Uncle, I am not an ordinary office worker.

"Then why, when the Sarkaz have completely occupied the city, would the Steam Knight still appear in a place like this?"

Vina was silent for a while, her pupils suddenly contracted, as if she thought of something unbelievable. She raised her head, looked at Roy, then at Aledae, and opened her mouth but could not speak.

Yeah, why?

It was impossible for the Steam Knight to hide in Londinium, Vina was sure of this, because when her father was sent to the gallows and she was forced to leave Londinium, the Steam Knight had already been transferred out of Londinium to carry out missions.

When they returned, the coup was over and the city council issued a ban, prohibiting the Duke's armed forces from entering Londinium. This led to the Duke of Stafford and the Duke of Cavendish introducing Sarkaz mercenaries who did not belong to the "Duke's Armed Forces" into the fight, and eventually letting the wolf into the house.

During this period, the whereabouts of the Steam Knights were unclear, but they were definitely not in Londinium, otherwise the Sarkaz would not have been able to take over the city so smoothly.

And once Londinium is completely occupied by the Sarkaz, it will be even less likely for them to come back.

Unless someone gave them an order.

In the whole of Victoria, only two parties have the right to mobilize Steam Knights.

First, the king had been hanged.

The second is the Duke who transferred the Steam Knights away from Londinium and launched a coup.

Only with the Duke's order can these steam knights return to Londinium and enter the resting place of the kings.

The appearance of Sarkaz further illustrates one thing.

"The Dukes are in collusion with the Sarkaz."

"This is treason!"

Vina said with great sorrow.

No matter how much she thought about it, she just believed that the Duke was trying to seize Victoria's power, and the Sarkaz were just outside troublemakers who took advantage of the situation and occupied Londinium by chance. It was only because of the changing situation that the Duke's mutual constraints gave the Sarkaz an opportunity.

But now, when everything underground was revealed before her eyes, she finally understood.

What is a "traitor"?

Volume 1: Chapter 321: Don't do things that you will regret

I swear an oath to the king, I promise to the people, I pay tribute to the earth.

The solemn and heavy oath is the glory that the Steam Knights are proud of, but also the shackles that bind them.

If the knight had realized this earlier, perhaps he would not have returned to Londinium, would not have been deceived into this dark and damp underground, and would not have died meaninglessly at the hands of a group of foreigners in front of the kings of Victoria.

He can no longer remember who he is.

Time has dulled his consciousness. The never-ending food and extremely scarce water have forced him to maintain a trance state with minimal consciousness. Over time, trance has become the norm. His once clear consciousness and firm will have become unnecessary things that deplete his physiological functions, and have been overwhelmed and rejected by his instincts.

He only knew that he was a knight, and he was ordered to return to protect the great Victoria. He came to this cold and damp underground to protect the empire's greatest treasure, the Breath of Kings.

Since we are shouldering such a difficult mission, the pain and sorrow, the difficulties and confusion are probably just tests.

He just needs to hold on, and forget about everything else, just one identity, one thing, one word.

"Steam Knight."

"guard."

"Victoria."

No matter how long the test takes to end or when he can be relieved from the pain, he only needs to remember these ten short words.

Because these ten words have no deadline.

"Vina, be careful."

In the endless darkness, a faint girl's voice sounded in his ears, so light that the Steam Knight thought it was just an illusion caused by his long trial.

"Vina, the ones that are upside down here, are these... Steam Knights?"

Another different voice sounded, still very small, but the four words "Steam Knight" finally caught the attention of Steam Knight. He had not moved for a long time, and his rusty body trembled slightly for a moment. His bloodshot eyes slowly opened a small gap, trying to find the source of the voice.

But at this moment, the sound suddenly disappeared as if it were an illusion.

Roy stretched out his hand and stopped Alede and Vina who were trying to move forward.

On the steps in front of them, a simple stone platform was illuminated by a light source from an unknown source that appeared through a crack on the top. This was the only natural light source in the entire underground hall. The light that fell down was like a ribbon of light under the Tyndall effect, wrapping around the stone platform and the gleaming silver sword.

"Breath of Kings."

Even though she had never actually seen what the sword looked like, Vina recognized it at a glance.

Victoria's national sword, the artifact that splits storms, the secret treasure of the Aslan family, such a glorious title and legend bestowed upon it, coupled with the sacred scene, it is almost impossible to doubt that the so-called Breath of the Kings really possesses extraordinary power.

"Is that the Breath of Kings?"

Aledai muttered to herself. This was also the first time she saw this legendary national sword with her own eyes.

