I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

Stearns looked back at the dead Infiltrator, and a cold dread washed over him. He remembered that just a minute ago, he had been holding the man in his hands!

Urus was right.

The thought of how he had found the Infiltrator in a pile of corpses was terrifying the more he considered it.

His mouth fell open slightly as he looked at Urus. Then, he bowed his head and said in a low voice, ”I... understand.”

It was at this moment that Stearns, who had always revered martial prowess, realized something. The fact that Urus Brutus could serve as the Commander of Vengeful with only a Four-star Earth Military Rank meant he was far more than Stearns had ever imagined.

As the sole Master of Intelligence within the Vengeful Angels, his influence at the strategic level likely carried far more weight than Stearns had ever imagined!

Urus nodded to Stearns, then channeled his Knight Power and crushed the centipede-like brain parasite in his hand.

”Lord Reinhardt, leave this private officer from the Judgment Court to me. I’ll find a way to make him talk and see if we can get any useful information.”

Reinhardt nodded, tacitly granting Urus’s request.

Koller stood to one side, his brow furrowed. Through his Spiritual Perception, he could sense the power behind the brain parasite, and it was enough to make even his heart pound with fear.

’The power of a Void Divine Artifact...’

With his abilities as a high-level Think Tank, while he couldn’t directly extract the officer’s memories like Raphael could, he was still capable of finding some valuable intelligence within them.

However, he chose to remain silent on the matter. If this officer also had one of those accursed brain parasites in his head, making direct contact with Spiritual Power would be extremely dangerous.

Urus understood this, which was why he had bypassed Koller and was preparing to use traditional interrogation methods to make the mortal talk.

If he found anything abnormal during the interrogation, he would immediately and secretly execute him.

Just then, the Radiant Beacon built into the bridge began to flash rapidly. Koller connected it to the Vengeful Angels’ Spiritual Energy command channel. Before long, an old man’s voice sounded in the ears of Reinhardt and Koller.

”This is Constantine, Sect Leader of the Secret Order. I am looking for your Great Tutor.”

Hearing the man announce his identity, Koller frowned and looked at Reinhardt, murmuring in a low voice, ”Sir...”

Reinhardt raised a hand, signaling that there was no need for concealment. He then walked over to the massive viewport on the right side of the Avenger Flagship, gazing down at the azure Lundnia Planet below.

”This is Reinhardt.”

After a moment of silence, the old voice spoke again.

”On behalf of the Secret Order, I welcome your return to the Imperial Administrative Region, Great Tutor Reinhardt. As for the matter of Lundnia, you need not concern yourself. I have already dispatched my people to bring the fleeing Judges under control. They will be brought to the Secret World to face judgment.

Nun Superior Eleonor is also under my surveillance. As for how to dispose of her, I believe it would be more appropriate to leave that matter to you.”

Although the Nun Superior had only been in the Imperial Administrative Region for three months, she had already made her choice in the power struggle when she chose to stand with Judge Chadwick and attack Reinhardt.

The price of failure...

...was everything.

In other words, this act by the Sect Leader of the Secret Order was undoubtedly a welcoming gift for Reinhardt—a reward for cleaning up the Lundnia World.

It was also the Secret Order’s pledge of allegiance, showing they were throwing their lot in with the Administrative Region.

”The Sect Leader is most considerate.”

”We should meet when time allows, Lord Reinhardt. For now, if you’ll excuse me, I am preoccupied with urgent matters.”

After the brief call ended, faint blue text from the system appeared in Reinhardt’s vision.

[Hidden Event: Operation Hurricane Rescue complete.]

[The Lundnia World was proof of the Sect Leader’s political investment in opposition forces. After siding with the Grand Governor’s faction, he urgently needed someone to eliminate this enormous black mark, which threatened the stability of the Imperial Administrative Region.

And entrusting this matter to the Vengeful Angels was the best choice.]

[The strength the Vengeful Angels displayed in this war has earned you the friendship of the Sect Leader. Prior to this, he believed it would take you at least several weeks to conquer Lundnia.]

[The world line has changed.]

[Reward: Slaughterer’s Weapon Trait Upgrade Component: Mechanical God Rebuild]

[Upon upgrading, the Slaughterer’s Creation Level will increase to the Highest Level of Furnace Casting: Holy Artifact. Simultaneously, the new Extraordinary Traits will overwrite the old ones.]

[Some say the God of All Machines is just the Emperor putting on an act? Audacious! We of the God of All Machines have our own Mechanical Divine Holy Artifacts! This is it—Mechanical God Rebuild, a blessing from the Armory!]

’Mechanical God Rebuild?’

’A Sacred Artifact?’

The Slaughterer could fire Extraordinary Bullets forged from Knight Power, but Reinhardt rarely used the weapon. The immense physical toll it took was disproportionate to the damage it dealt, so he only brought it out in specific circumstances.

For the longest time, it had hung at his waist, serving more as a decoration than a practical weapon.

After careful consideration, Reinhardt chose to use the upgrade component.

[The God of All Machines is bestowing a blessing...]

[Component upgrade complete.]

[Old traits have been overwritten.]

[Currently available Special Ability: Mode Switch.]

[The new trait consumes no physical stamina and is linked to the R&D progress of the Mechanical Order.]

[With the Mode Switch trait, the Slaughterer’s weapon form is no longer fixed. It will adopt entirely different configurations depending on the selected mode and combat situation.]

[Heavy Blast Bomb Cannon Mode: The Slaughterer’s weapon will deploy as a cannon on your left arm, severely restricting your mobility.

This mode is specialized for large-scale battles. While its single-shot destructive power is lacking, it can help you break through an encirclement or tear open enemy lines.]

[Thermite Mode: A directed thermal energy weapon powered by a fusion reaction. One of the most destructive weapons within the known laws of physics. Effective range is eight to twelve meters.

An Elite Slaughter Demon with power surpassing a Four-star Earth Military Rank? One shot from this mode will take it down on the spot.]

[Standard Mode: The Slaughterer’s weapon maintains its conventional Explosive Arrow Gun form. However, with the blessing of the God of All Machines, every bullet is imbued with three Extraordinary Traits: Armor Piercing, Tearing, and Bleeding.]

[Lacking support from ’Armory·Messiah’s Gift,’ other modes are temporarily unavailable, and the Slaughterer’s weapon ammunition can only be restored slowly.]

At that same moment, the Slaughterer’s weapon hanging at Reinhardt’s waist began to shimmer with a faint, silver light. The CLICK-CLACK of high-speed gears and machinery suddenly echoed across the bridge.

The process was extremely brief; the sound vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

But even so, the anomaly occurring on Reinhardt’s person still drew the attention of the others.

Koller, who was not wearing a helmet, frowned deeply. He focused both his gaze and his Spiritual Perception on the Slaughterer’s weapon. ’This is...’