Having said that, getting good talent is Lelouch's top priority in this period. Thanks to the aid received from Kyoto, the problems with weapons and funds have been greatly alleviated. So now the biggest problem is people.

The current Black Knights rely too much on the decision-making and command of ZERO, that is, Lelouch, who stands at the top of this organization. In this case, it will be difficult for the organization to make any leaps from now on. No matter how extraordinary Geass is, Lelouch alone has limited strength.

At this time, Lelouch received a contact from a fan lurking at the base in the Shinjuku area.

It seems that he has something to say to Lelouch about Karene and her dedicated Knightmare Red Lotus II.

"It's said that the situation is not good, and it has been like this since Narita broke his right arm and came back from repairs."

While walking along the warehouse passage where the scoundrels of the mass production machine were placed on both sides, he explained the situation to Lelouch, who was wearing a ZERO mask.

"Every movement is not as precise as it used to be. But that's just Kalian's words. ”

Lelouch hummed and asked him through the microphone hidden in his mask.

"What about the opinion of the tester Inoue?"

"Even if you ignore the drive error being measured, the grade is pretty good. But he himself said that this is not his area of expertise, and the feeling of being a driver cannot be completely denied. ”

"I see."

Finally, the two of them came to the end of the passage, a wide space.

This warehouse was originally an underground shelter during the war seven years ago. After the war, the Black Knights converted this unused shelter into a warehouse for Knightmare.

It's not just Knightmare that it's space, it's even big enough to make it easy to maneuver.

The space at the end of the passage was where the maneuvers were to take place, and there was now a red Knightmare secured there with a special stand. Don't ask, it's the red lotus two style in the mouth of the two just now.

At the feet of Red Lotus, there is also an exclusive driver wearing the uniform of the Knights - Karene Schuttanfield. Sensing the arrival of Fan and Lelouch, she ran towards them with a sigh.

"SORRY, ZERO, FOR LETTING YOU GO TO THIS KIND OF PLACE."

"It's okay."

Lelouch replied coldly. He wasn't particularly wary of Karen, but every time he spoke to her in the Order, he had to be careful to switch his attitude.

Of course, Karene already knew that ZERO was Lelouch. But for her sake of not leaking out, it can be regarded as a little secret with Zhang Yu.

"Don't mind, I have other things to fix here."

"That's good......"

"Moreover, if our trump card goes wrong, it will be troublesome, after all, Red Lotus and you have to fight at the forefront."

In an instant, Karen immediately became radiant, and it seemed that being called the trump card made her feel very happy.

Lelouch didn't care, he continued.

"Can you give me the boot key?"

"Huh?"

"I've heard that the Red Lotus is not moving accurately in the computer test, so I have to take it on to make sure, so I should be able to understand your feelings somewhat."

"Ah...... Yes, yes. Well, this - the energy filling device has been assembled. ”

Kalian was a little flustered and handed out the red lotus's start key to Lelouch. After Lu Luxiu took it, he walked up the elevator and sat in the cockpit of the Red Lotus II style.

The cockpit of this Red Lotus II is different from the scoundrel modified from the British Army's Glasgo, and is slightly different from it. If the scoundrel's seat is a modest seat, it's like a bicycle. The driver needs to lean forward to hold the joystick.

As soon as Lelouch inserted the boot key, the main monitor lit up. The text that appears is all in Japanese. Although there was nothing wrong with this for the pure Japanese Knightmare Red Lotus, the moment he saw this scene, Lelouch suddenly felt a little ironic.

Meaningless patriotic acts.

Eventually, the splash screen disappeared, and the monitor reflected an image of the outside.

"I'm starting, be careful."

After using the communicator to warn Fan and Karen who were watching from the sidelines, Lelouch pulled the joystick. After leaving the special stand, Honglian's feet took a step forward. But at this moment, Lelouch suddenly frowned in confusion.

Of course, Lelouch didn't make any special moves, nor did he let the red lotus run or jump suddenly, he just let it walk. However, even so, it also gave Lelouch, who had never ridden the red lotus since he handed it over to Kalian, a strong feeling.

- Unexpectedly.

Lelouch cautiously held the joystick and couldn't help but start talking to himself.

She was able to maneuver the Mustang-like body with ease—the joystick-connected automatic control system was almost completely different from the other Knightmare. Even the slightest movement can be sensitively sensed and the body reacts.

I see, that's why Red Lotus can make such wonderful moves on the battlefield. But on the other hand, it requires a very high level of proficiency on the part of the driver. It's too responsive to be controlled.

It doesn't want it to move like this, but it will make unnecessary movements. For example, if the scoundrel that Lelouch usually rides in is compared to an ordinary car that anyone can control, Red Lotus is a racing car that has been modified to the extreme.

No, alternatively, it could be called a giant bomber or a super-high-speed fighter. Even the mere act of moving your gaze in the cockpit seems to convey the action to your fingertips, changing the trajectory of the body's movement.

Lelouch thought that this was the difference between the seventh-generation Knightmare and the non-seventh-generation mechs. Of course, there is also a difference between formal and informal machines, no

Kalian, the driver who can manipulate the red lotus freely, is indeed extraordinary.

(That's not going to work...... ）

After activating the Red Lotus, Lelouch immediately came to a conclusion. The term "special machine" is really very accurate. It's a feeling that only Karin can't understand. And now, there has to be someone who understands that feeling and, on the basis of Karen's wishes, to carry out a real and precise repair of this machine.

Although there are also special personnel in the Black Knights to provide maintenance work for Knightmare, when faced with this latest model, which can also be said to be a special specification of the Red Lotus, those who only "know Knightmare" are far from up to the task of repair.

(That said, talent is also needed here.) ）

Lelouch sighed. Then, he drove the red lotus around the field and returned to the special stand for the red lotus. After descending the elevator, he walked towards Karen and Fan, who were waiting on the side.

"How?"

Karen asked timidly.

Lelouch shrugged.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I can't understand how you feel."

Karen's eyes hung in disappointment.

"Of course, I'm not going to ignore your judgment. In other words, Red Lotus now needs an 'expert'. I hope that someone will understand your opinion as a driver and take action about it......"

"However, such a person is not simply able to-"

"I know what to do. I've heard that it's a difficult person to negotiate with, but I'll give it a try. ”

As he spoke, Lu Luxiu turned his head to look at the Red Lotus Second Style, which had stopped moving.

"Because in fact, there is an opponent who needs Red Lotus to deal with it no matter what."

Hearing this, Karian seemed to be taken aback. She looked up, her gaze sharper than before.

"White Knightmare ......"

Yes, none of them knew that the white Knightmare was an impostor. Jade, are you really planning to keep that Knightmare as a treasurer?

Lelouch lowered his head slightly.

"Now, you're the only one who can compete with it."

"—Yes."

"Of course, I don't have the ability to create the conditions for you to fight one-on-one – because we're not boxing right now. But even if this is not the case, it is still necessary for Red Lotus to be in the best shape at all times. ”

With that, Lelouch turned to the fan beside Kalian.

"Fan, contact Kyoto immediately."

"Understood."

"Although I don't really want to owe that group of old people, I can't help it now."

Despite the troubles, there is no other way than to solve them one by one.

Yes, there are many issues that must be addressed. To drive Britain into a dead end, first of all, there is still a long way to go. As long as there is a road in front of you, you just need to take it step by step and work hard to move forward.

Jade, this hidden trump card and the red lotus, the obvious trump card, are the most deadly times.

Suzaku will deeply realize your mistakes, and Britannia, wait.