"The enemy is right here, among us!"
This sentence struck like a thunderclap, instantly putting the other knights on edge, making them jumpy and suspicious.
They nervously scanned the surrounding forest with their visors. The safety catches of their boltguns clicked open in unison, the metallic sound unusually harsh.
But the Caliban forest remained as silent as ever, only the rustle of wind through the treetops.
It was, of course, futile.
The Order had hundreds of fully armed knights, enough to face even a large-scale beast-tide without fear.
Any enemy hiding in the shadows, if they had any sense, would never choose a direct confrontation.
The enemy's greatest advantage lay in remaining hidden. To reveal themselves would be to abandon their only strategic advantage.
"I see you, you little rat!"
"Hey, come out!"
The knights roared their defiance into the dark forest. Though Lion didn't think the enemy would fall for such crude taunts, he didn't stop them.
The knights knew it wouldn't work, but they needed to vent their emotions.
As a leader, Lion had to consider his knights' feelings.
Amadis spoke in a low voice. "Lion, I suggest we abandon the hunt and pull back to camp immediately!"
If the enemy could ambush Beta Squad with a trap, they could certainly ambush another.
Though the Iron Blood Order's squad had been eliminated, who knew how many more there were?
Continuing the hunt was too dangerous. They couldn't let more brothers die in vain.
Lion was silent for a moment, then withdrew his gaze from the dark forest. "You're right. We must abandon the hunt. We can't let more brothers fall into the enemy's trap."
"But the enemy is lying low. Instead of waiting for them to make a move, we should strike first!"
Amadis frowned. "You know who the enemy is?"
Three years ago, he had killed a knight suspected of controlling Great Beasts.
Though he had been wearing Crimson Saint Order power armour, it couldn't be taken as proof.
A set of power armour proved nothing. Much of the Order's own armour was captured from the Crimson Saint Order, just repainted black. It wouldn't be surprising if other orders also had such armour.
Besides, the Order had long since wiped out the Crimson Saint Order. Even if remnants remained, they were insignificant.
The enemy had time to tame large numbers of Great Beasts, could infiltrate the forest silently, and precisely ambush knight squads.
Even if there were Crimson Saint remnants in the forest, would a bunch of remnants dare to openly attack the Order?
They must have backing from another knight order!
The Iron Blood Order was clearly being used as a pawn. They couldn't be the backers.
They weren't even qualified.
If they couldn't even identify the enemy, how could they prepare?
Lion asked, "Brother Amadis, why are we hunting?"
Amadis answered without thinking. "For the people of Caliban, of course."
As the words left his mouth, a flicker of realisation crossed his eyes. "I think I understand."
Besides defending the people, their hunting was also 'beating the grass to startle the snake'.
If the enemy wanted to profit from taming Great Beasts, they couldn't let the Order clear them out.
Though the Order alone couldn't possibly exterminate the Great Beasts, if other orders joined the hunt because of the Order's selfless example, the Great Beasts would truly be in danger.
Therefore, the enemy had to sabotage the Order's hunt from the shadows.
The simplest and most effective way was to ambush knight squads.
Once there were casualties, they would have to stop, because no one could guarantee how many more enemies there were.
In this, the enemy had indeed succeeded.
Both Amadis and Lion agreed to abandon the hunt.
Dying while hunting Great Beasts was honourable. Dying in an ambush was not.
However, the Iron Blood Order was both stupid and greedy.
They had set a careful ambush, attacked the Star Cup knights, yet still let Wade escape.
Even more absurdly, these fools, greedy for the power armour on a few bodies, refused to abandon them, allowing the Order to surround and eliminate the rest.
If Lion were the mastermind, he would probably be laughing in anger at these pigs.
How could people make such a mess?
Once the enemy acted, they would inevitably leave traces.
Carefully investigating those traces would reveal clues. Those clues would lead to further evidence.
And Lion didn't even need to look for evidence now, because the Iron Blood Order had told him where to find it.
Whoever the mastermind was, as long as there was a connection to the Iron Blood Order, he would find the truth!
