Jiray Stregar was growing impatient.

　It was while he was performing his knightly duties as usual.
　He noticed that there was a rumor circulating around the young knights.

　''It seems that evidence of the collusion between the lord and the knights has emerged.''

　Gilley took the opportunity to chastise the young knight for not dancing around the silly rumors.
　But inwardly, he was in a cold sweat.
　Because the collusion between the lord and the knights was an undoubted fact.
　More than half of the Knights, including Gilley himself, are involved in fraud.

　What if the rumors are true?
　What if the evidence is in the hands of members of the group who have not been wronged?

　When I thought about it, I couldn't not move.
　It is not permissible to reckon with it as a mere rumor.
　There is no smoke where there is no fire.

''Tch........it's become a pain in the ass.

　

　The lord and his son, Edgar, still knew nothing about this case.
　This was because of the gag order.
　The lords have a cautious nature.
　They mimic banging on the stone bridge over and over again, but with a serious face.

　What if such lords find out about this time?
　No doubt, it will be called a blunder.
　Gilet and the others, the knights and lords who are involved in injustice, are no longer in the same boat.
　They won't be abandoned now, but........

　At worst, there could be a purge to make an example out of them.

　So we have to move carefully and quickly.

They've been very quiet this time.

　The only thing that could be tricky is what the young knights and their second-in-command, Stella, are up to.
　Stella and the others are a minority of knights who are not involved in any wrongdoing.
　I once approached them about it casually, but........

　'I hope you're not going to make that kind of joke.

　I was prodded.
　Although I ended the conversation at the time by saying it was a joke....
　The other members of the group reacted similarly and refused to join the group.

　They're a foolish bunch, Jiray laughs.

　They really believe in such things as 'justice' in today's world.
　There is no such thing as 'justice' in the world today.
　They blindly believe that they are doing the right thing and trying to be a great knight.
　It's a wonderful complacency.
　Nothing is fulfilled by such a thing.
　It won't raise your pay, and if you make a mistake of any kind, people will shout out and denounce you here and there.

　There is no need for any kind of 'justice' in the Order.
　There is no such thing as 'justice' in the first place.

　In the past, Jirey also tried to deal with people in a sincere manner.
　But people just repeat their selfish and selfish things...
　Eventually, the passion he had in his chest disappeared, leaving him disappointed and discouraged.

　

'The sooner they realize the reality, the better.

　The people Jillay is referring to - the people Jillay is referring to - we didn't bring Stella and the others who aren't involved in the injustice this time.
　That's obvious.
　In case the evidence of wrongdoing exists....
　And when they get their hands on it?

　My head hurts just thinking about it.

　Hence, I didn't bring them to this operation.
　All of the ones participating are the ones who are cheating.
　We've been fortified with only those we trust.

　Of course, if we did that, Stella and the others would be wondering.
　In fact, they had a look on their face as if they wondered what was going on.
　However, they did not have the authority to go against the captain, Jirey.
　Even if you ignore the authority, Stella and her team are a small number of people, less than ten.
　They can force things through.

''Well, they retreated quite straightforwardly this time, but does that mean they're finally understanding their position?
"Captain.

　One of my men came in to tell me.

''We've surrounded the warehouse, sir. We've also got a rough idea of what's going on inside. There's no one in there.
Good. All right, I'm going in now. I'll join you. The primary goal is you know what I'm saying?
Ha!

　His men returned the salute.

　If only Stella and the others had been this receptive.
　Gilley sighed inwardly.

'Let's go!

　At Gilet's signal, they all rushed into the warehouse, leaving a few knights on guard.

　The inside of the warehouse was large.
　Even if a few dozen knights rushed in, there was enough space for each of them to move freely.

　In places, the floor was illuminated by the moonlight coming in through the windows.
　However, since the number of windows was overwhelmingly small, it was not enough to illuminate the entire warehouse.
　If they were even the slightest distance apart, they would lose track of each other.

'Light.'
What? Light!

　At Gilet's command, one of the knights cast a spell.
　A ball of light emerged in the palm of his hand, dispelling the darkness around him.

''Guh!''

　The next moment, the knight who had cast the spell stumbled back, holding his wrist.
　When he looked, he saw a needle stuck in a gap in his armor.

　As if drunk, the knight faltered on his feet and fell down.
　The magic disappeared and darkness enveloped him again.

'What, what was that?'
Hey, what's going on? Are you okay?

　The knights were confused by the sudden events.
　In the midst of it all, Gilley was the only one who calmly analyzed the situation and came up with an answer.

''Enemies, all of you, get ready!



