In the dining room of the Osiris, the members of Team Z are holding a grand banquet for Lin Ao who accepted the duel with the Red Knight. It should be a joyous scene, but in the eyes of others, the atmosphere of the banquet was really depressing. Even Edward, who was the most lively person, said nothing. It was as if everyone thought that Lin Ao would definitely die if he left, and they were "seeing him off". ".
Anton saw that everyone was silent, tapping his fingers on the table and thinking about what he had to say, then he coughed and said: "According to the news a few days ago, the Red Knight seems to have been identified by HER as the person who assassinated Manfred and Elizabeth. The murderer behind the scenes..."
Lin Ao interrupted Anton: "No! No! The Red Knight's only goal is Manfred, Zhuge Daozi who killed Elizabeth."
Anton was stunned for a moment, thinking that he shouldn't mention Elizabeth, and then said: "Presumably he is under strict supervision by HER now, and his condition will not be very good. The chance of winning is quite high..."
Edward said: "This means that he will die even if he doesn't win. He must be prepared to die."
"What about you? Are you ready for a similar realization?" Natasha asked Lin Ao.
Lin Ao said firmly: "No, I will not make this kind of realization. I want to live to avenge Zhuge Daozi. But I will seriously fight against the Red Knight this time!"
The party ended in a depressing atmosphere. When Natasha saw Lin Ao leaving, she angrily asked Anton: "Lieutenant, how could you allow Lin Ao to accept the duel with the Red Knight? Don't you know that his lover just died? ?!”
Anton said helplessly: "This...if Lin Ao himself has no objection, and Captain Li Youde has no objection, why should I object? You just heard Lin Ao say that he wanted to take this opportunity to ask the Red Knight something."
"His current mental state is unstable! Although he pretends to be very calm, you can all see that he is holding on, right?"
"Maybe this will let him vent..." Edward said.
"Maybe he'll die because he's mentally unstable!"
Anton waved his hand: "Okay! This matter ultimately depends on Lin Ao's own opinion. All we can do is make him feel better."
…
Lin Ao was floating in the gravityless corridor. This was not the corridor leading to his room, but he was very confused now and wanted to walk around, or rather float around.
Two or three rooms in front of him were Dr. Hohenheim's room, and the doctor happened to open the door and come out. Lin Ao didn't want to talk to the doctor and just said hello, but Hohenheim grabbed Lin Ao's wrist.
"Lin Ao, can we talk?"
"Can."
Lin Ao thought that finding someone to talk to might make him feel more comfortable, so he entered the doctor's room after accepting his invitation. Hohenheim handed a cup of black tea to Lin Ao and said: "I heard about you and Princess Elizabeth, and I feel sorry for you..."
Lin Ao smiled bitterly and shook his head. He felt that everyone was looking at him with sympathy in the past few days and wanted to say this to him.
Hohenheim coughed and said: "Of course, I am not a doctor of psychology. I can't say much to make you feel better. I just... just want to ask you how you felt when Princess Elizabeth just died. I had a conversation with Captain Li Youde and the others before. During the conversation, you mentioned that the deaths of Li Si and Princess Elizabeth seemed to stimulate you to activate the ability to stop time, and your ability will become stronger every time an acquaintance is killed in front of you, right?"
"Ah...yes, it sounds like my ability is like a curse, killing people around me."
"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. Forgive me."
"It doesn't matter, I think so too... Indeed, every time someone close to me is killed in front of me, my ability will improve to a higher level; when Ms. Charlotte died, I just had hallucinations; although I didn't Someone close to me died, but maybe due to pressure, I felt Sasaki Musashi's movements slowed down; when Li Si died, time almost stopped, but it didn't last long; when Elizabeth died, the things in front of me stopped for almost five minutes. Hours...those five hours drove me crazy! I don’t know what the next evolution of my abilities will be, and I’m very scared!”
Tears flowed from the corners of Lin Ao's eyes. He looked at Hohenheim and expressed his pain.
"...Five hours, I had to watch Elizabeth die for five hours and I couldn't do anything! I don't know what was going on with my body, but I didn't want that! When I just met Elizabeth, I have become aware of my ability, and I thought I could protect Elizabeth through it, but I failed!”
The more Lin Ao spoke, the louder his sobs became. He clenched his fists and looked very unwilling. Hohenheim asked him carefully: "Do you think it would be better if you didn't have this ability?"
"...I can't say it. I told Elizabeth before that although I was very painful when I was first captured on the Osiris, as I rescued more and more people and cities, I experienced honor and pride for the first time. I also thought that if I didn't have this ability and didn't show off, Elizabeth might not die... But I knew this was wrong. If I didn't stand up at that time, she would become Zhuge Daozi's pawn. Of course, maybe she would become a pawn of Zhuge Daozi. She won't die as a chess piece, but I know that's not what she wants."
Hohenheim nodded and said: "Well, I was originally worried that you would evade your abilities and become resentful because of what happened. Now it seems that you are not like this, which is good. Lin Ao, listen to me, I will find a way Help you understand your abilities, make better use of them, and prevent tragedies that haven’t happened yet! How about that?”
"…How to do?"
"I have to study it first. Since we have no clue, I'm afraid I have to collect tissue and body fluid samples from all over your body. Of course, it's impossible to collect them all at once. Let's take our time."
"Okay, Doctor."
Lin Ao agreed to Dr. Hohenheim's request. He thought to himself that he might die suddenly one day, but before he died, he should at least understand what he had awakened.
…
The day of the showdown.
The Red Knight was handcuffed and escorted to the hangar by several armed guards. It seemed that all the crew members were here to watch the legendary Red Knight's final battle. There were people standing up and down the hangar, of course. It does not include Zhuge Daozi.
The Red Knight did not want to guess from the onlookers' eyes now their attitude toward him, whether they believed he was innocent or deserved the crime. He was just escorted to his beloved machine "Xiahoudun" without saying a word. Looking at this "comrade" who fought side by side with him through life and death, the Red Knight felt infinite emotion in his heart.
"Stay with me one last time, man."
The Wuhou-level technician handed a report to the Red Knight, and what he wrote about was his repairs and improvements to the "Xiahou Dun".
"According to Colonel Zhuge Daozi's wishes, we have installed a laser knife on your body. However, this knife needs to be powered by the power tube connected to the back, which affects a certain degree of flexibility. Please be careful."
"Where's the Human Torch?" the Red Knight asked.
"It's also ready, and the ammunition has been replenished."
"very good…"
The red knight's handcuffs were unlocked, and he stretched out his hand to caress the bright red-painted A-alloy armor of "Xiahou Dun", like a fierce general caressing his horse before going into battle.
"I wish Major Red Knight good luck in military affairs and success!!!!"
Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, and all the soldiers in the hangar, including the soldiers who had just escorted the Red Knight, stepped forward and saluted him. The red knight turned around and glanced around, feeling extremely moved in his heart. His original intention of joining the army was for revenge, and he continued to obtain military honors in order to climb higher and obtain more resources to better achieve revenge. But he unknowingly experienced the pride and glory of being a soldier, and conveyed this glory to many HER soldiers.
The Red Knight also saluted these people and said goodbye: "I, Vlad Adenauer, have no regrets in my life after fighting so hard with you all!"
