Chapter 112 ~ New Allies and the Summoning

"I am Rakshata. And I'm the mother of the Guren you've been using."

"!!!"

Gasps of disbelief resounded from Ohgi's group and Karen, who had widened their eyes in shock as they stared at the exotic beauty who was pointing her pipe towards the crimson red knightmare standing by Excalibur's side. 

The mother of the Guren… That means…

"A-Are you… the one who built the Guren…?"

Ohgi's voice trembled as the realization of who the person he thought was a trespasser slowly dawned upon him. 

Rakshata let out a sigh, blowing a plume of smoke out of her lips before smirking. 

"Yes, I am. Now… Who among you are the one piloting my Guren?"

Ohgi and his group all turned their heads towards Karen, who flinched slightly when she suddenly became the center of attention. 

Rakshata narrowed her eyes at the crimson-haired young woman and started approaching. Her hips, swaying and rolling naturally with every step, as the sound of heels hitting ground echoed throughout the warehouse. 

When she arrived before Karen, she looked at her up and down closely. 

"Is this what you always wear when you pilot the Guren?"

The unexpected question caught Karen by surprise. The clothes she was wearing was her usual outfit; a brown combinaison, made of a short and an upper part, open at her midsection, that she wore with a wool red crop top underneath. It was a practical outfit that gave her a free range of movement while also being quite comfortable and keeping her cool in the Guren.

"Y-Yes."

She nodded nervously, wondering why the supposed "mother" of the Guren she had been piloting asked her such a question. 

"Hmm…"

Rakshata hummed and glanced at the black-clad man standing beside Karen. His full body suit and armor clung tightly to his body, accentuating every muscle definition beneath it. While it seemed tight, she didn't notice any sort of discomfort when she saw him walk earlier, meaning it was made with a flexible yet resistant material, granting comfort and protection at the same time. A perfect outfit to be used by knightmare pilots. 

"Why don't you wear the same thing as him?"

"Eh? Ah…"

Karen glanced towards Mordred, and her eyes immediately trailed down to his chiseled chest and rock hard abs, which was perfectly accentuated by his suit. 

She immediately moved her gaze away in a fluster, her cheeks reddening at the sight alone. Then, she began to imagine herself wearing such an outfit that would accentuate every single curve in her body…

No no no!!! T-That would be too embarrassing!!!

She shook her head in embarrassment. But then, a stray thought came to mind. 

If she were to wear such an outfit that out accentuated her body line… would Mordred be interested…? 

Karen never cared for her own appearance before more than what a normal person would. Her mind was preoccupied by the war she was fighting. 

However, her body was, in reality, extremely sexy and curvaceous. She was blessed with large breasts and wide hips, and all the exercise and physical activity she had done gave her quite the slim and tight waist, completing her sexy figure. 

If she were to accentuate her body… would she be able to grab Mordred's attention and make her see her not only as a comrade, but as… a woman? 

The thought lingered in her mind for a moment, before she quickly shook her head in embarrassment and answered Rakshata.

"N-No! T-That's a special outfit that only he has… I-I don't even know where he got it from…"

"I see…"

Rakshata ignored how much of a blushing mess Karen had become and turned her attention towards Mordred.

"So… by process of elimination, you must be the pilot of that knightmare, am I right?"

She asked, pointing at the Excalibur with her smoking pipe. 

"Yes."

Mordred nodded.

"I see… Well, it's quite impressive that someone could actually pilot that infamous "Lost Masterpiece of the Devil". I'd like to see you pilot that thing and collect some data."

"You are welcome to observe."

Rakshata's lips curved into a sharp smile as she narrowed her eyes.

"Excellent. Oh, and you should also let met research that suit of yours. It'll definitely improve upon the knightmare piloting suit I've worked on."

"That would be quite… difficult. But, if you were just to collect data while I'm using it, feel free."

Mordred declined her request. After all, the suit he was wearing was the suit of armor Tatsuya developed in his world. It was filled with "magical" technology that was foreign to this world. Having a genius scientist like Rakshata examine it might cause unprecedented effects that would give birth to new technologies and weapons that would plunge this world further into war. 

