The dawn mist had yet to clear, and the dew on the grass had soaked the soles of the Yellow Rose Knight's boots. Amir led the way, leading the horse by the reins, his hand gripping them until it turned white, his heart filled with unease—ahead on the road was the very spot where bandits had ambushed them two days prior.
"Stop." Posses reined in her horse, the golden hair on her forehead damp from the morning mist, dripping water, but she paid it no mind. She dismounted, her steel boots sinking into the mud, her gaze sweeping over the broken carriage axle, the scattered fragments of luggage, and the fresh mounds of earth by the roadside. Before the mounds stood simple wooden markers, without even names carved, only a few crooked lines of text, written by the village chief before they departed.
"Thirty-nine victims from Balu Village..." a Yellow Rose Knight couldn't help but say, her voice trembling. She saw a broken-stringed wooden kite lying beside a mound of earth, its paint peeling, like a bird with a broken wing.
"The 'Giant' helped bury them," Amir's voice was hoarse, as if scraped by sandpaper. "So many died then, we didn't have the strength to dig graves..."
Posses said nothing, her fingertip tracing a rock stained with dark red. The edge of the rock was unusually smooth, as if cleaved by immense force, something no sword or blade could achieve. She turned to Amir, "To the camp you mentioned."
The temporary camp was not far from the main road, and only two days had passed, so the traces left by the refugees were still vivid. But what tightened their hearts the most was that the elderly, children, and wounded who had been too weak to flee then, now left not even a shadow.
"Where did they go?" the Yellow Rose captain frowned, her hand on her sword hilt. "Were they..."
"Impossible!" Amir's face turned red with anxiety. "The Giant wouldn't abandon them!" He pointed to the footprints on the ground, footprints not shaped like human feet, with edges as sharp as a knife cut, large enough to accommodate a child, leading towards the foot of the hill. "Look! These are the Giant's footprints, they must have left with the Giant!"
"Follow the footprints," Posses decided instantly. The signs here indicated that Amir's words were true; the Iron Giant did exist, and the next step was simple—find it, negotiate with it, and jointly resist the Imperial Army.
The footprints took a turn by the stream, and a gray stone wall suddenly loomed out of the morning mist.
More than twenty knights reined in their horses simultaneously, startling the wet soil under their hooves. The wall was five meters high, reinforced with steel cages embedded in the stone mortar, and topped with an electric fence crackling with blue arcs, like a giant python suddenly lying on the ground. Behind the wall, the pointed roofs of rows of iron houses peeked out, wisps of pale white smoke rising from their chimneys.
"How... how was this built?" The youngest knight cried out in astonishment. Both the stone wall and the iron houses were unlike anything they had seen before, let alone built in just two days.
The commotion inside the camp was even more panicked. A few children drawing water by the stream saw the knights in armor, their wooden buckets clattering to the ground as they screamed and scrambled into the houses. "Imperial Army! The Imperial Army is here!" Someone cried, slamming the doors shut, the sound echoing sharply in the morning mist.
"Don't hide! It's me! Amir!" Amir dismounted and shouted towards the main gate, "Barry! Hawk! Are you there?"
A moment later, a door cautiously opened, and Barry's head peeked out. He saw Amir, then the Yellow Rose insignia on the knights' armor, and after a long pause, called back into the house, "It's not the Imperial Army! It's people from Italica!"
The camp gate creaked open, and refugees peered out. Seeing that all the knights behind Amir were women, they finally relaxed. Aila squeezed to the front, her blue skirt still stained with grass clippings. She stared at Posses's golden hair for a moment, then asked, "Are you really from Italica?"
"Of course," Posses raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you heard of the Yellow Rose Knights?"
"Heard of you, heard of you!" Aila's eyes lit up. "But this is the first time I've seen you in person."
The Yellow Rose Knights were an armed group founded by Posses herself, composed entirely of women—a "women's army" formed from the daughters of vassals and commoners who enjoyed martial arts. Their combat strength was not to be underestimated.
"Um, where is our benefactor?" Amir looked around. There were only refugees here, no sign of the iron giant.
"Do you need him for something?" Lina asked timidly. Even knights from Italica couldn't be trusted easily.
"I am here to meet him on behalf of my father—Count Fomarth of Italica—to discuss matters regarding the Imperial Army."
At the mention of the Imperial Army, the refugees flinched. It seemed the massacre had left significant psychological scars.
"Our benefactor lives on the hill. I'll take you there." Without waiting for Posses to speak, Aila was already running towards the hill across the dew-kissed ground. The knights exchanged glances and urged their horses to follow. The closer they got, the stronger the smell of iron in the air. When they reached the hilltop, everyone held their breath.
White walls spread out along the terrain, the bastions' sharp angles extending like a behemoth's claws. Each bastion was equipped with an iron turret, its dark muzzle pointed into the distance. As the leading knight was about to spur their horse forward, a turret suddenly rotated with a click, its cold muzzle precisely locking onto them.
"Don't move!" Amir's face turned ashen, and he slid off his horse. "That thing is like the 'magic staff' the Giant carries! It breathes fire!"
