"Tut-tut, this one is a big loss, haha."

It seems to say something about the loss, but the speaker's tone is full of pleasant feelings.

He pushed his glasses and looked at his silent partner next to him.

"What's wrong, Liu? If there's anything you want to say, just say it. ”

As if in a good mood, the man with glasses looked at his partner with a smile.

Liu was silent for a moment, but finally spoke up.

"Li Cao, obviously failed, why can you laugh?"

"Failure? Where? ”

Li Cao's smile couldn't have been stronger.

"Attacking Rubaccher on all fronts, but being beaten in pieces, this is of course a failure!"

The voice was a little excited. It is the most terrible for an honest person to start a fire, especially a silent and honest person like Liu.

"Oh, you say this - but where did we fail? Liu, how are the casualties of our boxers? ”

Faced with Li Cao's question, Liu replied helplessly: "No." ”

"So, what about our money and transportation lines?"

"There was no damage."

"Isn't this the end of it~"

Li Cao sat on the desk with a smile, this somewhat prodigal posture was unexpectedly very in line with his image as an intellectual.

"Liu, don't forget our purpose. Don't forget your original intention. Tsk, when will you change 'kill when you see the enemy' to 'don't forget your original intention'~~"

Li Cao was talking about the inscription in his office. It was written with a brush with a big four words: Kill the enemy. These four words are also the course of action of the Black Moon.

Seeing Li Cao teasing this, Liu's face revealed a trace of unhappiness, but it quickly disappeared. Although the man in front of him seems to have no respect for Black Moon's creed, in fact, he is a man who is more worthy of Black Moon's name than anyone else.

"Liu, we seem to be gambling now. Poker, you know. According to the rules of poker, how many cards do I throw......"

Li Cao said, making a throwing motion.

"There will be how many cards the dealer makes. Otherwise, Black Moon will quit the game because of the lack of cards in his hand and will definitely lose. That's what the bookmaker doesn't want to see. ”

Liu doesn't seem to understand Li Cao's words, but Li Cao is a person with a good brain, and he must have a reason when he says this.

In this way, it is true that Li Cao withdrew a large number of Black Moon's combatants from Crossbell before, and the result was that the Rose Slave Regiment happened to come to Crossbell and happened to sign an agreement with Black Moon to become its subordinate combat force.

Li Cao, did you even predict this......

It's horrible.

"So, Liu, don't worry so much. If we run out of cards, then the dealer will definitely replenish our hand. If he hadn't done it......"

Li Cao pushed down his glasses with a smile, his smile was very gentle, but the eyes under the glasses were glowing with an eerie cold light.

"Then it's time for us to go to war with the dealer."

Even Liu somewhat understood Li Cao's intentions.

Because the hand that is replenished to the black moon must be in the hands of the black curtain, at least the power that the black curtain can grasp. The Black Moon sent them to the front line to consume, which was tantamount to consuming the power of the Black Curtain.

How smart is this person?

Liu was once again in awe of Li Cao's wisdom in his heart.

“？ Li Cao, where are you going? ”

When he came back to his senses, Li Cao had already begun to tidy up his coat, looking like he was going out.

"Ahh Lord Wind has hit Rubacher hard for us, we can't say nothing at all~"

Looking at Li Cao's smile, Liu couldn't tell if this was Li Cao's interest, or if he was planning some kind of strategy?

――――――――――

The blades are staggered.

The galloping silver light trail slashed down the opponent's forehead at a rapid pace.

Subsequently, it was blocked.

Turning his back on the blade, he blocked the blow with a broad back. Then, another sword stabbed into the incoming throat.

What to do, withdraw the sword and return to defense, then the sword that originally served as a shield will attack, and if you dodge away, you will completely fall into the pace of the opponent.

At the slightest hesitation, the blade of the coming person had already resisted his heart.

"Arios, you've lost."

The person who came said lightly. It seemed as a matter of course to defeat Crossbell's Patronus.

Arios silently put away his sword.

He has fought many times with his old friends, but he has never won.

Because of his old friend's special physique, it would be very easy for Arios to cut off the weapon in his hand if he swung his sword with all his might. But that doesn't make sense.

Kendo is to constantly challenge strong opponents and reflect on their own shortcomings. Maybe he has more advantages in terms of comprehensive ability, but when it comes to swordsmanship alone, he can't even compare to half of his old friends.

"Thank you for the teaching. I'm going to say goodbye today. ”

Arios bowed humbly, ready to leave. And an old friend stopped him.

"Why don't you have some tea before you leave?"

"Nope."

Glancing at his old friend's room on the second floor, Arios shook his head and gave up on the idea.

Now that Crossbell's environment is getting more and more chaotic, Arios really can't enjoy tea leisurely.

His attitude towards things is completely different from that of his old friend.

"Is that so......"

The old friend, Xia Xiyan, sighed and put back his double swords.

"Arios...... What are you anxious about? ”

Facing the brown-red back of Arios gradually moving away, Xia Xiyan said. A short sentence made Arios stop.

"Have you been discovered......

"Definitely. After all, we've known each other for a long time. ”

"Oh, yes...... It's been a long time. So are you, and so is Guy. You can see what I'm thinking. ”

Somewhat nostalgic, Arios looked up at the non-existent sky, some old ceilings blocked his vision, but his vision seemed to penetrate those, and he saw a piece of blue directly.

"Guy...... Is it ...... It's a shame. ”

Xia Xiyan also sighed rarely, with a somewhat sentimental atmosphere. However, he soon regained his indifference and calm, and continued to ask:

"Arios, answer me. What are you anxious about? ”

“……”

"That's not your sword. The sword, which should have been as sharp and clean as the wind, was now wrapped in black flames. It's sluggish and dirty. ”

"Isn't it because your swordsmanship has become more sophisticated?"

Arios' voice was helpless, which was the hope that his old friend would not delve into it.

"My swordsmanship has not improved. It's you, who has become sluggish. The sword is born from the heart. What kind of feelings a person has, what kind of sword will be used. Arios, you're in a mess right now. Very anxious. What the hell are you anxious about? Can't you say it? ”

“……”

Indifferently did not answer, Arios's silence expressed his meaning.

“…… That's right. So, if it's not with me, but with Guy, can you say it? ”

Xia Xiyan, who did not give up, asked.

"Sorry...... Not even Guy. ”

“…… Isn't that ......?"

"I'm sorry, I'll take my leave."

Throwing off these words, Arios strode out of the Heartless Stream Dojo. The brown-red coat was swept by the wind, reminiscent of his nickname, the Sword Master of the Winds.

Xia Xiyan looked at the back of him leaving, and did not respond for a long time.