Chapter 48: 47. Reasonable Arrest

47. Reasonable Arrest

"Yes, that's how it should have been."

Lancelot said, sounding quite incredulous: "Do you know? They produced a treaty document showing that eight hundred years ago, there really was an empire whose territory covered most of the Ignis Airspace."

"And this treaty stipulated that if more than half of the lords didn't vote to dissolve the empire, it would continue indefinitely. So, what these people mean is that the empire still exists today."

"Vote? Aren't they an empire?"

"It's called that, but I feel it's even looser than the Federation," Lancelot shrugged.

"I think I understand. After the imperial power declined, each lord developed on their own, so the empire effectively ended, just without a formal announcement. But now, an emperor has suddenly popped up wanting to restore their authority."

When Li Ang mentioned the emperor that these people were constantly emphasizing, Lancelot said he had noticed the same thing.

Another strange point was that if the Ignis Airspace had always held the concept of the "Holy Sporeel Empire," then even if imperial power had declined, an emperor should still have existed; it shouldn't be the case that Sky Knights of Li Ang and Lancelot's level had never even heard of it.

Lancelot said: "The Guild has always respected the sovereignty of each island. After all, this empire is five hundred years older than the Guild. If it really wants to claim a resurgence, the Guild won't interfere."

"I contacted our branch station about this matter, and that's how I learned the empire is also making moves in other parts of the Ignis Airspace. The people at the station then spent half a day asking headquarters for instructions."

The communicators in Newbis aren't very convenient; they are far worse than telephones. Similar to the ship-borne beacons Li Ang used before, they are made from a special mineral called Sonic Stone and are divided into sub-stones and master-stones. The sound wave vibrations received by the sub-stone are reproduced on the master-stone, thereby transmitting sound.

The larger the master-stone, the further the receiver can receive information. The maximum communication distance is about five or six thousand kilometers, spanning the range of an entire airspace.

However, sound can only be transmitted between a set of Sonic Stones; there is no ability to dial through like a telephone as long as you have a number.

"What is the opinion of the Order of Sky Knights headquarters?"

"They said the empire's other behaviors are open to question, but the forced blockade of the shipping lane cannot be allowed and must be cleared as soon as possible."

The Order of Sky Knights headquarters probably doesn't know yet that imperial troops are massacring civilians and attacking neutral passenger shipping lanes indiscriminately.

"So you're just watching from the sidelines?"

"Because of the empire's antics, the entire regiment has been deployed; no one is coming to help me."

"Without reinforcements, you can't handle the other side on your own?"

"That's not... sigh, see for yourself."

Lancelot pointed at the imperial forces. The leader had a high-spirited aura and was accompanied by a Griffin summon. The magical rhythms faintly pulsating around his equipment indicated the powerful spirituality contained within.

"Got it, you can't beat him."

"The truth is sometimes sharper than the ice in the Gorasis Airspace."

Lancelot smiled bitterly: "I'm just someone working for a salary. My equipment is provided by the Guild, unlike you guys in the top-tier regiments who scavenge everywhere—uh, no, I mean collect good things from ancient civilizations everywhere."

Li Ang nodded; what he said made sense.

【Name: Lancelot Dubois】

【Race: Human】

【Profession: Gun-Swordsman, Rank 7. Legion Soldier, Rank 4】

【Summon: Pterosaur, Rank 5】

【Energy Source: Order of Sky Knights Standard Multiple Magic Array Convergence Spirit Stone, Rank 6】

【Equipment: Order of Sky Knights Standard Magic Ammunition Gun, Rank 6. Order of Sky Knights Multi-Edged Sword, Rank 6. Order of Sky Knights High-Rank Armor, Rank 6. Fire-Resistant Cloak, Rank 5】

【Ultimate: Professional Ultimate—Sudden Rain Assault】

【Skills: Gun-Swordsman (Precision Strike, Dual-Wielding Art, Agility Increase), Legion Soldier (Legion Formation Awareness, Legion Formation Tactics), Ranged Weapon (Elemental Barrage), Melee Weapon (Blade Wheel), Cloak (Fire Resistance)】

【Combat Power Increase: 21%】

Unlike ordinary Sky Knight regiments, members of the Order of Sky Knights are trained in legion formations and equipped with standard gear specially crafted by the Guild.