Aila, however, took two steps forward and shouted at the wall, "Argo! It's me! I brought guests!"
A synthesized voice emanated from the top of the wall, devoid of inflection but carrying an undeniable sense of vigilance: "State your identity."
Posses dismounted, removed her helmet, and her golden hair cascaded down in the morning light. She stepped forward, her voice clear, "I am Posses, daughter of Count Fomarth, representing the lord of Italica, here to negotiate with the Mecha Giant."
"Who can vouch for your identity?"
Posses froze. She had never been questioned like this. The Yellow Rose Knights immediately placed their hands on their sword hilts, the atmosphere tensing. Seeing this, Aila quickly shouted, "Me! I can vouch for them! Amir, you know me, right? They came from Italica with him, he can also testify!"
"Yes, benefactor, please believe us." Amir waved his hands hastily. Unsure of the Giant's whereabouts, he could only imitate Aila's gesture, making his presence known. The wall remained silent for a moment, the turrets slowly rose, no longer aimed at them. The electronic voice spoke again: "Since someone vouches for you, we will temporarily believe you."
The heavy alloy gate creaked open, revealing the scene within—orange-red factory buildings stood tall on the land, solar panels shimmering like crushed gold in the morning light, distant wind turbines whirring, and furnaces for refining ore emitting fiery light. The knights stood frozen, realizing the recklessness of their actions.
Immense, cold, and efficient—that was the knights' most direct impression. If they had clashed with this fortress just now, they were certain they would have been annihilated in an instant.
Posses took a deep breath and stepped forward first. She was the representative of the Fomarth family; her words and decisions would determine Italica's fate.
The alloy gate slowly closed behind her, separating them from the morning mist and the clamor of the outside world. Chén Yàn and Argo were already waiting ahead. He naturally brought his right arm to his chest, palm slightly open, then leaned forward slightly, keeping his right elbow stationary, and swept his entire arm forward in a smooth arc with the elbow as the pivot, stopping about a foot from his chest. He said calmly, "Welcome to this base, Miss Posses."
Posses was clearly unfamiliar with this form of greeting but keenly sensed the goodwill behind it. She adjusted her cloak, curtsied in a standard noble bow, her skirt brushing the metal patterns on the ground, "Thank you for your reception, Lord Chén Yàn. On behalf of Italica, I express my gratitude for your benevolent act of rescuing our refugees."
Posses's gaze moved past Chén Yàn to the mecha behind him. Argo's metal body remained still, but its optical lens was fixed on her, like a giant, moving eyeball that could draw one's soul in. She withdrew her gaze and looked at the white walls of the base, her fingers curling within her metal gloves. The lord of this land had died when Karelia fell, without even a decent tombstone. The Imperial Army had trampled on law and order, yet Chén Yàn had built a fortress here. On what grounds could she accuse him? With the nation facing disaster, it was Italica and Valentia that needed him and his mecha. She recalled what her father had said last night—an equal alliance, not a plea.
Chén Yàn's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly. He had expected to be met with accusations, as he was an uninvited guest who had built walls on unfamiliar land and encroached on territory without permission. But Posses had not voiced a single accusation or even complaint, which eased his inner worries considerably.
"Bandits are desperate outlaws; they kill innocent people, sparing neither the elderly nor children. I couldn't stand by and watch, so I intervened," Chén Yàn lowered his head and apologized to Posses. "I deeply regret not being able to save more people."
"Please, look up," Posses was taken aback by Chén Yàn's behavior. She had never encountered someone who apologized after saving people and felt flustered. "If it weren't for you and... the 'Iron Giant,' the refugees would have suffered even greater casualties. Please don't blame yourself; you did your best."
"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Posses. Hearing you say that makes me feel much better." It was then that Posses realized this was Chén Yàn's diplomatic tactic—advancing by retreating. This way, she could no longer bring up the issue of his illegal land occupation. She hadn't expected that, despite his gentle appearance, he was also a strategist. One could not afford to be careless.
"Miss, since you have traveled far, please come inside to rest." Chén Yàn intended to invite Posses to the headquarters building, but Posses was eager to know the fortress's defensive capabilities and therefore made a request: "I'm not tired yet, and I'm quite interested in the fortress's unique design. Could you introduce it to me?"
"Certainly, I will lead the way." Posses instructed the Yellow Rose Knights to remain in place, taking only one attendant with her to tour the defenses. Including Amir and Aila, there were only five people in total.
Walking along the pathway inside the city walls, the shadows of the turrets moved across the ground. Posses ran her fingers over the stone wall embedded with rebar, her fingertips producing a dull echo, "With this hardness, even a trebuchet couldn't break it, could it?"
"Hardness alone is not enough," Chén Yàn pointed towards the protruding bastions of the wall, like interlocking dog teeth. "See these protruding sections? They can divide attacking enemy forces into smaller groups. The turrets on each bastion can engage in crossfire, so no matter which direction the enemy climbs the wall, they will be under concentrated fire—this is called the Bastion System, with no blind spots for firing."
Posses's golden hair gleamed in the sun. She suddenly turned her head, her almond-shaped eyes shining remarkably, "Are you saying that even with fewer troops than the enemy, you can still defend?"
