After seeing off Saki and Lelouch, Xiao Ran returned to the guest room at the reception office as if nothing had happened. He left quietly and came back quietly. During the whole process, no one knew who was currently using the suite. He left without leaving any trace, and took the Scarlet Knights, the most important combat force that the empire relies on, into his own hands.
On the next day, Xiao Ran will send away Jeremiah and Veretta who came with him, as well as Cecil who came with Lancelot. The three of them will take a special plane and Lancelot returned to District 11 together. As for Xiao Ran, there should be no chance to return to District 11 in the next short time. At that time, he will set off directly from the capital to the various war zones on the edge to patrol on behalf of the emperor. Xiao Ran also We must use this opportunity to control the theater and border areas as much as possible.
After resisting Jeremiah and Veretta to protect Euphilia, Xiao Ran sent the three of them onto the special plane without saying too much to the last Cecil until the special plane took off. , Xiao Ran got into the black limousine waiting not far from the by-pass, and left the military airport all the way to the location of the Scarlet Knights.
On the back seat of the car, Bimax was sitting in it, dressed formally, with his legs crossed, holding a cigar in one hand and a wine glass in the other. It was not until Xiao Ran entered the car that he raised the wine glass and shook it slightly at Xiao Ran: " Want a drink?"
"No need." Xiao Ran smiled and shook his head to refuse. After adjusting his sitting position to make himself more comfortable, he said: "The Scarlet Knights move so fast? They didn't even delay, and they took the body so quickly. Come out, it seems that these people have some integrity."
Bimax smiled meaningfully: "Even if they have integrity, the so-called integrity is not based on loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor, but on interests. Although according to the bet, they will take out a machine if they fail. The machine will be handed over to us, but His Majesty will also give them corresponding compensation, and this compensation is not a small amount, it is a large sum of cherry stones that they need most."
"These cherry stones have been delivered to the headquarters of the Scarlet Knights early this morning, so they can't take them even if they don't want to."
Xiao Ran deliberately paused, then shook his head and smiled: "A confrontation is just a pretext, and as long as they fail, they will have no chance to regret once Sakurashi is sent over, otherwise it will be more difficult for them to gain a foothold in the country. It will no longer gain His Majesty’s trust, nor will it be possible to obtain more resources.”
Bimax smiled and agreed with what Xiao Ran said, and then asked: "Actually, this is equivalent to us taking a machine from the hands of the Scarlet Knights. According to the agreement, we cannot carry out any technology on this machine. Analysis, but it does not mean that we as pilots cannot understand this machine, nor does it mean that the empire’s technical department cannot imitate this machine. Therefore, although we are here to use this machine, in fact it is the empire that benefits. , it is also thanks to your strength that we were able to obtain a special machine from the Scarlet Knights."
Xiao Ran waved his hand: "I just completed my mission and got a powerful enough machine for myself. As for the other things, it is not my credit, and without the resources His Majesty paid, I would not have had the opportunity to compete with him. The people of the Scarlet Knights are fighting over the machine, and it is impossible to obtain the machine from the opponent."
Bimax didn't speak, just smiled, but he also agreed with what Xiao Ran said in his heart. If it weren't for Charles, this machine would never have fallen into Xiao Ran's hands. Even if there was that battle, it was just a reason, and it could There are dozens of reasons to achieve the same goal, not a hundred. Xiao Ran's contribution is just to make this reason unacceptable to the Scarlet Knights.
Bimax put down the wine glass in his hand, glanced at Xiao Ran up and down, and said, "Aren't you worried that the Scarlet Knights will randomly bring out a machine to fool you, or arrange some kind of backdoor? After all, you will be driving this machine. Yes, if something goes wrong on the battlefield, it will most likely cost you your life."
"I don't think they dare." Xiao Ran smiled lightly and said: "If I have any problems on the battlefield because of that machine, the first one who can't escape the relationship will only be the Scarlet Knights, so they I won't do that. I think they will hope that I can use this machine to exert more powerful power, and in this way they will have more bargaining chips in their hands to negotiate with the Empire and His Majesty, and you and I You don’t even know whether the other party intends to agree to the conditions you proposed, or maybe they are just waiting for a price, and when the opportunity is right, they will invest their technology or body into the empire in exchange for more benefits?”
