Chapter 1195: Sudden Ambush
"Good evening. I believe you're Professor Kisaki's secretary?"
As if completely oblivious to her intense hostility, Larfuria relaxed with her hands on her hips.
"My name is Beatrice Basler."
Beatrice appeared extremely agitated, as if she couldn't wait to take action immediately.
However, seeing the princess's carefree expression that demonstrated noble upbringing, she forced an artificial smile.
"I serve as the professor's secretary to closely monitor his rituals, not because I'm his subordinate. I hope the princess understands this."
"Thank you for letting me know that Kisaki isn't aligned with your group."
Larfuria immediately laughed cheerfully.
Driven by competitive spirit against Larfuria, Beatrice emphasized that her true status went beyond being just a secretary.
Larfuria retorted sarcastically. Though she never explicitly said it, the implication of "how foolish you are" permeated her words.
Beatrice's expression instantly darkened.
As a woman, she felt she had already lost ground in terms of composure.
"So, you were sent by the Mage's Industrial Company itself?"
Larfuria lightly brushed her silver hair, her expression filled with amusement.
"I heard Mage's Industrial has been facing dismal profits recently. Their flagship mechanical soldiers aren't selling at all in conflict zones, leaving them on the brink of bankruptcy. Is this their final desperate struggle before going under?"
"How perceptive! Truly worthy of a kingdom's princess!"
Beatrice's face suddenly turned cold and grim.
"Originally, the company planned to reclaim profits by selling Artificial Angels, which is why we fully supported Ye Lai Xian Sheng's research. Who would have thought the Fourth True Ancestor would interfere and completely destroy the company's plans!"
"Fortunately, the ritual itself isn't unusable. We just lack a suitable spiritual medium now."
As she said this, Beatrice's narrow eyes fell upon Larfuria.
Her gaze carried a predatory quality, as if intending to claim this princess as merchandise.
"I see. So you've set your sights on me?"
Larfuria understood immediately.
Kanon's talent had proven the power of the Lihwain family's spiritual medium constitution.
If Kanon could become an Artificial Angel, then Larfuria certainly qualified too.
By capturing Larfuria and using her as research material, the Artificial Angel experiments could continue!
"This would cause international issues, wouldn't it?"
"By the time it becomes an international problem, the ritual will already be complete. With genuine angels on our side, who would fear mere Aldegia?"
Beatrice's face showed complete disregard.
Rather, she possessed extraordinary blind faith in the power of Artificial Angels.
Indeed, even preliminary creations could fly at supersonic speeds. If truly completed, how powerful they might become was hard to say—they might even be able to oppose a True Ancestor!
With such power within reach, how could they possibly give up easily?
"Fog Leaf, that's what she says?"Larfuria spread her hands toward the nearby Feizaki Wuye.
"Beatrice Basler, you are suspected of assaulting a state guest. In the name of the Tai Shi Bureau's Six Blades, I hereby arrest you. I suggest you surrender peacefully!"
Fizaki Kiriya coldly opened the tripod case.
From within, she retrieved a deep gray double-pronged spear that resembled a tuning fork, holding it before her like a long spear, its twin prongs pointed directly at Beatrice across from her.
"The Tai Shi Bureau? You even have special agents protecting you? And here I thought I picked a time when the Knights weren't around to attack."
Beatrice gave Larfuria a dumbfounded look.
"But, no matter."
She then let out a light laugh.
Clap clap!
With crisp applause, a disheveled-looking beastman pushed a small shipping container out from around the corner.
"Here."
The beastman handed a remote control to Beatrice.
"What's that?"
The smile faded from Larfuria's face.
"It couldn't be...?"
Fizaki Kiriya couldn't help but tense up.
"Come now, it's time for your performance, XDA-3, 4, 5, and 6!"
Beatrice licked her parched lips and fiercely pressed the remote.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the container was destroyed from within by tremendous force.
"ROOOOAR!"
Several chaotic roars erupted from inside.
Both Larfuria and Fizaki Kiriya's expressions hardened simultaneously, the female knight's face turning pale with shock.
"Artificial Angels! And four of them at that!"
Naked bodies wrapped in bandages.
Wings twisted like distorted blood vessels.
White masks of the same model covering their faces.
Without exception, they were all roaring.
These were unmistakably all Artificial Angels!
"But weren't there only three Artificial Angels?"
Fizaki Kiriya's expression became strained, cold sweat seeping from her palms gripping the double-pronged spear.
"The first was destroyed by the Fourth True Ancestor, the third's ritual was interrupted with Kanon, and the second was publicly displayed..."
"It seems they held some back."
The composure vanished from Larfuria's face as well.
A sense of pressure filled her holy features.
Artificial Angels—even just the initial versions—were plenty strong. With thorough preparation, one or two might be manageable, but four at once!
They're really giving me too much credit, aren't they?
"Well, of course! Who would show off all their assets?"
Seeing that she had gained the upper hand over both women, Beatrice burst into delighted laughter.
"Kanon wasn't the third, but the seventh—the final model XDA-7. Pity that specimen is unusable now, but remaking you, Princess, into XDA-7 wouldn't be bad either?"
In other words, the total number of Artificial Angels was seven!
"The current Artificial Angels are still highly unstable, prone to rampage at any moment, so don't blame me for not holding back. As long as you're not dead, it's fine! Get them, take down those two bitches!"
Beatrice's impatience twisted her features together.
"Wait, I surrender!"
But then, Larfuria suddenly raised both hands.
Her utterly serious expression made it seem like she meant every word.
"What?"
Not only Beatrice, but even Fizaki Kiriya was stunned.
Your subject was prepared to fight to the death, Your Highness, so why surrender first?
"Because people could die!"
Larfuria stated this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Fog Leaf, even you couldn't possibly take on four Model Angels at once, could you?"
"This..."
Fujisaki Kiriha fell silent.
No.
It wasn't just about being unable to fight them - one wrong move and she'd be dead on the spot!
"Ahahahaha! How sensible of you, Princess!"
Beatrice laughed scornfully.
There was a sense of triumphant vindication in her expression.
"Kijima, go disarm them completely. Don't leave a single weapon!"
"Understood."
The burly male beastman nodded in acknowledgment.
"My apologies, I don't want to offend a royal princess and government agents. If possible, please disarm yourselves."
Fujisaki Kiriha sighed and threw her tuning fork gun on the ground.