Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

But the next second, Roy said something astonishing:

"Stop! Take one more step forward, and I guarantee a second meteor will be landing right above your heads!"

A second meteor?!

These words sent chills down Brechester's spine, and his eyes widened as he stared intently at Roy, who was moving with ease on the other side of the canyon.

He had witnessed the power of that meteor firsthand; it carved a chasm out of thin air in the earth. Such destructive power was comparable to the astonishing feats of the civil engineering masters of the Yan Kingdom's Celestial Master's Mansion. But the Celestial Master's Mansion mobilized its entire force—moving mountains and filling seas—setting up arrays, drawing talismans, using magical artifacts, and performing rituals—everything was meticulously planned and executed with immense scale. But that meteor? It appeared out of nowhere, giving the Ursus people no time to react, catching them completely off guard.

What Roy meant by saying this was either that he controlled the launch of that meteor, or that he was the one who launched it!

This left him no choice but to be vigilant.

If even the army commander was like this, one can only imagine how the soldiers, who were already being herded by the supervisory team, were behaving. Upon hearing Roy's words, they trembled even more, and no matter how the supervisory team threatened them, they refused to take another step forward.

Roy watched this scene with satisfaction and nodded. But Marna behind him looked on with suspicion.

He admitted that the power of Roy's arrow had indeed exceeded his expectations. If he were facing Roy and experiencing such a situation, he would probably be equally surprised and uncertain.

But the opposing force was, after all, the Ursus army, the Third Army, a battle-hardened force that had fought countless battles! Marna never underestimated the enemy, but it was still a bit too illogical for an army composed of veteran soldiers to be so frightened into not advancing because of a seriously wounded man in a wheelchair and a baseless statement.

He glanced at Roy with a puzzled look, and although he didn't ask any questions, his thoughts were written all over his face.

Why is he so confident that he can scare the Ursus people by pushing him here and yelling like that? What if they aren't scared and swarm him? How can he possibly fight a hundred people at the same time while protecting this wheelchair-bound man who can't even stand up?

Roy is just that confident.

【Sonia's Roar】, Module Effect: 【Shame on you, get out of the battlefield!】: Against enemies weaker than you, afraid of you, or in a mentally unstable state, you can roar at them, instilling fear and causing them to flee away from you. Success rate decreases with repeated use. Ineffective against deaf individuals.

Even before he acquired the module, Roy had fantasized that one day he might have the chance to recreate Zhang Fei's legendary defense of Changban Slope, repelling a million Cao Cao's troops. But he never imagined this opportunity would come so quickly.

After releasing [Stella!], Roy will inevitably fall into a vulnerable zone. He has certainly considered how to deal with it if the enemy takes this opportunity to launch a direct attack.

Since I can't use my hands, I can only use my words.

Even speaking isn't enough; there are conditions. For Sonia's roar to be effective, the enemy forces must be weaker than him, fear him, or be in an abnormal mental state. These three conditions seem simple under normal circumstances, but that's because they only cover a maximum of a hundred or so people. Right now, he's facing a well-trained vanguard army of a thousand. To achieve this, first and foremost, making sure everyone hears his voice is a challenge.

He didn't bring a loudspeaker.

That means we have to quiet the scene down.

What he did was to launch a meteor strike first, destroying the enemy's artillery while simultaneously intimidating them, preventing them from firing their own cannons and overpowering Roy.

The next step is to instill fear in them.

While Meteor Ichiro is undoubtedly powerful, he doesn't necessarily inspire fear in everyone. After all, people like Brechester are intelligent, military, and determined, making them less prone to fear. They can even twist the truth and interpret Meteor Ichiro as a rare natural disaster. There must be more than one such person among these battle-hardened veterans.

Therefore, Roy chose to blow up the weapon.

In the second effect of Meteor Strike, in addition to sacrificing life, it also requires destroying the weapon.

As for the firework, the "gunpowder" that Roy chose was a collectible he obtained from the old blacksmith but had never had the chance to use: [Kheshig's Kiss].

【The Kiss of Kheshig】

Ah, he arrives riding on terror, like an omnipresent cloud of smoke. He envelops you, lowers his head slightly to kiss your neck, and drags you into an eternal nightmare!

[Armor-piercing enhancement; attacks inflict mental damage.]

The accompanying mental damage, an effect rarely used in knightly duels, has now proven surprisingly effective!

