Selling to Both Sides (Second Update)

Well, Xu Yue’s Knightmare piloting skills were ultimately only beginner-level. On top of that, the Sunderland had been pushed to its limits by him, and attaching Susanoo to its outer shell only increased the burden. It was no surprise that he failed to avoid the collapse this time.

It fell alongside the Guren. Thanks to the Guren’s superior performance, aside from its radiation-wave arm launcher, the main body was basically fine. The Sunderland, however, crashed so badly that it was directly wrecked.

Watching the red Knightmare approach with a "savage grin," Xu Yue felt like looking up at the sky in speechless frustration.

It seemed the reward he had received was this model too. It really was underpowered…

As he thought this, Xu Yue pulled the Knightmare’s ejection lever and launched himself out.

Fortunately, his objective had more or less been accomplished…

Xu Yue’s interference and delay had completely disrupted the formation surrounding Cornelia, while also buying enough time. Aside from the two units left behind to guard the Four Holy Swords and Todo, the freed-up royal guard had already rushed over along the route Xu Yue had carved out.

Seeing this change, Lelouch, standing atop the cliff, understood that the situation was lost.

He had been so close. That troublesome guy had even ejected from his Knightmare cockpit. It was truly infuriating!

"You got lucky! Retreat!"

Infuriated as he was, Lelouch still retained his rationality. To preserve their gains, the Black Knights used the Japan Liberation Front as sacrificial pawns to draw fire and successfully completed their withdrawal.

As far as the outcome went, Xu Yue had indeed achieved his goal.

Climbing out of the Knightmare cockpit, Xu Yue stood atop the escape pod amid the smoke-filled battlefield and watched the Black Knights retreat in battered but orderly fashion. A strange smile curled across his lips.

You may be fighting to the death now, but I still intend to make you shake hands and become friends. If the Japan Special Administrative Region plan succeeds, the evaluation definitely won’t be low.

Combined with the main body’s efforts, even in a difficulty space of this level, getting an S-Rank Plot Point in the final settlement should be guaranteed.

Leaping down from the cockpit, Xu Yue saw Cornelia stepping out of her own Knightmare while clutching her arm. It seemed the damage to the machine had injured her inside as well.

Not everyone possessed a physique like Xu Yue’s.

Even so, purple-haired Cornelia still maintained her dignity and elegance. She took two steps forward and came to stand before Xu Yue.

"I don’t care whether that is your real name or the name you used from your brother. Let’s just say the two of you share the same name."

"I, Cornelia li Britannia, acknowledge you, Xu Yue, as my knight. Hmm, given the battlefield conditions, we’ll skip any formal ceremony."

Cornelia drew her ceremonial sword and casually tapped the somewhat bewildered Xu Yue twice on the shoulder, making him feel that something about this situation was off.

Um, I said I wanted to become Euphemia’s knight back then, big sister…

Lelouch had suffered a heavy blow and went home to lick his wounds, while Xu Yue began brainwashing Euphemia and Cornelia.

Naturally, the methods were different.

For Euphemia, all he needed to do was explain the superficial appeal of the Japan Special Administrative Region according to her innocent and carefree nature.

For Cornelia, however, he needed to present it as a way to undermine the Black Knights’ foundations. Not only that, Xu Yue brought out some of the theories behind "one country, two systems," effectively telling Cornelia that the plan was feasible and practical.

She had first experienced the Black Knights’ potential during the Saitama Defense Battle, then witnessed the popular reputation they had built among the people. Now she had even nearly been captured herself. That was enough to make Cornelia take them seriously.

Moreover, the theory really could work. She was the governor of Area 11, and this was all her territory. Cornelia did not want endless warfare in her jurisdiction either.

If this approach truly worked, it seemed it could be applied to other areas as well.

With every condition in place and all the advantages of timing, location, and support on their side, the Japan Special Administrative Region plan directly entered its operational stage.

A special administrative region was to be established specifically for the Japanese, where they could restore their Japanese designation and names, be treated equally with ordinary Imperial citizens, and have an independent system…

With the preliminary work more or less complete, Xu Yue figured he should have Euphemia, whose presence was so infectious, bring her sister-complex brother into the fold. Perhaps only Euphemia could persuade that Chuunibyou Demon Lord.

"All the preliminary conditions have been met. The Special Administrative Region plan is far ahead of schedule, so Lelouch’s Geass still has some time before it goes out of control. In theory, nothing should go wrong."

To get as many plotlines as possible, Xu Yue’s Wood Clone was working quite hard, considering every angle.

Still, just in case, he decided to accompany Euphemia when she went. If Geass really did go out of control, he would still have a way to remedy it.

In that case, he had better give Lelouch a warning beforehand. After all, he was supposed to "obey" him…

He "secretly" reported this plan to Lelouch as top-secret information, nearly making the wound-licking Lelouch’s fur stand on end.

He understood perfectly well that this plan would pull the rug out from under him!

And he could not even find a reason to refuse it. His foremost dream was to create an environment suitable for Nunnally, and the Japan Special Administrative Region could accomplish that! It could also reduce the sacrifices of countless people!

This…

For a moment, Lelouch could not help but feel conflicted.

For the sake of his primary dream, giving up the secondary objective of taking revenge on that curly-haired Emperor did not seem entirely unacceptable…

"I am now Governor Cornelia’s knight. On that day, I will accompany Princess Euphemia there. If there is anything necessary, I can do things I do not wish to do for Your Highness. But deep down, I believe this truly fulfills Your Highness’s hopes."

Xu Yue only needed to "obey" Lelouch; it did not mean he could not have thoughts of his own. Thus, as Lelouch’s most "loyal" subordinate, he offered his own advice as well.

After playing the obedient subordinate on Lelouch’s side, Xu Yue returned to Euphemia. He did not dare tell Cornelia the truth, but with kind-hearted Euphemia, he had nothing to worry about.

So he "honestly" confessed everything, as though he had been moved by Euphemia. He directly admitted that he was also a member of the Black Knights and told Euphemia the truth that Zero was Lelouch.

In the original story, after Euphemia recognized Lelouch, she kept his secret all the way until her death and never revealed it. Even before dying, she was the only one who broke free of Geass control through her own will. Xu Yue completely trusted that this kind-hearted princess would know how to choose!

"I am not confident that I can persuade him, so everything can only be entrusted to Your Highness."

The plan itself had been guided by Xu Yue, so Euphemia naturally trusted him completely.

"Brother Lelouch is still alive. That’s wonderful!"

The first thing Euphemia was happy about was that her brother was still alive. As for Lelouch having killed another of her brothers, who knew where she had tossed that thought.

Then she made up her mind.

"Don’t worry, I’ll persuade him personally. I won’t let my imperial sister know either. When the time comes, sneak me over there."

Euphemia smiled slyly, like a Little Fox stealing food. She was immensely happy to be needed and to have a role to play.

"As you wish, my princess."

Xu Yue bowed slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his face…

Second update. There is one more to come.