Chapter 590: Speed and Silence ( 590 )

Garius leaned forward.

“What’s the status of the anti-air mana guns Javier installed around our area?”

Alf stood straight and answered right away.

“All of them are in good shape, my lord. Thanks to the maintenance method your youngest son taught our skilled blacksmith—Rasdingen. He showed him how to service and adjust the anti-air systems very precisely.”

Erinnette nodded in agreement. “The relay enchantments are still stable. There’s no change in the mana output.”

Alf continued. “Also, the puppet knights assigned to operate those stations—especially the anti-air mana guns and the big mana cannons near the border between Armand and the Human Kingdom—are all still working perfectly.”

Garius raised an eyebrow. “Even after three months?”

“Yes, my lord. That’s because Young Master Javier strengthened them with a standby mana link from the relay towers he built himself. Each tower not only helps with communication but also recharges the puppets’ mana cores by sending synchronized pulses.”

Francesca quietly sipped her tea, watching Garius.

” Thanks to honey bun foresight, we can stay calm even if an enemy flying unit or large group of troops tries to test our border.”

Garius nodded. “He built a wall of silence, without actually building a wall.”

Alf gave a small smirk. “With all due respect, my lord… it’s less like a wall and more like a trap set to spring.”

Garius closed his eyes and chuckled.

“That’s my son.”

Garius’s face stayed calm.

“Alf, Erinnette, Hesbeirn.”

The three immediately straightened up.

“Yes, my lord,” they replied together.

“We shouldn’t let our guard down,” Garius said, tapping his finger on the table. “Alf.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You and Erinnette need to be ready to send out our most skilled units the moment I give the order.”

Alf nodded sharply. “Understood. My shadow team, the elite assassins, our intelligence division, and the strongest countermeasure squad will be on standby all the time.”

Erinnette placed a hand on her hip and nodded firmly. “My elite battle maid squad and the secret maid corps are already on silent alert. Just say the word, and they’ll act immediately.”

Garius then turned to the last of the three. “And you, Hesbeirn.”

Hesbeirn looked up from his roast meat, chewing and holding a wine goblet in the other hand. “Yes, my lord?”

“Make sure our main troops are ready at a moment’s notice. Double patrols around all the important zones. No slips. And the scouting teams—have them ready to report directly to the main command center if they see anything, no matter how small.”

Hesbeirn wiped his mouth with his sleeve and grinned lazily. “Already done, my lord. Patrols are doubled. Scouts have mana-linked markers. One press of a button, and the nearest relay tower gets the message.”

“Good,” Garius said satisfied. “And I believe Rasdingen has already started mass-producing those small mana talkie?”

Alf nodded. “Yes, my lord. That loudmouth, rough and annoying as he is, is unmatched when it comes to smithing. He’s the only one who can recreate Javier’s prototypes with just manual forging and normal enchantments.”

Garius smirked. “And he’s loyal. Like the rest of you. None of you ever wavered. Not even once.”

Hesbeirn raised his goblet. “To loyalty.”

Erinnette smacked the back of his head. “Finish chewing before you toast, idiot.”

“Ow.”

Meanwhile, in the capital city of beastkin kingdom.

Liana glared at Felicia, who effortlessly mounted her new Pekko. With flawless motion, the silver-haired princess adjusted her stance on the saddle, looking composed and graceful—despite having no experience riding a Pekko before.

Liana narrowed her eyes.

“…Why do you need to follow us? You are a princess, aren’t you? Isn’t it your duty to manage your own kingdom’s affairs?”

Felicia gently tapped the reins. Her Pekko shifted slightly, but she remained steady.

“I’ve already handled them.”

“That fast?”

Felicia didn’t respond. She simply glanced down with that usual calm expression, not even blinking.

Gloria leaned closer to Liana and whispered, “Ara~ I think she just wants to see our young master.”

Liana’s brow twitched.

Felicia finally spoke in a quiet, composed tone. “I’m going to him. That’s all that matters.”

“Hah?” Liana scoffed. “That’s it? That’s your reason?”

Felicia turned her head, golden eyes sharp. “Yes.”

A moment of silence.

Then Liana’s eyes narrowed even more. “Just don’t slow us down, princess.”

Felicia smiled ever so slightly. “I won’t. Try to keep up.”

Gloria giggled quietly. “Ara~ ara~ I think we’re going to have a lively journey~”

The three beautiful women, each mounted on a Pekko, stared forward toward the path ahead.

Liana rode ahead with perfect posture, her long hair swaying slightly.

Gloria followed at a steady pace on Peanut, elegant as ever, her expression calm.

Behind them, Felicia clung to the reins of her Pekko, struggling to match their speed. The wind whipped past her, her posture tense as her mount dashed across the plains with wild energy.

Liana glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.

“My my, princess… feeling uncomfortable with the speed~? How weak~”

Felicia grit her teeth. “Wha? I-I’m good!” she shouted, her voice nearly lost to the wind as she bounced in the saddle.

Gloria chuckled softly and shook her head, her voice light and amused.

“Ara~ Poor princess. She’s trying so hard.”

Liana narrowed her eyes and faced forward. “She better not break a nail before we reach him.”

Felicia grumbled under her breath, determined not to fall behind—no matter how much her legs screamed.

Liana glanced sideways, voice cool and teasing.

“I already told you, princess. You’re you, and we’re us. If anything happens, don’t expect us to save you.”

Felicia huffed, gripping her reins tighter as the Pekko beneath her surged forward.

“Hmph! I don’t care. It’s not like I need saving.”

Gloria, still serene as ever, let out a small laugh.

“Well… suit yourself,” she said lightly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear as Peanut kept pace without effort.

“All right, Pikko! Dash!” Liana shouted, leaning forward.

“Cuquawked!” the Pekko cried, bolting ahead like an orange lightning bolt.

Gloria smiled softly. “Peanut~ follow Pikko~” she chimed, her voice melodic.

Peanut chirped gently before picking up speed, elegant yet swift, gliding across the terrain behind Pikko.

Felicia blinked as the two zoomed past, their capes fluttering in the wind.

“Wha—?! You—! Follow them!” she snapped at her Pekko, which still stood confused.

“Cuquawked?” the bird tilted its head, blinking slowly.

“Don’t just squawk at me! I said follow them!!”

“Cuquawked??” it replied again, tilting to the other side.

Felicia’s brow twitched. “I swear, if you make me lose to those smug faces—move already!”

The Pekko let out a drawn-out “cuquaaaawk!” before jolting forward with a chaotic, zig-zag dash, nearly throwing her off the saddle.

“Waaa—slow down! No—wait, faster! But straight! STRAIGHT!!”

( End Of Chapter )

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