"If this is the case, the machines produced by the Scarlet Knights will probably be better, not worse."
Bimax's brows jumped slightly and he nodded slowly: "What you said is not impossible, but if we can get more powerful machines from the Scarlet Knights and get their unique technology, even if we pay Some of the costs are worth it, but I have never had such an opportunity before. Now because of you, this opportunity has appeared. If the opportunity is right, I would like to have a good communication with the Scarlet Knights."
The two of them were talking and soon arrived at the headquarters of the Scarlet Knights where Xiao Ran had just visited the night before. Not even ten hours had passed before they saw Corgi, the leader of the Scarlet Knights.
Just in front of the command building in the station, Xiao Ran and Bimax got out of the car wearing the same knight uniforms with slightly different colors. Corgi and a few people stood next to the car, and the night before The guy with a covered head that Xiao Ran saw did not appear at all, and the atmosphere and feeling in the entire station were completely different from when he came at night. All the people who appeared were wearing military uniforms belonging to the empire, although the same There was no sense of tension, but the casual atmosphere was completely covered up. Even if it was just an illusion, at least in Bimax's eyes, there was really no problem with the situation in the Scarlet Knights' camp.
After getting off the car, the waiting Corgi looked at Xiao Ran openly, and there was no trace of eye contact. After all, Corgi couldn't see Xiao Ran's eyes under the mask at all, so the eye contact was like this. Unless there is a tacit understanding, such as Saki and Xiao Ran, who can understand each other's thoughts without looking at each other with just one movement, even if Xiao Ran and Corgi really look at each other for more than ten seconds, Corgi probably will not be able to understand Xiao Ran at all. intention.
Corgi walked up to the two of them, laughed and stretched out his hand, giving people a cheerful and cheerful feeling, and said: "Welcome, Bimax and Lelouch, the two Knights of the Round Table, are coming to the headquarters of the Scarlet Knights. , but it makes this place shine."
Xiao Ran didn't speak. He seemed to remember that he was only the second knight and Bimax was the first knight. He stood a little behind Bimax and remained silent without saying a word.
Facing Corgi's hearty enthusiasm, Bimax also smiled friendly. After shaking hands with Corgi, he also said: "Where can I get such attention from the Corgi knight who is the most relied on in the empire? It feels so shameless." We should be the ones with the light."
Corgi smiled and did not answer Bimax's words. Instead, he looked at Xiao Ran. The smile on his face also faded slightly, as if he was dissatisfied but had to continue to smile cheerfully. Just like Ying, it was completely impossible to tell that this guy had completely turned to Xiao Ran at night. He looked more like an actor than a real actor.
Corgi said: "Knight Lelouch, welcome to the headquarters of the Scarlet Knights. Knight Lelouch's confrontation performance yesterday was really surprising. I didn't expect that there is a brave man like you hidden in the empire." Man, he could so easily drive the same machine to defeat all the super aces in our Scarlet Knights. Knight Lelouch, your strength is probably rare in this empire, no, in this world. It is a great honor for me to be the companion of a brave and powerful man like you."
Corgi said it with a smile, and his words contained a lot of praise for Xiao Ran. However, in Bimax's view, these compliments could not be taken at face value, because Corgi spoke in a Even though he kept smiling at all times, there was more or less a hint of anger in it. It was said to be a compliment, but in reality it was more of a deliberate, flattering, ironic, sarcastic, and also some sowing discord. This means that driving a wedge between Xiao Ran and Bimax is also driving a wedge between Xiao Ran and the Knights of the Round Table, and even more so between Xiao Ran and Charles.
After all, a person who can be regarded as the strongest person in the entire world would actually succumb to Bimax and become a second knight. Moreover, he still does not have completely clear rights. He can only enjoy the treatment of a Knight of the Round Table, but there is no Bimax. The Second Knight of the Round Table, who has such power, does not even have his own personal guard, and most of the resources that Bimax possesses.