Amadis said, "You want to confront the Iron Blood Order directly? They probably won't confess."
Lion slowly raised his regal, lion-like eyes. "It's not a confrontation. It's an interrogation."
"The Iron Blood Order murdered our knights through treachery. Blood must be repaid with blood!"
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
Amadis thought Lion was too radical. But when he met Lion's gaze, he was silent for a moment.
"I have no objection."
Amadis felt a strange sense of disorientation.
Once upon a time, he had been the Order's most acclaimed hero. Countless young knights had joined because of his deeds.
Before Lion appeared, he was almost the embodiment of the Order's spirit. Everyone believed he would become the next Grand Master.
But with Lion's rise, his past glory seemed to fade.
This young knight displayed such extraordinary power that others felt inferior without even competing.
Many whispered that being born in the same era as Lion was his misfortune.
Amadis didn't feel that way.
He had never felt jealousy towards Lion, nor had any intention of competing with him for the position of Grand Master.
In his view, being in the same era as Lion wasn't a misfortune, but an honour.
Amadis was a valiant and honourable knight. He was deeply proud of that.
But just now, when he locked eyes with Lion, he saw something in Lion's gaze that words couldn't quite describe.
If he had to put it into words, Amadis thought, it was a king.
Though Lion three years ago had been incredibly powerful, he had been more like an untamed beast.
Powerful, but lacking restraint. Unwilling to understand.
Even if he wore a friendly mask and tried to fit in, his heart remained that of a stubborn loner.
Now, Lion's heart might still be that of a proud, solitary lion, but at least he no longer revealed his true face to everyone so easily.
Even if it was just a mask, if he wore it for life, the false would become real.
...
Caelan said, "Let's set today's homework."
"Sir Lion led one hundred and eighty knights deep into the forest to hunt. If every six knights form a squad, how many squads are there in total?"
"Every five squads form a company. How many companies are there in total?"
"The hunting radius of each squad is a circular area of three kilometres. If their detection range exceeds three kilometres, gaps appear in the defensive line. So, what is the total area covered by the defensive network formed by these one hundred and eighty knights?"
Caelan looked around the classroom, seeing the children frowning in thought. He nodded with satisfaction: "Submit your homework before class tomorrow. Dismissed."
Caelan had barely stepped out of the classroom when he was met by another knight in black armour and white robe.
This time it wasn't Amadis. Amadis was leading the knights on the expedition.
Lord Cypher said, "A word?"
"Let's go to my office."
Baldr, hands gripping the windowsill, watched the pair intently, a hint of envious admiration in his eyes. "That's a knight too."
A buzz of whispers immediately filled the classroom.
A child murmured, "Too bad we'll never be knights."
A child lowered his head dejectedly. "We failed, after all."
"If we can't be knights, then we won't. So what?"
Baldr jumped onto the desk with a thud, straightening his back.
"We can't lose heart! Teacher said, as long as we study hard, we can still carve out our own future!"
Though Baldr still yearned to be a knight, he had never been dissatisfied with his current life.
By studying under Sir Caelan, they still had the chance to change their fate. Their future achievements might be just as great as a knight's!
...
Caelan asked, "Is Lion in trouble again?"
A hint of helplessness appeared in Lord Cypher's eyes. "Is this a prophecy?"
"No prophecy. Just simple deduction. Just tell me directly. What happened?"
Caelan was a knight of the Order in name only.
He didn't participate in daily management, nor was he required to patrol or hunt Great Beasts.
Lion had taken on all of his work.
If anyone thought it was unfair, they were welcome to challenge Lion to a duel.
Caelan and Lion's relationship was known to all. Whenever anyone from the Order came to see Caelan, it was definitely about Lion.
Lord Cypher said, "After the last council, the Order established the goal of exterminating the Great Beasts. Our hunts have expanded from our territory into the surrounding Caliban forest. We've also sent proposals to other orders for joint action."
"Unfortunately, few responded. Only the Star Cup Order and the Flame Haze Order have fought alongside us."
