Vina nodded. Establishing contact with the self-salvation forces within Londinium was one of the missions His Highness had entrusted to her. With that in mind, she no longer hesitated.
"It's late, Baird, Cador. Thank you for your hard work. Get some rest tonight. We'll move tomorrow."
Cador frowned as if he wanted to speak, but in the end he remained silent. Instead, Baird led him over to Morgan and the others to make introductions.
The remaining operators, realizing they were allies rather than enemies, returned to their own tasks.
The night passed quickly.
At dawn, the group split up and departed one by one. According to Baird's reliable intelligence, the Self-Salvation Army was active in the Sudean District, resisting Sarkaz mercenary incursions while helping innocent civilians escape danger. Where there was resistance, there was suppression. The Sarkaz had stationed part of their forces in Sudean, and the Self-Salvation Army waged a relentless guerrilla campaign against them.
Vina, Baird, and Horn moved together.
Sudean was an industrial district, the very heart of Londinium. Countless factories stood there. In ordinary times, workers busied themselves producing machinery to maintain the mobile city or equipment for the Victorian City Defense Army. Now, their labor served only the latter. Whether that equipment ultimately ended up in Victorian hands or those of the Sarkaz mercenaries was anyone's guess.
The Victorian army had failed to protect them. That was the conclusion the workers had drawn after witnessing everything firsthand. The City Defense forces had long since bowed to the Sarkaz, abandoning their pride as Victorians and becoming their lackeys.
Clad in black robes, the three hurried along the streets. Sarkaz mercenaries stood guard nearby, their sharp gazes sweeping over passersby from time to time. As they approached Sudean, it became clear that the entire district was sealed off. The blockade was so tight that not even a mosquito could slip through.
"The workers are trapped inside and forced apart from their families," Baird said softly. "Fortunately, there are living quarters in the district. At least they don't have to sleep on the streets."
"How do we get in?" Vina asked in a low voice.
"…Wait a moment." Baird led them into a narrow alley. "There are two options. One is to claim we're family members of workers in Sudean. But they'll conduct body searches, Siege and this lady don't exactly look like ordinary citizens."
"The other option is to wait for unrest to break out and slip in during the chaos."
"Isn't there a secret passage or something similar?"
"The Sarkaz have already searched this place thoroughly. The three secret routes the Self-Defense Force used before have all been destroyed. There may be others I don't know about, but that's all the information I have." Baird narrowed her eyes. "…They're here."
Bang!
A deafening explosion erupted beneath them, the shockwave rippling through the ground. Horn grabbed onto a pipe for support while Vina caught Baird just as she was about to fall.
The explosions continued, one after another. Vina peered out and saw several oddly shaped machines launching explosives at the Sarkaz mercenary stronghold. The mercenaries were clearly accustomed to such harassment. Cursing loudly, they took cover. After the barrage paused, they drew their weapons and charged toward the machines.
A dozen crude robots, cobbled together from scrap iron and steel bars, rushed out from a shadowed corner. They brandished sharp implements. Though their movements seemed stiff and awkward, they were astonishingly fast, provoking furious shouts from the mercenaries.
Flames flared as Originium Arts were unleashed. The Sarkaz mercenaries showed no mercy, bombarding the scrap-metal constructs with destructive force.
"Now!"
Baird hissed, bolting forward with Horn and Vina. Her stamina faltered almost immediately, and she stumbled. Vina seized her arm and dragged her onward. Enduring the searing heat, the three scrambled through a gaping hole blasted open by the explosions.
Within moments, they were covered in dust and grime.
"…Sudean organizes attacks like this every day," Baird panted. "I heard there's a genius mechanic in the Self-Salvation Army. He's skilled at turning spare parts into simple combat machines. But against so many Sarkaz mercenaries, he can only buy time."
They crouched within a partially collapsed structure nearby.
Through crumbling walls and shattered eaves, they saw several nimble workers darting toward the Sarkaz encampment. Taking advantage of the chaos while the mercenaries were preoccupied with the robots, they rushed to the supply area where weapons, equipment, and rations were stored. Grabbing what they could, they fled without hesitation.
