Chapter 692: Honor Vengeance

"Keep running. Do not stop!"

Accompanied by Hilley's urging, Thales and the others stepped through the dirty water beneath their feet and fled for their lives through the dim tunnel.

The tunnel was filled with strange white smoke. It continuously steamed out through cracks, from the ground and even the walls, affecting vision and severely slowing their speed.

"Damn it, how did that bastard..."

Glover held a torch and followed behind Thales and Hilley, occasionally pressing his forehead in pain, clearly not yet fully free of the ability's influence. "How did he find us?"

Behind him came Ralf's indignant snort and Catherine's cry of pain.

"I have a subordinate, hiss, Sangare, who raises dogs, including hunting hounds. Their noses are very sharp." Phantom Blade lay on Ralf's back and groaned repeatedly from the jolting. "When we came here, we were covered in blood. The smell of blood- urgh!"

"Cough, cough. Is no one curious what is going on with this smoke?"

Srimanny waved away the white smoke before him in disgust. He leaned on a wooden pole and limped through the winding tunnel. "This is a sewer. Damn it, a dead fly fell on me! Could there be a big opium den down below?"

Amid the splashing water, Hilley's voice came from ahead.

"Maybe there really is. In this tunnel, all kinds of strange things- ow, careful, there is a rock here!"

But at the very front of the group, Thales said nothing.

His Hell's senses continued operating. On this escape route filled with white smoke, there were rats and cockroaches everywhere that had not been dead long. Spiders, bugs, and ants that originally liked hiding in damp and shady corners had rushed onto the walls, fleeing madly just like them. From time to time, flies and moths fell from overhead, twitching and struggling on the wet ground...

Only the others' vision was blocked by the thick white smoke, so they knew nothing of this.

What was going on?

Thales shook his head, somewhat dazed.

The white smoke faintly carried a fishy smell that ordinary people would find difficult to detect, giving him an ominous feeling.

The boy took a deep breath and tried hard to focus.

"No... what exactly are you..."

The sounds of Lausanne II fighting the mysterious reinforcement pierced the walls and were caught by Thales' Hell's senses. Only some blurry final echoes reached his ears.

"Could it be... injustice... self-abandonment... could not understand... madness... easier... cast off all concerns... beep-"

The words at the end were mixed with sharp tinnitus, making Thales' face twist in pain as he subconsciously covered his ears.

Damn it! So piercing!

"Are we really not going to help?"

Glover moved aside a pile of obstacles and let the others pass, unable to help looking back. All he could see was a mass of smoke.

"That... hero, are we letting him hold off whatever Lausanne is alone?"

"Whoever wants to go can go!" Srimanny squeezed through the obstacle first. "I am not going anyway!"

Catherine endured the pain and got down, supporting herself on Ralf's shoulder. "I know. We will remember and thank him. Now run!"

"Believe me, if we go, we will only get in the way," Hilley took over, her tone steady. "What we really should worry about now is, is..."

She did not continue.

"Why are we not there yet!"

Srimanny interrupted everyone impatiently. "We have turned so many corners already. Where exactly is the exit?"

Right.

Thales, who had just recovered from the pain, trembled slightly and had a thought.

Right. Where was the exit?

Where was Ghoul Tunnel's exit?

Thump, thump, thump...

He took a deep breath and struggled to look up ahead. The firelight could only illuminate a few meters before them. Anything farther was blurred by the white smoke.

"The exit. The exit should be..."

Thales spoke dazedly.

Thump, thump, thump...

For some reason, his heartbeat was very fast now, and his body felt hot.

With every step, a strange sensation and splashing sound came from beneath his feet.

And this dim tunnel seemed to have no end...

No.

Thump! Thump!

His heartbeat accelerated, and his breathing quickened.

The exit leading to the surface...

"It should be here! But..."

Thales covered his forehead and frowned hard.

Strange. With the blessing of Never Lost, he should know the way.

Just like when he had threaded through Jade City's streets and alleys earlier. Just like when they had descended into the tunnel all the way. Although the route was complicated, Thales clearly knew which level they were on, where to turn, and in which direction...

But why?

Why did he suddenly- Thales stared in disbelief at the faint white smoke constantly emerging beneath his feet - suddenly lose the way?

Had the blessing of Never Lost failed?

Just like in... the Great Desert?

