"Your next opponent is the independent knight Maria Nearl. Please prepare for battle. This match is an opportunity to showcase the superior performance of our company's armor. In this match, we hope you can prolong the battle time as much as possible to fully demonstrate the armor's lightweight and superior performance."
The man in the suit said this to Plastic Knight. He didn't care about the knight competition itself, only that this match was an excellent opportunity to promote his company's armor. This was a marketing opportunity that money couldn't buy. In fact, men like the one in front of him were not uncommon in Kazimierz. They believed that knights should be living billboards for their marketing. As for whether they could win the match, that was something the knights themselves should consider.
Although they would impose countless restrictions and demands on the knights, they didn't care, or rather, didn't need to care, about the importance of this equipment to the knights.
I invested money, so you have an obligation to wear this equipment and win the match for me. As for how you win? That's none of my business. Just win.
As for the reliability or performance of the equipment, whether it would affect the match or have any impact on the knight himself. These were not within their scope of consideration.
These marketing people, on the surface, spoke of respect and knightly spirit. Behind their backs, they were already obsessed with money. Although Plastic Knight was displeased, he knew his place, so he never said anything, just did as he was told. The contract clearly stated in black and white that he had an obligation to cooperate with all publicity from the investors. This allowed him to get more shares and earn more money, which was enough for him.
However, he was more concerned about the girl called Xia Guang Knight. Her sister was the legendary Shining Knight Nearl, so naturally, many people would be interested in her, or rather, in the Nearl surname. In fact, Plastic Knight felt quite sympathetic towards this girl; having such an excellent sister was not a good thing for an independent knight. Once the melee stage began, her reputation would only become the best reason for them to attack her.
A knight without a Knight Order is like rootless wild grass. It is very difficult to be like her sister, overcoming all obstacles and proving with absolute strength that even as an independent knight, one can achieve victory. Plastic Knight had not stopped dreaming of the day he would truly become a knight, or perhaps Shining Knight Nearl was what most knights who had dreams wished to become.
However, most knights, after being weathered by time and merciless trials, mostly abandoned these dreams, then spent their lives in mediocrity among some famous Knight Orders. Or they rose to prominence, collaborated with large capital, and acquired more resources and money. They molded themselves into stars, and amidst the debauchery, gradually forgot their original aspirations. Currently, Plastic Knight is actually in between these two states.
He hasn't completely given up, yet he prides himself on having seen reality clearly. This period is when knights with strength but no power to resist capital are most confused before becoming the person they least want to be.
When he learned that his next opponent was Maria Nearl, Plastic Knight was actually a little happy. He never had the chance to duel Margaret Lin-guang. Although he didn't think Xia Guang Knight could compare to that legend, she was at least her sister, so she should have some strength, which fulfilled one of his dreams. In fact, he knew very well that his own strength couldn't possibly challenge the youngest champion.
But why did his dreams always include several phantoms of dueling past champions?
Putting on his helmet, Plastic Knight, for once, began to actively prepare for battle. This was probably the match he most anticipated after accepting his fate. He wanted to see how much of the champion's demeanor the legendary sister possessed.
Maria Nearl naturally didn't know she was being targeted. She was still debating whether to join the San Hua Knight Order. Zofia was actually right; generally speaking, the San Hua Knight Order was indeed her best choice, and Noah would probably not object. For Noah's sake, Candle Knight should also accept her. But then she thought of being under Candle Knight, and Candle Knight Viviana was also one of Sister Noah's particularly ambiguous objects of affection.
In her opinion, only her sister Margaret Lin-guang was worthy of Sister Noah. What was Viviana? She was just taking advantage of Sister's absence. When Sister returns! Those insignificant people will be nothing!
Reckoning, a harsh reckoning!
Even Zofia probably didn't expect that Maria Nearl's reason for not wanting to join the San Hua Knight Order was a surge of possessiveness towards Noah.
To say possessiveness isn't entirely accurate. More precisely, Maria Nearl was a die-hard shipper of Margaret and Noah. In her heart, only her sister was worthy of winning the beauty. Those who were close to Noah now would all become 'losers' eventually.
She imagined that Margaret would eventually arrive on a colorful auspicious cloud and carry Sister Noah away!
This thought was so strong that she harbored great hostility towards anyone who approached Noah. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was on strict guard.
However, looking on the bright side, with Sister having been away for so long, and no one else showing signs of success, it indicated that Sister Noah's heart definitely had a place reserved for Sister. So, what she needed to do was clear: guard Sister Noah well until Sister returned, not letting any 'sneaky cats' have a chance!
Perhaps she was too preoccupied, as she was somewhat distracted during training. Only after being reminded several times by Manner could she focus on her training.
Recently, Manner had been leaving work on time, and his usual schedule had become much more relaxed. As a result, he often came to guide Maria's training. Under Manner's tutelage, Maria's strength was improving rapidly. Perhaps he hadn't realized it before, but in reality, Maria's potential was in no way inferior to her sister's.
She simply hadn't focused all her attention on training. She liked craftsmanship and outlandish inventions. With these constraints, she couldn't devote herself wholeheartedly.
But now, under the hands-on instruction of the renowned Manner, her speed of progress was truly astonishing.
This included the Stone source art that could enhance overall combat ability in a rather exaggerated way. After multiple confirmations, Manner was surprised to discover that the potential of this Stone source art itself could be described as exaggerated.
As long as Maria could maintain her training, her body would gradually remember the opponent's fighting style, and then find weaknesses within it, although the cost would definitely be getting injured in the process. But for a Stone source art user who could constantly maintain the recovery of her stamina, as long as they couldn't instantly kill her, almost everyone would be worn down by her in the long run. This Stone source art was even more suitable for the battlefield than Margaret's...
But precisely... this Stone source art fell into the hands of Maria, who wasn't so strong in her desire for combat...
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