Before heading out to deal with the Church of Morte, I took a moment to inspect the boot-type gear I'd received from Maybell Pilgrim.
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[Combat Greaves PROTOTYPE-001] [★★★★★★★★ (8 stars)]
— A prototype of combat greaves developed in the Ark.
— This is a test model personally crafted by the Director of the Special Purpose Weapons Research Lab, Maybell Pilgrim.
— Enhances leg strength and supports overall movement.
— Equipped with low-altitude flight capability.
"View Details"
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'Hmm… not bad at all.'
On top of getting my Z-74 Jetpack and other gear repaired, I'd also obtained a pair of combat greaves—something usually only seen at the Blue Line stage.
Sure, as a prototype, it might not match the full strength of the final version I knew, but it was more than enough.
Combat greaves were all-in-one gear that offered basic defense, strength enhancement, and flight support.
'Most importantly, the propulsion system built into the lower parts can be used as a repulsor.'
Granted, it wouldn't be as strong as an actual repulsor since it was fundamentally a propulsion device, but that didn't diminish its value.
["Looks like you're pretty happy with your gift?"]
'It's a good item. And technically, it's not a gift—it's a prototype. I get to use it in exchange for providing field data.'
["Hmm…"]
Esther twisted and turned as she examined the combat greaves.
["They just look like steel boots to me."]
'Not entirely wrong.'
["But this is that good?"]
'Yeah. You'll see soon enough.'
["I'll be looking forward to it."]
I considered dropping by Quartermaster Gedwin, but quickly decided against it.
I already had enough food and water stored in [Rift Space], and more importantly, I figured it would be better to save up contribution points rather than spend them right away on a new weapon.
Originally, I'd planned to grab another weapon as a mid-stage upgrade, but I had more contribution points than expected—enough to skip that step.
'Assuming this is the Orange Line wave… I'll only need two or three.'
So instead of spending now, I felt the need to act first.
["Are we heading out now?"]
'Yeah. We're going outside.'
A decent amount of time had passed since the last wave.
That was thanks to the meetings I'd had with key figures from the Rose Line to the Red Line.
In short, I couldn't afford to dawdle in the Ark any longer.
["A trade route, huh… I always thought it sounded strange, but I didn't think you were planning that far ahead."]
'There'll be even bigger things later.'
["…What exactly are you planning?"]
'You'll find out when the time comes.'
Esther looked thoroughly exasperated.
Ignoring her, I left the Ark behind and began walking west toward the Red Line front.
'West first.'
The Church of Morte was active everywhere outside the Ark, but they were especially concentrated to the west.
Until now, I hadn't intervened in the external power dynamics, but that was no longer the case.
If I was going to begin the Silk Road episode in earnest, the power balance outside the Ark had to shift as well.
'Let's go.'
Time to hunt the Church of Morte.
* * *
The mood in the White Line had been grim lately.
And understandably so.
None of the culprits behind the recent White Line assault had been apprehended.
One had been identified—Sophia Belov—but she had already disappeared.
Though the White Line initiated a search and posted a bounty on her, no leads emerged.
The White Line was furious.
No—the Ark was furious.
The White Line's will was, for now, the will of the Ark.
That's how fragile the atmosphere had become—like walking on thin ice.
Initially, both the White and Red Lines had tried to pin the blame on the Navy Line.
After all, Sophia Belov was a member of the Belov family and the niece of capo Anton Belov. Accountability seemed appropriate.
Fortunately, pushback from other Lines deescalated the matter, but it didn't change how sensitive the Ark had become.
And that's when it happened—
The Navy Line was attacked by Turncoats.
Naturally, it was the Navy Line and the Belov family that took the biggest hit to their pride, but this wasn't just a Navy Line issue—it was a matter of Ark-wide security.
An unknown puppet faction had assaulted the White Line.
And now the Navy Line had been humiliated by mere beasts?
Unacceptable.
—A Turncoat extermination force would be formed to eliminate Turncoat Pawn and Turncoat Knight.
The Ark would tolerate no more.
Despite objections from the Rose Line and a few others, public pressure overpowered them.
The commander of the extermination force was chosen.
"Colonel Melissa, I want you to lead this Turncoat task force."
"Understood."
The Skull Knights.
