Chapter 154: Loss of Signal

"You alright? From Europa? Can you still move?" Although Treshi's tone remained as irritating as ever, compared to the very beginning, he had actually started to care a little about this person. This could be seen from his willingness to proactively step forward and offer a hand to help Roland up.

A duel could reveal a person's style; whether someone was radical or conservative usually became apparent during a duel. "I concede defeat. It seems my skills are still not quite high enough!" Of course, despite the friction between Europa and the United Coalition, Roland accepted all of this with grace in this regard. "Could you explain your techniques to me?" "How is that possible? You're neither my junior nor my apprentice. What? Are you planning to take me as your master?"

"Give me a break! I'm not of the same school as you anyway. If you're not willing to explain it to me, then forget it!" Because of the sudden strike to his ribs, Roland's arms were still unable to muster any strength. However, in accordance with knightly etiquette, Treshi did not take advantage of his vulnerability, opting instead to help him up. "Therefore, I didn't come here just to be humiliated. I hope your country will abide by international law and withdraw the fleet outside the outer ring of the Strait of Gibraltar, so as not to disrupt normal international communications and transoceanic trade through the Strait."

"Oh? So that's what this is about? But there's nothing we can do! As you know, we in the United Coalition only recently underwent a transfer of military command, and the oceangoing fleet hasn't received the news yet." Faced with this issue, however, Treshi had no intention of dealing with it, choosing instead to deftly sidestep and evade the matter. "Oh right, Drake, aren't your forces from the Galla Empire there too? Why don't you guys make some room for Europa?"

At this moment, Treshi had no choice but to shift the blame to Drake. However, even though the Galla Empire was also involved, Drake clearly saw right through Treshi's intentions. "Hey, Treshi! Are you misunderstanding something? I may be the crown prince of the Galla Empire, but I don't have the authority to mobilize that many troops. If you've got the capability, go talk to my father! Parkville, you also arrived halfway on a warship, didn't you? Why don't you move your forces aside too?" With that, Drake neatly passed the buck to the next person in line. To his surprise, Parkville's reaction was even faster than both of theirs: "Don't look at me! My status only affords me a free ride. If you've got the capability, go talk to my old man! Treshi, when all is said and done, you're the one who can solve this most easily. Figure something out for those Europa guys!"

"What can I do? Didn't you see our United Coalition's Admiral of the Navy come over? Okay! Okay! I'll contact the people at our military headquarters!" Catching the expression on Roland's face across from him, Treshi's acting skills instantly went into overdrive. He pulled out his communicator, but no sooner had he dialed the number than a voice he was certain would appear came through the device: "Sorry, the area you are in cannot receive a signal. Please move to an area with a signal and dial again..."

"This..." Hearing this, Roland had nothing to say. How could there be no signal? Could it really be like this? Refusing to give up, Roland dialed a number himself—and this number belonged to one of the other two Europeans present among the six. However... "Sorry, the area you are in cannot receive a signal..." Before the voice could finish, Roland had already given up.

"What is going on? How can the grand core region of Habsburg have no signal? Nero, what is the meaning of this?" A severely shaken Roland began to question the Logistics Minister of this General Assembly, Nero Claudius.

"Hey! Why look at me? The guys from Habsburg promised me that every single one of these components was accounted for. It's not like I could personally watch them install every single one, right?" Because Nero Claudius was on the Europa side, Roland believed her. Deprived of any means of communication, Roland was forced to start running outward. "Damn it! Treshi, you just wait for me! Security Department? Security Department! Damn it!"

"What is... going on here?" Watching Roland's every move, Nero Claudius was also extremely curious. Why on earth had the signal here dropped straight to zero in an instant? Even if a signal base station had been destroyed, it shouldn't have been to this extent!

"Looks like the terrorists from your side of Europa have started making their move, doesn't it? Keep in mind, with Satori Medici as a precedent, there could very well be a next one. Be careful; if any of us present are assassinated on your European turf, you might end up in trouble just like Serbia in 1914! Let's go!" Leaving behind those words, Treshi, along with Drake and Parkville, simply left the scene.

"Cole, can you restore the signal here?" Facing this situation, the only person Nero Claudius could turn to was the absolute authority on technology right beside her.

"If it's software, no one can stop me; but if there's something wrong with the hardware, you'd all better honestly take it in for repairs!" With a chuckle, Cole also intended to leave, but Nero grabbed him by force.

"I know you're a member of the United Coalition, but just consider helping me out as a favor, won't you?" Although Nero and Cole were fundamentally people from two different worlds, Cole—who usually showed no emotional fluctuations—was ultimately swayed.

"All right! But I might not necessarily be of any use, you know!"