Rescue Plan

Lake Kawaguchi Conference Center Hotel was the venue for the annual Sakura Stone quota allocation conference.

Within this Mission Space, Sakura Stone was absolutely a Black Technology resource. It could be used to create room-temperature superconductors, and seventy percent of the world’s total reserves were in Japan.

That was also the fundamental reason Japan had been destroyed and turned into Area 11.

When this conference was held, a mid-ranking officer of the Resistance Army from Japan’s largest resistance organization, the Japanese Liberation Front—a man named Kusukabe, with such a harmonious-sounding name—launched a terrorist attack. They occupied the venue and took all attendees and tourists hostage.

This time, Xu Yue directly proposed continuing to serve as a Spy at the Governor-General’s Mansion. After considering it, Lelouch agreed.

His command only required Xu Yue to obey him. It had no other effect, merely ensuring sufficient loyalty, just like when he had used it on his second brother.

In the plot, Lelouch just bulldozed through with Geass. There probably aren’t many mission points to earn by following him, just like when he rescued Suzaku. The Governor-General’s Mansion has far more potential. I’ve farmed enough for now—it’s about time to make my own suggestion and go see Cornelia…

"Euphemia’s friend? Him? Let him in."

Because Euphemia was among the hostages, Cornelia had been so anxious she was practically pulling out her hair. Although Euphemia’s identity had not yet been exposed since she was not on the attendee list, her safety was still under enormous threat.

For a Sister Complex older sister, the fact that she could still sit here and command the overall situation showed that her mental fortitude was already exceptionally strong.

As for Xu Yue, Cornelia knew about him as well. She was not Euphemia. Investigating someone was no problem at all, so naturally she knew of Baron Xu Yue’s identity.

Still, he was only a down-and-out baron. The Mission Space could not impose overly rigid restrictions on Xu Yue’s starting identity. Thus, although Xu Yue had no twin brother in the records, with the academy’s patch in place, she could still accept this identity.

Wasn’t it normal for a minor, fallen baron to have incomplete records? It was probably another inheritance dispute.

The only reason she had agreed to see him at this time was entirely because Xu Yue had saved Euphemia’s life!

Moreover, this fellow had been reasonably sensible lately. He had not used that lifesaving favor to demand anything. Based on her observations during this period, he probably had not deliberately approached Euphemia before the assassination attempt because he knew her identity, intending to use her to help seize a title or something.

It could not be helped. Given Cornelia’s position and personality, smart people naturally tended to overthink things.

That was also why Xu Yue had never dared to farm her favor too obviously. He had only come now because Euphemia’s capture was such a critical moment!

"Governor Cornelia."

Xu Yue came before Cornelia and respectfully performed a noble’s salute.

"Hmph. I know who you are, but I have no interest in your family’s mess. So if you want to use Euphemia for anything, I will kill you!"

Cornelia opened with a murderous warning, but then her expression softened.

"However, I thank you for saving Euphemia last time. You may state your request. If it is not excessive, I will consider it. But I am busy right now. If there is nothing else, you may leave."

Xu Yue had long expected her attitude. This time, he answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Your Highness, Princess Euphemia is innocent and pure, untouched by the filth of this world. To people like us who live in darkness, she is like a beacon. How could I possibly wish to use or harm her?!"

After first making clear his affection and attitude toward Euphemia, Xu Yue spoke again.

"I have already made my decision. I want to become Princess Euphemia’s knight, earn a new noble title step by step through my merits, rather than lie back and live off past achievements like my brother."

Xu Yue’s slightly excited and fervent demeanor caused Cornelia’s heart to soften as well. Was that not why she had always taken such good care of her younger sister? Behind all the slaughter she had committed on the battlefield, Euphemia was the only refuge in her heart.

Flattering Cornelia would probably have been useless, but taking the Euphemia route was absolutely twice the result with half the effort.

Having said that, Xu Yue voiced his concern again.

"Um, Governor Cornelia, I watched the news earlier and saw the terrorists’ broadcast video. I wanted to ask… is Princess Euphemia inside the hotel?"

Xu Yue’s worried appearance struck directly at Cornelia’s heart. So that was it. He had come to find her on his own because of this?

It truly had not been easy for him to spot Euphemia in that fleeting shot.

Cornelia could not help sighing, her face also filled with worry.

"Since you saw her too, there is nothing to hide. Euphemia is indeed inside, but fortunately, it seems her identity has not been exposed for now."

Cornelia was not worried that he might be one of the terrorists’ spies. If he truly were, there would have been no need to come confirm it with her. It would have been much faster to have the terrorists confirm it with Euphemia herself.

And Cornelia truly lacked someone with whom to share the pressure in her heart. Everyone else was a subordinate. Only this person, who also saw Euphemia as a form of salvation, barely counted as one of her kind.

After hearing that, Xu Yue’s expression became calm and cold. Then he said firmly,

"Then I request to join this operation as a special assault member. I have some confidence in my own skills, and I also know a little about operating Knightmares."

A resolute, steadfast air rushed forth, making Cornelia feel a trace of pressure from him.

It also inspired trust.

With his prior restrained attitude toward Euphemia as a foundation, after so many days of preparation, combined with this opportunity and his step-by-step verbal approach, Xu Yue had finally gained the trust of the extremely difficult Cornelia!

When dealing with a suspicious strong woman like Cornelia, once you slipped up and raised her guard, there would be no second chance. So far, it had been quite successful.

Trust was trust, but Xu Yue felt that he might have farmed a little too hard all at once…

"You? Wait. This opponent is not an ordinary resistance organization. They are former soldiers. It is too dangerous for a nonprofessional. If you want to become Euphemia’s knight, you first need to stay alive, don’t you?"

Compared to Cornelia’s attitude toward Suzaku in the past, she was undoubtedly treating Xu Yue far better. Whether it was Xu Yue’s methods of gaining favor or his identity as a fallen noble, he was fundamentally different from Suzaku.

The cost of farming too much favor, however, seemed to be that Cornelia had started worrying about Xu Yue’s safety.

That caught Xu Yue somewhat off guard…

The Area 11 garrison and Cornelia’s Royal Guard Knight Order had already surrounded the entire conference center hotel.

Furthermore, Cornelia’s staff had formulated a feasible plan based on the hotel’s structure.

Since compromising with terrorists was impossible, they could only carry out a rescue.

The rescue route would be through the passage beneath the lake that was used to transport supplies!

At the huge entrance to the transport passage, Xu Yue watched as one Knightmare after another was lowered into the tunnel. He briefly observed a few seconds of silence for them, then began considering how he could persuade Cornelia to let him enter this passage and farm some points…

That’s two updates. Nothing more today…

This weak and feeble salted fish shed salty tears.