The white smoke that had begun spreading from some unknown corner grew drier, more glaring, and more pungent, making Thales restless.

"Why is it not..."

Thales said absentmindedly, his eyes unfocused, only feeling that the ground had become more and more uneven. "The exit. Why have we not reached it..."

At this moment, someone seized his arm!

Thales woke with a start and found Hilley standing behind him, working hard to support his tottering body.

"Calm down. Focus."

Hilley's voice was steady and her gaze firm, gradually clearing Thales' head and calming his heartbeat.

Behind her, Glover and Ralf were both looking at him with worried faces.

"Your Highness, are you too tired? I can carry you..."

Thales quickly steadied himself and looked forward.

"No, no need. We continue. So the exit is..."

"Not far," Hilley said to soothe him. "Do not panic. We are not taking the original route. We are going to another exit. Follow this direction and ignore some small turns. If it gets harder and harder, then that is right. It means the slope is rising..."

Under her command, the group rustled forward again.

"What is that, Hilley?"

Thales leaned on Hilley beside him, looking at the white smoke underfoot, and asked in a low voice.

"What is this?"

Hilley did not raise her head. She only worked hard to support him.

"Autumn has arrived. The weather is cold. Hot air is steaming from the sewer... Focus, Thales. We need to get out. Focus."

Thales frowned and was about to ask further, but suddenly discovered:

Hilley was lowering her head deeply, her eyelashes trembling nonstop.

Not only that.

Thales lowered his head. Hilley's two hands supporting his arm were trembling slightly, even through her gloves.

Just like...

Just like when her gloves had been pulled off on the street.

Thales froze.

He closed his mouth, turned his head, and focused on walking.

Facts proved that Hilley's directions were more accurate than Thales relying on instinct to find the way. A few minutes later, they turned past a corner, and light suddenly appeared ahead. The air became fresh.

Srimanny cheered and rushed out first. The remaining people were also lifted in spirits and followed together!

Thales likewise gritted his teeth and ran forward. No one wanted to stay even one more second in this foul and filthy place.

Finally, they crossed through the thinning white smoke, rushed out of the narrow and closed tunnel exit, stumbled down a large slope full of garbage and sludge, and breathed fresh air again.

"Ah! We finally got out!"

Srimanny collapsed on the ground, looking at the setting sun in the distance, unable to stop his tears and snot from flowing.

Ralf carefully put down Catherine, who was enduring pain, and he himself was exhausted.

"Damn it, it is already this late!"

Glover frowned at the sun's last sliver on the horizon. "We need to notify sir quickly..."

At this moment, every one of them was in a sorry state, covered in dust and dirt, clothes filthy and messy, with more or less stench on their bodies.

Thales bent down, pressed his knees, and gasped nonstop.

Feeling the warmth of the setting sun on his face, he also felt as if he had survived disaster.

Strange.

He gritted his teeth. After leaving the white smoke's range, it seemed, it seemed that the power of Never Lost had returned?

And he was no longer mentally dazed?

Thales glanced to one side. Hilley's face was pale, and her mind seemed absent.

"Where is this?"

Everyone raised their heads and only then discovered that they were below a large bridge pier. The faint clamor of crowds came from overhead.

"I recognize it. That is North Gate Bridge. Farther out is the New Suburb," Catherine said through gritted teeth as she tightened her bandages. "Black Silk territory."

"Then where do we go now?" Srimanny asked doubtfully.

But at this moment, Thales sensed something. He subconsciously raised his head and was immediately shocked!

Everyone followed his gaze and turned back. They were all shocked as well!

It was Lausanne II.

At some unknown time, the black-clothed killer had appeared on the slope behind them, looking down at them from above.

His gaze was cold.

His figure was thin.

The longsword in his hand was covered in damage, with countless notches.

"Fuck!" Catherine was the first to curse.

"Him again!" Glover instinctively stood and raised his saber. "Pinch yourselves. Focus. Do not fall for it!"

"Why can we not shake him?" Srimanny looked terrified.

Ralf stamped his foot hard.

Amid the chaos, Thales frowned and looked back at the black-clothed killer on the slope. Hilley stared fixedly at the tunnel behind Lausanne.

The sun was setting in the west, and the bridge pier cast a shadow, dividing the slope in two.

Lausanne was above, shrouded in dim shadow.

Thales was below, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Above and below the slope, one black and one red, clearly divided like two worlds.