Caelan knew something of these two orders.
Though they were also hereditary noble orders, monopolising knighthood...
Compared to other orders, they were relatively decent.
Though they didn't allow commoners to join, they upheld the ancient knightly code.
They ruled and exploited commoners generation after generation, but when it counted, they also protected them with their lives.
Compared to orders that exploited commoners and then abandoned them when the beast-tides came, they were far better.
Though they didn't approve of the Order's rule of allowing commoners to become knights, they still thought the Order had knightly spirit. That was the basis of their good relationship.
"In the last beast-tide, three of our squads were surrounded by Great Beasts. It was the timely intervention of the Star Cup knights that saved our brothers."
"In this hunt, the Star Cup Order sent twenty-four knights."
"Three days ago, while assisting us in clearing a Great Beast pack, a Star Cup squad was ambushed by the Iron Blood Order."
"Five knights died honourably. Only Knight Wade survived. Our hunt has been forced to stop."
"I originally suggested they pull back to regroup. But Lion..."
Lord Cypher smiled wryly and shook his head. "He's leading the knights straight for the Iron Blood Order's fortress."
Caelan understood immediately. Lord Cypher wanted him to talk Lion out of it.
"It's no use coming to me. I can't persuade him."
"You're his father. He'll listen to you."
"Precisely because I'm his father, anyone else can advise him, but I cannot."
"Even if he's wrong?"
"If he's wrong, of course I would tactfully advise him to reconsider. But what did he do wrong?"
Confronted with Caelan's question, Lord Cypher was at a loss.
Caelan asid, "Return good for evil? How then to repay good? Return justice for evil, return good for good."
"The Iron Blood Order chose to be our enemy. They are sinners against Caliban. Lion is only seeking justice for his brothers. I won't dissuade him; I'll encourage him."
Lord Cypher asked, "He may be right, but do you know the consequences?"
"I only see three birds with one stone."
"What birds?"
Caelan replied, "The Star Cup Order is our ally. Since they were attacked, we must send troops, regardless of the reason."
"This shows other orders that those who ally with the Order will receive our protection."
"The Star Cup Order was attacked while cooperating with our hunt. Lion's actions show the Order's sense of responsibility."
"The Iron Blood Order ambushed our ally. Morally and logically, we must send troops."
"This also warns other orders: they can stand by, no one will force them. But if anyone tries to fan the flames, the Order will retaliate in kind!"
Lord Cypher was silent. He admitted Caelan was right.
He had listed the benefits. What about the drawbacks?
Lord Cypher said, "This will push many orders to oppose us."
"They were already against us. Are you trying to bring them into our camp?"
"At least keep them neutral."
Caelan suddenly raised his voice. "Cypher, what are we doing?"
Cypher was taken aback. "Hunting?"
"No! Revolution!"
"Revolution is not a dinner party, not an essay, not a painting, nor embroidery. It cannot be so refined, so leisurely and unhurried, so cultured and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, and modest."
"Revolution is the violent overthrow of one class by another!"
"The other orders of Caliban may not understand, but they must obey!"
Lord Cypher fell even more silent. "This will kill many people."
"What revolution doesn't kill? The Order has always been complacent, trying to slowly change the world through generational inheritance. But that's too slow."
"The Order can maintain its ideals now, but how can you guarantee it won't become a new hereditary aristocracy in a few decades?"
"There are only so many knights. Who would willingly let their children remain commoners forever?"
"There is no such thing as 'boiling a frog' revolution. The longer it drags on, the more likely it is to go sour. It must be fierce enough!"1
Lord Cypher suddenly understood why Lion was so radical.
So it was all taught by this seemingly gentle teacher.
Caelan comforted him. "Don't worry too much. Lion knows his limits. It doesn't necessarily mean conflict."
Lord Cypher didn't believe it. Given Lion's personality, how could he go to their door and not have a conflict?
....
1 - Boiling frog revolution - making small, seemingly insignificant changes over a long period.