hotmtlnovel Page 67
Page 67
"Communication systems, payloads, power supplies, sensors, and so on are all inferior to their opponents. It can be said that many aspects of Imperial technology are outdated and need improvement."
Giano Brandli could not help but rebuke Roy's actions of disrupting the morale of the troops.
"Dr. Lloyd Asplund, you are exaggerating and destroying the morale of the army!"
Lloyd responded without hesitation:
"690 Tsk, but this is reality. We can't match many of them. If Lord Bradley was so brave, why didn't I see you defeat the Human Elite Astartes instead of continuing to hide here like a turtle?"
"you"
Cornelia couldn't help but stop the two from arguing
"Don't argue, Dr. Lloyd. You need to quickly analyze and crack the Empire's drones. Bradley, you need to go to the front lines and prove your worth to Dr. Lloyd."
"Yes, Princess."
Cornelia looked at Suzaku Kururugi who had come down from Lancelot and said:
"Honorary Bunitanian?"
Lloyd replied:
"Yes, Princess, Suzaku-kun is an honorary Bnitanian."
Cornelia nodded slightly. Now that they were fighting against the Human Alliance, they needed enough cannon fodder to consume. With Suzaku Kururugi as an example, they could attract more cannon fodder to join the battlefield.
"Suzaku-kun, your performance continues to impress."
There was a hint of admiration in Cornelia's words, though behind that admiration lay more complex strategic considerations.
"This time, we were able to seize the remains of the mechanical dog from the Human Alliance. This will undoubtedly provide us with valuable research data. The Empire needs brave and wise warriors like you."
Suzaku Kururugi saluted respectfully, his eyes firm:
"Your Highness, it is my honor to serve the Empire. As long as it means protecting our homeland, I will do my utmost, no matter what enemy I face."
"very good."
Cornelia nodded and turned to Lloyd. "Dr. Lloyd, I hope you can quickly extract valuable technology from this wreckage to upgrade our equipment. As for Bradley, your mission will be on the front lines. Demonstrate the strength of the Knights of the Round Table through actual combat results, while also garnering more support and resources for the research of Dr. Lloyd and domestic scientists."
"Understood, Princess."
Although Giano Brandelli was unwilling, he had no choice but to obey the order. He knew very well that in the current situation, personal emotions must be subordinated to the overall interests of the empire.
Lloyd's face was filled with excitement, as if he had already seen the leap forward in the Empire's technology thanks to this discovery:
"Don't worry, Princess. I will do my utmost to ensure that the Empire's drone technology catches up with or even surpasses the Human Alliance as soon as possible."
After the meeting, Kururugi Suzaku was left alone. Cornelia's eyes softened a little: "Suzaku-kun, I know you have greater dreams in your heart, not just as an honorary Brunitanian. But please believe that every step you take is working towards the transformation of Neon people into Brunitanians."
Upon hearing this, Suzaku Kururugi's eyes flashed with excitement. As a scoundrel who worshipped the powerful, he was naturally delighted to hear such words from the Empire's top brass.
Kururugi Suzaku made a solemn promise.
"Your Highness, I will continue to work hard for the empire."
As Kururugi Suzaku left the hangar, Cornelia stood alone, gazing into the distance. She knew that this war was not just a contest of weapons and technology, but had just begun. She just didn't know how long the Imperial soldiers in Area 11 could hold out.
After watching Kururugi Suzaku leave, Andreas Dalton stepped forward and said:
"Your Highness, Honor Bnitania is not trustworthy, especially Kururugi Suzaku, who can backstab his own father and will one day backstab the Empire."
Cornelia nodded slightly and said:
"Teacher, I know this, but the Empire's reinforcements are still on the way. In order to delay and limit the expansion of the Human Alliance, we must use all we can. Honestly, in my opinion, the Empire is currently at a disadvantage. Without the ability to resist the Shadow, the Empire will not be able to win in a large-scale offensive and defensive battle."
Andreas Dalton had personally experienced Shangguan Wen's power. His colleagues and subordinates were slaughtered by him without any ability to resist, which always left a deep impression on him.
