I'm fighting Kal'tsit? Really?

……

The Champions Wall is essentially just an exhibition hall displaying portraits of past equestrian champions, and it's only open to the public during the Major. Currently, with the qualifiers underway, it's completely closed to the public.

But for the Supervisory Board, this has another meaning.

The most confidential files of the Control Yuan are stored beneath the Champions Wall exhibition hall.

When Viviana stepped into the building, she was greeted by an elderly Pegasus with gray hair. His beard, after being combed, appeared rather thick, which was completely at odds with his squinting eyes, which seemed to be half-asleep.

“Mr. Demian.” The little deer was carefully demonstrating her manners to the other party so as not to poke him in the face with her rather large antlers.

"Don't stand on ceremony with me, Viviana. The Grandmaster is at the end of the Champions Wall, don't keep her waiting."

The elderly Pegasus simply nodded, his gaze lingering for a moment on the candlelight in Viviana's hand, before turning and standing quietly at the entrance of the exhibition hall, as if he were waiting for someone else besides Viviana.

Viviana nodded politely, adjusted her pace, and carefully crossed the doorway into the building.

The floor was paved with polished obsidian, and with each step, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty corridor. Modern light tubes were embedded in the walls on both sides, and the dim yellow candlelight in the Candle Knight's hand flickered slightly, casting a layer of gloomy light and shadow around the surroundings.

On one side of the corridor, a massive wall can be seen soaring into the dome, inscribed with the names and portraits of all the knights carved to date. Each one was a legend in the history of knightly competitions, and each one once stood at the pinnacle, receiving the admiration of countless people.

Her gaze lingered on a blank portrait for a moment, then she continued walking towards the end.

There, a blonde woman awaited her—even with the passage of time, the Grand Knight Commander's face still retained some of her former glory, and her blonde hair remained dazzling. Perhaps the only difference from usual was that the ceremonial sword at her waist had been replaced with the longsword from the old chapters.

"...Mr. Russell."

The master turned around, smiling as she looked at the little deer who was walking slowly towards her, and replied, "You should call me foster mother, Viviana."

“You always have many titles.” Viviana nodded gently. “To many people, you are the Grand Knight Commander, or a Grandmaster, or the leader of the Supervisory Council. If I were to monopolize these titles, it would seem that I am being too spoiled, so this is fine.”

"That's it."

The old woman didn't argue with young Erafia or try to joke around like a young person. She simply and calmly put the matter aside and changed the subject:

"This exhibition hall existed before the rise of knightly competitions; it used to be a museum that preserved the relics of heroes."

“I’ve heard about it,” Viviana replied aptly. “But after it was transformed into the Champions Wall, it became so popular that we had to restrict access, and it’s now only open during the Special Major.”

Russell nodded slightly, his gaze following Viviana's as it fell on the plaques on the wall engraved with names and portraits.

The relics of past heroes were gradually removed, leaving only those symbols that could bring the greatest profit to the business association. The chivalrous spirit of the past gradually became a commodity over time, for people to admire and consume, while the true chivalrous spirit was packaged and decorated in a form that suited commercial narratives, becoming a slogan for major companies to promote.

This is the result of alienation.

“Even on the battlefield, they would undoubtedly be the most outstanding and dazzling knights. They should have been true heroes, not the ones being noticed in this way.”

She quietly closed her eyes, then took out a key from her bosom, stared at it for a moment, and then said, "This is a tragedy."

Why...why are you telling me all this?

Viviana's brow furrowed slightly, the candlelight in her hand casting shadows on her face, making the girl appear somewhat bewildered. She didn't understand the other person's intentions, nor why she had been summoned here in the middle of the night.

Russell gazed at her silently, as if looking through her eyes into a more distant future.

“Just in case,” she said calmly. “Although I don’t think a person’s personality can change drastically in just a few years. I also believe that from the perspective of the purpose, tonight’s matter should end here.”

“But I still hope you can think about it,” Russell continued, “If I were gone one day, what would you choose to do?”

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Viviana's breath hitched, and the firelight reflected in her eyes, causing a barely perceptible ripple.

“…No one is worthy of you drawing your sword in Kazimir,” she said softly, her voice tinged with hesitation. “I can’t imagine who would dare to lay a hand on you.”

"is it?"

Russell chuckled softly. She slowly reached out and placed her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist, her fingertips gently gliding over the cold metal.

“But young people are always growing up, and so are you, Viviana.” Her tone was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable sense of reality. “When I drew this sword that once belonged to me, I finally realized that I had used my ceremonial sword for far too long, so long that I had forgotten how to be a true warrior and fight for this country.”

