Three days passed in a flash, and the Lion's Mane jumped out of subspace to Mandeville Point in the Baal system as planned, but it didn't mean that the low-profile landing ceremony that the Praetorian had already compromised with Rika Fujimaru would soon be launched on the main planet of Baal:

Until then, there is a whole bunch of different communications that have to be dealt with. To be more specific, it is to contact the tower, plan the route, wait for the port connection, apply for the site, implement the clearance, etc., etc......

"If it goes well, we will be able to land at the port in two or three days." Fujimaru Rika was in a stable mood about this, "After all, the size of the Chaldea is also a privileged class under the Star Torch Hall, and it is true that he went to Baal with a very practical mission. Based on this, it should be easy to get a fast track and cut a line. ”

Rika Fujimaru didn't particularly like these "privileges" on her own, because she didn't feel that she was decisively different from the more "ordinary people" in the empire - but these privileges did exist objectively in her because of the emperor's will. She can pretend that nothing happens in normal times, but when it really comes to use, she shouldn't be hypocritical.

“…… What? Kelya, who was lying on the side of the porthole of the Lionmane Observation Deck with a new reliquary necklace around her neck, looked back and asked in a daze.

The wooden reliquary, protected by the magic of Rune, was made for the other party by Rika Fujimaru (with the help of Sigismund). On the grounds that "it's a bit of a waste to use such a precious thing as a one-time summoning agent", she arbitrarily put the crow feather that had been "scavenged" from Corax at the Psionic Council of Pamenio and stuffed it into Kellya as an amulet, regardless of the fact that this extensive use of the "holy relic" might be even more blasphemous in the eyes of the Empire.

Kelia, who was just a commoner on Pameño half a year ago, and who has not had much normal contact with imperial society since then, seems to be unable to accept the term "privileged class" all of a sudden. A mixture of nervousness, excitement, trepidation, and confusion was evident on her face, as if she didn't quite understand how long "two or three days" meant—though on the Storm Frontier it was already customary for the Terra standard system to be used for time units.

But perhaps, it is precisely because she was only a civilian not long ago that the efficiency represented behind this "two or three days" made her so dumbfounded.

The Lionmane shook slightly, and the roar of the plasma engines could not be heard from the observation deck on the upper deck, but everyone on board could still conclude that they were working. Outside the transparent portholes, countless bright stars on the black canopy are thus out of the view of the observers in the cabin - some of them are naturally obscured by the change in the angle of the Lion's Mane itself, but many of the brighter parts are running away from the edge of the portholes:

The vast majority of the bright spots that stand out in the dark universe are not distant natural stars, but the light emitted by the propulsion devices of ships that are preparing to go to Baal for various reasons. To this day, the three stars of Baal are not only the home planet of the Holy Blood Angel Warband, but also the administrative and military hub of the dark side of the empire. In Fujimaru Ritsuka's original expectation, the airport in the galaxy was also a proper one, but even the crowd near Mandeville Point was indeed a bit beyond her expectations.

"I have to admit that it was a wise decision for you to ask the Forbidden Army to take over the rest of the diplomatic work." Judging from Judge Hastings' tone alone, it was difficult to tell whether he was angry with Rika Fujimaru about his abuse of power, or if he was expressing his lingering feelings about the redundant and inefficient Imperial Administration, "Judging from the current situation we have seen, even the most optimistic estimates, I think that under the premise of going through the normal process, if we want to see the surface of Baal Lord, we need to wait less than fifteen to eighteen months. ”

Considering the context, Rika Fujimaru decided to interpret this passage as the latter: "Then of course I have to cut into this team." Time is a luxury for me, and I don't have that much time to waste on simply waiting where I am. ”

That's true in the literal sense of the word. At least one year was enough for her to build the "lighthouse" part of the Chaldean lighthouse. On the premise that the entire building, or rather, the theoretical construction period of the super-large temple-level composite magic workshop should be compressed into twenty years, she really didn't have that much time to waste.

Still not used to the taste of privilege, or rather, as a commoner, Kelia is too used to "waiting", and still seems a little weak-hearted. However, before she could say something about it, Inquisitor Hastings first discovered this:

"Why can't you do this!" This reprimand of hatred is obviously aimed at Kelya, "It's been half a year, why haven't you abandoned that mediocre way of thinking?" A competent inquisitor attendant, no matter what position he is in, should not cower in the face of the 'privileges' of the prefect! ”

Kylia reflexively winced at Hastings' reprimand, but then Fujimaru Rika spoke, "I think you're a little too nitpicky, Inquisitor Hastings. A relatively quiet life of paramilitary management for half a year is unlikely to completely wipe out the methodology formed by one's life experience in the previous sixteen years. You have to give her a little time to change her mind. ”

"When you said that half a year ago, I agreed." Hastings turned his anger towards Fujimaru Rika, "But now half a year has passed, even if she was originally a Glocks beast raised to eat meat, after this half a year of training, she should be a little bit of a look!" That's how it should be! ”

Implication: He was very dissatisfied with Fujimaru Rika's behavior of "making obstacles" in his "education plan" in the past six months.

"It's only been half a year, and I think you're asking too much." Fujimaru Rika obviously understood, and didn't intend to change it at all, "Why are you more anxious than me in this regard?" ”

"Oh, I thought she would be the next mistress of the Chaldees?" Hastings snapped at the obvious, "I'm sorry, but in my shallow opinion, I thought it would be a better strategy for everyone to get her ready sooner. ”

"First of all, I don't think there's any 'ready' for this kind of thing. When the big task falls on everyone's head, it's a kind of 'duck on the shelf'. Fujimaru Rika replied, "Speaking of yourself, Inquisitor Hastings, can you be sure that you are indeed ready when you pick up your mentor's rose knot?" ”

The argument that the other party chose to refute was a bit tricky, and the incident that was mentioned did make it difficult for Judge Hastings to refute, and he was dumbfounded for a while. This old thing, which had been dug up suddenly, caused the Inquisitor to overthink, and in the next moment, he couldn't help but start to guess why the other party had brought it up, and how much of the details he knew about it. And then, based on his understanding of Fujimaru Ritsuka's character in the past six months, he realized that all of the above ideas were fighting wits and courage with the air.