Since it is standard issue, even elites can't really afford top-tier equipment of the Exalted Realm. Usually, it's Rank 6, the highest rank of the Transcendent Realm. The summons are also Pterosaurs specially bred by the Guild; these are monsters that can be bred in batches and have quite high power ranks.

This is enough to mediate disputes in the vast majority of regions. If there really is a strong enemy, then the regiment leader or vice-leader with greater strength will come to solve it.

For example, that regiment leader, the young lady, is a special profession with inherited secrets; she can easily manipulate a bunch of weapons to float and form formations, which has a bit of the flavor of an Eastern Sword Immortal.

Lancelot's panel fully displayed the achievements of his personal professional hard work, but his equipment seemed not particularly flashy in front of other top-tier regiment members.

Today, he was only patrolling with four non-elite Order of Sky Knights members, while the people on the other side were solidly equipped with gear superior to his.

And that person on the imperial side was one level higher in terms of hardware.

【Name: Winders Finat】

【Race: Human】

【Profession: Lancer, Rank 6】

【Summon: Griffin (Leader Level), Rank 6】

【Energy Source: Wind-Chaser Holy Bell, Rank 7】

【Equipment: Heavenly Demon Heavy Halberd, Rank 7. Skywalker Battle Armor, Rank 7. Wind-Gathering Gloves, Rank 7. Cloud-Stepping Boots, Rank 7. Wind-Wing Cloak, Rank 6】

【Ultimate: Comprehensive Ultimate—Storm Cavalry Assault】

【Skills: Summon (Storm Summon), Heavy Lancer (Mounted Charge, Siege Heavy Strike, Mount Control, Strong Physique), Weapon (Heavenly Demon Hurricane), Armor (Storm Shield), Gauntlets (Wind Element Affinity), Greaves (Weight Halved), Cloak (Flight)】

【Combat Power Increase: 7%】

After reaching Rank 7, equipment will undergo a qualitative change. The spirituality of the Exalted Realm can use magic to temporarily create matter and energy that do not exist in the world itself. The strength of this matter will surpass existing matter, and it takes a long time to wear down matter and energy shaped by the Transcendent Realm to break it.

Therefore, even if Lancelot's personal skills exceeded the opponent's, he judged that he couldn't fight the other side.

Rank 7 equipment is the main equipment for frontline top-tier regiments; it is by relying on them that top-tier regiments can stand proudly above the sky.

If one wants to craft equipment of this level, it requires the world's top master craftsmen and the rarest tier of materials. The output is not high, and more of it is produced from ancient ruins.

Therefore, Li Ang felt it was particularly amazing that the system could assist in equipment manufacturing and even had a trend where as long as enough materials were gathered, one could easily manufacture equipment higher than Rank 7.

"Look, that guy's whole outfit is very consistent; it's all wind-attribute, and even his summon is too. He's definitely not easy to deal with," Lancelot said.

He couldn't see the panel. Before actually fighting, he didn't know that because the opponent's professional skills hadn't stepped into the Exalted Realm, it actually dragged down the effect of his divine gear, resulting in a combat power increase of only 7%.

Li Ang patted Lancelot on the shoulder: "I'll buff you, you go."

Lancelot looked at him in silence for a few seconds, his face revealing an expression of "Are you trying to set me up?" But the person in front of him was a powerful support, so saying such things was reasonable, and he couldn't think of what was wrong with it.

Li Ang continued: "He has ordinary soldiers behind him. We'll capture him and send him to the Order Hall along with the soldiers."

"If you talk like that, I'll think you want to join the Order of Sky Knights."

Lancelot said: "You and I join forces to repel him, first clear the shipping lane, and then our Flame Regiment will rendezvous and discuss opinions on the empire with headquarters. This is executable."

"But if we want to punish the empire, it's also aimed at the behavior of blocking the shipping lane. The imperial officials need to be held responsible, and the executors might need to be punished, but the degree of punishment is also open to question. It shouldn't reach the point of needing an arrest. You... do you have a grudge against the other side?"

"Tsk, the intuition of a cop is truly sharp."

"Hey!"

After joking, Li Ang's expression gradually became serious: "This time I am certain that you have no problem arresting him. Sky Knights registered with the Guild cannot accept commissions that violate Guild laws, regardless of how righteous the other party's purpose may seem to them."

"Right."

"A member of a top-four Sky Knight regiment comes to participate in this so-called imperial conquest, affecting normal navigation between airspaces. What kind of behavior is this?"

"I understand." Lancelot's expression also became serious. ===== CHAPTER 49 =====