After a long journey, Xiao Ran finally completed all the missions in the 19th district and returned to the capital of Britaria. The fatigue of the journey did not affect Xiao Ran too much. He accompanied Monica, who was lying on the sickbed, off the plane with Luciano. After watching Monica leave under the care and protection of a group of medical staff and guards, he turned to look at the long motorcade on the other side and Bismarck, who was standing in front of the motorcade.
Apart from Bismarck, there was another person with a noble status in the Empire, the Imperial Prince and Prime Minister, Schutzenel, who was also standing in front of the convoy. Schutzenel was a person with extremely deep scheming and unfathomable thoughts. He had the ambition of dictating the world, and in the entire Brittoria Empire, he was evaluated as the person closest to the Emperor.
In his eyes, there was no real enemy. He was a person who would not cling to anything for selfish desires. In other words, he would not judge things by emotions. Instead, he would prioritize benefits. As long as the goal could bring about positive benefits and effects, he would be willing to sacrifice everything for it, including himself.
Such a person was definitely the most qualified person to be a leader. Even Xiao Ran had to admit that this guy was more qualified than Luluxiu to be a king. However, his indifference to emotions and prioritizing benefits and using value were both advantages and disadvantages. To put it simply, he was inhumane. His rationality overwhelmed everything, but he also had an ideal similar to Euphemia. There were many contradictions in his heart and behavior. Zenar, on the other hand, grasped the scale well. He was a very capable person, but he was too ambitious and had too many ideas. He lacked the necessary shining points of human nature, so it was not surprising that he failed in the face of the protagonist, Luluxiu.
In the normal development of the plot, he brought great danger to Luluxiu, but in the end, he was controlled by Luluxiu's ass and became the loser. However, this did not affect Xiao Ran's evaluation of this person.
Xiao Ran also seemed to remember that Zenar did not seem to have the slightest good impression of Charles. He even planned a coup against Charles. He was also Luluxiu's last opponent in this world. There was no doubt about his ability, especially in the management of the country and the grasp of diplomacy. He was much better than Luluxiu, not to mention Nunnally and Euphemia who were still in the dark.
Xiao Ran could feel Zenar's gaze on him at this moment. It was not just him, but many people were looking at him. These gazes contained too many complicated emotions. There were all kinds of gazes, including admiration, sizing up, and mockery.
Luziano was used to being carefree and did not notice the strange atmosphere. After watching the convoy leave, he patted Luciano's shoulder and said, "Let's go. I didn't expect His Highness Zenar and Knight Bismarck to pick us up. Let's not keep them waiting for too long."
Xiao Ran nodded lightly. Together with Luciano, he quickly walked to the front of the convoy and stopped in front of Bismarck and Zenar. At such a close distance, he could clearly see the expression on their faces and the look in their eyes.
Bismarck had a complicated expression. There was a bit of surprise hidden in his eyes. It was hard to describe his expression and gaze. It was as if he had seen a junior grow up, but it was not gratification, pride, jealousy, or resentment. Instead, it was a bit of loneliness and helplessness. In short, it was hard to describe with words.
Hugh Zenier, on the other hand, was relatively calm. He wore a fake, gentle smile to show his steadfastness and kindness. However, Xiao Ran could see the fickle nature of his face at a glance.
As the person with the highest status, Zenar grasped the initiative very well. After Xiao Ran stopped, he did not hide his appreciation and kindness for Xiao Ran at all. With a smile on his face, he took the initiative to speak before Xiao Ran could salute, "Welcome back, Knight Luluxiu, Knight Luziano. Thank you for everything you have done for the empire in the 19th section. If I remember correctly, this is the first time I have officially met Knight Luluxiu. I have long heard about what you have done in the 19th section. I can't help but admire you. Your feats have now spread throughout the empire. You have lived up to the name of Knight of the Round Table. "
Xiao Ran put one hand on his chest and saluted as he said politely, "Thank you, Your Highness Zenar. This is what I should do. I have to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to welcome us back."
Zenar raised his hand and waved it gently as he shook his head and said seriously, "I don't think my presence here is something to be grateful for. The ones who should be grateful are you. It is because of warriors and heroes like you that the empire can maintain and grow stronger. As the Prime Minister and Prince of the empire, it is my honor to be the representative of the empire to welcome the return of the heroes."
Luziano chuckled mischievously. As for how much he thought that Hugh Zenaire was speaking the truth or whether he was touched by his words, only he knew. Of course, Xiao Ran at least knew a little about it too.
However, for Xiao Ran, Zenar's beautiful words didn't affect him at all. He just felt that this Zenar was really good at putting on a show. He really gave face to Xiao Ran, but he didn't know if he was touched by this guy's words.
However, Xiao Ran had guessed Hugh's purpose. It was nothing more than gaining his favor. But on the other hand, since Hugh was controlled by Lelouch's ass in the end and didn't have the slightest favorable impression of Charles, Xiao Ran thought that he might even want to start a coup. Perhaps Xiao Ran could also rope him in and have Lelouch give him an order to follow Nunnally or Euphemia's orders so that he could continue to govern this country as the prime minister. It didn't seem like a bad thing to let Nunnally and Euphemia, the two innocent girls, break free from those complicated affairs and schemes.
In addition, Hugh Zenar and Cornelia were the same. Both of them had high prestige in the empire and had many supporters. If they could turn Hugh Zenar into one of their own, it would be a great help for the future coup.
