Chapter 38: There Are Still Good People in the World

"Charge, brothers! It's all ours for the taking!"

Contrary to what most expected, the Fleuve Cendre District wasn't filled with scenes of ragged residents being driven out by Gardemeks. Instead, a massive crowd swarmed the mechanical sentries as soon as they appeared.

"These fools actually let the Clockwork Mekas come down on their own! They're practically delivering us free materials!"

The residents who had stayed behind in Fleuve Cendre had braced themselves for a brutal fight. But when the Court of Justice forces failed to descend, their spirits soared.

The Clockwork Mekas lacked autonomous intelligence, operating solely according to pre-programmed directives (only a tiny fraction possessed any semblance of intelligence within the narrative). Since the official decree was to expel all residents from Fleuve Cendre, their programming forbade the use of lethal weapons.

Moreover, without human oversight, the Clockwork Mekas' behavior was rigidly predictable. For instance, a few individuals could easily lure them into prepared traps by simply walking slowly in front of the machines.

While the raw power of the Clockwork Mekas was far beyond what ordinary people could withstand, the Spina di Rosula had spent days preparing for this moment.

They had developed liquids that could short-circuit the Mekas' energy systems, super-adhesive glues, and devices to interfere with their control chips. These innovations were the result of Lofan's recruitment of talented individuals from the Fleuve Cendre District, combined with his own ingenuity.

Moreover, Lofan had repurposed weapons salvaged from Gardemek units, significantly reducing the anticipated danger of the battle.

"Focus your fire on the head! Don't damage the rest of the body!"

"This mechanical hound is too agile... Brothers, I've got it pinned! Blow its doggy head off!"

Truthfully, Lofan hadn't expected the nobles to be so foolish. Despite having cornered the Spina di Rosula, they arrogantly assumed that sending a few token forces would be enough to finish them off.

Seeing the battle decisively turning in their favor, Lofan stood slightly dazed, his newly modified guitar in hand. Do they even need me anymore? he wondered.

Unable to shake off the awkwardness, Lofan reluctantly picked up his guitar and began to play. Fire Elemental Power surged through his fingertips, imbuing the music with a tangible energy. Everyone who heard it felt an inexhaustible vitality coursing through their veins.

This was no illusion. It was a Skill Lofan had developed by fusing Fire Elemental Power with music, allowing him to broadly enhance his allies' physical capabilities and resolve.

As long as his companions heard the music and felt its empowering effects, they would know he stood with them. Gradually, the guitar's melody would become a symbol of their shared resolve.

This was precisely why armies raised banners during battles, fighting to the last soldier to keep them standing. A flag served as a visual anchor, reminding soldiers what they fought for. Losing it could easily shatter their morale.

Lofan had initially considered using a physical banner himself, but the Fleuve Cendre District's unique terrain and dim lighting made it impractical. Any banner would be invisible beyond a short distance, so he chose music instead.

During this time, Lofan would occasionally play a tune for everyone. They had all come to recognize the sound of his guitar, and whenever they heard it, it was as if they could see Lofan himself standing before them.

Navia, stirred by the guitar music, felt her battle spirit surge. She gripped her claymore, itching for action, but after observing the battlefield and realizing there was no opportunity for her to intervene, she suppressed the urge.

Next, Navia began directing the others to tend to the wounded. Although the Clockwork Mekas were programmed to avoid lethal weaponry, they still possessed a variety of other weapons, and their diverse types had caused considerable trouble.

Nevertheless, this was a resounding victory. When the time came to tally the spoils, a group of elderly scholars with silver beards, still radiating scholarly dignity, gathered around the constantly moving pile of Clockwork Mekas, their faces beaming with delight.

For the residents of Fleuve Cendre, the greatest hardship wasn't the decline in their living standards, but the inability to continue their research.

Fleuve Cendre was never short on talent, but it was perpetually short on resources.

While most materials could technically be purchased on the market, they were simply too expensive.

Now, the Court of Justice was not only supplying weapons but also generously providing free materials, prompting countless residents to inwardly exclaim, "There are still good people in the world!"

Meanwhile, the so-called "good people" were idly sipping coffee and indulging in pastries at Café Lutece, treating the operation as a trivial matter.

"Haha, this job is practically a free ride! Once everything's wrapped up, we'll not only get rewards from above but might even catch the eye of that esteemed lord!"

"Let's celebrate in advance!"

As the words left his mouth, their smiles widened.

No one anticipated any trouble with the operation. Even ordinary citizens paid little attention to the Fleuve Cendre Purification Plan, convinced its outcome was a foregone conclusion.

But by the time they realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

The alarm blared as the signals from the Clockwork Mekas dwindled rapidly, panic seizing them. They had no idea what was happening in Fleuve Cendre. When had the Fleuve Cendre Faction amassed such power?

Or had their Clockwork Mekas malfunctioned?

"Someone fucking tell me what's going on!"

"How the hell should we know? Get the remaining Mekas back here now!"

In a frenzy, they reprogrammed the Mekas from patrol and expulsion mode to immediate withdrawal. To their horror, the signals vanished even faster.

Witnessing this, their urgency and panic intensified, a bone-chilling cold spreading through their bodies.

Finally, when the last signal disappeared completely, an eerie calm descended.

Only one thought remained in their minds: We're doomed.