Bang!

A firework shot into the sky and exploded in dazzling colors.

Everyone was startled. Only when cheers rose one after another overhead did they react.

The setting sun was almost gone, and another night of the Emerald Celebration had begun.

"Where is that hero? The reinforcement?" Glover asked warily.

"I said we will remember him," Catherine sighed.

"Stop staring and run!" Srimanny urged with a sob in his voice.

Hilley's expression was grave as she looked around alertly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bundles of fireworks burst with light, shining in midair and covering the fading sunset.

In that instant, the two worlds, one black and one red, briefly merged.

Lausanne looked at the fireworks in the sky, then at Thales.

Thales sighed and stepped forward.

"That is enough, Lausanne II. We are all in bad shape. Let us end things here today."

Lausanne remained silent and did not speak.

In the next second, he held the damaged longsword point-down and stabbed it into the ground!

Srimanny was delighted. "He agreed?"

But Thales frowned.

Within his Hell's senses, Lausanne II's body was like a bottomless darkness, cold and lonely.

The black-clothed killer unhurriedly took out a black face cloth, covered his face again, and straightened his clothes.

Only his cold eyes were left exposed.

"What does that mean?"

Srimanny's brow jumped. "Is it 'time is up, I am getting off work'?"

In the next second, Lausanne, who had covered his face and adjusted his clothes, grabbed the sword from the ground!

He stepped forward, walked down the slope, and approached them.

Everyone's hearts chilled.

"No," Catherine sighed deeply. "I guess it is 'time is up, I am starting work.'"

"Why is he so dedicated?" Srimanny was indignant. "This already counts as overtime. Is the overtime pay really that high?"

Glover flicked his blade, his face fierce.

"Mute, take His Highness and leave first. I will cover the rear."

He hesitated for a second, then still looked at Thales.

"Your Highness, if I... please tell her I am sorry-"

But before Zombie finished speaking, Ralf crossed him with firm steps and blocked the front, making a gesture.

[No way.]

No way you are covering the rear alone.

Glover frowned. "I am not joking with you. You run faster than me..."

"No, both of you fall back and take them away," Thales interrupted them beyond question. "I will cover the rear."

Glover and Ralf both changed color.

"Do not worry." Thales pointed at Lausanne II, who was getting closer and closer. "He will not hurt me."

"Are you sure?" Hilley spoke from the side, her tone doubtful.

Thales shook his head, stepped forward, and blocked the people behind him.

"Zayen warned you, did he not?"

Thales shouted to Lausanne, pointing at the fireworks overhead. "Hide your identity. Act quietly. And especially do not make a move in public and create a big scene that cannot be cleaned up!"

But Lausanne did not answer.

He only advanced step by step.

"Your Highness?" Glover spoke worriedly, but Thales raised his hand to stop him.

"Go back. You have done your best." Thales looked at Lausanne II, who drew closer and closer, activating the Sin of Hell's River until it burned, ready at any moment to use his body to block Lausanne's sudden attack. "As for what remains, I will negotiate with your employer..."

In the next instant, Lausanne's figure flashed and disappeared from his sight!

Mm?

The Sin of Hell's River jumped violently, making Thales' heart turn cold.

"No!" Glover's furious roar rang out.

Bang!

Amid the whistling sword wind, Thales only felt himself struck hard, his head spinning and vision blurring.

Thud!

With a muffled sound, Thales came back to himself and only then discovered that Hilley had tackled him fiercely to the ground!

What?

Thales turned his head dazedly.

Lausanne II appeared before Thales' previous position. The damaged blade had sunk deep into the ground, splitting the mud in two.

"Idiot!" Hilley pressed on him and spoke through gritted teeth.

Wait.

Lausanne II, he had just tried to- Thales lay on the ground, eyes wide as he reacted - kill me?

Was he not afraid...

In the next second, before Thales could react, Glover and Ralf rushed at Lausanne from left and right with angry roars!

But this time, the black-clothed killer's gaze was cold. As his body shifted, sword light flashed repeatedly!

Chi!

In only one exchange, Glover groaned in pain and his blade fell to the ground. But brave as he was, he ignored the blood pouring from his right hand and advanced instead of retreating, rushing toward Lausanne II's blade!

Bang!

With a muffled sound, just as Glover's life hung by a thread, Ralf shot over and slammed Zombie two meters away, barely avoiding the sword edge.

