I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

[The best warriors attack the enemy’s strategy. Grand Lord Kles seems to be a master of this, making you suspect he’s secretly read The Art of War.]

[Intelligence, economy, faith, agriculture, and industry... The dimensions of conflict in a grand war and the enemy’s cunning and treachery are far from what is seen on the front lines, with its clashing steel and mangled flesh.

Often, a seemingly insignificant event can decide the outcome of the front-line battle and the fate of millions of soldiers.

The Epic Level rout in the Administrative Region after the Battle of Verne is a prime example. No one is willing to speak of the true cause of that great defeat, and no one dares.]

[But whether in the war of intelligence or economics, you have ultimately shattered Grand Lord Kles’s schemes with your own hands. Hurst World is safe... for now.]

[Event Reward: Imperial Technology Upgrade Components for the Black Cutter.]

[Hmm... Of course, a certain dynastic Overlord doesn’t care what you think. All that matters is what *she* thinks, and she thinks you two are a perfect match.]

Reinhardt chose to use the upgrade components immediately.

[Using components...]

[You may select one of the following technology branches to upgrade.]

[After the upgrade, the Black Cutter’s Creation Level will be elevated to Furnace Cast Holy Artifact.]

[Decomposition Blade: By choosing this technology, the Black Cutter will be coated in an Energy Axe Blade with decomposition properties, powered by the Power Backpack. This differs from the physical properties of High-Frequency Oscillation and Low-Frequency Shock.

The Decomposition Blade cuts matter in the Real Cosmos on a molecular level for the purpose of Armor Piercing or inflicting damage.

Duration at current Power Backpack Level: 120 seconds.]

[High-Temperature Battle Blade: By choosing this technology, the Black Cutter’s material will have its High Temperature Resistance greatly increased. When heated by the Energy supplied by the Power Backpack, it can generate temperatures of 3,000 degrees Celsius to increase its lethality.

Duration at current Power Backpack Level: 60 seconds.]

[Shattering Battle Blade: By choosing this technology, the Black Cutter’s edge will be completely blunted while being simultaneously covered by a Shattering Force Field from the Power Backpack. This field shatters matter in the Real Cosmos on a molecular level upon contact.

Duration at current Power Backpack Level: 30 seconds.]

The ethereal blue text in his system’s vision scrolled by at an incredible speed, yet to Reinhardt’s visual-neural reflexes, it still seemed slow.

Although the High-Temperature Battle Blade and Shattering Battle Blade each had their own unique features, their short durations were a critical flaw. It would be difficult for them to last through his engagements on the front lines. Furthermore, the technological properties of these two options had limited synergy with his speed-oriented style of Body Techniques.

After a moment of careful consideration, Reinhardt ultimately chose the Decomposition Blade. It could last for 120 seconds, and with proper management in actual combat, could be maintained for even longer.

Moreover, its ability to cut at the molecular level had extremely high synergy with his style of Body Techniques. Combined with his highly mobile tactics, it would allow him to inflict effective damage within milliseconds of contact.

After he chose to upgrade the Imperial Technology components,

a layer of ethereal blue Energy Ripples spread across the surface of the Black War Axe on his back. Like a metamorphosing chrysalis, wherever the ripples passed, the War Axe shed its battle-worn damage and age. Even the dried bloodstains evaporated, leaving it looking as if it were brand new from the factory.

At the same time, within his Knight Perception, the Power Backpack’s energy supply formed a controllable link with the Black War Axe.

[Upgrade complete.]

[You can now activate or deactivate the Decomposition Blade at will through the neural controls of your Imperial Technology·Angel Vision. The Power Backpack’s Energy will also be displayed in your vision as a progress bar and a numerical value.]

[Black Cutter’s Current Creation Level: Furnace Cast Holy Artifact.]

The three members of the Vengeance Angel Squad witnessed the Black War Axe’s transformation, but they were long past being surprised by such things. As long as it was a blessing from the God of All Machines, they wouldn’t have been shocked even if Reinhardt’s Power Armor and War Axe had suddenly transformed into a Wizard’s Divine Artifact right then and there.

However,

as Gwen, the Oil Girl, moved past Reinhardt to inspect the Red-haired Witch’s corpse, she caught a glimpse of the self-evolving Black War Axe from the corner of her eye and froze in place as if struck by lightning.

She then turned to face the War Axe, dropped to her knees in absolute reverence, and began muttering something under her breath.

Just as when Agate had prayed, no one could hear what these Technician Priests were saying.

”Praise the God of All Machines...”

After her prayer, Gwen rose to her feet, staring at the Black War Axe with wide, incredulous eyes. Her mind was reeling with questions and shock, and she desperately wanted answers from Reinhardt.

But she didn’t dare ask.

Setting aside the power gap between a Mortal and a Transcendent, she was just a common, low-level Artificial Creation Officer who tightened screws for a living. The secrets behind the weapons and equipment of one of the Emperor’s Angels were things she was better off not knowing.

Seeing her expression, Manon let out a hearty laugh. ”No need to be so surprised, Miss Gwen. Every single piece of equipment on Lord Reinhardt has received the blessing of the God of All Machines.”

”Oh... Huh?!”

Seeing her standing there in a daze, Manon had intended to tease the interesting young woman.

But Matthias’s cold voice cut in, ”Manon, you talk too much.”

Just then, Raphael, who had been silent and seemingly weighed down by his thoughts, used encrypted Telepathy to speak to Reinhardt alone. ’Sir, how well do you know Robbie Hiling?’

Reinhardt took the Black War Axe from his back and activated the Decomposition Blade. A transparent Energy Axe Blade, almost invisible to the naked eye, silently enveloped the weapon.

He gripped it in one hand, swung it in an arc through the air, then turned his head to look at Raphael.

’Why do you ask?’

Raphael’s brow furrowed. The fact that Robie had called him a ’Secret Keeper’ during their earlier conversation had been weighing on his mind ever since. He just couldn’t figure it out.

Even though he knew it was likely related to the residual power of the Void Divine Artifact in his head, still...

After a moment of silence, Raphael continued, ’Sir, Robie called me a Secret Keeper earlier. As far as I know, the Empire has never established an organization with that name.

But it’s also possible my Level isn’t high enough to access that kind of information in the Administrative Region’s archives.

Robbie Hiling... he gives me a very strange feeling. I suspect there’s a Demon, or something else, hiding in his soul.’’

Reinhardt was, of course, aware of the conversation the two had had on the ship. But he wasn’t a Judge, nor was he a secret investigator. What had happened to Robie after leaving Grillers World was likely something only Robie himself knew.

So Reinhardt didn’t press the issue.

His childhood arch-rival had, in fact, become a madman. And according to the Withered Knight, Delany, the man was storing more than one Void Divine Artifact inside his head.

If that were true, it wouldn’t be at all surprising that something was fighting him for control of his body.

After all,

Raphael also had a Demon in his own head, constantly trying to beguile his mind.

Just then, Oil Girl Gwen, who had been busy beside the cryo-coffin for some time, stood up and exclaimed excitedly, ignoring the sticky black blood covering her hands. She held up a Wizard’s Secret Treasure that she had just dug out of the corpse’s brain. ”Sir! I found it!”