Cornelia said worriedly:
"What makes me uneasy is why Shadow doesn't come here in person. Does he look down on us, or is he hiding in the depths with some unknown plan?"
"Forget it, let's not talk about this for now. What we have to do is to destroy the Human Union army in front of us and give it a good slap in the face." On the other side, Lelouch, Nunnally and Euphemia came to the capital of the Kingdom of Midgard under the protection of the Shadow Garden to travel in another world. They found that the technology here was far behind that of the Bnitanian Empire, with horse-drawn carriages, steam locomotives, etc. Where did the technology of the Human Union come from? It only relies on the so-called alchemy, which is so nonsense, but also has to abide by the laws of physics.
Pushing Nunnally's wheelchair, Lelouch looked around cautiously and said:
"Yuffie, what do you think of Shadow Garden's technology? It feels like a dream to me."
Euphemia thought of a possibility
"Lelouch, I have a bold guess."
Lelouch couldn't help but concentrate his mind. Could it be that the technology of [Shadow Garden] was also obtained by chance through the [Black Rose] Gate?
If that's the case then it makes sense.
But even if they guessed it, there was no way to get it. Lelouch and the other two were in this strange world where they were unfamiliar with the place and were under surveillance at all times. There was no way for them to pass the message to Cornelia.
Just then, Epsilon appeared before them and brought the three of them news of his own world.
"Three guests, my lord is about to attack Ashford Academy.
I hope you can act as a lobbyist to prevent too many innocent students from dying, especially the girl named Xia Li."
Lelouch's face suddenly turned pale. Epsilon was talking about his classmate. In such a short time, did he even know this?
Shadow Garden! .
Chapter 144 The Leading Party
People have to bow their heads under the eaves.
Lelouch had no way to refuse, as he didn't have GEASS yet. Even if he did, he wouldn't dare gamble with Nunnally around.
Of course, Epsilon also gave Lelouch a sweet treat by using magic to heal Nunnally's eyes, allowing her to see again. As for her legs, it depends on Lelouch's performance.
Crossing the Black Rose again and returning to his own world, what came into view was a ruin with broken eaves and broken walls, flames visible in the distance, and white tracks crossing the sky from time to time.
"Come with us, three of you. This is the armored vehicle heading to Ashford College."
There was no choice but for the three of them to follow Epsilon's instructions, get on the armored vehicle, and drive towards the academy.
Along the way, Euphemia saw many captured Bnitanian soldiers with their hands raised, as well as tanks and KMF marked as destroyed.
"Bunitania, who always had the advantage on offense, is losing like this now. I wonder how her sister is doing."
"Her Highness Cornelia hasn't been captured yet, but her beheading is a matter of our Lord's will. Do you think you're safe hiding in a mobile fortress outside the Tokyo barrier? You're just an exposed target, ready to be hit whenever you want."
Lelouch was nervous. The battlefield information was transparent, and there was a generation gap in weapons and equipment. It was normal that Princess Cornelia couldn't beat Shadow Garden. What was the point of the Emperor Charles with the curly hair?
Lelouch clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, yet he managed to maintain a calm facade. He knew that in this new situation, controlled by Epsilon, or rather, Shangguan Wen, any impulsive action could lead to unforeseen consequences for both Nunnally and himself. Euphemia's concerns weighed heavily on his mind, but even more than his concern for his sister Cornelia's safety, he knew his top priority was protecting Nunnally and finding a way to reverse this desperate situation.
Inside the armored vehicle, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. The scenery passing by outside the window was as bleak as the end of the world, each scene silently telling of the cruelty of war. Lelouch's eyes wandered between the ruins and the flames of battle, his mind rapidly formulating a countermeasure.
"We've arrived at Ashford Academy."
Lelouch didn't have time to think, and they arrived here in almost the next quarter of an hour.
How is this possible? The Black Rose Gate is outside of Tokyo, and the academy is in downtown Tokyo. Even taking a helicopter would take an hour. Could it be a teleportation array?
"Please get off, three of you."
Epsilon got off the armored vehicle and asked them to get off together. The three people who went out from the back door saw that many teachers and students were taking attendance of their hometowns. Anyone who gave wrong information had his head twisted off on the spot, and his spinal cord was pulled out by Astarte.
