"Long time no see, Golden Boy of the Evil King."
Schordinger recognized the familiar face, one he often saw wandering the Evil King's palace and managing its defense system. Sometimes, this person would visit Schordinger's crib, but he was always completely ignored. Now, however, he would not be ignored again.
"I've come to pick you up. Uh, what should I call you again?" Schordinger asked calmly.
"Don Valentino," he said with a bow. "And you?"
"Schordinger. Our lord gave me the name," Schordinger explained.
"Schordinger, what a unique name. In the past, it was used for an experiment testing the boundary between life and death," Don Valentino straightened his back. "It seems the Evil King has placed great faith in you."
"That's right. Now, let's go. I'll also put an end to this masquerade of mine." Schordinger extended his arm, reaching for Don Valentino.
Instead of taking his hand, Don Valentino laughed, covering his face to hide his expression. As Schordinger expected, convincing Don to join her wouldn't be easy. Everything was unfolding just as his lord had said. People who choose their own names have their own motives for living up to them—Anna Marigold was no exception.
"Listen to me, Schordinger," Don Valentino removed his hand from his face and stared at it. "Have you ever thought about why our lord gave us a second chance to live?" He then looked Schordinger in the eyes, revealing a gaze that once thrilled millions.
Schordinger immediately recalled the reason he had once sought out his lord during a brief journey with Anna. It was a question he had no answer to and no time to ask directly of the one who had posed the riddle. Don Valentino flooded his thoughts for a moment, reminding him of the presence that stood high above him and the reason he held her in such high regard.
"For me, it's for us to explore on our own, to experiment with the world through the power in our hands. Then, when the time comes, I could present such a beautiful gift to our lord," Don Valentino adjusted his glasses. "But that's... if I were the Golden Boy like you."
"What do you mean by that?" Schordinger asked, feeling mocked as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Oh, you still don't get it? I'll keep everything for myself, build my own haven. One day, I'll replace him for good and finally achieve what I've always wanted," Don Valentino clenched his hand in front of his face.
Hearing those words, Schordinger immediately recalled his lord's warning—that this man never knew the meaning of satisfaction. Don Valentino, once known as Lord Aurelian von Blutskarn III, had fallen into the depths of greed, losing all desire to rise to the surface again, as Deviola had briefed Schordinger before deploying him in her place. And she had also mentioned that only she truly understood what he wanted.
"You're wrong. No, you just don't understand yourself. You're being immature," Schordinger said, staring at him sharply.
"WHICH PART?!" Don Valentino exploded in rage but quickly regained his composure, adjusting his tie to maintain his image as the visitor. "Well, you may think of me as you like, but I'm not changing my mind. I still want to play in this world."
"Play?"
"That's right, as I said before." Don Valentino bowed and then extended his arm, seeking Schordinger's agreement. "Dear Schordinger, will you accompany me in this game of mine?"
A black haze began to rise from Don Valentino's feet, enveloping his body and transforming him into countless bats that swirled around Schordinger. His voice echoed through the military base's warehouse, guiding Schordinger into the game he had spoken of.
"Twenty minutes after I leave this building, a storm will be coming. Make haste," Don Valentino's voice echoed.
Schordinger quickly placed his hand to his ear, communicating with Buffon and giving him a brief explanation of what had transpired. He ran to open the warehouse gate, finding that Buffon had trusted his words and was already there to scavenge everything they needed. Fiona stood atop the carriage, removing her goggles and smiling at him.
At the warehouse gate, Schordinger nodded as the revolutionist troupe entered to welcome them.
But the time was tight, the troupe immediately raided the warehouse as they enter the warehouse, grabbing whatever they needed to gain the upper hand. Buffon, the leader of the revolutionists, approached Schordinger's side and whispered bad news into his ear. After delivering the message, he patted Schordinger's shoulder, showing his trust in him.
"Time is tight, and this is for the best. You're the only one who can do it," said Buffon, avoiding Schordinger's gaze.
"Understood. But promise me, make sure everyone is safe before the D-Day begins," Schordinger said, placing his trust in Buffon.
"Hmph, we'll be waiting for your part."