"Theoretically, yes," Chén Yàn nodded. "The automatic turrets on the walls require no human operation. Ammunition is transported directly from the warehouse to the turrets through underground pipelines; this process requires no manpower."
"No manpower?" Posses was greatly astonished. Typically, defenders would need to prepare large quantities of stones and logs to drop on attacking soldiers, thus conscripting large numbers of civilians as laborers who would also take up arms to fight alongside the defenders if necessary. However, Chén Yàn's fortress completely overturned this method of warfare.
Her father had said that in times of chaos, what determined victory was never bloodline, but strength. Even if... even if it meant the price of a political marriage, she had to bind this power to Italica's war chariot. Her gaze fell on Chén Yàn's profile. He was explaining the wind turbine energy supply, his expression as focused as if he were discussing a piece of art, not a killing machine.
From the smeltery to the artificial intelligence center, from the material warehouse to the water purification plant, Posses's exclamations became increasingly restrained, but her eyes grew more serious. When Chén Yàn led her and the Yellow Rose Knights to the headquarters building, her astonishment only grew. Clean baths, tidy dormitories, and fragrant dining halls moved the women warriors. How wonderful it would be to live in such a comfortable and clean environment. Recalling their own messy knight's quarters, they all wished they could stay.
When they entered the combat command center, she finally understood. This was not a fortress; it was a self-operating war machine.
"This is the command center. All orders are issued from here," Chén Yàn pointed to the holographic sand table in the center, displaying terrain within a 30-kilometer radius. "Every move of the enemy is under my control."
"I have never seen such a realistic map," Posses had lost count of how many times she had been shocked. "Lord Chén Yàn, all your orders are issued from here, but I don't see anyone relaying them?"
Chén Yàn's finger paused at the edge of the sand table, and he smiled, "I never said the combat power of this fortress was human."
"Not human? Could it be..." Posses met Chén Yàn's gaze, unblushingly. "How many Iron Giants like the one you mentioned do you have?"
"Not Giants, but smaller machines than them." Chén Yàn raised his hand, and a holographic image of a drone appeared in the air. "Don't be fooled by its size compared to the Giant; this machine can also inflict damage on the enemy."
Chén Yàn made the holographic image disappear with a wave of his hand and then faced Posses. "Miss, your visit today is not merely for thanks, is it?"
"You showed me the city walls and the factories; don't you have your own ulterior motives?" Posses raised an eyebrow, a hint of imperceptible sharpness in her tone.
"It seems we both know what's on each other's minds." Chén Yàn's gaze swept over the sand table, fixing on the direction of Karelia. "The Imperial Army will inevitably advance south along Serren Avenue sooner or later. There are two eyesores on this route."
"Italica and this castle." The two met each other's gaze, as if invisible sparks were colliding in the air. Chén Yàn knew that Italica needed a powerful ally; Posses also understood that while the Iron Giant was powerful, it could only defend the city.
If Italica and Chén Yàn's positions were swapped, neither would be so troubled.
"Alright, I'll be straightforward. I am here on behalf of my father..." Just then, the command center's alarm suddenly shrieked, startling Posses and the Yellow Rose Knights behind her. Multiple red dots were rapidly moving on the holographic sand table, some in forests, some on grasslands. The only commonality was that they were all coming from the direction of Karelia.
"Reconnaissance Cavalry," Argo's synthesized voice sounded again, cold and flat. "Fifteen in number, within engagement range in thirty minutes."
Chén Yàn and Posses simultaneously stared at the red dots, as if magnificent steeds were galloping. "Amazing, detecting them from so far away," the Yellow Rose Knights marveled at the fortress's early warning and targeting capabilities. If it were them, they would probably only notice an enemy when it was face-to-face.
"It seems we have unwelcome guests." Chén Yàn placed his hand on the control console, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. "Miss Posses, we can discuss matters later. I must ask you to leave for today."
Posses gripped the hilt of her sword, her golden hair flickering in the alarm's red light. "I will stay. The Empire is not only your enemy, but mine as well."
"Is that so... Very well. However, I suggest you send a few people back to notify them, otherwise your household will worry," Chén Yàn's words were meant both to inform Italica that the Imperial Army was on the move and to let Count Fomarth know that his daughter was safe, as her unknown whereabouts would be the cause of greatest concern.
"I understand, thank you for your reminder." Posses then ordered her Yellow Rose Knights: "Leave half of your contingent with me to defend the city, and the other half will return to report. Be sure to inform Father of the Imperial Army's movements!" "Amir, you should return as well. This is a battlefield; it's not a place for you."
Amir was already unsure of what to do. Posses, out of consideration, asked him to return to the city, and he could only express his profound gratitude. At the same time, Chén Yàn also instructed Argo to notify the refugee camp: abandon everything and seek shelter at the fortress immediately.
As the gates of the refugee camp slammed shut, a somber atmosphere filled the foot of the hill. Wooden buckets discarded in haste, freshly washed clothes not yet dried, freshly gathered firewood—all scattered on the ground, while only the creek flowed silently.