The students of Ashford Academy had never seen such a cruel and bloody scene, and they couldn't help but scream.
Bang bang bang!
Epsilon drew his pistol and fired three shots into the air, warning with a cold face:
"Just be quiet, everyone. If you want to die, I'll send you off together. Tell us clearly what family you come from and what your identity is. We have your information here. If you continue to play dumb, you'll die!"
Ashford Academy, a place that should be full of knowledge and peace, is now shrouded in a thick cloud of fear.
The students were trembling, and the teachers' faces were filled with fear and helplessness. The entire campus seemed to have turned into a living hell overnight.
After shocking the group of students, Epsilon turned his gaze towards Lelouch and said:
"Lelouch, since you have some prestige among the students, you should help manage them. You don't want your classmates and teachers to end up with nothing left behind because of their own stupid actions, do you?"
Naturally, someone in Ashford Academy recognized the three of them.
"It's Lelouch, Nunnally, and Princess Euphemia."
"How did they get off the Human Alliance vehicle? Were they also captured?"
Lelouch, who was pushed out, had no choice but to step forward and say:
"Classmates and teachers, I am Lelouch Lamperucci. For your own safety, I urge you to tell the truth about everything you have to say. Our information was obtained from the principal's office the moment the Human Union army captured the academy. Only by telling the truth can we protect our lives and be safely reunited with our families back home."
After saying that, Lelouch glanced at Euphemia next to him and motioned for her to come up and say a few words.
"Hello everyone, nice to meet you. I'm Euphemia Bunitania. You all know me. I was also captured and became a hostage of the Human Union. I can guarantee your cooperation with the Human Union's work. I will do my best to protect your lives."
As soon as Euphemia finished speaking, a murmur and uneasy commotion arose among the students. Some had fear in their eyes, worried about how their fate would be determined, while others, with doubt in their eyes, tried to find a clue of hope from the expressions of Lelouch and Euphemia.
Asking for flowers
But more of an emotion was disbelief - they never imagined that the princess who was once high and mighty would now become a pawn in this war just like them.
"But, Princess Euphemia,"
One student mustered up the courage and asked with a trembling voice:
"How do we know the Human Union will keep its promise? What if they..."
Euphemia gently but firmly interrupted him, "I understand everyone's concerns, but please believe me. As the princess of Bnitania, and one of the hostages the Human Union currently relies on, I will do my utmost to ensure everyone's rights. Furthermore, judging by the current situation, the Human Union isn't about to take extreme measures against us. What they need is stability and cooperation. This is an opportunity for all of us to strive for a better outcome."
Lelouch took over, his eyes revealing a calmness and determination beyond his years:
"Youfei is right. All we can do now is to cooperate with them, stay calm, and look for a better future. Remember, our goal is to return home alive to our families, not to resist pointlessly and make things worse."
At this time, Epsilon added coldly, "Your cooperation will directly affect your safety. Don't forget, this is no longer Ashford Academy, but an area controlled by the Human Union. Choose wisely, it will benefit each of you."
The students looked at each other in confusion. Finally, with the encouragement of Lelouch and Euphemia, and the invisible pressure of Epsilon, most of them began to nod slowly, indicating their willingness to cooperate.
Although their hearts were filled with anxiety and confusion, at this moment, they seemed to have found a common direction - to survive and find a way home.
As the students gradually calmed down and began to provide the personal information requested, Lelouch and Euphemia supervised and assisted, ensuring the process went smoothly.
Those hiding in the crowd who knew Lelouch's true identity couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Lelouch's behavior could only be considered a mild case of being a traitor. Otherwise, if the Human Alliance failed, everyone associated with Lelouch would be held accountable. This level of death was now acceptable.
Chapter 145: Dog-eat-Dog, Odysseus
Ten days had passed since the war began. The Human Union had temporarily halted its large-scale offensive and was consolidating the areas it currently occupied, from Neon Kyoto to Tokyo. The Brunitania troops in this area were either killed in battle or captured.
