Will the kemonomimi encounter Alien Ranch Story?

Their affinity for the Commercial Confederation far outweighed their affinity for the feudal nobility, and the Overseer's opportunity and motivation were inevitably to suppress these knights while sowing discord between them and the Commercial Confederation.

For example, those surgeries, banned drugs, and the schemes to create more infected competitors and force them into the arena to become money-making tools.

The infiltration of the Unarmored Alliance is also gradually dismantling the power of the Federation. Both sides are using their own methods to undermine the other's strength. The knights want to dismantle the Unarmored Alliance and the Arena Knights, while the Federation merchants, having lost their power, will soon be able to manage their assets as before, and they will never be able to regain their current say.

Conversely, the Federation's merchants are targeting the very foundation of knighthood, allowing infected individuals to become knights through the arena, and these infected knights can then participate in the triennial Major.

The Special Championship, traditionally a tournament for true knights, evolved from the old royal tournaments. Now, a group of infected plastic knights brazenly enter this arena.

Even if they only manage to be eliminated in the first round, it's tantamount to undermining the foundation of the chivalric system. However, all of this is disguised under the guise of "promoting the chivalric spirit of Kazimierz," and those merchants are quite cunning.

After the Grand Knight Commander left, the spokesperson for the Federation came knocking. To be honest, this was the first time the Federation had seen nobles from Ursus involved in this matter. They had always thought that noble nations like Ursus, Victoria, and Great Yan were ridiculously ignorant, but this was indeed the first time. Did this indicate some kind of rumor?

"Good day, Miss Talulah. I hope our arrival has not disturbed you." Talulah looked at the merchant representative in front of her. Strangely enough, the previous Grand Knight Commander had not shown such aristocratic etiquette.

No, it should be said that Talulah is not a noblewoman yet; she does not hold a title. Therefore, her subconscious arrogance prevents her from speaking to the other party as an equal, but rather as an elder or noblewoman reprimanding a commoner noble's son.

These businessmen, however, were different. They weren't being polite; they had ulterior motives. As the saying goes, "You always expect something in return for your courtesy." They would say, "Is there anything you want to say? Time for small talk is limited. I hope you can tell me something that interests me."

"It's like this, Miss Talulah. As far as we know, some knights of the Supervisory Council seem to be very dissatisfied with the tournament and the lower districts. They may resort to some means that no one wants to see. We came here specifically to inform you, so please be sure to strengthen your protection."

"Oh?" The other party spoke in a tone that seemed to be wholeheartedly considering her interests, but the meaning behind every sentence was that she should not interfere in the struggle between the two forces and should just be a neutral passerby who made money.

"I don't think I need protection."

"Even so, your subordinates also need help, and I think they are all infected, right?"

"Is there a problem? I remember the tournament rules specifically allowed infected individuals to participate..."

"What I mean is, there are always some people who don't really like infected people..."

"For example, members of the Unarmored Alliance and certain federations?" Talulah's tone was completely aggressive.

"No, it could also be some noble knights, right? And your opponents, they wouldn't want to face a group of warriors at their peak."

"That's strange. Didn't I agree to their demands?"

"Some things are better held in your own hands than promised by others," the spokesperson said meaningfully.

"That makes a lot of sense. So what does your business association intend to do?"

"Oh, that's not very convenient, is it? But we'll do our best to provide you with some... assistance..."

"cost?"

"No cost..."

"That is the biggest price to pay."

"You see, that makes no sense, does it?"

"Who are you planning to target?" Talulah frowned. "No cost" meant exactly what it said. The Business Federation wasn't targeting her; they were targeting themselves, so naturally, they didn't need her to pay any price.

And the biggest cost is this – although it's for the business association itself, it is indeed using her name, so the other side's retaliation is also directed at itself.

"In Kazimierz, who else can be the banner of knights? If that banner stands on the opposing side, the more glorious it is, the more it is hated and tormented, isn't it?"

"Uh..." As mentioned before, not all knights are bad people. To fight against the Federation, they need the support of the people. The morally upright individuals among them are their knights. Under the virtue and glory of these few noble knights, they only need to restrain themselves a little, and their past sins will be washed away.

Compared to the Federation, they have been better at packaging themselves for thousands of years, using various rhetoric and pretentious manners to make themselves "different from ordinary people," and it is quite normal for them to portray themselves as heroes who overthrew merchants and oppressed the common people.

The Federation was clearly aware of this. However, they could not give up their interests in oppressing the common people, yet they were unwilling to be portrayed by the knights as the source of evil, and even more unwilling to relinquish the power they had already firmly grasped.

So naturally, they would try to find a way. The knights wanted to expose the dirty tricks while building up their own image, while the merchants were also preparing to destroy their image. The best way was to physically eliminate the other party.

