia's hair and then looked at me.
"Axel. Thank you for saving Euphe…"
"Don't mention it. It's my duty as a guard. More importantly, now…"
Before I could finish my sentence, the surrounding monitors abruptly changed. It was finally time for the Black Knights' establishment.
And Zero began to speak.
"People of Britannia, do not be alarmed. The hostages captured in the hotel have been rescued safely. I return them to you."
"He says that so brazenly. It means if we lay a hand on him, the hostages will revert to being hostages. And if we intervene while that scene is being broadcast on media, we will be completely painted as the aggressors."
Cornelia released Euphemia and spoke with a bitter expression. Indeed, as Cornelia said, if they attacked the Black Knights here, the Britannian military would appear to be the villains. Zero must have anticipated this by using the TV.
A spotlight shone on Zero, who was displayed on the monitor. The masked Zero stood with the members of the Ohgi group behind him, clad in Black Knight uniforms and visors.
"People, fear me and seek me. Our name is the Black Knights! We, the Black Knights, are allies to all who bear no arms. Be they Elevens or Britannians. The Japanese Liberation Front brutally took Britannian civilians hostage and cruelly murdered them. A meaningless act. Therefore, we delivered judgment. Former Viceroy Clovis was the same. He ordered the massacre of unarmed Elevens. Such acts of cruelty cannot be overlooked. Therefore, we delivered judgment. I do not deny war. However, I absolutely will not permit the strong to unilaterally kill the weak! Those who are prepared to be shot are the only ones who may shoot! We will appear again when the powerful assault the powerless. No matter how great the power that enemy possesses. …Those with power, fear me! Those without power, seek me! The world… shall be judged by us, the Black Knights!"
Thus, the Black Knights were born into this world of Code Geass.
Character Status (for context, not part of the narrative)
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 34
PP: 155
Melee: 242
Ranged: 260
Skill: 252
Defense: 249
Evasion: 277
Accuracy: 299
SP: 414
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder, Special
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate: 4 SP
Effort: 8 SP
Concentrate: 16 SP
Direct Hit: 20 SP
Awaken: 32 SP
Love: 48 SP
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recovery & Concentration)
Psychokinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
Infight Lv.9
Morale Limit Break
???
???
???
???
???
???
Kills: 190
----------------------------------
I've already posted 30 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you very much!