Logically speaking, Bimax should be unhappy and displeased when Corgi said these words, but on the contrary, Bimax was quite satisfied at this time. He was very satisfied with the angry and angry way Corgi treated Xiao Ran. He had to suppress his unhappy attitude, and was even more satisfied with Corgi's hostility and dissatisfaction towards Xiao Ran. He felt in his heart that the relationship between Xiao Ran and Corgi should be like this, and he was also satisfied with the current situation. Originally, Charles and Bimax He also planned to establish the relationship between the Scarlet Knights and Xiao Ran like this.
But Bimax would never know that there are ten participants and ten actors, and he is also the best actor who can always maintain the state of practice. Bimax can't see any flaws in Corgi's performance this time, and Even if Kokina is awarded an actor award for today's performance, there is absolutely no problem at all.
Bimax didn't know that the relationship between Xiao Ran and Corgi was completely different. Generally speaking, they had completely taken sides. The goal was to overthrow Charles to whom he was loyal and make Lelouch the emperor. Bimax, the first knight, Also among the targets.
But if Corgi is the best actor, then Xiao Ran is definitely the king of actors. After Corgi finished speaking, Bimax was satisfied, with only an indifferent smile on his face that showed neither happiness nor displeasure, while Xiao Ran was However, his face was completely expressionless, and his voice did not fluctuate at all. He replied calmly: "Knight Corgi praised me. Although I do have some strength, I don't dare to claim that I am the number one in the empire and that I am stronger than me." There are strong people everywhere. I am just one of the countless soldiers in the empire who is lucky enough to get a chance to perform. As the leader of the Scarlet Knights, the Corgi Knight must also be very powerful. He can I feel very lucky to serve the empire together with the Corgi Knights. Fortunately, a powerful legion like the Scarlet Knights is not an enemy, but a friendly force."
What Xiao Ran said was very ordinary. There was no anger or compliment at all. It was plain but full of a little politeness and more distance. It was also the words that best fit his current personality. , a proud person who doesn't care what others think, only does what he wants to do, and doesn't mind other people's attitudes.
Kokipi chuckled, and Bimax also intervened at this time. After all, although he needed Xiao Ran to check and balance the Scarlet Knights, he also needed the force of the Scarlet Knights to stabilize the external situation. Currently, Before being able to disintegrate the Scarlet Knights, he still hopes that Xiao Ran and Corgi can remain unhappy and conflicted with each other, but also maintain a stable state, so Bimax is also worried that the two will become angry if they continue to talk. bigger.
In Bimax's own opinion, from his perspective, Corgi is definitely a man with many conspiracies and tricks, and he is also a somewhat vicious person. Bimax is also worried that Corgi will not be able to bear it if he goes too far. Just use off-the-shelf moves against Xiao Ran, such as assassination and similar things.
As for Xiao Ran, Bimax also doesn't think Xiao Ran is an imposing person. Although he is indifferent, he is also arrogant and confident in his own strength. He is also a self-centered person who will definitely take revenge. Guy, as long as he wants to do it, he will never take the overall situation into account and try to take action against the Scarlet Knights. This is also not what Bimax wants to see now.
So when should we adjust the center, and when should we stir up the anger between Xiao Ran and Ke Ji, so as to keep the anger under control, Bimax has been thinking about it for a long time. The arrangement has been made, and now is an opportunity to stabilize the anger.
"Haha, you two don't need to be polite. You are both the pillars of the empire and the people the empire needs to rely on most. You can both bear these honors. As for the first knight, I don't mind giving it up, but I also need Lu. Knight Lelouch will have to make greater contributions, okay, let’s not talk nonsense, Knight Corgi, you should be very clear about the purpose of coming here this time, don’t you know the machine prepared for Knight Lelouch?”
Corgi turned his attention from Xiao Ran back to Bimax, and nodded: "Well, it's ready. Please follow me."