I! Cleaner!

"Stop!"

"Don't go!"

"Danger!"

Amidst several nearly simultaneous shouts of alarm, the pilot of the third powered armor finally reacted, halting his headlong rush and forcibly stopping outside the white mist concealing the Grim Reaper.

However, half of a metal leg, towering over a person, was grabbed by a silver-white hand and hurled from the thick fog. With a loud crash, it slammed into the head of the third powered armor, directly ripping open most of the observation chamber, exposing the cockpit below.

"Help... Help!"

In the shriek of the third powered armor operator, that ghostly silhouette of the "Grim Reaper" was also tossed over by the silver-white hand.

As the silver hand scattered and fell, Leon, carrying a small golden retriever, had already jumped into the cockpit, swiftly cutting the safety belts binding the operator and tossing him directly out through the observation chamber.

"Sit down!"

After untying the rope from his back and pressing the shaky-legged small golden retriever into the pilot seat, Leon, meanwhile, released his thoughts to recollect the cursed silver that had scattered all over the place after he took off. He commanded expressionlessly, "Start it! Hurry!"

...

Running on two legs was definitely not feasible. Facing a power armor capable of speeds around fifty to sixty kilometers per hour, running with just two flesh legs was out of the question. As long as one powered armor remained operational, even if he broke through the encirclement, he'd be tailed until the Capital City, and his identity might be exposed.

Besides, his stamina wouldn't allow it either. After being bitten by that damned black snake, his demon abnormal object had been severely weakened, and the sulfurous aura contributing to his *Endless Blood Battle* was now less than a twentieth of what it used to be.

This tiny remainder of *Endless Blood Battle* had to be reserved for emergencies or to replenish consumption after activating the cursed silver, so it couldn't be wasted on the two legs for running. Thus, he had to hijack a powered armor for transportation.

And as for not knowing how to operate a powered armor... wasn't there that little golden retriever who could?

Seeing the little golden retriever sitting dumbfounded in the pilot seat, not yet grasping his intentions, Leon, who had little time to waste, lifted his hand impatiently and whacked the back of his head, threatening,

"Either operate the powered armor, or die! Choose for yourself!"

?!!

Finally understanding Leon's plan, the little golden retriever, face still streaked with snot, quivered before his pretty decent face flushed bright red. In the loudest voice of his life, he shouted back, "I won't!"

"Give it up!"

"I swear by the honor of the Ryan family! Even if I, Steven Laine, have to die in this cockpit or jump out and fall to my death, I will never betray my comrades to help you escape in the powered armor!"

Truly tenacious!

No wonder he's my lieutenant!

From afar, hearing the little golden retriever's bold, indignant yells, the remaining members of the powered armor squad imagined how they themselves would react in such a scenario and showed expressions of admiration.

A true man!

Though Lieutenant was normally a bit arrogant and wouldn't stop talking about his lineage with the Ryan family. After hearing about the Ryan family's impending royal marriage, his tail almost shot up to the heavens, annoyingly pestering.

But annoying as he might be, he proved reliable in critical moments. He would rather be taken down than cooperate with the enemy, truly demonstrating an indomitable spirit!

...

Wow, this kid actually has a backbone.

Faced with a little golden retriever whose face still had tears and snot not yet wiped clean, while still stubbornly rejecting him, Leon was momentarily out of ideas.

After all, operating a powered armor was a technical skill, and he couldn't manage it. Just the mess of gauges on the dashboard would take a good month or two to understand, not to mention the myriad of switches and control sticks. If he had to do it, he probably wouldn't even find the start switch.

"How about this..."

After shaking his head helplessly, Leon asked,

"You constantly talk about the Ryan family, mentioning your revered Duke of Lionheart; have you ever met him?"

"Met... of course, I have."

Hearing Leon's question, the little golden retriever suddenly became a bit anxious, his eyes flickering, "I once vis... visited with my family to see the Duke and was graciously received. That very day, I was even invited to stay and have dinner with the Duke in the main building of Ryan Manor."

"..."

Oh, come off it. Graciously received? Had dinner in the main building? Never lived a day in that wretched place. You're better off saying you saw me being dragged into a tavern by a redhead to be forced into drinks.

Looking speechlessly at the lying little golden retriever, Leon sighed and asked further,

"Alright, assuming you've met him... do you know what he looks like?"

"Of course I do!"

Seeing Leon doubt his words, the little golden retriever's face flushed in anger, retorting loudly, "I'm well-acquainted with the Duke! He was specifically named by the late Duke to rise to his position, even when everyone doubted him. That damn Earl even claimed the Duke's title would rot faster than a cabbage.

Yet not long after, the Duke successfully stabilized the situation. His striking appearance and eloquence earned him the favor of the Princess, ensuring the Ryan family's hold over the military and Department of Road Administration will... uh... you... you, you, you!"

"Stop the yous, do you recognize this face?"

Wiping his face and dispelling the effects of *If*, Leon revealed his true face, squinting at the dumbfounded little golden retriever and threatening expressionlessly, "Speed up the process! If you don't get moving, tomorrow's headline in The Sun News will read: 'Duke of Lionheart arrested for attacking the Boarding Tower!'"

"You... you're an impostor!"

After a few seconds, the little golden retriever yelled angrily, "As soon as you get caught, your disguise won't work on that face. No one will believe you..."

"Here, the Duke's seal."

Called Young Ha over, retrieved the Duke of Lionheart's seal, and tossed it over to the bewildered little golden retriever. To prevent him from claiming the seal was fake, Leon had Young Ha search through the Mirror World, bringing out everything that could prove his identity.

"This is the coronet from the day of the installation ceremony."

"..."

"This is the regular attire given by your Ryan family for the Duke."

"..."

"This is some badge, said to represent a seat as Deputy Speaker of the Upper House."

"..."

"And here's the royal edict with the royal family's seal for the installation."

"..."

"Do these items establish my identity?"

Watching the little golden retriever shivering uncontrollably, clutching a pile of things embossed with the Ryan Family's Lionheart Crest, and completely mentally crashing, Leon reached out to pat his face, squinting and urging, "Are you convinced now? If so, start the powered armor quickly! Surely, you don't want your Duke of Lionheart arrested for a frontal assault on the Boarding Tower, do you?"

"..."

"Poof——"

The sound of the steam engine resonated, and under the stunned gazes of the powered armor squad members, a certain powered armor, which had stopped functioning due to the "unyielding lieutenant's" refusal to cooperate, surprisingly shuddered to life once again.

Moreover, it shed all the disposable armaments, even voluntarily detaching some removable outer armor, reducing its weight to the minimum. Subsequently, it accelerated to seventy kilometers per hour, speeding away from the encirclement!

"..."

"..."

"..."

Seriously? Weren't you saying you'd never cooperate? Then who the heck is piloting the powered armor? Your dead spirit after being taken down?