But, if she were to just observe its usage while he's using it, it wouldn't be a problem. 

Rakshata narrowed her eyes for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Fine. That would be enough for now."

She clapped her hands twice, and her team immediately brought out several cases and placed them on the table near them, before opening them up. And within, they could see neatly folded suits of various colors. 

"Wear this the next time you pilot your knightmares. It'll give you some better protection than wearing some regular clothing."

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Upon changing into his light brown military uniform, Suzaku promptly made his way to the Advanced Special Envoy Engineering Corp's quarters without making any other detour. 

Hearing the graveness in Cecile's voice, which was normally very gentle, calming, and reassuring, was all he needed to hasten his steps and hope for the best. 

Arriving before the door into his unit's quarters, Suzaku took a deep breath and knocked.

"This is Private Suzaku Kururugi, reporting for duty."

"Come in."

His eyes widened for a moment upon hearing a familiar, yet unfamiliar voice at the same time. 

He recognized the voice to belong to Lloyd, but this time… he couldn't hear any of his usual carefree tone in his voice, which only served to further deepened his fears. 

"Please excuse me."

The metal door opened automatically with a whirring of machine, revealing the room inside. 

However, instead of the two he was expecting, he saw two other unfamiliar figures, high ranking officers, within the room as well.

"Eh…? What's happening…"

"Private Suzaku Kururugi."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing his name and ranking called by one of the high ranking officers, Suzaku instinctively stood at attention. 

"In the name of Princess Euphemia li Britannia, the third Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, we have been ordered to escort you to the Viceroy's Palace. Please come with us post-haste."

All eyes widened in shock, including Lloyd and Cecile's, who were kept in the secrets by the soldiers as well up to this point. 

Euphie…

Upon hearing the name, memories of the time he unknowingly spent with the third princess of the empire he served in flashed across his mind. A warm sensation filled his heart when he recalled her beautiful, brilliant smile. But he quickly snapped out of his fantasy. 

"M-May I ask… the reason for it…?"

Cecilia asked the question Suzaku also desperately wanted the answer to but unable to ask himself. 

Questioning an order given to him by a higher ranking officer, who had given it in the name of a royalty, would've edged the line of insubordination for a britannia soldier. And if he, an honorary Britannian, did it, he would've been punished for questioning an order from a higher ranking officer, or perhaps, even Lese Majeste, and be jailed for it. 

Thankfully, Cecile, who held a similar rank in the hierarchy as the two soldiers before him, was the one who asked. It was also within her right to do so, given Suzaku was a soldier under her care. 

The soldiers glanced at the indigo haired beauty for a moment, glanced at each other, before one answered her. 

"The details pertaining to the order are confidential. We have the warrant to escort Private Suzaku Kururugi to the palace without question. I hope you understand."

One of the soldiers brought out a letter with the seal of the sub viceroy, a warrant that gave them the authority to escort Suzaku to the Viceroy's palace from his unit. 

And with such a thing presented to them, Lloyd and Cecile could no longer argue or even question the reason why Suzaku was summoned. 

Taking their silence as acceptance, the officers turned towards Suzaku and gestured towards the exit. 

"Let us make our way now, private."

"I-I understand…"

The two soldiers flanked Suzaku's side and left the room with their escortee in tow, leaving Lloyd and Cecile in silence and shock. 

"What would they do to him…?"

Cecile mumbled worriedly as she looked off into the direction Suzaku just existed from. 

"... I sincerely hope it's nothing. Truly. Else, it'll be a pain to get someone with that high of an aptitude to pilot the Lancelot…"

Cecile narrowed her eyes at Lloyd.

"Are you not worried for him?"

Lloyd glanced at her for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"... What else can we do? They had a warrant. Unless we want to be charged with insubordination and Lese Majeste, there's nothing we can do."

"But still…"

A deep sigh escaped the lips of the tired scientist as he leaned back onto the couch and looked up onto the ceiling. 

"At least it's the third princess… If it's her, I don't think he'll be… in too much trouble. If any…"

"I hope so…"