----------



　The way to lure these corrupt group members is very simple.
　We can spread the rumor that there is evidence of collusion between them and their lords.
　They will work to destroy the evidence, just as they have done in the past.
　They're not so much poised to ignore the rumors as they are poised to ignore them.
　People who are doing something wrong are nervous at some point.

　In fact, they have moved on.
　Interestingly, they did exactly what we wanted them to do.
　They lured us into a warehouse, not knowing it was a trap.

　Now we can round 'em up!

'Sola, Luna. Can you quietly incapacitate the guards?
No problem.
"Hmph, I'll show you the power that even the Luna gods fear.

　The twins came together and pointed their palms at the soldiers on guard, as if they were taking aim.
　Then they chanted simultaneously.

"'Sleep,'

　The knights standing around the warehouse collapsed to the spot without power.
　Just because they used magic, a feather floats on their backs.

''That, that feather...could it be...could it be a spirit race!　That's ridiculous.......how can a spirit race be in a place like this.......
'You two are my buddies. I don't want to make a scene, so I usually get them to hide their wings.
What, mate?　Spirituals to join the...?　How is that possible?　No, but actually ... it's hard to believe, but apparently it's true. Rain is doing something extraordinary...........................I'm surprised indeed.
Can you guys keep this between us, please?　Right now, I need both of you to help me, but...
Mm-hmm. Of course. Rayne and the others are like benefactors. I swear I won't tell any secrets. Of course, the same goes for my people.

　Stella and all the knights here nodded firmly.
　I look into their eyes.
　I see a crystal-clear glow.
　I don't feel like I'm lying.
　Stella and the others will keep their promise, I'm relieved.

''By the way what did you just do?''
It's magic.
"I put you to sleep with a sleep spell, ha ha ha!
You can do a sleep spell...?

　Stella was surprised.
　It can't be helped.
　Magic to put the other person to sleep, it might sound simple to say but........
　Sleep magic is actually a higher magic that is classified as advanced.

　After all, it puts the opponent into a forced sleep state and leaves them completely defenseless.
　In a sense, it's a one-hit kill.
　Because it would be a terrible thing if misused, few people know the structural formula of the magic, and it is not disclosed to the public.
　However, it's just a matter of breakfast for the two spirit race members.

''Su, you can use amazing magic.......as expected of the spirit race, I guess I should say.''
No, I just happen to remember it.
"Humph, do you like to admire me more?

　They are twins and yet they react completely differently.
　I can't help but chuckle.

'I'm sorry,'

　Suddenly, Stella turns to them and bows her head.

What's going on?
Hm?　What is it?　I told you to respect me, but I didn't tell you to apologize.
'Well I misjudged the power of the two of you. I asked them to come with me because they were Rain's companions, but I didn't expect them to be able to use this kind of magic... I took them lightly as just kids. In truth, he should be a spirit race and have far more power than I do, but I looked at him with contempt. I'm sorry, I hope you'll forgive me.

　It was the kind of words that showed Stella's personality.
　If they kept quiet, they wouldn't find out about such things...
　To go out of your way to say it and make a proper apology.......that's not something you can normally do.

　Sora and Luna seem to like that kind of personality of Stella's and smile together.

''Please raise your heads. Sola and the others don't care.
'Mmm!　I rather like you. He's good for a human being, isn't he?
I'm grateful to hear that. But for a human...?
'Oh, for now, we'll talk later. Right now we have to do what we have to do.

　This is not the time to relax forever.
　I'll end the conversation for now and move on to the next phase.

'Sora, Luna. Sora, Luna, and Kanade. I want you three to take care of the perimeter and catch any of the escapees.
Nyan!
I'm going to need you to join them.
Ha!

　Stella sent instructions to her men.

"It's me, Tania, and Tania who are going in. And Stella.

　I was actually planning on just me and Tania, but...

　"We can't leave the problems of the Order to Lane and the others.　I want you to take me with you.'

　He asked me to go with him, and I decided to ask Stella to accompany him.
　I know the feeling, so I'm not really opposed to it.
　However, since we have a plan, I've asked her to follow my instructions.

"The plan is exactly as I told you it would be. The first step is to get the enemy confused. Are you ready?
I'm ready. Hmmm, my arm snaps.
I'm fine, too.
Well let's go!

　Under the cover of darkness, I quietly broke into the warehouse.
　I had examined the information inside beforehand, so I had no trouble moving in the dark.
　I climbed the steel frame while trying not to make any noise and secured a vantage point.

　It's time to use the specially made small hand that Ganz has made for me the 'Narkami'.
　This hand has various gimmicks that I've devised.
　One of them is that it ejects needles when you move in a certain way.

　One of the knights uses a magic that turns on the lights.
　With that as my target, I took aim and ejected a poisonous needle from 'Narkami'.