Unlike in games where you have to stack up to take effect, in reality, mental damage manifests itself more realistically. Every bit of damage worsens your mental state and weakens your psychological defenses.

As the [Kheshig Kiss] exploded like a shooting star, the mental damage status also attached itself to all the enemy soldiers at the same time, like a blown deep-sea surprise egg. Although this effect was not as immediate as the dizzying effect in the game, it effectively weakened the mental defenses of everyone present.

Confusion, vulnerability, irritability, crying, and fear—these abnormal mental states that shouldn't have appeared in these veterans were all amplified and exposed by the amplification effect of the mental damage, to the point that none of the nearly one thousand soldiers and officers present dared to cross the line after Roy's shout!

The canyon now seemed like an insurmountable barrier, where Roy held the pass against all odds!

P.S.: 3200 words. I had a meeting tonight, and after finishing the update, I wrote a little more as compensation.

Volume 1: Chapter 156 Margaret Nearl

Rewind to the day before the war, in Kazimir, in the High Knight Commander Kavaleriaki.

This once-leading commercial capital of Terra is now rife with undercurrents. Grand Knight Russell has delivered the intelligence from Marna, along with the belated report from the Forest Ranger, to the National Assembly and the Commercial Federation for review.

Kazimir is not large; compared to the vast Ursus Empire, it is merely a small corner of the land. Yet, this small corner was able to withstand the frontal assaults of multiple army groups during Ursus's most prosperous period of conquest, unlike those nations that have been lost to the dust of history and perished. This was all thanks to its united people and its valiant leader.

Even though they usually don't get along, the Business Federation and the Supervisory Council put aside their differences and chose to cooperate temporarily.

We are all from Kazimierz, and most of us or our elders have experienced that era of war. We know the horrors of Ursus. Under the rule of that country, the persecution of other races was commonplace. If Kazimierz really falls, it won't be as simple as you, as a noble, interfering with my business. It will be a matter of everyone going to the black mines and seeing who gets blacklisted first.

The Ursus threat theory is not a conspiracy theory, but a real and unforgettable fact. It's not that merchants haven't tried to cooperate with the Ursus people to overthrow the leadership of the knights and nobles and establish a merchant republic like Columbia. But the Ursus people have shown you with their actions: "Cooperation? Sure! But want a share of the profits after cooperation? Why should I? I've already defeated you, and you still want to give me money and status? Wouldn't that be a waste of my time? Just obediently become a slave with me."

The bloody examples serve as a warning: the Business Federation would rather sell the country to Victoria than to Ursus—they truly value both money and lives.

Thus, a rare scene unfolded in Kazimierz: in the National Assembly's council hall, the representative of the Commercial Federation on the left and the Grand Knight Commander of the Supervisory Council on the right miraculously refrained from any argument or sarcastic remarks. Together with the National Assembly representative who was practically invisible, the two were tensely analyzing the limited intelligence available to them and planning the upcoming battle.

Grand Knight Commander Russell was dressed in armor today. He had just given a speech to the military and rushed here for the meeting. Looking at the urgent reports that had been coming in from the front lines for the past few days, her brows were furrowed, and there was a deep weariness in her eyes.

"Ever since we received Marna's secret report and sent scouts to the Whitewave River area, urgent reports have been pouring in like snowflakes. The Ursus people have actually repaired the old defensive lines along the Whitewave River right under our noses, and we were completely unaware of it. Lord Kane, there may be a traitor among us."

She paused, then steered the conversation back to the war.

“The situation at the front must be extremely critical. I have already ordered the nearest Knights of Conquest to go to their aid immediately. Even so, it will take them at least a week to reach the White Wave River and build a defensive line. There are only two Knights of Conquest near the White Wave River. I tried to contact them, but as expected, the enemy scouts have cut off the line.”

At this moment, the hidden danger of the Forest Guardian system being destroyed first has erupted. The military system of the Knights of Kazimierz already resulted in a shortage of elite soldiers, which was insufficient for monitoring the border. The Supervisory Council was also constantly embroiled in internal strife with the Commercial Federation, which distracted them. After the Forest Guardians, who were meant to supplement the system, were unexpectedly exposed, a large gap immediately appeared in the entire intelligence front. Who knows how many spies have already infiltrated the Uka border?