The Duke of Caster sponsored her in the hope that she would help him obtain this sword.

To be honest, compared to its hidden extraordinary power, Aledae cares more about its influence in reality.

She knew very well that at this moment when many dukes were eyeing the throne of Londinium, any item that could claim to be the legitimate representative of the competition would become a trump card to increase the chances of winning. And the national sword, Breath of the Kings, was undoubtedly the trump card among these trump cards.

As long as she could get it and hand it over to the Duke of Castor, her mission would be accomplished. From now on, although the Duke of Cumberland could not be revived under her, he could at least survive under the protection of the Duke of Castor, and would not be in danger like today.

All she had to do was take away the Breath of the Kings now. There weren't many people present, and she had never demonstrated her Originium skills. If used properly, the wind could help her quickly escape from pursuit in this underground passage.

Vina and her followers didn't seem to be very strong, the only one they needed to worry about was Roy.

In other words, as long as we communicate with Roy in advance, or simply subdue him, there will be no...

Aledae's gaze followed her plan and turned towards Roy, but before her gloomy gaze could focus on Roy, it met a peaceful gaze in mid-air.

The gaze came from a pair of light blue pupils, from the person she was about to look at, from Roy.

He is looking at me!

Allarda Cumberland felt as if all the hairs on her body stood up at the same time, and the trembling and chilling feeling on her back almost overflowed from her mouth and turned into a scream.

Why was he looking at me? When everyone, including Vina, was looking at the wreckage of the Steam Knights and the Breath of Kings, why was Roy the only one looking at her?

Aleda didn't believe that a treasure like the Breath of Kings would have no appeal to an employee of Rhodes Island. If he was smart enough, he should have thought that if he presented this sword to any Grand Duke, he would not have to work for a company for the rest of his life, and he could even directly move up the social ladder and become a noble in Victoria.

Even if he had no interest in giving up the Breath of Kings, just handing this sword to Vina would be enough to earn himself the honor of following the dragon and supporting the king in some possible future!

But he just looked at himself.

Just as Aledae's brain went into a state of shutdown, Roy withdrew his gaze from her and turned to look at Vina, who passed her hand and walked towards the steps of the Breath of Kings. He slowly opened his mouth and said earnestly:

"Ms. Alede. You may not know me, but I am also a nobleman in a way, a Knight of Casimir."

"Although this title has little value in today's Casimir, I do know some knowledge among the nobles. For example, the importance of the Breath of Kings to the Grand Dukes."

Alede didn't react to what Roy meant for a moment. Why did the knights and nobles of Casimir spread the importance of the Breath of Kings to Duke Victoria?

But Roy's expression was calm, as if he had completed his mission. He looked at ease:

"So, I know what kind of reward you will get, or what kind of [freedom] and [dignity] you will gain if you take the Breath of Kings from Vina at this moment and give it to a certain duke who stands behind the Londinium Self-Defense Army and you."

Aledea's teeth chattered.

She had never revealed the relationship between the Londinium Self-Defense Army and the Duke of Kast behind her. Even Clovisia, who was in charge of the Self-Defense Army, was unaware of this. But Roy spoke of it casually as if he had predicted it.

She didn't even have time to think about where Roy got the news from, or how he knew the thought that just flashed through her mind. She just watched him look at Vina's profile as she pulled out the Breath of Kings, and listened to him say:

"I just hope you don't do anything you'll regret."

As he spoke, he drew the Holy Sun Sword from his waist.

"Don't do anything that I'll regret..."

As Aledea silently recited these words, her mind flashed back to the final advice given to her by the old man who had cried bitterly and told her about his sufferings in the garden of the Duke of Cumberland's Palace a few days ago.

It was the exact same words.

The old man obeyed the Sarkaz in the hope of gaining dignity and freedom, but ended up losing the lives of his son and daughter. He did not die, but in the end he was willing to give up his own life and roared and attacked the Sarkaz who entered the Duke's Mansion.

He also warned himself not to forget his glory and not to do things that would make him regret.

“Will I regret it?”

Aledai bit her lip and looked at Roy, as if she wanted to ask him a question. But the next second, a burst of eardrum-piercing explosions exploded in this empty mausoleum.

Steam suddenly gushed out from the sky, filling the entire hall and blocking the sight of Roy and others.

In the snow-white mist, a tall figure staggered out, like a towering city wall, standing in front of Vina who held the Breath of Kings in her hand.

"Victoria."

The great voice emitted a hoarse and almost inaudible sound.

