I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

The gate to the bridge gradually opened, hissing with depressurizing jets of steam.

A large procession of people came into Reinhardt’s view.

Koller’s voice was stern. ”Serni, you are six hours late. I require an explanation.”

The entire command team, aside from the leading Think Tank Serni and Think Tank Havier, was composed of administrative masters handpicked by the Ministry of Internal Affairs from various departments.

Think Tank Serni wore a suit of dark yellow Power Armor, its paint scheme remarkably similar to that of the Emperor’s Shield. His features were stern, and his voice boomed when he spoke. The Spiritual Power emanating from him was nearly on par with a Master Level Tier One Mage.

Upon hearing Koller’s challenge,

The Vengeful Think Tank’s brow furrowed. He explained, ”Sir Koller, we received a distress signal from a tax vessel en route, which delayed our journey by seven hours.

Afterward, I interrogated one of the Interstellar Pirates who attacked the tax vessel. They were indeed funded by Kles.

The war on the Verne Front Line is dragging on, and that bastard is getting more and more brazen. His reach is extending into the heart of the Imperial Administrative Region now.”

Having spoken, he raised his chin and looked at the man standing beside Koller.

Serni took a deep breath, snapped to attention, and saluted. His expression solemn, he declared in a loud voice, ”You must be the Emperor’s Vengeful Angel, Lord Reinhardt. I am Serni, formerly a Think Tank of the Emperor’s Shield First Group, now a Vengeful Think Tank. I, along with the bridge command team, report for duty!”

Reinhardt’s gaze swept over the team behind Serni. Including Serni himself, there were over sixty personnel responsible for operating the bridge’s command systems.

Before their arrival, they had all changed into the newest style of military uniform from the Administrative Region. The color and ornamentation were highly consistent with the style of the Avenger Power Armor.

From these details, it was clear.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs had spared no expense in coordinating with the Grand Governor’s Vengeful Angels project.

Reinhardt’s imposing figure stood high on the second-level command platform. His gaze was commanding, and he possessed an aura of authority without needing to show anger. He gave the new Vengeful Think Tank a nod and said in a deep voice, ”Welcome to the Avenger Flagship, everyone.”

He then turned to Koller and asked, ”Have their duties been arranged?”

Koller slightly lowered his head and spoke at Reinhardt’s side. ”They are the team personally selected by the Grand Governor before the start of the second phase of the plan. Their backgrounds are clean.

I will assign their duties according to the situation.”

Though lowering his head was a small, almost imperceptible detail, in the eyes of the crowd below the command platform, Reinhardt’s authority was put on full display at that moment!

Even Serni, formerly of the Emperor’s Shield Think Tank, and the other Think Tank, Havier, were inwardly stunned by Koller’s deliberate gesture!

As members of the Imperial Administrative Region’s Think Tank Group, they had firsthand experience of Koller’s status and authority. To gain the acknowledgment of such a senior Think Tank, a man of profound experience and power, was no small feat.

The title of Great Tutor of Vengeful alone would not have been nearly enough.

They had, of course, heard the incredible stories about Reinhardt. But at this moment, seeing the Think Tank Director of Dusk, the illustrious Undead Koller, publicly acknowledge Reinhardt’s authority,

they finally realized that none of the rumors were false. In fact, the truth was likely even more incredible than the legends!

Think Tank Havier also snapped to attention, saluting by striking his chest with a clenched right fist. He declared loudly, ”Havier, formerly of the Administrative District Think Tank Team, now a Vengeful Think Tank, reporting for duty!”

Compared to Serni, Havier’s voice was exceptionally young, and he seemed very nervous.

A descendant of Wizards native to the Ash Soil Star Zone, he was even younger than Raphael, appearing to be in his early thirties at most. Yet, his power had already reached the level of a Master Level Tier One Mage, a testament to his immense talent.

As for why such a ”green” Think Tank was assigned to the Vengeful Angels, Sedon’s reasons were clearly political.

If all the local factions of the Ash Soil Star Zone were excluded, the Vengeful Angels would face immense resistance when handling certain issues, and it would also affect unit cohesion.

Therefore, Reinhardt did not hold back his own welcome, nodding slightly. ”Welcome.”

After the command team was settled on the bridge, Reinhardt said to Koller, ”Notify Fedor that the Red Flame Son can withdraw. Then have him come to the bridge.”

This matter concerned the three million soldiers of the Red Flame Son Auxiliary Army. Even though the situation was urgent and he had acted first and would report later, out of respect, Reinhardt had to apologize to Fedor in person and explain the stakes.

This Dragon Hunter, a warrior with the power of a Five-star Earth Military Rank who commanded Domain Power, was an ally he and the Vengeful Angels had to win over.

Faced with this necessity, the authority of the Great Tutor of Vengeful was secondary.

Of course.

Reinhardt was no fool. There were just some things he chose to turn a blind eye to.

These two Think Tanks were clearly Koller’s men. After joining the Vengeful Angels, they would undoubtedly become his confidants, just like the three Silent Knights who never spoke and followed Urus around like shadows.

On paper, these people were members of the Vengeful Angels, but in reality, their inclusion was a formality. Barring special circumstances, Reinhardt would find it difficult to command them, nor did he want to.

In exchange for Koller and Urus acknowledging his authority as Great Tutor of Vengeful, his turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to these matters was a form of tacit approval, a delegation of power.

...

「Three hours later.」

As the gate opened, Fedor and his two Personal Guards strode purposefully across the bridge under the gazes of the crew and ascended to the second-level command platform.

After meeting Reinhardt, the leader of the Red Flame Son said in a low voice,

”I have made the arrangements on the ground. Six hundred thousand troops from the Ninth Infantry Corps will be stationed on Lundnia World to await the replacement force. The Third Fleet will also remain in low orbit for two days.”

Reinhardt handed Fedor the parchment from the Military Affairs Department. After he finished reading, Reinhardt said, ”This was a sudden development. I’ve already reached an agreement with the Military Affairs Department.

We will split off three million troops from the Red Flame Son Auxiliary Army and send them to Corsica to relieve the Twelfth Infantry Corps. In exchange, we will gain the support of that corps.”

Here, Reinhardt paused briefly.

”You and I fought our way out of a Demon’s nest on the Eternal Battlefield, so I won’t hide this from you. The Military Affairs Department doesn’t trust the Red Flame Son Auxiliary Army, which is why they deliberately came up with this excuse.

On this mission to quell the rebellion on Lelag, none of the auxiliary armies aside from the Red Flame Son will be allowed to participate.

You should understand the current situation in the Imperial Administrative Region. It’s understandable that the Military Affairs Department has these concerns.”

If anyone else had said this to Fedor, this wariness, this treatment of his men as potential rebels—while logical—would have bred resentment. Even if he didn’t rebel, he would have surely made some moves behind their backs.

But the one saying these words was Reinhardt.

As it was, Fedor only frowned slightly before suddenly breaking into a laugh. ”My lord, you worry too much. You gave us our lives. Whatever arrangements you wish to make, the Red Flame Son and all six million soldiers of the Auxiliary Army will follow your orders.”

Fedor spoke these words deliberately loudly, so much so that everyone bustling about on the bridge could hear him.