The two lights collided and fused, scorching everything in their wake. The spectators shut their eyes instinctively; even those wearing sunglasses could not endure such blinding brilliance.
When the radiance finally faded, a massive crater lay at the center of the battlefield. Maria and Margaret still stood where they had been before the clash, as if nothing had changed. Yet Maria continued to grip her two-handed sword, while Margaret's lance had been reduced to fine powder by the overwhelming light.
"Perhaps I should reconsider my fighting style." Margaret sighed softly as she watched the remnants of her weapon scatter in the wind. She had never imagined the match would end this way. In the Knights' Major, victory could indeed be decided by destroying an opponent's weapon, but she had never expected to be on the receiving end.
Seeing the hesitation in Maria's eyes, Margaret offered a faint smile and raised her hand.
"I surrender."
"OHHHHHH! The champion has been decided! Our champion is Knight Maria! I, Greatmouth Mob, hereby declare that the winner of the 24th Kazimierz Major is… Maria!"
Mob's excited shout echoed through the arena.
"OHHHHHH!" ×N
Thunderous applause erupted as the crowd celebrated the two knights who had given everything in this spectacular duel.
Mob collapsed to the ground, fully aware that the Chamber of Commerce had been too late to act before the match concluded. This might very well be his final commentary. Though there was regret, he felt that ending on such a match made it all worthwhile.
"Greatmouth Mob?"
"Huh?"
The commentator with the flamboyant haircut turned around to see a man in a black suit. His attire resembled that of a Chamber of Commerce spokesperson, yet the Tomorrow's Development emblem pinned to his chest made Mob leap to his feet.
"Interested in working for us, Mr. Greatmouth Mob?"
The roar of the crowd pulled Mob back to reality. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he nearly burst into tears and immediately knelt before the suited man, pledging his loyalty without hesitation.
The arena erupted once more.
In the VIP box, Zofia wept openly, gazing at the two figures on the field for a long moment without speaking. Beside her, Młynar remained silent as well, though the occasional flicker in his eyes betrayed a quiet sense of relief.
After the match, Maria rushed forward and embraced her sister. Margaret gently patted her head, her expression a blend of exasperation and affection.
"You're the champion of the competitive knights now. Everyone is waiting for you to step onto the podium. Stop clinging to me. This is your moment."
"But…" Maria pouted, slipping back into her familiar younger-sister demeanor the moment the battle ended. "I missed you so much, Sister."
"You really does love to act spoiled."
Margaret smiled, brushing a hand against Maria's cheek before pulling her into a warm embrace. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, Sister. Oh, before the award ceremony, there's something I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"Do you like Brother Felix?"
Margaret's heart skipped. She met Maria's bright, unguarded gaze and blinked several times. In the end, as both a sister and a knight, she chose honesty.
"Yes. I do have romantic feelings for His Highness. But I haven't confessed, and I don't even know how I should."
"Eh…"
Maria giggled and hugged her again. "Then let's both do our best!"
"Eh?"
Margaret froze, while Maria mischievously stuck out her tongue before hurrying off with the event staff, who watched them with warm smiles, toward the podium.
As Margaret observed her sister's retreating figure, a thought seemed to cross her mind, and she pressed her lips together.
His Highness really is… troublesome. Sigh. One step at a time. Sometimes his charm causes more problems than it solves.
Margaret had never taken this match too seriously. Her reason for coming to Kazimierz was to support the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi, not to chase victory or fear defeat. Had her final opponent been a knight of the Chamber of Commerce, she would have fought without hesitation.
She simply had never expected that her opponent in the end would be Maria.
She's grown up… in every sense of the word.
Margaret watched Maria step onto the winning stage to receive her award, a gentle, radiant smile blooming across her face. As an older sister, she felt nothing but pride at how far Maria had come. In the future, they would surely fight side by side.
