I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

”I’ve received reliable intel. The Grand Governor is planning to eliminate you, and he’s already making his move.”

「Savenxis Great Fortress.」

This military fortress, built into the mountains to defend against large-scale invasions, was garrisoned by a well-equipped Defense Army over a million strong. In addition, it housed a permanent Knight Battle Group of three thousand men.

Its defensive capabilities were terrifying.

The internal defensive structures were even more intricate and complex, specifically designed for urban warfare and to delay an enemy’s advance.

「Knight Training Ground.」

Inside a spacious, steel-reinforced room, a towering giant of a man—bare-chested, with knotted muscles and a wild mane of red hair and beard—was sparring with a fully-armored private knight, a Knight’s Broadsword in hand.

The terrifying aura of his Earth Military Rank’s Mighty Power pulsed outwards continuously.

He kicked his sparring partner into the air. Empowered by his Destruction Force Field, he moved as if gliding across water at high speed. Before the private knight could even land, his broadsword had already struck his opponent’s chest.

Fortunately, he pulled back his strength at the last moment. The broadsword itself was also unsharpened—it was just a practice sword.

Standing before his Personal Guard, an Earth Knight of Two-star Military Rank, Lima looked down and said coolly, ”You’ve gotten weaker again, Elvize.”

”It’s because you’ve grown stronger, my Lord,” the Personal Guard said with a laugh as he rose to his feet.

Though it was a simple compliment, Lima was quite pleased. He clapped the man on the shoulder, signaling for him to leave, as he had matters to discuss with someone else.

After the Personal Guard left, Lima’s expression suddenly darkened, completely devoid of the passionate, knightly spirit he’d shown during the spar. Even his Knightly Aura now emanated a faint trace of Void Power, imperceptible to most.

”The Verne Front Line is in chaos, Enok. Do you really think that fool Sedon has the energy to dispatch a Battle Group to attack my fortress?”

When he mentioned the Savenxis Great Fortress, the pride in Lima’s expression and tone was unmistakable.

He spread his arms, looked up at the ceiling, and slowly turned in place, his laughter outrageously arrogant.

”I have a million-man Defense Army here, three thousand Imperial Knights, and enough supplies to hold out for thirty years! Kill me? I’m more afraid he *won’t* dare to send anyone!”

Unlike many Knight Warlords who secretly opposed the Administrative Region, the conflict had progressed to a point where Lima of Savenxis couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore.

The pressure on the Verne Front Line was immense.

Not only did he refuse to send reinforcements, but he also took advantage of the crisis. Last May, he even had his Knights disguise themselves as Interstellar Pirates hired by Kles to plunder a tax shipment heading for the Golden Capital.

After that incident, he expected the Administrative Region to declare him a traitor and launch a punitive war against the Savenxis World.

But to his surprise, that fool Sedon actually swallowed the humiliation, which was tantamount to letting Lima take a crap on his head.

He was being so brazen because he was actually waiting for Sedon to make a move against him. As long as the Administrative Region dared to act, it would play right into his hands.

Then he would have the perfect excuse to rally his allies, launch a rebellion, and declare independence.

As Lima boasted of his strength—especially his Battle Group of three thousand Imperial Knights—he casually glanced at Enok, the Baron of Bator, who was clad in a cloak made of crow feathers. Lima’s eyes were filled with arrogance.

During the Old Empire Era, it wasn’t as difficult as one might imagine for powerful Local Lords to win the loyalty of Imperial Knights.

They naturally wouldn’t dare touch the Imperial Knights within the Empire’s main legions, but local Battle Groups, Mercenary Corps, Free Knights, and even wanted Imperial Knights whose crimes weren’t punishable by death were all potential targets for recruitment.

Back when Reinhardt was still a follower in the Steel Knight Order, Irenia, representing the Local Lord from the Hearn Family, had extended an olive branch to him more than once.

Although Grillers was a feudal world, it was located in the Radiant Star Realm, less than one hundred and twenty light-years from the Holy City.

Right under the noses of the Regent Council and the Radiant Angel Legion, a minor Local Lord like those from the Hearn Family dared to coax and trick their way into poaching some followers with exceptional Knight Talent from the Steel Knight Order.

To say nothing of a place like the Ash Soil Star Zone, so far from the center of power that even during the Old Empire’s zenith, its control here was tenuous at best.

Even for Imperial Knights being hunted by a Judge.

As long as they hadn’t committed blasphemy against the Divine Emperor or high treason, and the Local Lord was willing to pay a ’loyalty’ atonement fine to the Judgment Court, these criminal Imperial Knights could instantly be transformed into the lord’s private soldiers.

This was one of the reasons why the Ash Soil Star Zone teemed with Knight Warlords.

Knight General Lima was the descendant of a Local Lord, a title officially recognized by the Savinxis World Province Governor Federation and registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was one of the most powerful Knight Warlords among the opposition forces within the Administrative Region.

His territory had continuously expanded over the past century and now included a feudal world, an agricultural world, and a mining world.

He himself was also a powerful Three-star Military Rank Earth Knight.

Furthermore, his family had close ties with the Merchant Dynasties that frequented the Ash Soil Star Zone in the early years, allowing them to accumulate vast wealth and resources. His formidable strength was far beyond what the minor warlords, with only twenty or thirty, or at most a hundred Knights, could compare to.

If a rebellion were to break out, even if it couldn’t shake the foundations of the Administrative Region, it would cause immense instability in its rear echelons for a short time.

The Baron of Bator, Enok, wore a magnificent and noble Dark Crow Feather Cloak. His face was soft and androgynous, neither masculine nor feminine.

The Mighty Power he emanated, unique to a Wizard, was extremely faint—not even reaching Tier Two.

He was like an observer, quietly watching Lima show off his strength. After a moment of silence, he said, ”You should be aware of the news about the Vengeful Angels’ return.”

Hearing the name ”Vengeful Angels,” Lima let out a disdainful snort.

”You mean he’s going to send Reinhardt—the one who just barely crawled out of a Void Storm—to deal with me? That guy...”

Although his tone was disdainful and his attitude arrogant, his subtle movements and micro-expressions couldn’t fool anyone. While acknowledging Reinhardt’s strength, he also seemed eager for a fight.

”He might have some skill, but don’t forget, the great Prophet once gifted me a Void Divine Artifact. I’d quite like to test that Imperial Knight who supposedly repelled the Demon Prince Stein with a single slash. Let’s see if he’s really as powerful as the rumors claim.”

Upon hearing this, Enok, who had been expressionless the entire time, suddenly smiled.

Seeing the Baron of Bator laugh, Lima frowned for a moment, then laughed as well.

”Don’t worry. Even if that bastard is as strong as the rumors say, I’ve still got you here to hold the fort, don’t I?”

’Of course Enok wanted to laugh.’

’He knew the truth about the Stein incident better than anyone.’

’Even now, the Thousand-Change Monarch was scouring the universe for that lawless traitor who had made a fool of two Formless Great Demons.’

’He was also, of course, aware that the Warlord Nico had died on Kemola.’

’As for this minor Knight General, so arrogant as to think he could take on Reinhardt... Enok truly didn’t know whether to call him foolish or just adorably naive.’

「Meanwhile.」

Three hundred kilometers away from the Savenxis Great Fortress, an encrypted Spiritual Energy communication from Seventy-Six reached Reinhardt’s ears.

”...Just as I predicted, Kles has people around the target. Also, Lima possesses a Void Divine Artifact, which might make killing him a bit tricky. Hold on... hmm... interesting. Reinhardt, this Knight General seems to be implying he wants to have a go with you.”