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[Crossover] Ch 245: Nobleman of God Speed
🕑 Added 2025-09-10 17:27:13 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
Greenwich, beneath the Witenagemot
Ryo stepped inside and immediately spoke in a tone dripping with disdain: "This kind of outdated twentieth-century architecture, and they still went and built an underground library?"
"Well, well, I didn't expect you and I to think alike, Ryo Yagami."
Princess Alice's astral form floated lazily above the ground, clearly unwilling to walk on foot.
The two of them were in the narrow corridor leading down to the library beneath the Witenagemot's headquarters.
Because the building was so old—and partly because it doubled as a wartime shelter—the corridor was suffocatingly cramped. In some places, Ryo had to bend over more than fifty degrees just to keep moving forward.
"In the end, why even bother preserving a relic like this for 'historical value'? Just tear it down and rebuild."
Alice perked up, her tone almost cheerful. "Exactly! Tear it down, build a shiny twelve-story tower—and most importantly, put in an elevator. People should keep up with the times, don't you think?"
Ryo glanced at her sideways. "If you want my approval to rebuild headquarters, just say so."
"Heh heh~" Alice flashed a sheepish grin.
"So, what's your judgment?"
"Rebuild it. This trash heap shouldn't exist."
"Long live Ryo-sama!" Alice cheered dramatically.
Their banter ended as the corridor finally opened into the hidden library.
It was much more spacious here, but the odd aura in the air made Ryo frown.
"A temple?"
"Yes," Alice replied as she touched down, her gaze scanning the ancient stone walls.
"It used to be a secret shrine built by monks, most likely dedicated to Celtic gods. The statues were destroyed long ago, but some of the defensive wards remain."
"So you turned it into your intelligence vault?" Ryo tapped on the stone a few times, found the right spot, and pressed it.
With a grinding rumble, the smooth stone wall ahead sank inward, revealing a hidden passage.
Alice blinked in surprise. "Huh? You figured it out in an instant?"
"What's so shocking about that?"
Ryo tilted his head slightly, sounding exasperated.
"You don't seriously think a little ward against mental interference could fool a Campione, do you?"
"…" Alice's expression turned awkward.
That exact ward had been studied thoroughly by the Witenagemot years ago. In fact, a decade earlier, Alice herself had gathered dozens of high-ranked magi to deploy it just to mess with Black Prince Alec.
But this guy shrugs it off like it's nothing… Alice followed behind Ryo with a complicated expression as he entered the library.
Inside, Ryo found row after row of shelves, most crammed full with magically treated documents.
Alice caught up and explained in a hushed voice: "Roughly seventy percent of our highest-classified intelligence is stored here. The other thirty percent is locked away on offline computers."
Looking over the shelves, Ryo put a hand on his hip and sighed. "Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
---
Upstairs, in the Witenagemot main room.
Chaos reigned.
"The cabinet secretary has publicly declared loyalty to the Black Prince."
"Ireland and Scotland are pushing for independence referendums—their leaders are confirmed members of the Royal Arsenal."
"Half the cabinet secretaries and four ministers have revealed themselves as Royal Arsenal loyalists."
One bad report after another landed in front of the weary Witenagemot Speaker, James Huck.
The old man sighed helplessly.
"So… he's reaching into the ordinary world now. Looks like the Black Prince had this planned all along."
A Witenagemot member rushed over. "Should we notify Consultant Alice?"
"No." Ericson, standing nearby, pushed up her glasses.
"Unfortunately, Her Highness is currently with Lord Ryo Yagami."
The implication was clear: they couldn't risk disturbing Ryo. Offending even one Campione was suicide—offending two was unthinkable.
Just then, a woman burst into the chamber.
"Speaker! The royal family is urging the cabinet to arrange a meeting with the Black Prince."
Huck froze, stunned. Ericson, too, was caught off guard.
"Even the royals are courting him?"
The revelation left Huck sitting back down heavily, clutching his head in frustration.
"When did it come to this?"
Ericson opened his mouth, then sighed.
"The Black Prince's authority, Black Lightning, is infamous for its speed. With that kind of power, monitoring his movements is impossible."
"After all, his nickname is the Nobleman of God Speed."
He adjusted his glasses again and forced a bitter smile. "For all we know, he could already be inside headquarters."
"Oh? Not a bad guess."
The familiar voice rang from the corner of the chamber.
Ericson stiffened and turned.
There, seated casually at the edge of the table, was a young man with unremarkable looks, cheap white shirt and slacks, black hair and eyes.
Alexander Gascoigne. The Black Prince.
The Campione had been sitting there, listening to their panic?
Cold sweat trickled down Speaker Huck's brow. He hadn't expected the Black Prince to be this close.
But outwardly, he forced formality, standing to bow. "Prince Gascoigne!"
"Just call me Alec," the man said with a wry smile. "Hardly fitting to dress me up with noble titles—I've no such blood."
'This is bad…' Ericson's thoughts churned.
With Alice absent, the Witenagemot had no way to restrain Alec. And even if she were here, tied as she was to Ryo, she might not be able to hold him back.
'What now?' Ericson's mind raced.
Alec, however, looked bored.
"So that disgusting Witch is hiding at the new king's side? Figures—she probably predicted this whole mess."
His tone turned sharp as his gaze landed on Ericson.
"I was hoping to see her fall flat on her face. But no—she sticks like glue to her new king."
"And as for this so-called king…"
Alec's eyes shifted across the table.
A small girl with moonlit silver hair, wearing a knit hat with cat ears, sat quietly, watching him.
"The defeated Mother Earth… Athena?"
Ericson and Huck both twitched violently.
Another untouchable monster?
Athena tilted her head, studying Alec with mild surprise.
"My wisdom warns me that striking first would bring disastrous consequences. A reactive authority, then?"
"How troublesome. You're guarding against me even here?" Alec frowned, but the joy on his face was unmistakable.
"So, the new kin is a schemer like myself. Perhaps you're his brain?"
"..."
Athena didn't reply. She already knew—Alec had vanished, using godspeed.
Judging from the lingering traces, he'd gone underground. Straight toward Ryo.
Her expression softened slightly, almost pitying.
---
Meanwhile, in the underground temple.
Ryo tucked away a stack of documents, his eyes flicking in mild surprise toward the doorway.
Floating above, Alice had just pulled down another bundle of files before landing.
"That's about all the intel we've gathered on the Abrahamic faiths."
"Huh? Where did he go?" Alice blinked in confusion.
A familiar male voice answered.
"So this is where you're hiding."
Alice turned her head—and there stood Alec, the Black Prince.
But she also caught sight of Ryo behind him, watching with amused interest.
Alice blinked again, then smirked. That was the look of someone about to enjoy a good show.
.
.
.