Across from Russell, Kane's expression was equally grave. He acknowledged Russell's assessment of the situation at the front. In fact, the Business Federation, as a force capable of rivaling and even surpassing the Overseer's Council, should have at least some precautions regarding border affairs, even if they weren't particularly attentive. However, this time, the Business Federation was also caught off guard. The reason was simple: the reliable intelligence agency the Business Federation relied on was called the "Unarmored Alliance."

Now, this reliable intelligence agency has vanished in an instant due to a major power outage!

Like a magic trick, apart from the lower-ranking Platinum, the two Azure Gold and one Black Iron at the top all miraculously reappeared. The remaining Platinum, upon investigation, turned out to be someone who had only recently joined the Wuzhou Alliance and had risen to that position. The older Platinum, who knew more about the situation, had long been eliminated by the Azure Gold and Black Iron. She was clearly a scapegoat, knowing nothing and being completely clueless when questioned.

It can only be described as a butterfly effect. When Xuan Tie planned all of this, he certainly did not expect that such a near-treasonous event would occur in Ursus, where the military would act alone. However, by chance, he dismantled the Wuzhou Alliance, which actually made things easier for the Ursus people.

Thinking of this, Kane gritted his teeth in hatred. A man like him, whose ambition was to "conquer" Colombia through business warfare, couldn't stand being used as a tool by a group of assassins. But at this moment, he was helpless. He could only sigh quietly and offer his opinion on the matter at hand:

"The Grand Knight Commander is right. Regarding the war with Ursus, the Joint Conference of the Commerce Federation has unanimously agreed to provide the greatest financial support and the best equipment supply in order to defeat the Ursus as quickly as possible."

This was a cleverly worded statement. On the surface, it seemed to be a declaration of loyalty, but in reality, it was a warning to Russell not to prolong the war or take the opportunity to expand his power. The premise for their business association to guarantee the supply of funds and weapons was that the Ursus people be defeated as quickly as possible!

Russell understood immediately and nodded slightly, which was considered as agreeing to the condition.

Kane continued, “However, I have a slightly different opinion on this issue of the traitor. Your Excellency Russell, there is an old saying in China: ‘The evil of a petty official is worse than that of a beast.’ There is also a proverb in Colombia: ‘It is better to offend a judge wielding a gavel than a policeman with a crossbow at his waist.’ I think this traitor may not necessarily be among our higher-ups.”

Russell frowned slightly and gestured with his chin toward Kane, signaling him to continue.

Kane didn't keep them in suspense any longer, and continued, "Many things seem to have problems at the top, but that's often not the case. For example, today I'm going to issue an order to build a department store in the residential area of ​​Lionheart Street, and I'm going to have my men help coordinate with the local residents. Now that he has my order, guess what he'll do?"

Kane raised his finger and said, “He has at least three options. First, he can obediently follow my orders, take the contract and a lawyer, and go door-to-door to negotiate with the residents to buy the land. Second, he can embezzle the funds I gave him, then gather thugs to drive all the residents out and forcibly demolish their homes. Third, he can take my funds and directly bribe a minister in the National Assembly, promising him benefits and getting him to join his camp. In the subsequent development negotiations, he can obstruct my approval process and demand more money from me, thus double-crossing me.”

"This is just the basic method; there are countless other underhanded tactics. Imagine if this employee of mine were replaced by one of your or the forest ranger's men?"

That's why falsely conveying imperial edicts is a capital offense. The intentions of those above may be good and proper, but with just a slight explanation from those below, the outcome can be quite different. Kane isn't entirely against the idea that there might be a traitor among these upper echelons, but if that traitor is Ursus, Kane would rather believe that her Rose Newspaper will conquer the Colombian market tomorrow.

What are you after? You don't want your head or your money, you don't want to be feudal or capitalist, but you insist on becoming a slave in Ursus? Is the air in Ursus sweeter than in Kazimierz? You're practically a Usher insane.

Kane's words made sense and served as a reminder to Russell. Her and the Rangers' internal investigations mostly focused on the leadership, who had immediate access to crucial information. They had completely overlooked another group that could also obtain information quickly, and was only one step behind the top—the messengers!

No wonder the forest ranger's secret message for help was delayed, and no wonder I had never received a single report of Ursus troops stationed on the border. It wasn't that Ursus scouts were so skilled or spies so ruthless that they intercepted the messengers on the way; rather, the messenger was an Ursus lackey. In that case, everything makes sense!

