Herrscher of Reason's Arknights

It is said that it was originally a failed creation of Rhine Lab, which was supposed to be used as a biological weapon in war. However, due to the inability to control its behavior and the resulting multiple experimental accidents, it was completely abandoned and sealed deep in the underground test site.

Until now, perhaps thinking that it could be reused, this thing was moved here and given to the stone coffin experimental group.

The deputy director and the researchers did indeed have brilliant ideas, creating a suit of armor to "restrain" this uncontrollable war machine.

Although it reduces combat capability to some extent, a soldier who can effectively follow orders is better than a troublemaker who doesn't obey.

Moreover, this restraint set also functions as armor, allowing it to truly be effective.

The first enemy of this war machine, named the "Apostle," is the Snow Demon.

This is in everyone's best interest.

only····

"You think this thing can defeat the Snow Demon?"

"Of course, he also has to defeat the Snow Demon!! This is the power of technology!"

P.S.: Hedgehog Cat's censored font library is really like trying to hide something obvious. The combination of characters that I didn't pay any attention to at all has produced a strange effect [winking emoji]. Isn't this just reminding people of their mistakes?

The final Evangelion movie is coming out soon! So I specially referenced the final boss of this volume [heart emoji].

Wow, so many people like my book! I'm so happy! [hehe]

Section 26, Chapter Twenty-Six: The Impenetrable Mist

"Useless! The army is a bunch of useless trash!"

At the officers' residence of the Fifth Army, Prince Ivanov-Kin Yuspov, the commander-in-chief of the Fifth Army, a powerful court official, and the head of the Yuspov family who is currently in power, is venting his anger on a group of his subordinates.

On the second floor of the building, a deep yet authoritative voice intimidated his subordinates, who all bowed their heads and endured the scolding.

"I told you to investigate, what have you found out?!"

With a "thud," several newspapers were thrown to the ground.

Those are reports from the past few days. Although the Ursus authorities have been trying to control the voices of the media, such things cannot be hidden. Even snippets of information from the sidelines are still facts.

There are dozens of versions of this story circulating among the people. After all, it's human nature to enjoy any funeral, and even the lower classes can have a year's worth of gossip about the embarrassment of the nobles. Not to mention other colleagues.

After all, although the report was brief and subtle, it revealed a bloody failure behind the scenes.

The entire army was wiped out. Since the founding of Ursus, its army has been unparalleled on the Terra continent, and no one has dared to openly challenge Ursus's military power.

Not to mention the systematic annihilation. Although the empire had its wins and losses in its numerous expansions, especially in its invasions of ancient Eastern countries where it gained little advantage, it was still a 50/50 situation.

Killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own, even a retreat is an orderly and systematic withdrawal, and the victorious side still dares not pursue recklessly.

But now, the systematic annihilation has only taken one night!

"Five thousand people! Five thousand people! They evaporated in just one night! Even if we sent five thousand pigs, the Yan Kingdom's army couldn't catch them all!!! A bunch of useless trash!!"

The Duke grumbled and cursed all morning before finally sitting back down in his chair.

Of course, the fire couldn't be extinguished, and the thought of it gave the Duke a major headache.

A fully-fledged Ursus Guards Infantry Division has a strength of 25,000 men, while a garrison unit is usually not at full strength, so it typically has a strength of 5,000 men to suppress and threaten the surrounding areas.

Good heavens, five thousand people disappeared overnight, and we still don't know who did it. No one would feel comfortable if this happened to them.

This matter will likely take a few more days to develop, and by then the emperor will probably hold him accountable.

Accountability is too lenient a measure. With such heavy losses in peacetime, how could he possibly save face?

Seeing that the Duke was getting angrier and angrier, his men couldn't even straighten their backs.

Indeed, these people are all handpicked from the best. No one who can work for the Duke is a fool. They are all key personnel selected from the military system, including staff officers and brigade commanders or regimental commanders of their subordinate mechanized brigades.

However, this group of highly efficient and invincible elites failed to uncover even the slightest useful clue in this matter!

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! You guys were so capable usually, why are you all so spineless now?!"

Prince Ivanov-Kin Yuspov, being quite old, slammed his fist on the table in a fit of anger.

It's like fighting with thin air; you can't grasp its essence, let alone understand its way of existence.

The only clues were a code name, "Snow Demon," and a few photos.

What is the true nature of the Snow Demon, and how many attackers were there? After all, it's not like they left no information after attacking the military.

But it wouldn't have mattered if I hadn't watched it; after watching it, I was even more confused.

All "conclusions" are derived from the "information" gathered during the process.

Humans analyze "information," but in reality, there is no such thing as surreal information.

But now, the strangest thing is that among the remaining information after the garrison was wiped out, there are video recordings of light seen from extremely far away in the surrounding city, as well as from the vehicle-mounted terminal at the scene.

Based on the information at the time, you told me that this level of firepower delivery was achieved by "one person"?

Who thinks who's a fool?!

There aren't many clear shots in the video, but the view of the sky is the most memorable.

Those were countless "shooting stars".

Of course, anyone could see that these low-flying objects were actually similar to magical attacks. However, the fact that there were so many of them meant that if this level of firepower were placed in the Ursus army, it would require at least half a division of warlocks to accomplish.