But the wind whistled. Lausanne's blade followed like a shadow, chasing Ralf!

"No!" Thales roared.

Clang!

Metal rang. Ralf flipped once in midair and crashed hard to the ground, clutching his knee and struggling with muffled sounds, clearly in great pain.

"I meant to cut off both your legs, annoying flea." Lausanne II looked at Ralf, then at the "lower leg" that had fallen beside him, his voice mechanical and cold. "But, hmph, a prosthetic?"

Catherine looked at the metal lower-leg prosthetic on the ground, and her gaze changed.

Glover spat a mouthful of blood and gritted his teeth, trying to climb up, but finally fell back again.

Lausanne turned back and looked toward the two remaining people.

Srimanny reacted, frightened into screaming in terror, until Catherine at the side gave him a kick.

Phantom Blade gritted her teeth and stood, raising her only arm. She clenched a trembling fist and assumed a stance.

"Pah. Turnbull's wild dog, I will say it here: I fucking do not regret it!"

Lausanne did not answer. He only slowly raised his sword.

"Enough!"

Thales' furious roar rang out!

He gritted his teeth and stood, trying hard to forget that sword from moments ago, the one that had concerned life and death.

"If you kill me, your master will not-"

But before he finished speaking, Hilley grabbed him from behind. "Thales!"

Ah?

Thales froze and only then discovered that Hilley was pulling his hand and desperately shaking her head.

"Master?"

Lausanne II's voice sounded.

Hollow, cold, and carrying traces of mockery.

"Heh heh heh heh... Master, master, master here, master there, master everywhere..."

He slowly turned around. The gaze above his mask stabbed straight at Thales.

"You privileged bastard standing above everyone, holding privilege and thinking you can be a little clearer, a little nobler than others. You simply cannot... no, it should be everyone in the world, everyone, all the slaves who are raped every moment from birth to death and yet take it for granted, knowing nothing... you simply cannot be without masters, cannot be without whips striking you, can you!"

In the next second, Lausanne II's figure swayed. He bent down, pressed his head, and began to tremble lightly.

As if suffering from a headache.

Thales was startled and only then reacted. He was not quite right.

"No matter whether that master is a teacher, superior, boss, king, country, rules, ideals, faith, love, or some other fucking rotten trash..."

Lausanne gritted his teeth and rubbed his forehead. "You just cannot stand days without dicks in your mouths and someone thrusting up your asses."

"Even when they are about to tear your assholes apart and fuck out your teeth, you still deceive yourselves into being grateful and willing. 'We, we should live this way!'"

The black-clothed killer's final roar was hoarse, even changing tone.

Thales was shocked beyond measure.

Wrong.

Lausanne II...

He was different from before.

So he no longer held back, even when facing the Prince of Stars.

"What did it do?" Hilley subconsciously whispered.

Thales turned his head.

"What?"

Who?

Who did what?

But Hilley did not answer him. She only looked faintly toward the tunnel mouth where the white smoke had dispersed.

"What did you do?"

Several seconds later, Lausanne II no longer trembled. He straightened, his gaze returning to coldness, and looked toward Catherine and Srimanny, who was shaking beyond control.

All right.

There was no other way.

Thales, exhausted to the end, took a deep breath, drew the JC dagger, and pressed it to his left palm.

But Hilley beside him grabbed him.

"No. Please, no. Do not go. You do not know what it..." Her voice was weak, almost pleading.

Thales could only smile faintly at her and decisively pull her hand away.

"It is fine. It will be all right."

Bang!

Another festival firework burst in the sky, lighting up the underside of the bridge.

At this moment, the wind around Lausanne II suddenly howled. A figure rolled up from the ground and used the wind to rush toward the black-clothed killer!

Thales was shocked and reacted.

"Ralf, no!"

In the next second, Lausanne II turned and swung his sword, meeting Ralf, who only had one leg left and whose expression was resolute!

Time seemed to stop.

Ding!

With a light ring, Lausanne II's figure moved again, but he dodged in the direction opposite Ralf!

Ralf missed completely, could no longer control his balance, and fell hard to the ground.

Between the rise and fall, Thales' eyes widened as if he had forgotten to breathe.

Lausanne II turned back and looked at the spot where he had just been standing.

An arrow was stuck in the ground, its fletching trembling.

