Pillar of Yita

”Captain, there are too many enemies, let’s first cover the target’s retreat.”

”Okay, you go join him first, I’ll cover the rear.”

Su Changfeng gently extinguished the flashing red light on the Communication Crystal, and looked ahead. As far as his eyes could see, the distant Giant Construct finally let out a mournful cry, losing balance under the combined attack of Baijia and the young man, heavily tilting towards the street-side apartment.

Su Changfeng saw the red-tiled roof collapse, inner wooden beams break, bricks and mud fall, while the residents inside screamed and fled.

He couldn’t help but let out a slight sigh.

Baijia and the young man simultaneously received the retreat order, hesitated a bit, and turned back to see more ’Iron Curtain’ Constructs entering the plaza. They exchanged glances, each seeing the worry in the other’s eyes.

Count Roniel was searching the plaza with a dark expression for Fang Hong’s trace, his hand hidden under the sleeve like a vulture’s claw, eager to personally grasp him and show his fervent loyalty towards the Prime Minister’s faction.

Initially, he did not think highly of the young king, but as the northern situation became clearer, the fence-sitters found themselves increasingly embarrassed. Although in the kingdom’s political framework, the Praetor naturally leaned towards the center, if he didn’t express his sentiments quickly, he might soon lose his position.

Thus, the Prime Minister’s Hand Order was like a final lifeline for him.

Count Roniel tightly gripped the Praetor’s Scepter — he was an Elementalist, so the scepter was naturally designed as an Elemental Staff — the skin on the back of his hand was grayish-white, resembling that of a dying person, but that was merely due to excessive tension, causing a lack of blood color.

His eyes nearly shot fire as he kept urging his soldiers forward in his heart. He glanced again towards the direction of a group of Aldofen Alchemists, noticing their lack of orders and realizing they couldn’t be relied upon.

He inwardly cursed Pudra as utterly useless, but also knew well that even if the Prime Minister held power in one hand, he couldn’t move these Alchemists at all. Moreover, his relationship with Pudra was merely a matter of mutual benefit.

”But what is this old guy intending, never heard he sides with the Prime Minister.”

This thought flashed briefly in John Roniel’s mind.

For soon his gaze caught an anomaly in the plaza.

In fact, from the viewpoint inside the live broadcast room, it was easier to spot this scene —

”What is that person doing?”

”Seems he isn’t military.”

People were already discussing fervently.

Under their watchful eyes, amidst the crowd, a knight moving against the flow could be easily seen.

That was Diket, as the crowd dispersed to the sides, revealing rows of soldiers advancing forward, and the tall roaring Giant Constructs behind them, his figure became exposed to everyone.

Walking at the front of that group was the Silverwind Knight responsible for escorting the Elpaxin craftsmen to Fanric. They hadn’t received orders, so for a moment, didn’t know whether to take part in the capture or stand with Phales.

But they recognized Diket.

”Sir Diket, why are you here?” The lead Knight Commander opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly stopped and halted.

He stepped back instinctively, seeing the Knight Blade in Diket’s hand, from which wisps of cold were emanating — behind him was a long frost trail, as if with each forward step, the chilly wind followed him.

That was the Ice Longstone.

He had heard of the other’s legendary Magic Guided Reactor, an artifact from the Numelin Era, which remained in the Elpaxin Artisan Association for repairs after the other’s disappearance, and many had glimpsed it.

The previous Captain of the Silverwind Knights had once asked for it, but after Sir Roban gained fame, no one dared to mention it again. The Knight Commander had heard some rumors, that after Dolifen Fantasy vanished, he had returned to Elpaxin.

But until now, he understood the rumors were true.

”Sir Diket...”

The other’s fame was well before his son Roban’s, the former first Morning Knight, no ordinary person. Though rumors said he was trapped in Dolifen Fantasy and not as powerful as before, the Knight Commander had no intention to challenge that.

Besides, they were indeed Elpaxin People.

”Stand aside,” Diket calmly looked at each of them, speaking elegantly: ”Gentlemen, this is not your battlefield.”

”But Sir Diket...” The Knight Commander felt troubled, they were part of the kingdom after all, how could they defy the king’s order?

”No one can blame you for that,” Diket spoke: ”Before you stands the Hero who once saved Dolifen, you are all sons of the Elpaxin People, knights, think carefully for whom you ought to fight.”

He paused before asking: ”So, please halt.”

The knights exchanged glances.

The Knight Commander asked in surprise: ”Is it him...?”

Diket nodded.

Then came a series of sounds as swords returned to their sheaths, the knights collectively saluted towards the stands, and then turned away. They hadn’t personally witnessed the calamity thirty years ago, but their father’s generation had many whose relatives were trapped in that city.

They honored their identity as citizens of the kingdom, not turning on their own as much as honoring their duty.