However, this way, although the mole was found, the messenger could not be used for the time being. If the messenger could not be used, what difference was there between her and when the intelligence was cut off?

After a moment's thought, she suggested, "Perhaps we can find some absolutely trustworthy people to temporarily serve as messengers."

Kane remained silent; this was no longer a concern for him. For an ambitious man like him, no one was truly trustworthy, except for the dead.

“I’ve got it,” Russell suddenly said, a hint of confidence in his eyes. “This person is definitely trustworthy and capable of being entrusted with important tasks.”

“Who?” Kane asked.

Russell replied, "Near Light, the newly returned Margaret Near Light!"

Volume 1: Chapter 157 Young Lin Guang Charges Forward!

Margaret Nearl returned to Kazimierz for two reasons. First, to teach her ignorant sister a lesson for spreading rumors and to clarify—at least to those she knew—her relationship with the new champion. Second, to personally meet the figure at the center of the storm, the Knight of Eternity who held high her banner and fulfilled many of her wishes.

As for what will happen after meeting the Knight of the End, Margaret hasn't thought it through yet. Maybe they'll become friends? Maybe she'll discover the Knight of the End's true colors? Or even, they could become comrades, soulmates, and start from scratch, truly creating a beautiful story.

Margaret didn't mind. Her attitude towards relationships was simple: shared values ​​were the only and most important requirement; everything else could be worked out later. Unfortunately, even this seemingly simple reason was hard to find in this world. This was why she valued Rhodes Island so much, even willing to fight and risk her life for this pharmaceutical company that had nothing to do with her background.

But all of this depends on seeing Roy first. According to the information Margaret received from Marna, Roy had already left the Grand Knight Territory before her, heading towards the northwestern border. Margaret, on the other hand, chose to return to the Grand Knight Territory first, thus their destinations were now completely opposite. Judging by the time, Roy should already be in Ursus or Letania by now.

Just when she had given up on seeing Roy during this secret homecoming and planned to stay at home for a few more days before heading back to Rhodes Island, Grand Knight Russell came to her door in person.

“Margaret Nearl, we have a very important task for you. I’m sorry this news comes so suddenly, but this task concerns the life and death of tens of millions of people in Kazimierz. You are the only person we can trust.”

Margaret was quite surprised by Russell's sudden visit. But she quickly nodded in understanding.

Indeed, although her return home this time seemed to be a secret infiltration and a careful operation, how could it be considered a secret in the face of large organizations like the Supervisory Council and the Business Federation that truly control Kazimierz?

Perhaps the day after she crossed the border, reports of her return were already on Russell's desk. The Grand Knight simply chose to ignore them.

"The Supervisory Council will certainly not let you down. We have already finished negotiating with the Business Federation. As long as you accept this mission, the Supervisory Council will immediately file a lawsuit with the National Assembly to clarify your status as a person infected with Oripathy and restore all your reputation, including your status as a champion and a long rider, as well as all the injustices that the Linguang family has suffered over the years. We will also exonerate you."

Margaret gasped.

Russell's offer was undeniably generous. The mere fact that the government officially clarified Margaret's status as infected was already a significant concession. For any government, credibility is paramount. Without it, policies become meaningless. For the National Assembly to clarify that Margaret was not infected would mean overturning the four-year-old ruling that Margaret had concealed her infection and violated the rules by participating in the competition. This would implicate a large number of high-ranking government officials and severely damage the government's credibility.

After all, Margaret's identity is different; she is a "Lightbringer" and a champion, and these two identities are both advantages and disadvantages for her.

Regaining her champion status and long-riding position meant that two behemoths controlling the National Assembly—the Kazimierz Commercial Association and the Kazimierz Supervisory Council—had simultaneously made concessions to her. Few in Kazimierz could receive such treatment. Even when her grandfather was alive, the Commercial Association, dissatisfied with her victory, could only keep their distance.

As for redressing the injustices suffered by the Nearl family over the years, that's even more significant. It's common sense that most people are prone to kicking someone when they're down and kicking someone when they're falling from grace. During the Nearl family's decline, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of opportunists who took advantage of their misfortune. If this were investigated, it would cause an upheaval in half of Kazimierz's upper echelons. But Russell dared to offer Margaret this condition in exchange for her accepting the task, or even just completing it.

"If there's anything else you want, we can discuss it further."