"Again?" he said softly.

But just as Lausanne finished speaking, he turned at high speed and barely avoided a longsword thrusting straight at the back of his head!

Lausanne II turned his wrist, exchanged three moves with the newcomer, and retreated three steps!

A female swordsman wearing black gloves stood before him and coldly flicked her longsword.

"It is the second round, bastard."

Thales' eyes widened, and he said in pleasant surprise, "Mira!"

Whoosh!

Sword wind rose again. Before Lausanne II could answer, he turned a second time and parried another longsword coming from a tricky angle!

"Not bad." Vanguard Officer Mike Zonevid appeared on his right side, holding his sword in his left hand, his gaze sharp. "Try this move?"

Lausanne II's sword light flashed again and clashed hard with Zonevid, but at the same time, a specially shaped longsaber attacked from the other side!

Clang! Ding!

Blade and sword parted and met, sharp sounds ringing continuously.

"May thorns cover your whole body, stranger."

Second-class guard officer Jose Kusta attacked with his saber while muttering nonstop.

"Just as the stars dim for you."

Lausanne narrowly blocked the joint attack of saber and sword, but two short swords stabbed dangerously from behind him!

This time, Lausanne II had no choice but to turn to his limit and roll away rather awkwardly to avoid the pincer attack, escaping the encirclement!

"Use your bullshit trick again," second-class vanguard officer Leo Morgan spat fiercely and shook the blood from his swords. "Rat?"

Lausanne II trembled and slowly stood.

At some unknown time, Miranda, Zonevid, Kusta, and Morgan stood separately on four sides, already surrounding him completely.

In the next second, countless torches lit up from the surroundings, illuminating this earthen slope beneath the bridge.

"Watch the formation! Do not let him run this time!"

Messenger Toledo stood on the northern slope. He stared at Lausanne and slowly drew his blade. Logistics Officer Italiano stood beside him with a lazy expression, a crossbow propped on his shoulder.

On the west side, Vanguard Officer Oskarlson held a torch, his other hand resting on his sword hilt. Punishment Officer Karpon smiled as he tilted his head and tightened his grip on his axe, while second-class vanguard officer Flatten licked his lips, his gaze ill-intentioned.

To the south, Vanguard Officer Neshy stared at Lausanne II through gritted teeth, fighting spirit high. ("He is mine! Duel!") Vanguard Officer "Shit" Supa Langley sighed at the sight and propped his spiked mace on the ground, while Guard Officer Komuto held his scabbard and smiled at Thales.

To the east, "Ghost" Hugo Fubi lightly put away the notebook in his hand. Gennard held the black horse Jenny, his gaze sharp. Willow held up two guns, doing his best to look impressive.

Higher up, Paul Bozdorf calmly lowered his longbow and adjusted his aim again.

Everyone present stared fixedly at the appearing reinforcements. Hilley subconsciously hid her hands behind her back. Glover breathed out. Ralf lay down in relief. Catherine's brows jumped, and no one knew what she was thinking. Srimanny, who had escaped death, wept with joy.

Under the light of fireworks and torches, Thales happily raised his head and looked around, sweeping over one familiar subordinate after another.

Wait. Even Standard-bearer Fubi, who ignored everyone in the guard, had come. That meant...

"Your Highness, you truly can run."

A familiar voice came. Thales turned and looked up, delighted.

"Tol!"

Mallos appeared at the highest point to the north and nodded lightly to Thales.

"Right." Thales remembered something and pointed at the black-clothed man through gritted teeth. "This fellow is Lausanne II..."

But the Watchman glanced lightly at Thales. The meaning in his eyes made the prince's words pause, and he swallowed.

"We finally meet, black-clothed killer." Mallos turned toward Lausanne II, who was surrounded in the field.

Lausanne II said nothing.

He turned in a circle and finally confirmed that without realizing it, he had been firmly surrounded on all sides, completely sealed in.

He looked at the four people close to him and on full alert, gave a resigned light laugh, and lowered his longsword.

"You... you are their leader, Royal Guard?"

Mallos looked down at him from above. After several seconds, he spoke coldly.

"The wine merchant Dagori Moss died in prison, bleeding to death without anyone noticing. The wool merchant Diop died in his residence, his face terrified and emotions agitated at the time of death. You did both, did you not?"

Thales froze.

Lausanne II remained silent.