"Your Highness is too polite. I'm flattered by your words." Xiao Ran smiled faintly and did not seem to be flattered at all. He said calmly, "As a Knight of the Round Table of the Empire and the sharpest sword in His Majesty's hands, I did not complete the mission His Majesty entrusted to me. Therefore, I am not worthy of such praise from Your Highness. After all, we are now running back to the capital with the title of failure."
When Zenar heard Xiao Ran's words, his expression sank a little. It wasn't that he thought Xiao Ran didn't give him face, but it was purely because of the incident Xiao Ran mentioned.
Zenar's eyes sharpened a little. "You can't say that. Even if we failed in the end, our contributions cannot be ignored. We allowed the 19th sector to regain its footing and expand to such an extent. We resisted countless attacks from the EU and turned the situation around with our own strength. No one dares to label the soldiers of the 19th sector as failures. If anyone dares to do so, as the prime minister of the empire, I will be the first to stop them."
Xiao Ran sighed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."
"It's not much of an understanding. If even a hero like you has to be questioned, then there is nothing to look forward to in the future of the empire." Seumenelle shook his head and said, "That failure wasn't your fault, Knight Lulucius. The enemy's strength was beyond our expectations. Even with the best of both our country and the EU, we still weren't a match for that mech. No matter how you look at it, this failure has nothing to do with you, Knight Lulucius. It was purely because the enemy's strength was so strong that it was impossible to resist."
Luciano's smile slowly turned serious. He nodded and said, "Where did such an enemy come from? The organization called the Black Knights first appeared in the 11th sector. How could they be so powerful? I still can't imagine how Pendragon, the pilot of that Mech, did it."
Bismarck, who had been silent all this while, suddenly opened his mouth. "About this question, His Majesty also hopes to get the answer from you. He also wants to know what happened that day from your own mouth, from the perspective of the knights of the round table."
Xiao Ran smiled and nodded. "Since His Majesty is waiting for us, we don't have to waste time here."
Bismarck nodded. Just as he was about to say something, Schunier suddenly smiled and said, "Since that's the case, let's hurry up and set off. Knight Luciano, you and Knight Bismarck will ride together. I have long admired Knight Lulucius, so I want to take this opportunity to get to know him better."
Luciano wasn't against it. Bismarck glanced at Schnell and frowned slightly, but he didn't say anything in the end. Schnell raised his hand and opened the door behind him. "This way please, Knight Lelouch."
Xiao Ran felt that the situation between Zenar and Bismarck didn't seem right, but he didn't know what exactly happened between them, what did it mean, and what was the deeper meaning behind it. After smiling, Xiao Ran nodded and took the initiative to get in the car.
Hugh Zenar was never a person who would think based on his feelings. Given his fickleness, he didn't think that Xiao Ran's actions were disrespectful to him. He nodded to Bismarck and Luciano nonchalantly before getting into the car. Soon after, someone closed the door for him.
Zenar's car was much more luxurious than Bismarck's car. It was a large, extended version. Not only was it longer, but it was also taller. It was more like a luxury car with a luxurious cabin installed on the front. The interior was very spacious.
Zenar sat down and opened the fridge beside him. He looked at Xiao Ran and asked with a smile, "Knight Luluco, what would you like to drink? You probably haven't had the chance to drink in the 19th sector for a long time, right?"
"Anything is fine. There aren't many places to enjoy on the battlefield, but Her Highness Cornelia didn't mistreat me, so I can still relax from time to time."
Zenar smiled and poured a glass of wine with ice. He smoothly handed the glass to Xiao Ran and poured himself a glass of wine. He didn't even ask Xiao Ran to take a sip as if to prove something. He shook the glass and slowly said, "This is my favorite wine. There isn't much of it produced each year. Even with my status, I can only get a small amount. Knight Luluco, you are in luck today."
"Is that so? Even Her Highness praised this wine. I want to have a taste."
Xiao Ran smiled and took a sip of the wine. The taste was not bad, but it was far from good enough to make Xiao Ran feel good. After all, the Burning Legion ruled over several worlds. There were many strange things in the universe, and wine was the same. Xiao Ran liked a kind of wine that he usually drank. When he drank it, he didn't feel hot but cold, which suited Xiao Ran's personality very well.
Afterward, the two talked about some unimportant things in the carriage. Zenar didn't show much curiosity about the 19th District. It wasn't that he didn't want to know more about the 19th District, but it wasn't necessary to ask Xiao Ran now. After all, Xiao Ran would tell him everything even if he was in front of Charles. Zenar didn't lack patience.
The reason why he wanted to talk to Xiao Ran alone was because he wanted to know more about Xiao Ran and the name Luluco. He wanted to get closer to Xiao Ran.
But apart from that, Zenar also had a deeper purpose. After the convoy set off, Zenar placed the glass of wine on the table and said, "Knight Luluco, you were originally from the 11th District, right? I wonder how much you know about the Black Knights."
Xiao Ran shook his head and said, "I don't know much about them. When I was in the 19th District, the Black Knights didn't act much and they never displayed such strength. If I have to describe them, I can only use the word 'mysterious' to describe them."
"Mysterious, that's right, they are indeed mysterious." Zenar smiled deeply and said, "Just like you, Knight Luluco, who also represents mystery. Also, the core strength of the Resistance Army mysteriously disappeared, right?"
Xiao Ran raised his eyebrows and looked at Zenar. "Yes."
"Haha." Zenar smiled and said, "Because of the Black Knights, His Majesty sent Knight Bismarck to the 11th District to investigate all the information about the Black Knights. It seems that Knight Bismarck will temporarily take over the position of Governor of Euphemia. What do you think, Knight Luluco?"
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