Chapter 696: The Duke from Afar

"Stop!"

"Don't come over!"

"It's dangerous!"

Amid several nearly simultaneous screams, the pilot of the third powered armor finally reacted, halting his advance just outside the white mist concealing the Reaper.

Yet a metal thigh, half as tall as a man, was seized by a silver-white hand and hurled violently from the fog, crashing into the third powered armor's head and violently ripping open most of the observation cabin, exposing the cockpit beneath.

"Save… save me!"

Amid the pilot's shriek, the ghostly figure of the "Reaper" was also thrown forth by the silver hand.

As the silver hand dissolved and fell to the ground, Li Ang had already leapt into the cockpit, swiftly severing the pilot's safety straps with a series of cuts and tossing him straight out through the observation cabin.

"Sit down!"

After unfastening the straps on his back and shoving the trembling, jelly-legged Xiao Jinmao into the pilot's seat, Li Ang released his willpower to gather his scattered silver incantation metal, then ordered coldly:

"Start it! Now!"

…

Running on foot alone was impossible.

Against powered armor moving at fifty to sixty kilometers per hour, his flesh-and-blood legs simply couldn't keep up; as long as even one powered armor remained intact, he'd be chased all the way to the Imperial Capital, risking exposure of his identity.

Moreover, his stamina was insufficient—after being bitten by that damned black snake, his demonic anomaly had been severely weakened; the sulfurous aura forming the 【Blood War Without End】 around him had thinned to less than one-twentieth of its former strength.

He needed to preserve even this meager residue of 【Blood War Without End】 for emergencies—either to save himself when wounded or to replenish his depleted silver incantation metal after activation—so he couldn't spare any for running. He had to seize a powered armor for transport.

As for not knowing how to operate one… wasn't there a capable Xiao Jinmao right here?

Seeing Xiao Jinmao sitting dazed in the pilot's seat, still clueless about his intent, Li Ang, with no time to waste, slapped him hard on the head and threatened outright:

"Operate the powered armor—or die. Choose."

?!!

Finally understanding Li Ang's intent, the snotty-faced Xiao Jinmao shuddered, then his still-fair face flushed crimson as he roared back with the loudest voice he'd ever used:

"I won't!"

"Give up!"

"I swear by the honor of the Lyon family! I, Steven Lyon, would rather die in this cockpit—or jump out and smash myself to pieces—than betray my comrades by piloting powered armor to help you escape!"

Real guts!

No wonder he's my adjutant!

Hearing Xiao Jinmao's bold roar from afar, the remaining members of the powered armor squad imagined themselves in his place and exchanged looks of admiration.

True man!

The adjutant may be obnoxious—always bragging about the Lyon family, constantly name-dropping his lineage, and practically lifting his tail into the sky after learning of the Lyon family's impending royal marriage—but he's insufferable in daily life.

Yet when it matters, he's utterly reliable; he'd rather be killed than side with the enemy. His spine is unbreakable.

…

Well, would you look at that—he's got principles.

Faced with the snotty-faced Xiao Jinmao who still refused him despite tears and snot streaking his face, Li Ang was momentarily at a loss.

After all, operating powered armor was a technical skill—he couldn't handle it himself. Just deciphering the chaotic array of gauges on the instrument panel would take months of study, let alone the countless switches and control levers; if he tried, he couldn't even find the start switch.

"Alright…"

With a weary shake of his head, Li Ang asked:

"You're always going on about the Lyon family and your Lionheart Duke—have you ever met him?"

"I… of course I have."

Hearing Li Ang's question, Xiao Jinmao's heart sank, and his eyes flickered nervously: "I once… accompanied my family to visit His Grace the Duke, received his personal audience, and was even invited to dinner that evening in the main hall of Lyon Manor with the Duke himself."

"…"

Spare me. Personal audience? Dinner in the main hall? I've never spent a single night in that place. You might as well say you saw me in a tavern, dragged off by a red-haired woman and force-fed wine.

After a silent, incredulous stare at the lying Xiao Jinmao, Li Ang asked:

"Fine, assume you've met him… then, what does he look like?"

"I know perfectly well!"

Seeing Li Ang doubted him, Xiao Jinmao's face flushed red as he retorted angrily:

"I know His Grace inside out! When the former Duke named him successor, everyone doubted him—even that worthless count boasted the Duke's title would rot faster than cabbage.

But within no time, His Grace stabilized the situation, won the Princess's favor through his striking looks and eloquence, and secured for our Lyon family control of the Military and Road Departments… uh… you… you you you!"

"Stop saying 'you'—do you recognize this face?"

Li Ang wiped his face, dispelled the 【If】 effect, and revealed his true visage, then narrowed his eyes at the stunned Xiao Jinmao and threatened coldly:

"Start it now! If you don't, tomorrow's headline in the Sun Newspaper will be: 'Lionheart Duke Arrested for Assaulting the Boarding Tower!'"

"You're an impostor!"

After a few seconds of shock, Xiao Jinmao shouted:

"Once you're caught, your disguise will be useless—no one will believe you…"

"Here. The Duke's seal."

He called to Xiao Jinmao, pulled out the Lionheart Duke's seal, and tossed it to the dazed boy. To prevent further claims of forgery, Li Ang directed Xiao Jinmao to scour the Mirror World and retrieved every document proving his identity.

"This is the coronet from my succession ceremony."

"…"

"This is the Duke's official robe issued by the Lyon family."

"…"

"This is a badge designating the Deputy Speaker of the Upper Academy."

"…"

"And here is the imperial edict of succession, bearing the Royal Seal."

"…"

"Do these prove my identity?"

Watching Xiao Jinmao tremble uncontrollably as he clutched a pile of items bearing the Lyon family's lion crest, his mind completely frozen, Li Ang slapped his face and urged, eyes narrowed:

"Are you sure? If you're sure, start the powered armor now! You don't want your Lionheart Duke arrested for assaulting the boarding tower, do you?"

"…"

"Puff—"

The sound of the steam boiler firing up rose—before the stunned eyes of the powered armor squad, the very armor that had stood motionless due to the "stalwart adjutant's" refusal now shakily, then steadily, powered back to life.

Worse still, it shed every weapon it could, even detached removable armor plating to minimize weight, then surged away at seventy kilometers per hour, racing clear of the encirclement!

"…"

"…"

"…"

What the hell? You weren't going to cooperate at all—so who the fuck is driving this thing? Your ghost?

(End of Chapter)