“I have done too much inaction, and inaction means mediocrity, and choosing mediocrity is itself a strong bias.”

The candlelight flickered slightly, illuminating the silent face of the Grand Knight Commander.

"The desires of the business association will consume you, and you may have to satisfy expectations that contradict your own desires."

“Take this, Viviana.”

Russell placed the key in Erafia's hand and said, "Go to the basement of the Champions Wall. There you will meet an old man. Give him the key and have him guide you until dawn."

"Remember to wait until dawn before setting off, whatever you want to do."

--------

After arriving in Kazimierz, Gerald did three things.

First, quietly find a rural settlement far from Kazimierz, check the surrounding area for informants, and investigate any Rhodes Island agents who happen to be passing by because of his whereabouts.

Clearly, just as he had observed over the past few days, most of Rhodes Island's operators were indeed quite trustworthy.

The second task is to investigate the current situation of Kazimierz, and the condition of Maria and Manna.

He would eventually have to meet the other party again, but the occasion and place needed careful consideration. At the very least, he couldn't let the other party reveal their obvious emotions. Only when both sides were in chaos and they themselves were overwhelmed could he plan his next move and completely eliminate the risk.

The third thing brought the situation to its current state.

Some things can only be done after the four cities unite.

For example, neither the Supervisory Commission nor the Business Council can accept such a huge sunk cost.

The business association cannot suddenly become a place where everyone feels insecure.

The deaths of the pedantic nobles are insignificant; they are merely a necessary wedge to draw out spies. If the Unarmored Alliance were to instantly lose its protective function, or even if both Azure Gold and Platinum Gold members were to die, the merchants, in a moment of panic, would fight to the death instead of cautiously testing the limits of risk as they are doing now.

If Platinum's "betrayal" and the minor damage inflicted on Rose Media were merely a light blow, then all the intelligence Platinum possessed over the years was the real killing weapon. Moreover, from now on, the Unarmored Alliance will undoubtedly be under even stricter surveillance, and simply stabilizing the internal chaos will require a considerable amount of time.

But this is not enough.

For the purge, the initial pressure can lead both sides to become conservative or even cooperate.

What could truly alter this situation would be to cause a highly influential entity to suddenly lose its ability to function properly at such a critical juncture.

Thus, one side will expose its weaknesses for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, while the other side will sacrifice everything to desperately defend the current situation.

The Supervisory Council cannot collapse in an instant. Therefore, the breach created must ensure that while it is severely damaged and used to lure out the enemy, it still leaves people with a sense of apprehension.

So, the silver-haired Pegasus stepped onto the long corridor and walked towards the end.

"It's been a long time, Grandmaster."

His words were as calm as they had been years ago, but there was less hostility in them, and his physical movements were much more reserved.

Good morning, Gerald. You look great.

She turned her head and looked at Pegasus in front of her with deep emotion, as if she was shocked by the changes in him, or perhaps she was hesitant about what she was going to say next.

Pegasus took a few steps forward and fixed his gaze on the candlelight in Russell's hand: "What is this?"

"A gift from a junior."

The elderly master looked down at the candle in his hand. It was still far from burning out and was still burning brightly. "It's clearly a child who is afraid of the dark, but he wanted to warm this old man with this gift... I don't know whether to call it cute or heartbreaking."

Gerald nodded. He could feel the wind coming from underground and the message it conveyed: "A very classic gift. Is it from the 'Candle Knight'? I've seen her moves on TV. She has potential."

“If it came from you, it would be a very high compliment,” Russell smiled. “But let’s get back to the topic.”

"You can rest assured about this." The silver-haired Pegasus gently stroked the incantation on his chest: "In the past few months, I have learned a lot about medicine, and my understanding and judgment of the human body are completely different from before."

"But you know I'm not talking about things that are bound to happen."

The master shook his head. "I'd rather know your thoughts."

……

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence between the two.

It wasn't until Gerald spoke first:

“I don’t hate you, Russell.”

This time, Gerald didn't use any pronouns; he simply stated calmly:

"The balance of power among nobles is a problem in itself, not to mention that you are old and it is expected that you will hesitate. The fact that the Commercial Association is riding on the head of the Supervisory Council is partly due to the compromises of those foolish nobles. You are not qualified to take all the responsibility."

"However, correspondingly, when changes occur, you must also be made a scapegoat and placed at the forefront, becoming a part of the development of events."

"Just as Lord Cyril was feared and ostracized because of his power; just as Margaret was forced to submit and exiled for her safety because she won the knightly tournament."