Even within the Ark, they were an oddity—but their power was so undeniable that even the skeptical White and Red Lines respected them.
Colonel Melissa, one of the elite Skull Knights, was appointed to lead the force.
Special unit members were gathered from across all Lines.
The unit was composed entirely of Skull Knights and ether-compatibles.
A force like this was rare even in the Ark, but necessary due to the unusual nature of Turncoat Pawn and Turncoat Knight.
It showed how seriously the Ark was taking the operation.
Fifteen soldiers—one full squad—assembled on the western front of the Red Line.
Their destination: the western outskirts of the Ark.
The usual hotspot for Turncoat appearances.
"Let's move."
Colonel Melissa stepped forward.
The 14 soldiers followed.
It was time to bring judgment to those who dared defy the Ark.
* * *
"Lady Tatiana."
At the Belov estate.
In her private office within the annex, Tatiana Belov looked up from her paperwork at her subordinate's call.
"What is it?"
"The Turncoat extermination force has mobilized."
Tatiana's eyebrows twitched.
Of course they had.
After the attack on the Navy Line, no one wanted to eliminate Turncoats more than them.
"Get ready."
"You're going personally?"
"Yes. I am."
Whether the extermination force had obtained intel on the Turncoats or not didn't matter.
Tatiana couldn't just sit back and let them capture the Turncoats.
She had to act.
"Understood."
The butler bowed and exited.
Tatiana stared out the window in silence.
"Turncoat Pawn…"
Objectively, one could argue that Turncoat Pawn had actually helped her.
By wrecking the Navy Line, he'd paved the way for her to become the Belov successor.
But after taking the role, she realized—it wasn't what she'd truly wanted.
And that there was no going back to her old life.
This might just be revenge in disguise.
An act of violence wrapped in the excuse of avenging Ivan Belov.
But Tatiana didn't stop.
It was too late to turn back now.
"We're ready."
"…Let's go."
Tatiana rose from her seat.
Time to enact her vendetta.
* * *
Mounted on Horus, I pulled its bony reins without hesitation.
[Kiiheeek──!]
The wind whipped past me like blades, chilling me to the bone.
As always, I had no need to walk out of the Ark like some burdened foot soldier.
Calling Horus was far more efficient.
'Can't beat the convenience.'
Sure, with the Z-74 Jetpack, the Wings of Ankelenth, and now the combat greaves, I could easily fly solo.
But why bother?
'No point flying solo when I've got Horus.'
Besides, with Horus at this level—practically a boss-tier creature—most monsters and beasts wouldn't dare initiate combat.
[Kiihee!]
Horus proudly spread its bone-framed wings.
Just that gesture made it clear who ruled this airspace.
Scenery blurred as we tore across the sky.
Definitely worth bringing Horus.
["It's peaceful."]
'Horus has gotten too strong for anything to challenge us now.'
["Ah."]
Even if it tried to hide it, an out-of-grade beast was still what it was.
Like a gem hiding in a sack of grain, Horus's presence sent lesser monsters fleeing before we even arrived.
'Funny how they don't hesitate during Waves though.'
The mystery of the Wave remained unsolved.
If it had been solved, The Defense would've been cleared long ago.
And then, through the blur of passing terrain, I finally saw it.
'There it is.'
Even from a distance, the Church of Morte's symbol was visible.
My first target.
["…Disgusting freaks. They were hiding in a place like this?"]
'That's the blind spot. No one expects humans to live in places like this.'
This particular Church of Morte outpost had no relics.
To avoid ambushes from monsters and beasts, they'd resorted to wearing the skins and blood of their own deities.
That way, they'd smell like beasts—deterring any territorial attacks.
'Wearing the skin and blood of your gods is kind of ironic, but… whatever.'
Understanding cult logic was a strange talent in itself, so I didn't bother.
With my target in sight, I summoned the CRN-842 Hemp Rocket Launcher from [Rift Space].
Nothing better for raining down destruction from the sky.
Clack—
The launcher's solid weight settled into my grip as I braced it against my shoulder and aimed down.
Fwooooosh───!
Whiiine! Wheeeeee!
Flames blasted from the launcher as rockets rained down on the target below.
BOOM!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Silk Road episode.
Also known as trade route development.
The path to it had officially begun.