The Sarkaz mercenary captain roared in rage, unleashing a stream of curses in his native tongue. Baird could not understand them, but Vina and Horn, who had once lived on the Venus, caught fragments of the meaning.
Before long, the robots were reduced to twisted scrap. The mercenaries quickly regrouped into small squads and advanced into the Sudean District, clearly intent on retaliation.
"Let's move," Baird said after catching her breath. "We need to get into the factory area first."
Vina and Horn nodded in agreement.
Keeping a careful distance, they followed the Sarkaz mercenary squad. The mercenaries barged into residents' homes without courtesy, smashing furniture and overturning belongings under the pretense of searching for criminals. In the end, however, they did not draw their blades. Their captain had strictly forbidden unnecessary killing. If the factories stopped producing weapons, what would they use to wage war?
Though only a portion of the factories were now reluctantly manufacturing equipment for them under coercion, it was still better than nothing.
In front of one factory gate, a group of workers stood with arms crossed, their gazes cold and unyielding as they watched the approaching Sarkaz.
"Another search?"
"That damned devil…"
"Tch. I don't even want to keep doing this."
The Sarkaz mercenaries grunted, hands resting on the hilts of their swords as they suppressed their anger.
The captain ordered his men to comb through the factory for any trace of the troublesome mechanic. That naturally included ransacking and vandalizing the workers' dormitories.
"If there's nothing else, please leave. We still have work to do."
The speaker was an elderly woman, though she carried herself with remarkable strength. Dressed in work clothes, hands on her hips, she regarded them with an indifferent expression. "Or are you planning to demolish the factory?"
"Our patience has its limits, Catherine," the mercenary captain replied coldly. "If you understand your situation and cooperate properly, you may yet survive. But I cannot promise when I'll decide to begin a massacre."
"You should remember," Catherine said evenly, "this isn't your Londinium."
She turned her head, waved a hand, and dismissed the gathered workers. The captain let out a derisive snort and continued the search with his men. Finding nothing suspicious beyond some stored provisions, they moved on to the next factory.
Ten minutes later, the captain returned, cast one final sweeping glance around the area, and finally led his squad away.
Only after the mercenaries had rejoined their unit did Vina approach the factory. As she stepped toward the main gate, a low male voice sounded behind her.
"Use the side entrance. They're still monitoring the front."
Vina turned to see a young man beneath the dim factory lights, motioning to the three of them.
Under the circumstances, trusting him seemed their only option.
After entering through the side gate, they finally saw him clearly. He had short brown hair and the look of someone accustomed to working behind the scenes.
"Operator Vina, Miss Horn, and this lady," the young man said. "My name is Feist, codename Stainless. I am one of His Highness's students. I previously worked at Rhine Lab in Columbia. A year ago, when Victoria's situation deteriorated sharply, I consulted with His Highness and returned to Londinium as an informant to maintain communication."
"So you're the one who built those robots?" Vina asked, realization dawning.
"Yes. I've only learned a fraction of what His Highness knows."
Feist, also known as Stainless, smiled shyly. After graduating from Trimount Polytechnic University, he pursued a master's degree at Columbia Polytechnic University. During that time, he worked in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Rhine Lab Sciences and collaborated with senior engineers to develop several products that were well received by technology firms and the military. Had he remained there, he would undoubtedly have risen to a leadership position.
He kept in contact with Felix and followed Tomorrow's Development growing strength. As Felix's student, Feist wanted to make him proud, and that meant continuing to push himself. When he learned from newspapers and reports about the worsening situation in Londinium, he resolved to return to the city where he was born and raised, determined to help its people in any way he could.
"They are… His Highness's people, correct?"
Catherine, who had been standing by the door, pushed it open. Seeing her grandson and the three women, she nodded slightly. "Feist has already explained the situation to me. You're brave. The Sarkaz have developed a new surveillance device. If we recklessly launch the Clever into the air, it may trigger the Originium monitoring system within Londinium."
