"How could you let him go alone!" Artoria, like an angry lion, furiously grabbed C.C.'s collar and shouted, even though she knew that even if she went with him, it wouldn't be much better, she still asked that question.
C.C.'s lips moved, but in the end, she couldn't resist the King's majesty, so she just lowered her head and admitted her dereliction of duty.
Artoria sighed, dropped her to the ground, and quickly thought about what to do.
The thought of losing Kailar, like a haze, lingered in her mind, refusing to dissipate. An unprecedented sense of fear attacked her. She finally began to understand how important Kailar was to her and how much weight he held in her heart.
Artoria was terrified.
But what should she do? What should she do? Sitting in her seat, she suddenly drew her longsword: "I will... rescue Kailar!!!"
The Knights of the Round Table, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, were greatly alarmed.
"Your Majesty! Think twice!!" Bedivere reacted the fastest. Although she already understood Kailar's importance, she still couldn't stand shoulder to shoulder with Artoria. Without Artoria, the grand sail on which all of Camelot placed their hopes, even if Kailar, the helmsman, was skilled, could he still row across the sea?
Your Majesty must not go!
Bedivere immediately knelt on both knees. This was already a very solemn etiquette. Besides the King's coronation and the King's demise, for a Knight, as a member of the noble class, a single-knee bow was the highest etiquette.
This showed Bedivere's determination.
But they didn't understand Artoria's determination!
Artoria, with a determined expression, ignored her and just walked past her, her left hand gripping the sword with unwavering resolve.
"Your Majesty, you cannot go." Gawain suddenly knelt before her. He was Kailar's cousin, but in such a moment, he could only stop her.
Walking past them, ignoring them, Artoria's will was more resolute than ever.
"Your Majesty! Think twice!" Gareth and the other two half-knelt before the throne and shouted.
I've thought enough. Camelot can elect a new King, but I cannot be without Kailar!
Artoria continued to walk forward.
But the person who knelt before her again made it impossible for her to ignore.
"Grand Duke... Your Excellency, are you really going to watch your child die!" Artoria asked, trembling. Before her was an existence she absolutely could not ignore, a veteran of two dynasties, Grand Duke Andre etoque.
"Your Majesty!" Grand Duke Andre cried out in sorrow: "If Kailar dies at this time, then it is his fate, but you absolutely cannot have any mishaps! Your Majesty! Please preside from the center!"
For Camelot's grand strategy against pirates, besides all the Red Maple Citizens who had been relocated, the Grand Duke's Red Leaf Fortress had entered a full-scale war phase. Various supplies had already filled Red Leaf Fortress, and the Red Maple Citizens, after registering their assets, had been sent to the rear of the war.
In fact, this invasion also gave Kailar enough excuse to begin relocating the farmers along the coast. The clearing of Scotland was nearing its end, most of the Magical Beasts had died out, and the intelligent Magical Beasts, after the death of the Dragons, all fell silent and began to disappear. In other words, Scotland was beginning to become an undeveloped virgin land, and now was the perfect time, taking advantage of the public's fear of the invaders, to move the farmers to Scotland.
Developing farmland, felling forests, construction, shipbuilding, carbon materials, extracting oil (pine oil, asphalt, and other plant oils) — which one doesn't require trees?
That's why wood is said to be nature's best gift to mankind.
With the excuse in hand, not only the farmers under Andre, but also the Red Maple Citizens under Grand Duke of the South Robert Belligor and Grand Duke of the West Bill Geiljas were migrating north.
Kailar would not abandon the two coastal areas, but his strength was still weak. A scorched-earth policy was not shameful. After Kailar completely annihilated these guys, he would immediately build hundreds of shipyards along the coastline. Basic handicrafts would be driven by shipbuilding, with Scotland's food base as a guarantee, and a booming population... storing wealth among the people, and storing soldiers among the people!
This was Kailar's philosophy of governance.
But this time... "What will you do, Lily?" Kailar sat on a bluestone, looking down at the Barbarians below, who were moving like ants and completely unguarded, feeling leisurely and contented.
This high ground was full of towering trees, but it was also a sheer cliff, incredibly steep. Forget Knights, even ordinary people would find it absolutely impossible to climb up.
But what was impossible in their eyes was something Kailar, who was familiar with the essence of rock climbing and parkour techniques, managed to climb up after just two attempts.
The Unicorn naturally returned to Nottingham Victory, while Kailar stayed alone in this small area.
In his opinion, the pirates below were naturally no match. Without even reconnaissance, scouts, or foresight, they only needed a charge from an elite Knight, and they would naturally fall into disarray without a fight. One must know that in large-scale battles involving tens of thousands, the number of soldiers, the quality of weapons, and the training of the warriors are not important. The only thing that matters is—order!
Just one moment of chaos... surely thousands would be trampled to death before the Knights retreated? Kailar thought, considering the pirates' numbers of at least two hundred thousand, and that they were an alliance, with three command centers. Not only would orders be unclear, but the fact that generals didn't know their soldiers, and soldiers didn't recognize their generals, would be fatal.
But what then! If they suffered heavy losses, they would invade again the next year... no, perhaps in just three months. Should he exhaust himself running back and forth, frustrating their attacks again and again? There are only a thousand days to be a thief, but where are there a thousand days to guard against thieves?
So this time's strategic plan was still—annihilation!
"Alright! Lily! What will you do! Don't disappoint me!" Kailar frowned slightly, and with his eyes closed, he muttered, looking very serious.
If you were here, what would you do?!
Artoria looked at the group of Knights kneeling below her, biting her lower lip so hard that it bled, a shocking red line tracing down her pale neck to her collar.
Kailar, tell me, if it were you... what would you do!
This was the King's—Trial!