"Steam Knight."

"guard."

"Victoria!"

Armor suddenly raised his right arm, and a bright red lightsaber shot out from the mechanical arm, slashing at the thief holding his "Victoria".

The next second, Roy, who had been prepared, held his arm with the Holy Sword of the Sun in his hand, and the shining lightsaber stopped in mid-air.

"Aleda, take Vina back!"

A loud shout suddenly woke up the dazed Aledae. She gritted her teeth, rushed forward and grabbed Vina's arm.

"go!"

Volume 1: Chapter 322: The Breath of Kings

Who defines Victoria?

Is Victoria the sixty-odd mobile cities and their surrounding lands, the forty million people, or the surname of the monarch who rules them?

Steam Knight has its own answer.

The king is dead, the nobles have betrayed, the people have forgotten, the country has fallen, and for a broken body, his Victoria only has this small corner of the world and the small light in this corner.

The Breath of Kings symbolizes Victoria, the Victoria of Steam Knights.

He will destroy anyone who wants to seize this Victoria!

"Clang clang clang!"

The Steam Knight's attack was like a violent storm, so fast that the lightsaber seemed to create a sword flower in the air.

Without using modules, relying only on the bonus to Sea Si's physique brought by the last Knight module, Roy could steadily block every attack from the Steam Knight, but it was difficult for him to launch an effective counterattack.

The reason is simple, because it is really difficult to start.

The resting place of the kings is deep and bottomless underground. Even if there is a faint light shining through the hole at the top, it is still far from the "sunny place" required by the Holy Sword of the Sun.

In this case, the Holy Sword of the Sun is just a slightly harder sword. Not to mention releasing curry sticks directly when facing the Ursus army at the Baibo River, it is still another matter whether it can withstand the cutting of the extremely hot lightsaber.

In this case, Roy can only use it to parry the joints of the Steam Knight's armor to achieve the effect of blocking the attack, but the Steam Knight is not a person after all, but a living Gundam. He has no sense of pain, will not be delayed by parrying, and can attack again in some extremely twisted postures.

Such a terrifying weapon with strong speed, strength and endurance would be restrained for a while even if it was replaced by a Sarkaz hero-level fighter like the Patriot Bozhukas.

It's not that Roy has no way to deal with it. Although the steam armor has strong defense, it is still a weapon in essence. Roy can directly use the first effect of [Stella! ] to sacrifice this weapon and summon a huge firework.

But he didn't do that.

First, the power of the Steam Knight's explosion would cause the underground building of the Kings' Resting Place to collapse, and everyone would be buried underground. Second, someone here was obviously more concerned about this steam armor than Roy.

"Vina, get out! Take the Breath of Kings and get out!"

Aledae grabbed Vina's hand and pulled the young crown prince out of the range of the Steam Knight's blade, but even so, she did not stop. Instead, she dragged Vina all the way to the gate of the underground hall and tried to push Vina out of the hall.

Vina was obviously reluctant. Although her combat ability was not strong, she was an operator who had participated in several Rhodes Island missions. With the help of the Glasgow gang members, she might be able to help Roy who seemed to be in a tough battle.

Moreover, even if we take a step back, Steam Knight is Victoria's guardian, she is Victoria's last Aslan. If her first reaction when she sees Steam Knight is to run away in fear, then how can she shoulder that responsibility?

"At least let me try..."

Vina tried to break free from Aledae's hand, but Aledae gritted her teeth and took advantage of Vina's unpreparedness. The gem on her finger ring flashed and released her Originium skills. A hurricane rose out of thin air, engulfing Vina and throwing her out of the resting place of the kings. Then she clenched her right hand and used the wind to close the open door again.

She couldn't let Vina stay here any longer.

She knew the Steam Knight's abilities very well. The lightsaber was only his most common means of attack. Apart from that, the iron spike in her other hand and the magazine on her back could also shoot out steel nails and rockets.

The Steam Knight's condition was obviously abnormal. If he continued to go crazy, the palace would most likely collapse in the battle. By then, Alede would not be able to guarantee Vina's safety.

She didn't know whether what she was doing was right or wrong. The title of Duke of Cumberland and the maintenance of the Duke's Palace still depended on the Duke of Caster. The lives of the imprisoned members and nobles in the city council still depended on her completion of the mission of the King of Shapeshifters. However, she still chose to save Vina first.

Right or wrong doesn't matter anymore, she doesn't want to regret it now.

But before she could feel a little relieved, the sharp blade piercing through the crack in the door made her heart jump again.