Vina and Horn exchanged a glance and nodded.
"We'd like to meet the Self-Salvation Army," Vina said. "And understand the current situation in Londinium."
Catherine shrugged. "Feist, take them. The Sarkaz will return soon."
Feist gave a faint smile and let out a whistle. A small mechanical dog poked its head out from the doorway. It appeared to be assembled from discarded scrap metal, compact and rough-edged, its two mechanical eyes fixed on Feist.
"Monitor the movements of the Sarkaz squad."
At the command, the mechanical puppy darted off without hesitation.
Feist nodded to the three women. "Let's move."
___
Meanwhile, the army advanced steadily into Victoria's border region. Inside the control room, Ines, dressed in a crisp military uniform, studied the electronic map with a grave expression.
"An unidentified fleet has appeared sixty kilometers ahead, Your Highness. Shall we engage?"
Seated upon the golden throne behind her, Felix rested his chin against his hand. "With the exception of the few noble fleets Duke Windermere signaled to hold position, crush the rest. Victoria is already rotten to the core. The remaining nobles either collude with those who assassinated the late king or conspire with the Tara nobles, exploiting the people to enrich themselves. They are mongrel among mongrel."
"Scouts have confirmed the fleet belongs to Duke Fife and Duke Ashworth. Eight battleships in total." Ines turned and knelt on one knee. "Your Highness, please issue your command."
"Duke Fife and Duke Ashworth. Windermere claims they stand on par with Duke Wellington, correct?" Felix said calmly. "Then crush them."
Ines rose and turned back to the command deck. "All hands, this is the Venus. Radar officer, report enemy positions."
"The enemy fleet is concentrated in grid 3-7-5. They have formed an interception formation and are issuing warnings!"
Ines drew a steady breath. "All ships, deploy in a fan formation. Main gun charging sequence begins."
The holographic screen flickered to life, captains appearing one after another. Kumori, Lao silais, Cabus, Yang Yan XF, and others, headsets on, filled the display.
"Nagato, Trinity, Hyperion, Warspite. Report Yamato guns status."
Kumori, captain of the Nagato, glanced at her instruments while listening to the excited chatter from the other players. Her voice was soft but deep and controlled. "Rail capacitor at ninety-eight percent. Main guns armor-piercing shells fully loaded."
"Charging complete!"
"Charging complete!"
"Ready to obliterates!"
The one shouting was Cabus, a fierce grin spreading across his face, eyes blazing. His excitement bordered on reckless. Damn it, a man should command warships, not just dream about them.
Ines spoke sharply, "All units, synchronize countdown with the master clock."
"Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen…"
Ahead of the Venus, the advancing warships emitted a low, resonant hum. Massive main cannons elevated into firing position. Warning alarms intensified as arcs of energy flickered along the muzzles.
"Enemy vessels have launched jamming drones and three armor-piercing rounds!" the radar officer shouted.
"Warspite, dedicate one close-in weapon system to clear the nine o'clock airspace!" Ines ordered.
Yang Yan XF roared in response, "Roger! Automated artillery groups, rotate and intercept!"
Streams of light tore into the sky. Three dull explosions followed, shockwaves rippling across the scarred land. Players manning machine guns poured relentless fire into the swarming drones overhead as explosions echoed in rapid succession.
"Ready to fire ma'am!
"Lets drop some lead on those mother.."
"Now! Yamato guns, fire!"
At the command from Commander Ines aboard the Venus, the commander from 4 battleship bellowed, "Nagato, Yamato guns, fire!"
"Firing!"
"Fire!"
"Firing!"
Four triple devastating beams swept across the battlefield and vanished into the horizon. A heartbeat later, a thunderous explosion erupted in the distance, flames towering skyward.
"Direct hit! Shields on four enemy ships have collapsed. Multiple fires confirmed. Incoming counterattack!" The radar officer slammed his fist against the console.
Ines cut in immediately, her hand slicing through the air. "Wings of Liberation, Lightbearers, Himmelswächter Prepare to intercept!"