Turning away, Margaret headed toward the lounge. She had fulfilled her role; the rest of the stage now belonged to the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi and the Silverlance Pegasi. It was time for her to return to Tomorrow's Development.
I wonder how His Highness views my recklessness this time…
Margaret found herself conflicted over Felix's attitude toward her. It was true that he had always treated her like a younger sister. But now, that was no longer enough.
To say she was dissatisfied would not be entirely accurate. It would be more precise to say that Margaret wanted something more.
___
Not long after, that very night—
The people celebrating the 24th Knights Major filled the streets with laughter, food, and music. They excitedly discussed the duel between Knight Maria and the Radiant Knight, Margaret. Fans of the two sisters were especially animated, and the most talked-about topic was what title Maria would receive.
Black Knight, Radiant Knight, Blood Knight—some had earned titles before their victories, others had been granted one afterward.
The Candle Knight was a special case. As Lady Russell's adopted daughter, she had claimed numerous championships in first- and second-tier tournaments and amassed a massive fan base. To satisfy public demand, the Chamber of Commerce had made an exception and officially bestowed upon her the title of Candle Knight.
thud!
The crowd suddenly felt a tremor beneath their feet, a vibration that made their hearts jolt.
thud!
An earthquake? Impossible. There had been no warnings.
thud!
Had the Kawalerielki mobile city begun to move? But such large-scale operations were unheard of.
thud!
The traffic-clogged street ahead had parted, forming a wide passage. At its head marched a knight clad in full silver armor, blade sheathed at his waist, followed by rows of heavily armed silver knights.
Was this some kind of performance?
"No… no, they're… the Silverlance Pegasi!"
The speaker's voice trembled with excitement. Just days ago, the knights of Kazimierz had conducted special military exercises outside the Kawalerielki, and he had been among the spectators. As a fan of competitive knights, he had thought the battle-hardened soldiers were impossibly cool.
Why were the Silverlance Pegasi entering the city?
Something big was about to happen.
Silverlance Pegasi also known as War Knights were equivalent to a nation's army. They rarely appeared before civilians except for ceremonial displays. Their presence now could only signal something significant.
"Hey… they're heading toward the Chamber of Commerce building!"
"Shh… It's late. I should go home."
Some lingered to watch, but most quickly retreated. They were not fools. The Chamber of Commerce had shown no outward signs of trouble, yet the Silverlance Pegasi were marching straight toward its headquarters. It was like heading into an enemy's stronghold. Even the most oblivious could sense the storm brewing.
Before long, the streets emptied. Only a few people remained, hiding inside nearby shops and peering through the glass at the advancing knights.
Lady Russell walked at the center of the formation, her expression calm and composed. There was no trace of triumph on her face, for she knew this was only the beginning.
The Chamber of Commerce building stood before them.
The knights did not laugh or draw their weapons when they saw the guards slumped at the entrance. These men were still citizens of Kazimierz, people the knights had sworn to protect.
They entered in orderly ranks. Some paused briefly upon seeing the massive golden statue dominating the lobby, cast from pure gold and depicting the mature, calculating figures of the Chamber of Commerce's leading businessmen.
"Lady Russell."
A knight-errant stepped forward. "Everyone in the building has gathered in the conference room."
Russell nodded, as though she had expected nothing less.
She strode into the conference room. Around a dozen figures sat inside. She recognized every one of them: powerful and wealthy magnates of Kazimierz, men who had once monopolized entire industrial chains through ruthless means and squandered their vast fortunes without restraint. Among the Chamber of Commerce, they were the most radical and the most despised.
The wealthy men sat with ashen faces, offering no words to Lady Russell, as if they had already accepted their fate.
Russell was not surprised. Felix had warned her long ago.
The Chamber of Commerce would most likely push forward a group of expendable pawns, sacrificing them to protect the true king.
These families, who had once oppressed the people most ruthlessly, were merely fulfilling that role.