"Therefore, this has nothing to do with personal grudges. I'm just here to get a result I want and an explanation."

Russell looked up at the Pegasus in front of her, her gaze somewhat unfocused: "To me?"

"The result comes from you, but the explanation comes from Casimir."

His words echoed in the corridor, and the wind swept across the sword's edge, creating a sharp, trembling sound.

The incantation coalesced in Gerald's hand, forming the family's sword—the very sword that once belonged to him, which had vanished into the dust of the past along with the collapse of his homeland the day he left Kazimierz.

Now, it has taken shape again in the wind, reflecting the shadows of the past.

"My anger dissipated the moment my enemy died; my expectations ceased to exist the day I stepped out of this land."

“Cassimir has become a wild horse, Russell, charging forward recklessly, chasing after the destination called desire.”

"The only way to stop it is to let it completely self-destruct, or for someone to forcibly rein it in. But neither should be decided by a selfish person like me."

The silver-haired Pegasus lowered his gaze slightly, held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, and adjusted his stance, assuming a true fighting posture.

"I just wanted to use the wind to make this wild horse stop in pain and ask questions because I couldn't get an answer."

"As for when it will find the right direction—that will have to wait until the light around it shines again. It could be a dazzling brilliance, a faint candlelight, or even the sparks from the friction of swords and spears clashing."

"At that time, the people will naturally take over the reins and decide where it goes."

The candlelight in the master's hand flickered slightly, reflecting the cold gleam of the sword's edge.

She gently set the candle down, took the sword from her waist, and placed it beside her.

--------

Viviana closed her eyes in the darkness and prayed quietly.

I pray that things won't go as I originally expected, and that everything will go smoothly as usual.

The cold darkness of her childhood couldn't defeat her, and so it will be the same with the darkness now.

So she waited and waited, until the old man said the words "It's dawn," until the underground door opened, allowing her to rush out and witness the end of the event, and hoping that her foster mother would stand before her with a candle that had not yet burned out.

And the candle did not go out.

It has become nothing more than a flickering candle left in the wind, barely able to peek out.

The flames that were originally burning now moved to the pool of blood on the ground and to the severed arm.

It burns quietly.

Chapter Four: Morning in the Great Knight's Territory (4K)

8:31 AM, Rose News United Press Headquarters, Spokesperson's Office, June 16, 1097 (Terra Alphabet).

The core knightly family of the Supervisory Council was engulfed in flames overnight; the exact circumstances are unknown. Several core members of the Commercial Federation have been confirmed dead.

[Platinum assassinated the chairman's assistant at Rose Newspapers, then disappeared completely under the cover of night, presumably leaving Kazimierz.]

The Grand Knight Commander was attacked at the Champion's Wall; details are unknown.

When the Rose Newspaper spokesman, McKee, returned to his desk, the message, which had been relayed and diluted multiple times, was delivered to him.

After memorizing this information, he meticulously processed that part of the content according to procedure—the various directors of the business federation knew how to handle this information, and it was irrelevant to the projects he was responsible for. The only reason he knew this information was to avoid conflicts between the spokesperson's work and other matters of the group.

Even if he is the chairman of Rose Newspapers, the son of "journalist" Kane is still the same.

In just one night, everything changed.

For ordinary people working at Rose Newspapers, life remained the same as always; but for the higher-ups that McKee had come into contact with, it was rare to see these important figures, who hid their faces behind numbers and spreadsheets, openly expressing their emotions without any pretense.

The successive weakening of the Supervisory Council presents a unique opportunity for the Business Federation.

The Rose Newspaper Group's propaganda machine roared with all its might from the early hours of the morning. Its four subordinate newspapers, each with its own focus on elites, the common people, mainstream viewpoints, and rumors, carefully prepared their respective content, aiming to take advantage of the momentum to ignite these issues and drive the Supervisory Council into a corner in terms of public opinion.

As long as rumors about serious injury and death are fabricated, the public will generally choose to believe them and project their suspicions onto the current capabilities of the Supervisory Council, and even question the defensive measures taken by the entire Great Knight Territory.

“But the betrayal of the Platinum King…” McKee tapped the table lightly with his fingers, sat on the sofa behind him, and took in the view outside the window. “The Unarmored Alliance is ultimately one of the uncontrollable factors.”

Who the contact person was, and what their name was, is now unknown. The Business Federation's control over this violent organization has become lax. As long as that platinum seat hasn't been delivered to the Business Federation's table, these directors won't have peace of mind.