The troupe, including Buffon and Fiona, entered the military base warehouse, quickly gathering ammunition, weapons, and any supplies they could fit into the carriages. They moved swiftly, looting the supplies and hauling them back to the carriages. Schordinger was surprised by how fast and efficient their movements were.
Seeing that everything was going smoothly, Schordinger turned his back and immediately headed toward the center of the military base to steal the union's newly developed technology. The information had been given to him by Buffon, a token of trust for living up to Valentino's name. Yet, as always, Schordinger felt something odd about the intel. Despite his doubts, he proceeded, confident that no one could stop him.
Schordinger ran through the empty military base, making his way to the location Buffon had described. Unlike the warehouse, he sensed that something—or someone—was watching him, whether it was advanced technology or a pair of eyes from afar. However, Schordinger paid little attention to whoever might be observing him, as his focus was fixed on the real battle awaiting him in the development center.
As Schordinger successfully infiltrated the development center, he realized that the newest technology, potentially invaluable to the revolutionists, was buried deep underground. The path to the heart of the facility was filled with the constant clanking of machinery, their movements hinting at something being created within the depths. The air was thick with the expected stench of oil and iron, and machinery was all that surrounded him. The stairs leading downward seemed endless, disappearing into darkness.
Fortunately, moving platforms were available on each level, designed to transport heavy objects throughout the building. These platforms were moved by cranes attached to the ceiling, following precise patterns to prevent collisions between platforms or the cargo. Schordinger skillfully leaped from one platform to the next, proceeding deeper into the heart of the development center.
Slowly, Schordinger caught sight of the newest technology Buffon had mentioned. Standing before it was a man clad in armor, wielding dual swords. From his appearance, Schordinger assumed he belonged to the same faction as the man who had previously attempted to capture his image. However, this time, the opponent was equipped with special armor, likely designed to enhance both his physical abilities and magical prowess.
As soon as their eyes met, the man vanished in an instant. Startled, Schordinger quickened his pace, racing toward the final chamber in search of both the man and the grand prize he was guarding.
There it stood before him—the technology, shrouded in a thick mantle to protect it from dust. With a single swift motion, Schordinger unveiled the union's latest development, a weapon that could potentially threaten both him and The Evil Queen.
But as he pulled back the mantle, Schordinger's excitement vanished—he was met only with the sight of a futuristic two-wheeled vehicle.
"Interested, are you? Unfortunately, our master foresaw this event and has already relocated the secret weapon far away."
The man, a special unit of the H.O.U.N.D.S, reappeared behind Schordinger, drawing his twin swords and preparing for battle. Just as Schordinger had first noticed, the man was clad in a full armored battle suit made of steel, his face obscured by a hound mask adorned with a hound badge. He stood poised, ready to engage, waiting for the first strike.
"However, the vehicle is yours if you manage to defeat me. Consider it a trinket from our master to invite you to his game," said the man in the battle suit.
"Do you know who I am?" Schordinger asked, seeking to clarify the man's intentions.
"I know you as well as the books that have been written about you," the man replied, his stance growing even more resolute.
After the man finished his last word, Schordinger moved in the blink of an eye, grasping the man's head with his bare hands. With all his strength, he crushed it as if it were a mere balloon. Yet, to his astonishment, not a single drop of blood emerged, and the rest of the man's body was nowhere to be found when Schordinger realized it.
The man had successfully escaped death, sacrificing his helmet and his identity.
His identity is clear, a man from Arcaeloria, The Kingdom of Humans, who somehow served the Union of the Beastman Tribes of Volhara. He had brown, curly hair and piercing green eyes that keenly observed the world, his slightly tanned skin well-adapted to Volhara's unique dry climate. It was no wonder the Union could develop such advanced technology, including the blade he wielded.
Upon closer inspection, Schordinger noted that the man's blade was not forged from metal but rather formed from concentrated light magic in the shape of a sword. The blade glowed a vibrant red, not due to heated steel, but from a pure flux of mana emanating from the man's body, enhanced by the sword's intricate grip mechanism. This explained why Schordinger's arm felt hot after the blade had successfully grazed his hand.
"Heh, have you realized it now?" the man said with a grin.