Alongside them sat the heads of more than a dozen other families. They too had been pushed forward to await judgment, for they controlled Kazimierz's vital infrastructure: food supply, production capacity, electricity. With the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi poised to reclaim authority, these were powers it could not afford to leave in private hands. The Chamber of Commerce understood this perfectly well.
What surprised Russell was the man seated at the head of the table: the nominal president of the Chamber of Commerce. She knew he was likely nothing more than a figurehead, placed there to bear responsibility.
This chairman was probably just a spokesperson. The real power belonged to those who always remained.
Hidden in the shadows.
They had failed this time and suffered a heavy blow, but that did not mean the Chamber of Commerce was finished. Even a centipede with a hundred legs does not die easily.
Not every family within the organization was ruthless. Russell knew that clearly. Removing one faction while winning over another was the wisest course.
She turned and left the conference room, addressing the approaching Knight. "Place them all under guard."
"Yes!"
At the same time, Felix and Anthony sat in the Venus's conference room. Through the windows, the magnificent nightscape of Kawalerielki stretched before them.
"Your Highness, thank you for your guidance and assistance." The old man's voice was calm and measured. "We are very interested in the trade route Mr. Mountain has introduced. However, to ensure the safety of the convoys and their escorts, we would like to send inspectors to observe the route."
"Trade is only a small part of it, Mr. A," Anthony replied. The forces behind the Chamber of Commerce would not be crippled by this setback. On the contrary, they might even use it to their advantage.
He referred to himself simply as A. His true name was irrelevant, just as Russell had predicted.
Retreating into the shadows could be seen as a sliver of hope after despair.
"Tomorrow's development encompasses multiple fields and projects. I have already explained the details to you in person, Mr. A."
"Haha, of course."
Mr. A let out a hoarse chuckle. "I believe this will not be our last collaboration."
"We believe so as well, Mr. A."
Mr. A inclined his head slightly, and the black figure on the screen disappeared.
"Well done." Felix gave a faint nod. "The Chamber of Commerce still possesses an extensive network of connections. That will greatly assist us in expanding Tomorrow's Development's trade and transportation systems."
"Your Highness, I have completed my mission successfully. As for the person to be permanently stationed in Kazimierz…"
Anthony, imposing as he usually was, looked unexpectedly pitiful. Felix laughed, pointed at him, and said, "Alright, I know what you're thinking. I'll remain in the Kawalerielki and consult with Kazimierz's senior officials who hold strong views on economic matters. You will be responsible for liaising with them."
Anthony let out a sigh of relief and agreed immediately. He was eager to prove himself and had no intention of leaving the landship.
The calm in Kawalerielki lasted only briefly before the usual bustle returned. Residents once again filled the streets. Though many harbored suspicions, none voiced them aloud.
In a dark alley, Platinum gritted his teeth as he wrapped bandages around his wounds. He had not even had the chance to spend his mission merit points before the Armorless Union was completely abandoned. Knowing it would collapse sooner or later, he had rushed into its vault and stolen a large sum, but not without suffering serious injuries.
"Damn it… time to leave the Kawalerielki. I didn't expect the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi to act so quickly. If I don't go now, they'll set up checkpoints…"
"Is it still possible to leave?"
"Who's there!"
Platinum hoisted the sack of banknotes onto his shoulder, raised his crossbow, and stared into the shadows.
A knight stepped forward slowly, a long, slender sword in his hand. Time had etched itself onto his face. Powdery scars marked his skin, and unshaven stubble lent him a weary air.
"You? Just a ragged wandering knight?"
"Heh."
In the next instant, a cold flash cut through the darkness. The blade pierced straight through the Platinum's chest, the tip emerging from his back. The knight withdrew his sword in one swift motion, blood splattering across the ground.
He did not look at it.
"A tattered knight… one who once fought the Black Knight and the Radiant Knight."
"Though only as a defeated opponent."
The knight glanced at his watch and sighed softly.
"I still need to go support Toland…"