So the question is, within Ursus's territory, on the Russian bear's land, how can one obtain half a division of warlocks with combat experience, who can approach the attack range without the Royal Guard Division being aware of it?

Then, after a barrage of bombardments, it vanished without a trace, leaving not even a single footprint in the snow.

Does an army of this caliber need to launch surprise attacks within its own borders? Or rather, what faction on the entire Terra could build an army like this?

Other countries' royalty and nobles also possess powerful and mysterious armed forces, but not in such large numbers.

Even if there were that many, they couldn't sneak into the bear's territory and cause trouble without anyone noticing.

Then the problem is coming.

Since it can't be obtained across the entire Terra, what exactly is this so-called "Snow Fairy"?

This is truly unbelievable.

Could it really be the work of a deity walking across the plains?

However, it's hard to say, but a lot of evidence points to this.

Was it the incompetence of the staff officers in the General Staff that prevented them from investigating the truth, making it seem like a divine intervention, or was it really just a prank by some evil god?

Hard to say.

“Continue the investigation, or you can pack your bags and go back to your hometowns to farm.”

"Yes!"

One by one, his subordinates left the room, until only the Duke remained, sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, resting.

On the desk was a copy of the latest intelligence from the General Staff.

That was a warning, a result of post-incident analysis and subsequent assessment of the current situation.

In summary, the whole text is actually quite simple.

That is, the threat posed by the military's presence was weakened, and news of the infected resisting the military spread. Even though the military did its best to suppress the spread of the news, it still failed to stop it from spreading.

No one can get the truth, but the infected people's resistance does not need the truth.

All they need is a spark.

Now, the trigger has been set, and even though the story has been passed down through word of mouth and countless versions have emerged, the matter has already spread.

The truth will out; the infected may indeed begin to rebel against the empire's rule.

The focus now is no longer on how to extinguish the flames, but on how to assess their value.

Then we need to consider how to utilize it and how to maximize its benefits.

That's why the General Staff issued this report.

Ursus and Colombia are currently vying for control of Line 2, which requires a large workforce and more ore transportation, naturally necessitating the exploitation of even cheaper labor.

Infected individuals perfectly fit this requirement.

But now that this has happened, it's really hard to say what will happen next...

P.S.: By the way, it's Wednesday today, why isn't Orange Mom replying to my messages? Don't scare me, waaaaaaah!

Section 27, Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Global Upheaval Unseen in a Century

With those foolish mortals, who knows how long it would take to investigate?

On the snow-covered plain, a red-haired woman stood on the endless expanse of land.

Jaga Glazunov, and Prince Kosichev standing next to him.

“Foolish mortal, you have to ask me for such a small thing? Do you really think that you can get all this by offering a few prayers to the gods?”

"Of course not, but the poor people on this land have nothing, and we can only give them a little bit of kindness."

"The Duke said, his hands behind his back."

"Like a child who never grows up."

"Hmph, a child? Only you would think that way. I hate children."

Yaga looked disdainful, but still used a wooden comb to neatly comb her long, bright red hair.

Of course, this is only how it appears to mortals. In Kosch's eyes, the intricate patterns on the comb, when they rub against the hair that stores a massive amount of magic, act like gears and springs, transmitting abstract will into reality.

This is a very ancient method, and it is also a legend of the Aogu people that has been passed down in the wilderness.

In the forest, the owner of the red hair will forever keep the lost souls who wander there.

This legend is certainly true.

However, the legendary monster who likes to weave nets from red hair is named Granny Yaga.

Looking at the young and alluring red-haired woman in front of him, he realized that in reality, Yaga was not some kind of old woman, at least not in appearance. She herself denied the legend and was not in the woods.

Even the legendary Yaga witch, who supposedly ate children, actually hated children.

The ancient incantation caused the hair to grow rapidly at a visible rate, but no red hairs were produced.

The elongated part is colorless and difficult to detect when it blends into the environment.

It was like a net woven from one's own long hair, just like in the legends, waiting for the prey to take the bait.

Of course, being an ancient Originium Arts technique, it doesn't need to wait for prey to come. These hair strands, extending infinitely in all directions and possessing a certain level of perception, are simply the perfect creation for intelligence gathering.

An invisible net is gradually spreading out from the woman as the origin, so finding the Snow Fairy is no longer a difficult task.

The intelligence obtained would then be handed over to the military...

That's how it should be, but if something unexpected happens and the new nobles also get this information through some channel, then it's hard to say.

Kosiché watched with a subtle smile as Yaga processed intelligence on the snow-covered ground...

·························

"Your Majesty, this is the investigation progress report compiled by the military."

The Winter Palace, the residence of the Ursus Emperor, is also the power center of the vast Ursus Empire.

The close advisors respectfully placed the dossier on Fyodor's desk.

However, the man sitting on the throne, Emperor Feodor of Ursus, only glanced at the document before losing interest.

After all, it is the pinnacle of power, and many things are already known here when they happen. The so-called case files afterward are just a reorganization and archiving of these things.

“Witt, I ask you about my army. Is it true that the Ursus army was deliberately attacked?”

"Your Majesty, your army remains stationed on the empire's borders, and their power continues to deter even the most treacherous individuals from causing trouble..."

"Islam Witt, a close advisor, said with utmost respect."