Chapter 293

“Stop!”

“Don’t go any further!”

“It’s dangerous!”

In the midst of nearly simultaneous screams of alarm, the pilot of the third power armor unit finally snapped out of it, halting their charge-to-their-death-in-progress, and came to a screeching stop just outside the white mist concealing the Grim Reaper.

But half of one oversized metal leg was grabbed by a massive silver hand emerging from the thick fog, and hurled with great force, smashing into the head of the third power armor. The impact violently tore off most of the observation cabin, exposing the cockpit underneath.

“Help… me!”

Amidst the terrified cries of the third power armor operator, the shadowy figure of the “Grim Reaper” was also thrown over by the giant silver hand.

And as the silver hand dissipated and fell away, Leon had already leapt into the cockpit, quickly slicing through the safety harnesses binding the operator. He then unceremoniously tossed him out via the observation hatch.

“You sit there!”

After untying the ropes on his back, Leon shoved the Small Golden Puppy – whose legs had gone limp like noodles – into the pilot’s seat. While releasing his consciousness to re-collect the scattered Curse Silver after floating, he gave a completely expressionless order: “Start it! Hurry up!”

…

Running on two legs alone would definitely not work.

Facing power armors capable of speeds around fifty to sixty kilometers per hour, there’s no way he could keep up using just his flesh-and-blood legs. If even one power armor remained operational, even if he managed to break out of the encirclement, they’d chase him all the way back to the Capital City, likely exposing his identity.

Moreover, his stamina wouldn’t support such an effort. After being bitten by that damn black snake, his Demon Anomalous Item had been significantly weakened. The sulfurous odor surrounding him—what constituted his [Eternal Blood Battle]—had thinned so much it didn’t even reach one-twentieth of its previous strength.

The little bit of [Eternal Blood Battle] left, he needed to save for survival in case of injury or to replenish himself after driving the Curse Silver; there was absolutely no way he could spare any of it to run faster. Therefore, he had to hijack a power armor as transportation.

As for how to deal with not knowing how to operate a power armor… wasn’t there a Small Golden Puppy who knew how? Seeing the utterly confused face of the Small Golden Puppy sitting in the pilot’s seat, still unclear about what he meant, Leon, with little time to waste, couldn’t help but slap him upside the head and directly threatened:

“Either you drive this power armor, or you die! Your choice!”

？!!

Finally understanding Leon’s intention, the Small Golden Puppy, with snot still hanging from his nose, trembled slightly. Then his rather handsome face quickly turned red as he shouted back with the loudest voice he’d ever used:

“I won’t do it!”

“You can forget about it!”

“By the honor of the Lane Family, I, Steven Lane, would rather die! Die right here in this cockpit! Jump out and fall to my death than betray my comrades and use the power armor to help you escape!”

So righteous!

Worthy of being my adjutant! Hearing the brave roar of the Small Golden Puppy from afar, the remaining members of the power armor squad reflected on how they might have reacted in the same situation, and expressions of admiration appeared on their faces.

What a real man! The adjutant usually comes across as obnoxious, always talking about the Lane Family within three sentences, and after learning about the upcoming marriage alliance between the Lane Family and the Royal Family, his arrogance soared sky-high, making him extremely annoying.

But despite being unpleasant, he truly proved reliable in critical moments, refusing to cooperate with the enemy even at the cost of his life. His backbone was indeed rock solid! …

Well, looks like we’ve got someone with principles.

Faced with the Small Golden Puppy who hadn’t wiped away his tears or snot but stubbornly refused him, Leon was momentarily at a loss.

After all, operating a power armor is a technical skill. There’s no way he could handle it. Just looking at the cluttered array of gauges on the instrument panel would take a month or more to understand, let alone the various switches and control sticks. If he were to try, he probably wouldn’t even be able to find which switch starts the machine.

“Alright…”

Shaking his head helplessly, Leon asked:

“You’re always going on about the Lane Family, mentioning your Lionheart Duke, have you actually met him?”

“Saw… Of course I’ve seen him.”

Upon hearing Leon’s question, the Small Golden Puppy suddenly felt uneasy in his heart, then hesitated before saying:

“…”

Forget it, intimate audience aside, dinner in the main building? That place I haven’t stayed a single day, you might as well say you saw me getting drunk with a red-haired woman in a tavern.

Speechlessly looking at the Small Golden Puppy lying straight to his face, Leon had no choice but to ask: “Let’s assume you’ve met him… Do you know what he looks like?”

“Of course I do!”

Seeing Leon doubting his words, the Small Golden Puppy couldn’t help but blush furiously, angrily refuting: “I know the Duke very well! He was personally appointed by the former duke, when everyone looked down on him, that miserable count even declared that the Duke’s title would rot faster than cabbage.

But soon enough, the Duke successfully stabilized the situation, and with his outstanding appearance and eloquence, gained the favor of the Princess, successfully preserving the Lane Family’s influence in the Military Department and the Road Administration Department… uh… you… you you you you!”

“You, look at this face, do you recognize it?”

Wiping his face, dispelling the effect of [Supposition], revealing his true self, Leon narrowed his eyes and coldly threatened the Small Golden Puppy, who was gazing in astonishment: “Hurry up and start it! If you don’t, tomorrow’s headline in the Sun Newspaper will be ‘Lionheart Duke Arrested for Attacking the Boarding Tower’!”

“You… You’re fake!”

Not missing a beat, the Small Golden Puppy yelled:

“As long as your disguise falls apart once you’re captured, no one will believe you…”

“Here, the Duke’s seal.”

Summoning the young pup, he took out the Lionheart Duke’s seal and threw it to the stunned Small Golden Puppy. To prevent him from continuing to claim the seal was forged, Leon directed the young pup to search through the Mirror World, retrieving everything that could verify his identity.

“This is the crown from the investiture ceremony.”

“…”

“This is the regular uniform given by the Lane Family for the Duke.”

“…”

“This is some kind of badge, representing the Deputy Speaker’s seat in the Upper House.”

“…”

“And here’s the investiture decree with the Royal Family’s seal.”

“…”

“Are these enough to prove my identity?”

Watching the Small Golden Puppy trembling uncontrollably while holding a pile of items bearing the Lion crest of the Lane Family, his brain having completely crashed, Leon patted his face and narrowed his eyes, urging: “Decided yet? Once decided, hurry up and start the power armor! You don’t want your Lionheart Duke to get arrested for forcibly attacking the boarding tower, do you?”

“…”

“Poof——”

The sound of the steam engine starting rang out. In the astonished gaze of the power armor squad members, the unit that had previously stalled due to the “iron-willed adjutant’s” refusal to cooperate, wobbled uncertainly back to life.

On top of that, it jettisoned all detachable weapons and even removed part of its outer armor to reduce weight to the limit, then sped off at seventy kilometers per hour, leaving the encirclement behind in a cloud of dust!

“…”

“…”

“…”

Wait, what? Weren’t you supposed to refuse cooperation till death? So who the hell is driving this power armor? Your ghost after dying?(Chapter End)