Chapter 726: Pre-War Preparations (3)

The area belonging to the Tailin Family within the Ninth Defense Zone Inner City.

The territory of the Tailin Family appeared exceptionally distinct within this forest of steel in the Inner City.

This place was a self-contained combination of a Fortress and a hall.

The towering alloy walls were etched with the Tailin Family eagle emblem and ancient Oaths of Loyalty.

The air was filled with the faint scent of incense, mixed with the smell of oil used for maintaining weapons.

Yingzhou walked at the very front, wearing only a simple, deep blue robe.

Following closely on both sides behind him were two figures draped in inconspicuous gray robes, yet their frames were unusually tall.

Ferrus Manus shifted his gaze from the family crests covered in battle scars, turned toward Yingzhou, and his deep voice broke the Silence.

"Father,"

Ferrus spoke to ask Yingzhou.

"The Tailin Family, as the vanguard to tear through the Cyberk Titan Array? Their... Knights?"

His palm subconsciously clenched into a fist, and he continued.

"The target is, after all, the giant war machines of the Alien. There is a chasm between the firepower and protection of a Knight and a true Titan. Their courage is unquestionable, but can the will of flesh and Steel bridge this gap in pure tonnage and firepower?"

Ferrus's words struck at the core—using relatively light Knight units to charge the enemy's most powerful Titan cluster was no different from throwing eggs against a rock.

This required not just courage, but also the willingness to pay a heavy sacrifice.

The moment Ferrus finished speaking, Perturabo let out a nearly imperceptible hum.

He did not directly refute Ferrus, but the sound contained a natural distrust for the efficiency of "non-standardized" and "aristocratic" units.

Yingzhou's pace did not falter in the slightest, and he replied in a calm voice.

"Ferrus, Perturabo, the scales of war are never decided solely by tonnage and muzzle size.

What flows through the Tailin Family is the tempered soul of a Knight.

Their Loyalty is the pure flame that ignites the engines and drives the Sharp Blade. Their 'smallness' is precisely the most lethal advantage for piercing the armor of giant beasts—swiftness, precision, and fearlessness."

"Their mission is to attract the Cyberk Alien Giant Mech, and while causing damage, make the Cyberk Alien feel troubled."

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on the two Primarchs. "This courage and Loyalty deserve our trust; believe that they can achieve it!"

Just then, the massive alloy gates of the Tailin Family hangar rose slowly amidst the sound of heavy hydraulics.

Knight Commander Saide Tailin had clearly already received the highest level of alert.

He led the core members of the family—including Reinardo, Liriya, Jialun, and others, as well as several of the most elite Knight pilots—to line up on the wide platform in front of the hangar at top speed.

They knelt on one knee in perfect unison, their heads bowed deeply.

Saide shouted in the most devout voice.

"Supreme Emperor! The Tailin Family welcomes your holy arrival!"

"Your will is the meaning of our existence!"

Yingzhou walked to the front of the platform and stopped.

His gaze swept over the kneeling crowd, finally landing on Knight Commander Saide and those Knights ready for battle.

Without any amplification equipment, his voice echoed clearly in everyone's ears.

"Knights of Tailin, rise."

Everyone stood up as ordered, their bodies held straight, and a fanatical flame burned in their eyes.

Yingzhou said in a calm tone.

"Saide, show me how well you have prepared?"

Hearing Yingzhou's words, Saide immediately stepped forward and saluted respectfully.

"Yes! Emperor! This is my honor!"

Under the respectful guidance of Commander Saide, Yingzhou stepped into the hangar where the Knights were stored.

Ferrus Manus and Perturabo followed closely behind, their gazes sweeping across the entire space in an instant.

The interior of the hangar was brightly lit, the lights reflecting off the polished armor of the Knight Mechs.

Commander Saide walked half a step behind Yingzhou's side, his back straight, his voice slightly tight with excitement, but he tried his best to remain clear.

"Supreme Emperor, noble Primarchs,"

He nodded slightly toward Ferrus and Perturabo to acknowledge them.

"Please allow me to show you the sharpest Liaya of the Tailin Family; they have been honed to the most perfect state, ready at any moment to tear out the throat of the Alien for you!"

The area with dozens of Knights radiated the unique, lean, and lethal beauty of noble warriors.

Technicians wearing robes with the Tailin family crest worked around the Knights.

Several Knight Titans—these noble war machines that stood between Titans and super-heavy mechs—were undergoing final combat preparations.

Technicians wearing robes with the Tailin family crest used soft cloths soaked in Holy Oil to carefully wipe the blades of the Power Spears, checked the focusing arrays and energy conduits of the Melta Cannons, and calibrated the frequency of the Ion Shield Generators.

Every touch was filled with a devotion bordering on a religious ritual, and the air was permeated with the faint scent of incense.

The hangar echoed with low, rhythmic chanting. It was the technicians and support staff chanting in unison fragments of the ancient Machine Prayer and Oath of Allegiance, their voices merging into a solemn torrent:

"Steel as bone, Loyalty as soul..."

"... The engine is the heart, driving us forward..."

"... The Emperor's gaze, guiding our Sharp Blade..."

"... The filth of the Alien, must be cleansed by holy flame!"

Saide promised Yingzhou excitedly.

"Every Knight has undergone the most rigorous inspection and the most devout blessing.

Every pilot has merged their soul with their mount.

Our will is Steel!"

Our Loyalty is the power!

The entire Tailin Family is prepared to shed their last drop of blood and fight until the very last moment for the Emperor!"

Yingzhou listened quietly to Saide's introduction, his gaze sweeping over the gleaming gilded emblem on the Knight closest to him, over the faint red glow rising from the muzzle of the Melta Cannon, over the cold, sharp edge of the Power Spear, and finally landing on Saide's eyes, which were burning with a death-defying will.

He did not immediately deliver a long speech, but simply nodded slightly.

"Very good, Saide Tailin."

Yingzhou's voice remained calm.

"I have seen your preparations, and I have felt your burning Oath.

Remember your mission: distract, disrupt, tear apart, and create opportunities for battle.

Your courage and sacrifice will be an indispensable weight on the scales of victory."

Ferrus Manus's gaze carefully scrutinized the Knight's heavy pauldrons and precise joint structures, his palm gently rubbing his chin as he evaluated their ability to withstand impact.

Perturabo, meanwhile, observed the formation of the Knights and the workflow of the technicians in Silence, but at least he did not let out any more dissatisfied snorts—efficient preparation and clear tactical positioning were a language he could understand.