"Your ability," Mallos said with certainty. "It makes them fall into hallucinations, unable to resist or call for help, becoming walking corpses for you to slaughter. Nearby witnesses are affected together, and when they wake, they are muddled and know nothing."

Lausanne II did not deny it. Instead, his shoulders shook, and he laughed softly.

"You are the one who found the solution to resist my ability?"

Cold light flashed in Mallos' eyes.

"Please return to the palace immediately, Your Highness, together with your 'friends,'" the Watchman suddenly said to Thales. "If you return too late, who knows what outrageous excuse Attendant Caso and Guard Officer Doyle will invent for your outing."

Thales froze and ignored Hilley, who was tugging at him.

"But-"

"No disrespect intended, Your Highness Thales!"

Mallos interrupted him, his words firm and unquestionable. "But with you here, we will have reservations and cannot act with full force to settle the blood debt of the guard."

Thales frowned.

"The guard's blood debt?"

Mallos did not answer the prince, but coldly turned toward Lausanne in the field.

"This masked gentleman, whether starting from House Covendier or from Master Joaquin, the Standard Wing could not find your information."

Standard-bearer Fubi snorted softly.

Yet Mallos changed direction.

"But I heard you bragged to my subordinate that you once killed a Royal Guard?"

Lausanne II did not move, only frowned slightly.

"In view of this, we traced the files of deceased members of the Royal Guard. We found nothing in the last five years, so we checked ten years back. Still nothing after ten years, so we checked twenty. Finally..."

Mallos paused. The surrounding Royal Guards were on strict alert, and the atmosphere was solemn.

"Twenty-three years ago," Mallos said softly, "first-class standard-bearer Joao Aknight returned home to visit his family and died an unnatural death."

Hearing this name, Lausanne slowly raised his head and met Mallos' eyes.

"Standard-bearer Aknight and 'Skeleton' Bruno came from the same school. Although he was not a chilling top master like Skeleton, his swordsmanship was superb and only one step from the supreme class. This shows that the murderer who killed him was anything but simple."

Lausanne did not speak.

At that moment, the whole field was quiet. Only the fierce sound of wind could be heard.

"Even more coincidentally, both Aknight and Bruno had served as knight squires." Mallos' gaze moved. "And their teacher was none other than the master of Imperial Wind swordsmanship, Handro Joaquin."

Thales looked at Lausanne in surprise, but the latter still did not move.

"At the time, the situation was turbulent, and the guard had no spare energy to consider other matters. 'Skeleton' led people to search without result, and this case was forced to be shelved," the Watchman continued. "After the Bloody Year, the guard underwent enormous changes, and investigating old cases became even less possible."

"Until today."

Mallos' words fell.

The guards in all directions had solemn expressions. They did not speak, only stared fixedly at the black-clothed killer in the field.

After several seconds, Lausanne II burst out with a pfft and laughed.

"That is right. Joao, that idiot." The black-clothed killer laughed coldly. "I butchered him."

The moment he said this, the Star Lake Guards stirred. Some snorted coldly, some sighed, some spat, and some clicked their tongues.

Thales frowned.

Mallos lightly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

He looked at Thales.

"All right, Tol." Thales breathed out, stepped forward to help Glover up, and called Hilley. "Good luck."

Watching Thales' group leave one after another, Mallos nodded.

In the next second, he shouted fiercely:

"Where decree arrives!"

From all directions, all the Royal Guards straightened their backs and answered in a roar:

"Knights gather full!"

Uniform and astonishing in momentum.

It made young soldier Willow deeply envious.

Lausanne II looked hollowly at this scene and raised his head to the sky.

Knight.

Knight?

"In the name of the Royal Guard beneath the supreme king's throne."

Under every guard's gaze, Mallos stepped forward and drew his blade.

Following his movement, the guards in the field all revealed their weapons, rubbing fists and sharpening palms.

Lausanne stood alone in the center of the encirclement, his sword damaged and his clothes torn.

"The fifty-seventh Watchman, Tormond Mallos, leading fourteen guards under his command," Mallos' voice was cold, his expression solemn, "hereby carries out for the late guard standard-bearer Sir Joao Aknight..."

Mallos looked at Lausanne II, his gaze sharp.

"Honor Vengeance."

Bang!

Another firework exploded.

Illuminating Lausanne's figure.

And the darkness in his eyes.