Do you know that doing this will only turn them into martyrs?

"That depends on why they died. Some died fighting to protect the Kavaleriagi power plant, some fought to maintain order against the private armies of unscrupulous merchants, some were assassinated for exposing the plot of land cleared by assassins controlled by evil merchants, and so on. These are all martyrs," the spokesperson said noncommittally.

"So, you really did all that?"

"Would you believe us if we did nothing? It's precisely because we did these things, even if they weren't as alarmist as some claim."

But what's done is done, because it's real, at least partially real. Therefore, once exposed, they will become martyrs.

"For example, do you actually clean up the infected?" A flash of anger appeared in Talulah's eyes, and the temperature in the room began to rise slightly.

If it weren't for the changes in his temper and personality over the years, Long Yan would already be on the spokesperson's persona by now.

"To be more precise, it's about clearing out undocumented infected individuals..." The speaker seemed completely oblivious to the change in atmosphere. "We enacted the Infected Knight Act, giving them a legal and legitimate status, but similarly, we must also clear out the destabilizing factors on the plot, those undocumented infected individuals."

"Even if you were the ones who made this heartless law?"

"Even so, those knights won't tell you that before we enacted the Infected Knights Act, no infected person could become an illegal resident. Why? Because if they dared to approach the city, they would be slaughtered by the knights."

The spokesperson spread his hands. "You see, we and they are both telling the truth, and it's all the truth, just from different perspectives. At least we allow infected people to come into the city to watch games, participate in games, and find jobs. We just don't allow them to live outside designated protected areas, even if we do this for the money in their hands—"

“But if I told you that we would let them come to the city to watch the games, work, participate in the competitions, become knights, and that there would be a special area for infected people to be housed, and that we weren’t after their money, but out of some kind of good, would you believe me? Of course you wouldn’t. So do you believe that the knights made this promise out of their virtue?”

"Don't believe it"? Only a fool would believe it. Compared to the Federation's blunt statement: "I'm just after money," the nobles probably want even more, which the infected can't afford.

"But, as I said, it's not so easy for them to become martyrs. To protect the city and to be regarded as terrorists who are destroying the city, all for the sake of completely taking control of the Grand Arena, what do you think of this way of dying?"

“They will be scorned by the entire Kazimierz…” The Great Arena is the pride and hope of the Kazimierz people. Once their purpose is exposed, they will be scorned by the entire Kazimierz people.

“You see, the people will remember once again who protected them in the distant past, before the city rose, and who led them against the knights.”

And how those knights disguised themselves as bandits, how they plundered their neighbors—they would once again confront the bloody truth beneath the glorious honor and golden coat of arms, and the true faces of those seemingly kind knights.

"But you're not just thinking about revealing the true nature of some knights, are you? I remember you've already taken control of newspapers, radio, and television."

“Yes, but some knights have no weaknesses…” the spokesperson said helplessly. “They are heroes, and great men. They possess noble virtues and immense strength that are beyond the reach of ordinary people. It’s hard to say whether their strength made them noble, or their greatness made them powerful. They are like the sun in the sky…”

"However, the sun is also a major cause of shadows..."

"Yes, so they have no weaknesses. All the evil is done by those shadows, isn't it? Therefore, we must let the sun set."

"I know who you're after. Are you confident in your ability to deal with them?"

"No, so, Miss Talulah, are you sure?"

"To be honest, yes."

Even those Pegasus horses?

"How do you think those Pegasus riders went from thousands to just a few dozen?" Talulah gave a strange look. How did the Silver Spear Pegasus riders dwindle to such a small number? Of course, it was because Big Daddy and his Shield Guards beat them to this extent!

"Moreover, the concept of knights is, frankly, outdated." Talulah meant no other than what she said.

"Yes, it's like the sun lingering on the horizon, reluctant to set. But how can a new sun rise if it doesn't set?" The spokesperson's expression was also bitter.

In this era of great competition, the Business Federation is not the kind of capitalist that lacks competition. They clearly know that countries like Colombia, which vigorously develop industry and commerce, are the future masters of the world. Their biggest enemies are Colombia, the former Iberia, and Letania.

Victoria, Ursus, and Great Yan are nothing more than lingering sunsets; they remain powerful.

However, it was also shockingly foolish. Casimir needed to capture more market share and amplify his voice through newspapers and athletic competitions. Yet, these knights were frantically dragging him down.

Like the tourism industry in Glassvale, the athletic competitions are a way for Kazimir to reach the world and promote itself as a beacon.

The knights, however, wanted to lock it back in their treasure vault and turn it into a chandelier in their living room; this was the irreconcilable contradiction between the two sides.