Cornelia, the former heroine of the battlefield of Brunitania, had to evacuate her headquarters to the relatively safe Sendai area and anxiously waited for the arrival of subsequent reinforcements.
Although the formal fighting between the two sides has temporarily come to an end, small-scale conflicts in private have never stopped, especially among the puppet troops, where silent wars are quietly unfolding.
The Honorable Brunitania and the Human Alliance, these two teams composed of Japanese people, became mortal enemies because they chose different camps.
The Human Alliance's allied forces, under the control of Shangguan Wen's Herrscher power, had their high-level, mid-level, and even low-level commanders become his puppets. Like meticulously crafted chess pieces, they acted according to Shangguan Wen's will, and their equipment had been greatly improved, rivaling even the regular Brunitania army.
By comparison, the situation of the Honorary Bunitanias is particularly difficult.
Their commander, Cornelia, though she professed to fight for the glory of Bunetania, was remarkably stingy with their equipment. Their weapons consisted primarily of light weapons, supplemented by a few outdated tanks and armored vehicles—KMFs—that practically made them sitting ducks on the battlefield. Cornelia herself felt she didn't have enough of the Bunetanian Empire's most advanced weapons and equipment, so how could she easily hand them over to her "lacklings"? This often left the Honorable Bunetanians on the defensive when facing the well-equipped Human Alliance.
Among the most trusted figures in the Human Alliance were two: the surviving princess, Sumeragi Rakuya, and Todo Kagamishiro, leader of the Neon Liberation Front, once known as the "Unbeatable Todo," who had now joined the ranks of the Human Alliance. With three loyal followers, he traversed every corner of the battlefield, like a sharp dagger piercing the hearts of the honorable Bnitanians.
During one operation, they successfully eliminated a contingent of Honorable Bunitanians and a Bunitanian reconnaissance unit. Though small in scale, this battle was profoundly significant. It not only demonstrated the formidable combat capabilities of the [Human Union] coalition forces, but also placed the Honorable Bunitanians under unprecedented pressure. Standing atop the ruins of the battlefield, Todo Kagamishiro's gaze pierced. Controlled by Shangguan Wen, he was naturally Shangguan Wen's most loyal puppet, believing that only by joining the [Human Union] and unwaveringly becoming one could Neon be transformed and reach the cosmic realm, rather than being confined to this small world.
Meanwhile, Cornelia was also in a state of panic at the headquarters in Sendai. She knew that if the war situation could not be reversed quickly, Brunitania's rule in Neon would be in jeopardy.
It was true that the domestic reinforcements had arrived at Midway Island, but the loss of her own front line made her father very dissatisfied, so much so that he came up with the idea of replacing her with the supporting Xiu Zenel as the commander-in-chief.
In order not to be deprived of the final command, and to redeem the younger brother and sister who were held hostage at Ashford Academy,
But Cornelia did not make a blind charge. During the time she fought with the Human Alliance, she was severely taught a lesson by the Human Alliance. She could not win in beyond-visual-range close combat, nor in long-range firepower confrontation. Her own artillery and missile bases, and air force were disposable commodities. As long as the Human Alliance found the launch trajectory, within a few minutes, the Human Alliance's ground-to-ground missiles would be unable to hit them following the heat source.
Any fancy machine will be attacked by concentrated fire. The thorny vampire in the Knights of the Round Table was killed by concentrated fire.
Cornelia was so scared that she didn't dare to drive her own special plane, but switched to an ordinary Sunderland.
Being alive is better than being dead. She knew that Euphemia, without her protection, would become Shangguan Wen's prisoner of war, which was better than continuing to be a vase-like Princess of Bunitania.
I don’t know whether the marriage between Emperor Odysseus and his brother will be successful, which would allow the Chinese Federation to be pulled out of the water and relieve the pressure on Bnitania.
----split line----
The Forbidden City in the Chinese Federation.
Xiu Zenel could come up with the strategy of diverting the trouble westward, and Shangguan Wen, who was familiar with the plot, naturally came up with it. He took the initiative to control the eunuchs of the Chinese Federation and preemptively contacted the White-haired Lolita Emperor Jiang Lihua, as well as Li Xingke...