Because Fujimaru Rika obviously didn't care about this question that was only casually mentioned by her, her point, although it sounded a little subtle, was obviously still in Hastings's last sentence: "Secondly, as the 'current mistress' of the Chaldees, I have no intention of abdicating so early. ”

This was a relatively euphemistic statement, and Judge Hastings should have taken advantage of the situation to deflect the topic and prevent the mines hidden under the euphemism from being turned over. He had intended to do so, but unfortunately, it was unfortunate - first, his mind had slowed down by half a beat because he had not yet detached himself from the part that had wrestled with the air; Secondly, unfortunately, Astarte, who had always liked to find fault with him, happened to appear on the observation deck at this moment.

"I seem to hear someone cursing our eldest lady for her early death." Sevita's huge figure, which appeared to be due to the power armor, appeared silently, and it was difficult to say that his words of provocative carriage and horse did not carry a bit of vicious personal vendettas. Immediately after, he turned to Fujimaru Ritsuka, and the eagerness in his tone almost overflowed: "How is it?" Do you need me to beat him up? ”

"Thanks, I'll do it myself if I need it." Fujimaru Rika politely rejected the other party, and then asked rhetorically, "Sevita Leone, did you come to me for something?" ”

"Can't I come if it's okay? Miss, you are truly ruthless. ”

Despite her complaints, Sevita honestly handed over a large roll of parchment - if they were left alone, the servo skulls of Makulag's friendship support would have formed various records in this rather inefficient form by default - and only let go completely after confirming that Fujimaru Rika had taken it well, explaining, "This is the list of honor guards drawn up by Vasilian the Praetorian Warden and Ranmarok, the Grand Master of the Firewings, who will be aboard the Emperor Dream with us." ”

Inquisitor Hastings let out a nasal voice of displeasure on the side. Sevita turned her head accordingly: "What, do you have an opinion?" ”

Seeing that things were bad again, Kellya began to quietly move her position, preparing to find a place to hide.

"I said I wanted to confirm the list myself." Before the two gentlemen next to him began to fight again, Fujimaru Rika first opened her mouth to extinguish the source of the struggle, "Of course, I handed over the specific positions, responsibilities and relevant audits of these people to the Forbidden Army and the Dark Angel, but I also need to know who I will meet on the Emperor Dream and who to give orders to in case of an accident." ”

No matter what question the Inquisitor had intended to use to make a difficulty, his unspoken sentences were choked back by this passage for a moment. And before he could successfully regroup, Sevita's voice rang out again:

"My dear Mr. Inquisitor, do you have nothing else to do but pick thorns around the eldest lady and the little ones?"

Hastings, who had been choked up repeatedly, was angry for a while. He was tempted to say something about stabbing back, but in a blink of an eye, Sevita was already discussing with Fujimaru Rika about "when to release Somny so that the Emperor Dream could be launched". His self-cultivation made it difficult for him to intervene in such a serious matter, so he had to angrily glance at Kelya, who was about to hide in the shadow of the Saivita Power Armor, and threw down the sentence "I'll go see what these ships are in the vicinity", and left from the observation deck.

After waiting like this for a while, Sevita asked uneasily, "Do you need me to follow quietly?" I suspect he's not just trying to find out which forces the nearby ships belong to, but also what forces he can use nearby. ”

What the screening is going to do, everyone here knows it, and there is no need to say it explicitly. Fujimaru Rika, who was flipping through the paper roll, shrugged her shoulders indifferently, still unconcerned: "No matter where he is, his job is like this, let him go." But if after half a year has passed, he still thinks that if he wants to assassinate me, he can do it by raising some armed forces casually, then it means that his professional ability is only to this extent. When the time comes, I will allow you to fire freely, and then send a letter asking the Imperial Regent to come in for a new one. ”

Sevita let out a wry laugh, "I'm suddenly looking forward to that day. ”

"I don't think he will give you that chance, Inquisitor Hastings still has the basic ability to judge the situation." Rika Fujimaru said.

Then, she suddenly remembered something, and looked up from the scroll of paper: "Speaking of which, Kelya—Kelia?" ”

"What?" Sevita was at a loss at Rika Fujimaru's questioning tone.

"Kylea is gone. Did you notice when she left? Rika Fujimaru's tone was very confused.

Sevita was also confused, as the bird's beam built into his helmet told him plainly that Kylia was hiding in the blind spot behind him. It was not without a trace, and although the little girl had wanted to move as unobtrusively as possible, her every move on the spacious and unobstructed observation deck could not escape the eyes of the others present, whether they wanted to point it out or not.

"Isn't she here?" Sevita turned around with this confusion and looked into the shadow behind her.

"What? I'm here. Kelya's voice came from that position just in time, but Sevita seemed to be taken aback, and took a sharp step back in the direction of the porthole:

In that moment, neither Rika Fujimaru could observe it with the naked eye, nor the visual image of Sevita looking out of her helmet—the position where Kylia "should be" was, was empty. However, the Bird Divination Instrument built into the Power Armor still conscientiously published the "normal" indication, indicating that Sevita was indeed there.

The memories evoked by this scene made the Midnight Lord's company commander almost curse on the spot.

(End of chapter)