"I mean literally. I'll contact Kazdel and have a squad of heavily armored knights come over. Of course, they won't be on the field; that would be too much. But I can guarantee nothing will happen in this city."

"It won't happen?"

"Yes, nothing will happen, at least not until the match is over. As for what might happen afterward..."

"So that's none of your business, is it? And you just mentioned Kazdel, over there..."

"The New Republic of Kazdel..."

"And you are...?"

"Shh—" The silver-haired girl raised her index finger and winked playfully. The spokesperson immediately shut up. Damn it, why hadn't the Wuzha Alliance's spies found out such an important matter?!

How much longer will those damned knights drag us down? Even the foolish wild bears of Ursus have opened their eyes to the world, while they are still dreaming of the grasslands and the Kheshig army!

Still dreaming of returning to the era of manors and castles, can't they see the development of Casimir since its urbanization? Ursus has already opened its eyes, are the sleeping dragons of Great Yan and the sleeping lions of Victoria too late?

Once these powerful nations awaken, Kazimierz, which failed to gain sufficient influence and market share in the coming new world for these reasons, will likely mysteriously disappear.

At least Poland is quite far from the United States, while Casimir... the US, Russia, France, and the United States—except for the Great Yan, which is truly far away—have four of them serving one; what a blessing!

"Miss, do we really have to do this? That family is actually..."

"Well, they're just unlucky. When an era ends, there are always some heroes and good people who shouldn't have died who are sacrificed for it."

"They were victims of a conspiracy," Talulah said wearily. "They did nothing wrong. They were not only innocent but also noble and selfless. However, they stood in the way of the times."

“No reform is ever without bloodshed and sacrifice, but conversely, there has never been a time when those who cling to the old ways escaped being sacrificed.” Talulah sighed. “That’s why I hate this chaotic world so much, and I hate this kind of strife. In times of chaos and turmoil, heroes often kill heroes…”

"Heavy cavalry, Kazdel, those Sarkaz?" Kazimierz is the most anti-Sarkaz nation, probably because it was beaten to a pulp in the past. In Kazimierz, Sarkaz are not even considered human, and Sarkaz infected are probably more or less like tools, or even worse.

"How boring." The Grand Knight Commander of the Supervisory Council shook his head dismissively. "It seems that the mother bear still doesn't dare to mobilize the power of her own country."

The Sarkaz is a very useful weapon; afterward, you can just say it was done by Kazdel extremists, and everyone understands.

"No matter what kind of heavy cavalry they are, they are nothing but clouds in front of the Silver Spear Pegasus. Even those people from Ursus will have to pay an extremely heavy price."

The plans of the Supervisory Council and the Federation gradually began, while in Kazdel, the heavy cavalry that Talulah had promised were being loaded onto ships and shipped out. Indeed, they were very, very heavy cavalry; there was no heavier knightly force in the world.

"Tie up the cables!" The workers were busy on the crane platform, securing heavy cables to the cargo ship's deck. "Go help out on crane number 2, they knocked over the supply containers, go and clean them up!"

"Kazimir, I really want to go! I've heard that the capital is just as prosperous as Lungmen!"

"I prefer their wine..."

"When will we get live streams of Knights Arena here? Watching replays all the time is so boring!"

"Let's put on a competition show here too. I think ours might be even more exciting!"

"We don't allow betting here, nobody's coming! Wake up!"

The establishment of the New Kazdel Republic didn't seem to make much difference to the locals; they still went to work, received money, and spent it as usual. The only difference was that the settlement's autonomy was abolished and replaced by newly appointed officials.

However, they all seemed like ordinary people, quite different from the officials they had met before, so in the end, no one felt any inconvenience.

However, if one had to nitpick, the rules had become stricter. There were now courts, and instead of relying solely on patrolling cavalry for security, there were dedicated courts and enforcement cavalry. So, this was something that was somewhat inconvenient and not particularly appreciated by the freedom-loving people of Kazdel.

"Alright, everything's packed, and the two knight squads are ready to go. But what will they think of you?" the engineer said, patting the crate. "The two squads of 30 knights only have eight pieces of armor in total, and the rest are just in ordinary uniforms."

"They probably think it's pretty good that a poor place like Kazdel can gather eight pieces of armor." Kobel, the platoon leader of the Ranger platoon, shrugged. "I hope those knights on horseback and on foot won't be scared out of their wits by my mount."

"Probably, your darling Joanna is quite hot. It's a pity those knights aren't really suited to this kind of big guy."

"Never mind, I just hope I don't hurt anything, it's too much trouble."

"Hot Joanna" is very comfortable to use, but if you hurt or break it, the whole company will be busy for several days.