Over the clear skies of the capital of Europe, Schicksal’s headquarters, a towering airborne city, activated its full stealth mode and floated silently overhead, conducting the transfer of supplies with the ground base. Handling the task of transporting supplies were not planes but invisible conveyor belts and elevators lowered from the sky.
On the ground, responsible for security at the transfer station, were heavily armed special forces and twenty-four A-rank Valkyries. However, nobody thought that there would be any fools daring to cause trouble in this place at this time.
Just when everything seemed normal, a handsome young boy suddenly appeared in the air in front of the four Valkyries guarding the entrance.
“Who are you!?” one of the Valkyries inquired. She, along with the soldiers who had loaded their guns, looked at the boy in surprise. The boy, expressionless, merely tossed a gold-colored badge that resembled a coin towards the Valkyrie in front.
The Valkyrie caught the badge and, upon inspection, her pupils contracted. She quickly took out her handheld terminal and imprinted the badge on the screen.
[Name: Insufficient Authorization.]
[Position: Insufficient Authorization.]
[Visit Target: Otto Apocalypse.]
[Purpose of Visit: Insufficient Authorization.]
[Insufficient Authorization… Insufficient Authorization… Insufficient Authorization…]
Following a series of “Insufficient Authorization,” there was a conspicuous red mark in the last line of the information.
[Note: Extend the highest courtesy, cooperate fully, do not disclose any information, violators will be charged with rebellion!]
“Lower your guns, salute!” The Valkyrie who had interpreted the information on the badge, now with a cold sweat, ordered, and the entire military unit saluted.
The Valkyrie held the badge with both hands, bent at the waist, and presented it to Sigurd with utmost respect.
“I apologize greatly for any inconvenience, I will arrange a green channel for you immediately. Additionally, do you require a guide?”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll take that one,” Sigurd pointed to the transport elevator where the cargo was being moved.
The Valkyrie glanced back at it and immediately sweated, saying, “This is unacceptable, it would be too impolite…”
Then, she remembered the instruction, [Cooperate fully].
“Understood!” Her tone changed, obediently responding.
Sigurd proceeded to the cargo box and, with a light jump, sat on the tall metal box. As the elevator doors closed, he vanished from the sight of the Valkyries.
“Captain, who was that? He made you sweat a lot,” one of the Valkyries asked.
“That’s sweat, not something else! No, everyone, listen up. We didn’t see anything just now. Everything is normal. Keep everything that happened in these few minutes to yourselves, or else no one can save you!” The captain commanded.
“Understood!”
Then, the Valkyrie who served as the captain sent a message to the personnel at the docking area.
[Highest Confidential Individual. Do not inquire, do not disseminate, do not speak. Cooperate fully!]
…
Sigurd entered the sky base smoothly, holding a small picnic basket. He strolled around the base casually, like a middle schooler out on a field trip, with a relaxed demeanor.
The badge was obtained earlier from Otto.
The information had been modified by Sigurd himself.
Everything was perfect… except for the multitude of curious and excited glances from the Valkyries along the way.
Sigurd made a few turns and finally arrived at the exclusive training ground for elite Valkyries.
On the field, two agile figures were engaged in combat with many advanced mechs.
Boom!
A fierce wind roared in his ears as a massive mechanical arm, several times taller than Sigurd, crashed behind him and shattered into a pile of sparking metal debris.
“Rita, stop!” one of the girls shouted.
“Bia- Your Highness Durandal, what’s wrong? Huh, who’s that?” The two lovely girls suddenly stopped their movements.
However, the mech’s program was still running, and its actions continued to advance towards the two.
The golden-haired girl, who appeared slightly younger, extended her hand and punched, smashing the mechs into pieces.
The slightly more mature-looking girl with short hair, dressed as a maid, raised a scythe and squinted her eyes at Sigurd.
“Hey there, little brother. This is the Valkyries’ training ground. Are you lost?” She spoke, and Sigurd tilted his head slightly, not saying a word. He simply tossed the badge as a matter of course.
Rita took the badge and verified it using her own terminal.
[Insufficient Authorization… Insufficient Authorization… Insufficient Authorization…]
Similar to the previous A-rank Valkyries, she saw a few more lines of information, but the majority still displayed the red “Insufficient Authorization.”
“Rita Rossweisse, S-rank candidate. Your authorization is still a bit lacking. Let Bianka Ataegina come instead.”
Rita nodded slowly and solemnly handed the badge to Durandal.
“Lord Durandal, please.”
“Very well, let me see… and don’t call me ‘lord,’ just Durandal is fine.”
The golden-haired girl spoke seriously and placed the badge on her own terminal.
[Name: Sigurd Kaslana.]
[Position: Chief Councilor of the Council, Oceania Schicksal Branch Director, Chief Scientific Advisor, Chief Military Advisor, Chief Strategist during wartime, Acting Archbishop.]
[Visit Target: Otto Apocalypse.]
[Purpose of Visit: Tourist sightseeing, and perhaps having tea with Otto.]
[…]
Ignoring the now-stunned Durandal, Rita’s hand trembled, and she immediately knelt on one knee.
“Snooping on secrets is a grave crime. Rita Rossweisse is willing to accept a military trial. I am extremely sorry, sir!”
Snooping on secrets was indeed punishable, but in the process of sentencing, unintentional snooping that didn’t result in any adverse consequences could be judged with the lightest penalty. Moreover, with Durandal sharing the blame, the outcome should be somewhat easier to accept.
This was the only solution Durandal could think of in her haste that adhered to discipline while also slightly helping Rita.
At this moment, Sigurd had crouched down beside a scattered pile of mech debris, fiddling with it. He calmly spoke,
“No harm done, I allow it. Besides, she is already an internally designated S-rank, and she would find out sooner or later.”
Durandal: “Lord, this…”
Rita: “Thank you for your understanding, my Lord!”
Rita covered Durandal’s mouth and, unusually strong and imposing, her smile was radiant.
“Lord Durandal, I apologize, but just this once… please compromise a little for Rita’s safety.”
“I wonder what brings you here, my Lord? Whatever it is, if Rita and Lord Durandal can assist in any way, please don’t hesitate to order!”
Rita gave Durandal a meaningful look and then released her mouth.
Durandal hesitated for a moment, her dumbfounded expression suddenly showing a look of realization.
Right, with so many titles, Sigurd must have an urgent and important command to issue. Compared to that, the dignity of the laws and regulations could be discussed later.
In the respectful postures of the two Valkyries, Sigurd placed the debris he was holding to the side and pointed to the picnic basket at his feet.
“Rita Rossweisse, come and help me carry this.”
“Yes!”
“Durandal… right? Although I think Bianka is quite a nice name, I’m not quite sure why you wanted to change your name. But Durandal is fine, it sounds nice. In any case, I do have a request for you.”
Durandal’s lips curled upwards.
She had been praised.
Bianka was a name she had chosen for herself, and Durandal was a precious name given to her by a friend. Both names were important to her. Praising these two names made Durandal even happier than praising herself.
The innocent girl couldn’t help but develop a fondness for Sigurd in her heart, and she smiled as she nodded.
“Please, go ahead and give your orders!”