Chapter 239 - 204: The Artificial Knight Project

Lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the massive base entrance, and the rain poured down in torrents.

The massive, deep-black hull of the Punisher stood to Reinhardt’s left, the atmosphere charged with tension.

Great Sage Zeka’s mechanical eye, like a deep blue gem, looked past Reinhardt and fixed its gaze on Technician Soldier Agate.

Sedon raised his right hand, signaling for Reinhardt to drop his immense hostility toward the Mechanical Order. In a low voice, he said, "I was the one who told them to come."

At the same time, his expression darkened as he glanced at the hastily retreating Judge Alban.

’He hadn’t expected them to be so impatient, to make a move against him so brazenly—arresting his man right in front of Lady Catherine and the Mechanical Order, with no regard for decorum.’

’An act like this shattered the long-standing political understanding between their factions.’

’It was a complete disregard for his power and authority.’

’A blatant provocation!’

Sedon’s expression remained as cold and profound as ever. Taciturn, he did not let the Judgment Court’s provocation make him forget the reason he had come.

His gaze swept over the members of the Vengeance Angel Squad. He took a step forward and, representing the Imperial Administrative Region and the Governor Council, officially commended the results of their mission.

"Your mission on Kemola was exceptionally well-executed. The Empire will remember your dedication and accomplishments."

As Sedon spoke, he stood tall and straight with his hands clasped behind his back. His bearing was just as extraordinary and imposing as Reinhardt remembered from many years ago.

Lady Catherine gave Reinhardt a meaningful look, then revealed an elegant smile and stated her position. "Because the Vengeful Angels project is still classified, the Imperial Administrative Region cannot give you any official commendations.

However, I will provide a private sponsorship in the name of the Capet Family to honor your valor and sacrifice."

Unlike the towering Technician Priests, who had often undergone extensive bodily modifications, Lady Catherine’s slender and elegant figure was like a dazzling gem within the steel-structured Vengeful Angels base. Her flaxen hair was piled high, adorned with magnificent gold jewelry.

A silver, floral filigree circlet on her forehead was inlaid with an exquisite aquamarine.

Her traditional, loose-fitting white robe of the Iberian World was fastened only at the left shoulder with a golden oak-leaf brooch, revealing a fair and flawless arm and shoulder.

However, if one looked closely,

they would discover that Lady Catherine’s graceful and well-proportioned body bore the marks of extensive Alchemy Transformation.

An ornate silver thread, glowing faintly like a sutured wound, ran from her left shoulder, across her clavicle, to her right shoulder. Her subtly mismatched, brown-black heterochromatic eyes also showed signs of Alchemy Transformation.

On the back of her fair neck was a conspicuous Wizard’s Secret Treasure implant, its surface gleaming with a metallic luster. It was connected to her spinal nerves and radiated a potent Extraordinary Power.

After affirming the Vengeful Angels’ actions and offering a substantial reward, Great Sage Zeka of the Mechanical Order silently walked up to Agate. A thin, nerve-linked filament extended from his back and connected to the neural interface at the base of Agate’s skull.

A moment later,

the Great Sage—who wore a massive, deep-red hooded cloak over his Power Armor and was about the same height as Manon—retracted the filament. Staring into Agate’s eyes, he stated flatly, "You died once on Kemola."

Agate knelt on one knee, his mechanical voice just as cold.

"We encountered Kles’s men in the catacombs. It was Warlord Nico. He’s the one who tore through my heart and lungs."

Although Warlord Nico was powerful and infamous in the Ash Soil Star Zone, his appearance was not enough to surprise Great Sage Zeka.

The Great Sage fell silent for a moment, then turned to face Sedon. "The Ancient Black Box is preserved within Agate’s body," he said in a low voice. "The damage is within acceptable parameters.

Forcibly removing the Ancient Black Box would kill Agate, so I need time to devise a new method to extract the Witchcraft Technology from within it."

Sedon’s brow furrowed.

"I need a specific timeline."

Great Sage Zeka’s mechanical eye fixed on Sedon. "Even with your High Table Nobility bloodline, you still have no right to command me, Lord Governor.

This is an internal matter for the Mechanical Order."

As the largest supplier of military equipment and technical support to the Imperial Administrative Region, the Mechanical Order’s relationship with them was more of a partnership than one of subordination.

In this, they were similar to the Capet Family.

The largest purse in the Imperial Administrative Region, one could say, was held by Lady Catherine alone.

Even though Sedon was the Grand Governor, these two could completely disregard his power and authority, just as the Judgment Court had shoved their gun barrels in his face three minutes earlier.

However, Sedon had no grounds to refute the reason Great Sage Zeka provided.

It wasn’t just him.

Even at the height of the Old Empire, the Regent Council and some of the more financially strained Main Battle Corps had to tread carefully around the Mechanical Order.

Unlike the Merchant Nobility, who had nothing but money, the Mechanical Order possessed both wealth and technology. Furthermore, every Technician Priest was an incredibly powerful Transcendent, or else an elite former Imperial Knight.

If not for the existence of the Radiant Divine Emperor and the great cause of the Human World that united all Imperial Humans, the Mechanical Order would have long since seceded to forge its own path.

Since they were allies, Great Sage Zeka paused for a moment before answering Sedon’s question after all.

"Thirty days, Holy City Time. I will give you an answer then. The Artificial Knight Project is not your undertaking alone; it is a great cause for both the Empire and the God of All Machines.

I will be taking Agate with me. You need not worry for his safety, as he has already paid the price for his heretical actions."

Before leaving, Great Sage Zeka met Reinhardt’s gaze and gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Manon walked over to Agate, helping him to his feet. Manon’s brow was tightly furrowed as they asked with concern, "This time, when they take you back..."

Agate replied coldly, "We must face our own destinies."

As he spoke, he glanced at Reinhardt before following the members of the Mechanical Order, disappearing into the torrential rain outside the base entrance.

’The Artificial Knight Project...’

Lady Catherine gazed at the departing figures of the Mechanical Order.

’It was a grand plan forged by their three factions, a plan great enough to change the Imperial Administrative Region—perhaps even the Empire itself. And it was also part of the Vengeful Angels Project.’

’After the Great Rebellion, the nature of the conflicts had changed, and the replenishment of Imperial Knights was far from enough to cover the losses of war.’

’One hundred and ninety thousand Imperial Knights in the Imperial Administrative Region.’

’It sounded like a massive number, but in the face of a truly grand war, this force was far from sufficient.’

’The so-called Artificial Knight Project...’

’It was a program for selecting talented youths, subjecting them to the most rigorous training, and using the Alchemy Transformation Technology once expressly forbidden by the Old Empire to grant them power on par with an Official Knight—or even greater Extraordinary Power!’