Losing all their Clockwork Mekas due to underestimating the enemy was a responsibility the members of the Court of Justice team on this mission could not bear.
As expected, the team was soon placed on mandatory leave and sent home, replaced by a new team.
Roggs, the operation's lead strategist, immediately abandoned his initial complacency upon learning the full details from his colleagues. He mobilized a larger force of Clockwork Mekas and marched toward Fleuve Cendre in a grand procession.
Roggs divided the remaining personnel and Clockwork Mekas into several squads, sternly warning them against underestimating the enemy before gradually deploying them into the Fleuve Cendre District.
Unbeknownst to them, the Fleuve Cendre Faction had been monitoring their every move, projecting crystal-clear surveillance images onto a wall.
Setting up the surveillance and projection system wasn't particularly difficult. The only real challenge was that Fontaine's energy source wasn't electricity but Indemnitium and the far more volatile Pneumousia Energy.
Still, once the underlying principles were understood, a few experimental adjustments had sufficed to achieve the desired results.
"Comrades, the real battle begins now."
"But there's no need to rush. Just follow the plan we prepared, and prioritize your own lives above all else."
"Survival is paramount!"
"Finally, good luck to you all!"
When Lofan emphasized prioritizing their safety, most of those present were deeply moved.
"Monsieur Grett, please be careful!"
"Take care!"
As the others departed, Navia lingered, watching Lofan with concern.
"Teacher, let Melus and Silver protect you. You absolutely mustn't get hurt!"
Navia couldn't believe Lofan had assigned himself the task of delaying one of the enemy squads. She knew he was capable, but this was reckless!
If anything happened to Lofan, it would be the greatest loss the Fleuve Cendre Faction could suffer.
"Enough, I appreciate your concern."
"Navia, you're the most intelligent student I've ever taught..."
"Teacher, aren't I your only student...?"
"...Don't interrupt!"
Lofan nearly lost his composure at her remark, but quickly regained it and continued.
"The Court of Justice has deployed significant forces this time. We're already at a disadvantage. Even with our home-field advantage, disrupting our established formations would drastically increase casualties."
"My strength surpasses everyone else's here. Therefore, I'm the only one who can—and must—undertake this mission."
"In short, I've taught you everything you need to know, and we've discussed our plans for the future. Even if something happens to me, it won't matter. As long as you're still here, the Fleuve Cendralys will endure, and our hopes and future will remain intact!"
"I've long been prepared to make this sacrifice. I'll light the path ahead, and as my most promising student, you must be ready to take my place at any moment. Until that day arrives, you can't afford to let anything happen to you."
"So, go now and do what you must. Don't hesitate!"
Sensing Lofan's unwavering resolve, Navia reluctantly turned away, her heart heavy with worry and fear. She was responsible for leading a crucial defense team, and any delay could jeopardize their position, shattering the Fleuve Cendre Faction's hard-won gains.
"...Teacher, please take care!"
Melus and Silver cast one last look of deep respect at Lofan before hurrying after Navia.
"Finally, I managed to get them all out of here."
As the trio's figures faded into the distance, Lofan's expression shifted, becoming animated.
"If they hadn't let me handle this alone, I'd be worn to a frazzle trying to clear out all these Clockwork Mekas!"
Humming a tune, Lofan rummaged in a corner and retrieved the Pneumousia Energy Explosives he had hidden earlier. As he'd explained before, Pneumousia Energy is inherently unstable; when Pneuma Energy comes into contact with Ousia Energy, it unleashes a massive energy surge.
Lofan's innovation was to amplify the explosive force, creating a uniquely otherworldly explosive.
Looking at these explosives, Lofan couldn't help but think of the Fontaine scientist who had blown up his lab and been punished. He had always maintained that Fleuve Cendre had no shortage of talent!
If we could blow up a lab back then, we can certainly blow up a Clockwork Meka now!
When Lofan first approached him, the scientist had been reluctant, insisting he was a researcher, not a demolitions expert. But when Lofan asked if he wanted to regain his Fontaine citizenship, the scientist relented, reasoning that a scientist could occasionally take on side projects.
Of course, Fleuve Cendre's limited resources meant they couldn't easily test the explosives' full power or build reliable detonators. But that was no problem—Lofan had a solution.
Stuffing all the explosives into his backpack, Lofan cheerfully set off.
This time, he didn't even bring his silver guitar.
Roggs thought he had taken the enemy seriously, but he had clearly underestimated them.
He never imagined the Fleuve Cendre Faction would set a trap right at the very entrance to the Fleuve Cendre District.
Shortly after the last Clockwork Meka from the scattered squads entered the passage leading to the Fleuve Cendre District, a torrent of rubble suddenly cascaded down from above.
The unexpected assault caught everyone completely off guard. The topmost Clockwork Meka buckled under the weight, crashing onto the one below, triggering a chain reaction of collapsing machines.
Instantly, the Fleuve Cendre District was pelted with a metallic rainstorm as iron hulks plummeted from above. Many Clockwork Mekas were crushed outright, while others went haywire.
Roggs ducked beneath a large Clockwork Meka, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the falling machines. A wave of terror washed over him as he realized how close he had come to death.
If he had descended even a moment later, he would undoubtedly be a corpse by now!
Just as Roggs was about to contact the others to assess the situation, a barrage of gunfire erupted in the distance.
Roggs' expression darkened. He had no time to wonder where the Fleuve Cendre residents had acquired their weapons. He immediately began organizing a counterattack.
Although Fleuve Cendre had caught the Court of Justice off guard with a well-executed initial strike, expanding their advantage proved exceedingly difficult.
The Clockwork Meka army, directed by skilled commanders, displayed astonishing combat prowess. Before long, Fleuve Cendre found itself pinned down, unable to even peek out of cover.
The stark disparity in resilience made the conflict inherently unfair. While Fleuve Cendre residents could withstand dozens of shots before falling, a single bullet could incapacitate a Court of Justice soldier.
Moreover, Fleuve Cendre's limited firearms and ammunition, coupled with a scarcity of Vision wielders, paled in comparison to the Court of Justice's diverse Clockwork Meka types, abundant weaponry, and coordinated assaults. The overwhelming pressure, the relentless hail of bullets, and the unending cacophony of explosions forced the Fleuve Cendre residents to fight and retreat.