"Is this why you have a Kaslana girlfriend?" Lyle asked Laust, his expression peculiar.
"Exactly! Just look at that head of snow-white hair—doesn't it remind you of the pure white angels in mythology? And those sapphire-blue eyes, like the clear, azure sky! I fell in love the moment I first saw a Valkyrie from the Kaslana family."
"You're just horny—"
Their fellow researcher grimaced in disgust.
"Besides, your white-haired girlfriend is so clumsy whenever she comes to the lab. Thank goodness we're at Research Institute 107, focused on weapon design, not the weapons lethality research Institute 108 next door. Otherwise, we'd all be blown up by your 'darling' sooner or later."
"So what if she accidentally erased a few lines from your blueprints? It's been years! Why are you still dwelling on it? I even redrew them for you back then!"
"Want to bet I'll erase your blueprints right now?" Lyle glared back fiercely, the still-youthful researcher clearly still harboring resentment over the past incident.
"Fine, fine, I yield..." Laust quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"Still, what you said... it's kind of got me thinking..."
Lyle scratched her chin.
"Oh? So, my good friend, you're finally looking for a Kaslana girlfriend too?"
"Get lost! Anyone from the Schariac Family would be better than a Kaslana. You clearly haven't seen those white-haired Kaslanas in the kitchen—"
"What intrigues me is the hypothetical offspring of that Overseer you mentioned. Imagine the Kaslana family's Goodness and Light and sense of responsibility combined with the Apocalypse Family's cunning and political prowess—"
"I must admit, that idea does resonate with me..."
Lyle drifted into a pleasant daydream until her colleague's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Lyle! Are there any large warship docking requests for Third Airport today?"
The urgent voice startled her. Her colleague stared in astonishment at a massive new-model Schicksal Aerial Assault Ship and an accompanying large transport ship approaching from the distance.
"I don't... think so?"
The two researchers gaped at the menacing aerial assault ship charging toward them. They could even see the warship's turrets swiveling, aiming directly at the Third Airport's anti-air defenses.
Just then, an intern from the Saint-107 Research Institute burst in—
"Mentor Laust, Doctor Lyle—Director Nagamitsu of the Saint-1504 Research Institute has evacuated to the West District, according to a friend of mine in the Immortal Blades. Several other research institute directors are also retreating to the West District under the Immortal Blades' protection."
"Have you two received any evacuation notices from the Immortal Blades Squad?"
The two exchanged glances, sensing something was amiss. Lyle turned to the institute's sole remaining intern and asked:
"Did you see anyone else on your way here? Or the Valkyrie Squad?"
"...The Immortal Blades patrol squads, which we usually see everywhere, have vanished today. I occasionally spotted small transports bearing their squad insignia landing on laboratory helipads and then taking off again."
"The Valkyries not affiliated with the Immortal Blades are still on duty—but when I asked them what was happening, they claimed to know nothing either."
The intern swiftly relayed everything they had seen and heard along the way to their two mentors, but the thunderous roar from the harbor outside the window immediately captured their attention.
The Nibelungen, an Aerial Assault Ship equipped with four twin-barreled 457mm electromagnetic railguns, unleashed a barrage of EMP bombs upon all the Third Airport's major anti-aircraft batteries. The residual EMP waves cascaded through the vicinity, paralyzing nearby small-caliber anti-air defenses and the few Schicksal Mecha deployed nearby.
"Captain Kyuusyou! All anti-aircraft defenses at Third Airport have been completely neutralized!"
The fire control officer swiftly reported the battle results, awaiting further instructions.
"All squads of the Divine Authority Squad, land at Third Airport immediately and secure the entire eastern district of Schicksal Headquarters! Inform the Far East Branch and Anti-Entropy technicians aboard the Hermes to prepare to seize control and rewrite the entire control systems of Schicksal Headquarters East District!"
"Until the Herrscher threat is confirmed neutralized, Schicksal East District remains under full alert! Prepare to consolidate and reorganize the Valkyrie Squads within Schicksal's Eastern forces!"
-
"What's happening?!"
The three researchers from the Saint-107 Research Institute stared dumbfounded at the scene unfolding at the airport. After the massive Aerial Assault Ship crippled all of the airport's defenses, numerous transport craft carrying Valkyrie Forces and heavy Anti-Entropy mecha slung beneath their bellies landed in the port area.
The Divine Authority Squad, uniformly clad in white Valkyrie armor adorned with golden patterns, filed out of the transport craft in perfect formation. They swiftly destroyed any Schicksal Mecha that had miraculously survived the EMP bomb's blast. Meanwhile, the Immortal Blades Valkyrie, who had been evacuating the laboratory since dawn, completed their mission.
The black-armored Valkyrie Force boarded their warships in equally disciplined fashion and began to withdraw. The three researchers witnessed two distinct tides—one white, one black—flowing past each other without interference, their objectives clear: retreat and occupation.
There was no communication between the two forces, not even a verbal exchange, as if they had reached some innate understanding.
"What's happening to Schicksal? That white-armored force just attacked the Third Airport, right?"
"Why didn't the Immortal Blades stop them?! Have we been abandoned?"
The intern covered his gaping mouth, his voice laced with disbelief.
"I recognize that ship..." Laust said, squinting at the Aerial Assault Ship shelling the airport and the insignia on its hull. "It's the Divine Authority Squad, an S-rank Valkyrie Force stationed at the Far East Branch."
"Are they planning a rebellion?!"
Hearing Laust's reply, Lyle stared incredulously at the massive warship looming before her.
"Even if it's a force led by an S-rank Valkyrie, it's still just one force. They're up against all of Schicksal! Even with the Far East Branch backing them, it's still..."
Lyle trailed off, remembering who headed the Far East Branch. After all, many here had witnessed Theresa of Headquarters, before she left for the Branch, furiously swinging the Oath of Judah around, searching for the Overseer.
"Alright... is our beloved little Theresa, the Branch Head of the Far East Branch, throwing another tantrum? So—what has our Lord Overseer done this time?!"
"This isn't just a tantrum, old friend. Those mechs are Anti-Entropy's armed forces... and these white-clad Valkyrie forces don't look like they're playing around. They're officially taking over Schicksal's East District."
As Researcher Laust spoke, a full-channel announcement blared from the still-hovering Nibelungen:
"This is the Far East・Divine Authority・Anti-Entropy Joint Force! By order of Anti-Entropy Leader Welt, Far East Branch Head Theresa Apocalypse, and the current head of the Apocalypse Family, daughter of the Schicksal Overseer—Snow Apocalypse! We hereby declare our takeover of the entire Schicksal Headquarters East District!"
"For the Second Schicksal!"
"Holy shit, Laust—did you get your mouth blessed or something?!"
"...Shut up and shout with me—Long live the Second Schicksal!"